I'm dry camping and tried to turn on the inverter and am not getting power. I have the Xantrex XM1000. It worked fine 5 weeks ago when dry camping. I was able to use all of the AC plugs when I was hooked to shore power several days ago. All of the AC plug receptacles work when the generator is on. The GFCI plug on the inverter and the 15 amp button appear to be okay. I plugged/unplugged the cable from behind the remote panel and still no power at the remote panel. My question is if the inverter is bad, why would the plugs work with the gennie on in the RV. Or, could I have a bad remote panel? It plugs into some type of inline coupler.

The inverter may have a bypass relay that allows shore power or genset power to pass. Check for incoming 12 volts DC to the inverter. Possible blown input fuse or maybe a wire disconnected.

In our Navion, the generator feeds the AC side of the electricals to light up the AC coach receptacles. No inverter required when we run the generator or are plugged into shore power. If I understand it correctly, the inverter draws 12V from the batteries and then turns it into AC and feeds a few of the same receptacles that will run off the generator or shore power. That's probably why the receptacles are hot when you run the generator. If you're not getting AC at those same receptacles when not on shore or generator, the problem is with the inverter and 12V batteries side of things. If our coaches are designed basically the same electrically? Caveat: I'm not an expert nor an electrician.

This should be the manual for your inverter.Manual

I’m thinking that it may bypass the gennie but not when on shore power because I have lost power to the receptacles fed by the inverter before while on shore power. At that time, I reset a breaker on the the inverter itself.

Enblethen- I’ve read the manual and it states to check the power at the inverter. Unfortunately, it’s too difficult to get to and we’re traveling. I’m hoping to find out if there is another fuse/circuit breaker somewhere else to check.

Inverter Doesn't Turn On | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

time2roll
Nomad
Mar 15, 2019
Snapped off?

Consider some better built cables....
http://www.genuinedealz.com/custom-cables
enblethen
Nomad
Mar 15, 2019
Thanks for the update!
Rigs are built for quick cheap construction and nothing for maintenance.
Lakejumper
Explorer
Mar 15, 2019
Found the problem!! No 12volt to the inverter as the battery cable terminal to the inverter circuit breaker in the battery compartment had snapped off! When I opened the compartment to look for a breaker, I saw the cable broken and pulled away. I wouldn't have known the breaker was for the inverter otherwise.

Thanks again to all for your quick responses. I just wish that Winnebago had placed the inverter in a more accessible location to troubleshoot this problem on the road!
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Mar 15, 2019
Make sure you have good 12vdc. and .. On some Xantrex models (not all) there is a switch ON THE INVERTER which I call "Big Red" (it's big may or may not be red) and if it's off. it's off and I mean OFF. no power goes anywhere at all.
Lakejumper
Explorer
Mar 15, 2019
Thanks everyone for your help. I think I need to wait until I get back home and troubleshoot to see if power is coming into and out of the inverter. In the meantime, I will look for a fuse.
bid_time
Nomad II
Mar 15, 2019
It's pretty simple, you got to check power in and power out at your inverter. That will tell you where the problem is. You're just guessing.
2oldman
Explorer II
Mar 15, 2019
Inverters sometimes need a reboot. You do that by disconnecting either the + or - cable and waiting a few minutes before reconnecting. There could be a large spark when reconnecting.
enblethen
Nomad
Mar 15, 2019
Look around the batteries for a large fuse.
You maybe able to trace wires back to batteries.

Has any battery work been done?
Lakejumper
Explorer
Mar 15, 2019
Enblethen- I’ve read the manual and it states to check the power at the inverter. Unfortunately, it’s too difficult to get to and we’re traveling. I’m hoping to find out if there is another fuse/circuit breaker somewhere else to check.
Lakejumper
Explorer
Mar 15, 2019
I’m thinking that it may bypass the gennie but not when on shore power because I have lost power to the receptacles fed by the inverter before while on shore power. At that time, I reset a breaker on the the inverter itself.