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howardwheeler's avatar
howardwheeler
Explorer
Sep 18, 2013

Help! On the road with a dead Xantrex charger/ inverter

I don't know what has happened, but my Xantrex charger/ inverter (the 2500 watt 458 version) suddenly reads as if its not charging when plugged in to AC voltage. The symptoms: the remote panel reads that no charge is occurring and the odd thing is that the three lights that indicate state of charge and also read whether the charger is in bulk, absorption or float modes are completely blank. I have a Linklite battery monitor that says I'm getting little to no charging ( it fluctuates between .2 and -.2). Even when my inverter has gone on the blink before, i have never had the state of charge lights go blank. I just threw the breaker to the inverter circuits and the inverter did immediately kick in to run my residential fridge, so the inverter side is working fine. Any ideas? This is the first day of our two week trip and we are already 750 miles from home. If I can't figure out what's wrong, I think I can get a standard 25 amp car charger and leave charging the batteries whenever I'm plugged in. It will be a lot slower than my 130 amp charger in the trailer but I hope that will work.

9 Replies

  • howardwheeler's avatar
    howardwheeler
    Explorer
    Sep 18, 2013
    Well. It's working!! I took out the Xantrex basic remote and unplugged the data cable. Counted to 20 and plugged it back in. Everything is working! Some controller needed resetting. I wish I knew what it was. It has never done this before. But I'm happy it's all okay. Thanks. As you can tell from the time of my post, it was a long, agitated night.
  • TechWriter's avatar
    TechWriter
    Explorer
    Sep 18, 2013
    harold1946 wrote:
    Assuming you have the ME-ARC, go to page 63 in the manual. It sounds like the charger is not recognizing the incomming ac as within acceptable limits. Follow the proceedure at 6.1.2.

    The ME-ARC is a remote for a Magnum inverter/charger, not a Xantrex.
  • wolfe10's avatar
    wolfe10
    Explorer
    Sep 18, 2013
    And, if you will be driving, the alternator will charge up both battery banks, so needed generator run time will be far less than if you are parked in one place.

    If on shore power, even a 20 amp charger will keep up with use over a 24 hour period unless you have unusually high 12 VDC demands.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Sep 18, 2013
    Yes a 20 to 40 amp automotive charger will get you through the trip just fine. Just put it direct on the battery. No need to disconnect anything. Generator run time to charge will be significantly longer.
  • larry_barnhart's avatar
    larry_barnhart
    Explorer
    Sep 18, 2013
    Our 2000 watt inverter stopped charging on our trip to Wisconsin but I carry a 15 amp manual charger and no problems doing what we needed. Carrying a battery charger is a good idea and the reason we carry it.
    chevman
  • harold1946's avatar
    harold1946
    Explorer
    Sep 18, 2013
    Assuming you have the ME-ARC, go to page 63 in the manual. It sounds like the charger is not recognizing the incomming ac as within acceptable limits. Follow the proceedure at 6.1.2.

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