Forum Discussion

bad99ram's avatar
bad99ram
Explorer
Apr 08, 2017

Inverter Trouble

I am having the following problems with my inverter for the fridge. When I am hooked up to my truck ready to leave I turn the inverter on. When I stop in a rest area I check it and it is not working. I have tried to turn it off then on again and it will fail to start up. I have to turn it off, unplug from the truck, replug it back in, then turn it back on , at this point it starts right back up again . At the next rest stop the whole process needs to be repeated. I have checked the battery in the unit and it has a full charge. Does anyone have any troubleshooting ideas I could try prior to bringing it in? Good news its still under warranty.
  • Martyn's avatar
    Martyn
    Nomad
    Apr 08, 2017
    bad99ram wrote:
    I am having the following problems with my inverter for the fridge. When I am hooked up to my truck ready to leave I turn the inverter on. When I stop in a rest area I check it and it is not working. I have tried to turn it off then on again and it will fail to start up. I have to turn it off, unplug from the truck, replug it back in, then turn it back on , at this point it starts right back up again . At the next rest stop the whole process needs to be repeated. I have checked the battery in the unit and it has a full charge. Does anyone have any troubleshooting ideas I could try prior to bringing it in? Good news its still under warranty.


    If your fridge runs on gas and electric just set it to auto and it will run on propane when electric is not available.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Apr 08, 2017
    Need more info then you provided.

    I take it this inverter is an 'add on'
    What Brand/Model?

    What does it feed.....just fridge or other components?

    It is connected to trailer battery with truck supplying charging circuit....correct?
    (12V Hot from truck is limited due to length/size of wiring -----more of a battery maintainer with limited charging capabilities if battery draw is high)


    Which Brand/Model of fridge?
    Typical RV absorption or a 120V AC residential ?
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Apr 08, 2017
    bad99ram wrote:
    I have checked the battery in the unit and it has a full charge.
    Ok, I'm going to assume you have residential refer, hence the inverter.

    You said 'battery.' You have just ONE battery running this inverter?
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Apr 08, 2017
    Going down the road the inverter should work fine with one battery.
    Is the converter still on but not putting anything out or has it shut down?
    Does it have any indicators like low battery voltage?
    It confuses me that disconnecting the truck does anything. The battery in the trailer should maintain DC voltage when the truck is not connected. Are you sure the battery in the trailer is still connected to the converter?
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Apr 09, 2017
    If you are connected to your 120VAC trailer system and not just plugging the fridge into the added Power Inverter you may have what they call a bonding problem. One of my Power Inverter requires this if the trailer is plugged into it. Otherwise it causes a GFCI fault in the trailer... The bonding ties the Neutral and ground together at the added Power Inverter 120VAC output receptacle.

    Don't know if this is what is happening on your end or not - something to check for...

    Roy Ken
  • Veebyes's avatar
    Veebyes
    Explorer II
    Apr 09, 2017
    Agree. More info needed. Residential fridge or RV 2 way? If 2 way why bother with the inverter at all? How is it wired? Hope the inverter is not powering the converter/charger. At what voltage does the inverter shut down? You are suffering from VD trying to charge from the truck. What else does the inverter feed besides the fridge? What size is your battery bank? A pair of group 24s don't add up to much.
  • theoldwizard1's avatar
    theoldwizard1
    Explorer II
    Apr 09, 2017
    SWAG - Many inverters will shut down on low voltage and NOT restart. It only takes a moment of low voltage (typically less than 10.0-11.0) and you are dead.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Apr 09, 2017
    What does 'plugged into the truck' mean exactly?

    What is the voltage on the inverter 12v terminals with the fridge running?

    What fridge model? What inverter model?

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