packerz4 wrote:i'm guessing that a lot of the pieces you have singled out like: master switch, mini fuse, circuit breaker etc, are parts and pieces that are in that part of your drawing are the things that are in my converter thingy?
Hi again.
Ok, lemme see if I can keep this from getting to novel length!
Think of a converter like you a ready-to-go component stereo system; you just pick the one you like the looks of, plug it into the wall, plug in the speakers and you're rockin'. As long as you choose carefully and the system meets your needs it works well. If you move to a larger place and you need more from the system you're out shopping for a new one because you can't change any one item of the system you bought.
In my opinion converters became popular for two reasons. 1) in the beginning RV's had lots of incandescent lighting (using a fair amount of power), the 3-way refrigerator running on 12-volts was (and is) a power hog, the 12-volt TV sucked up power, and so forth and so on, so there had to be a way to feed all those power hungry critters and 2) manufacturers needed a way to install a unit that met the needs of a particular unit they were building that came in a production friendly format; it's a lot easier to install one "box that does it all" then it is to choose separate components and install them individually (that takes a more qualified worker).
Historically converters have been pretty poor performers supplying "dirty" voltage and also killing batteries with poor (really no) charging regulation. These days almost all electrical components are getting major upgrades and converters are no exception. Still, the least expensive of the bunch is not a great performer.
Considering that the converter is specifically designed provide 12-volts indefinitely while the trailer is plugged into shore power it would seem that's its best attribute. So if you have a lot of 12-volt circuits and you'll be plugged into shore power most of the time a converter may be a good choice.
However, if you are off-gird very much I believe that a converter is not a great choice because it can't do (without shore power) the very thing it does best. I think it's more important if you're going to camp away from a power pole that you maximize various parts of your electrical system to maximize the ability to do that. So now we get into wanting to pick specific fuse panels, switch panels, AC panels, battery charger, etc; the one-size-fits-all approach of the converter doesn't work as well anymore.
For instance, if the converter has four DC circuits and you need 6 it's hard to make that work well. If the converter has 3 AC circuits and you want more you can't change it. What if you only need 3 DC circuits but you want 6 AC circuits? Again you either have to find the converter that has exactly what you want or make do.
Mostly, unless you get into new high-quality converters, they're well known for killing batteries. If you really like camping out on your own away from power then you'll most likely want to invest in a really good battery and you don't want some cheeseball converter killing it any time soon. Let's say you buy a good AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery (Optima is one of them; so is Lifeline), you sure want to take care of that expensive puppy and you'll want a good multi-stage charger feeding it charging power with tender loving care. Something that's easy to get with a standalone charger but not so easy with a converter.
I'm just skimming the surface here; it would be really hard to get into details unless we're talking specifics and can match the product with the need. For alot of folks, especially those that have shore power most of the time a converter can work though I think with the products available today there's a good argument for putting together your own system the way you want it rather than accepting the all-in-one solution.
There's no "right" or "wrong" answer to this; it really only matters that it works for you whichever way you go.
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I've been following your thread. You've more guts than I! 
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