Forum Discussion

noshow905's avatar
noshow905
Explorer
Dec 22, 2015

Inverter problem

I have 2 - 2000W inverters factory installed on my 2011 Fleetwood Providence. Recently I had repairs done to one at the Fleetwood service center in Indiana. Since I arrived here in FL, my electricity usage has gone up dramatically all of a sudden (Doubled), without us using any additional appliances or a/c units. Batteries and inverters appear to be producing properly. Any suggestions?
I did change one of the 6 - 6v batteries recently because of a neg. post problem. The other batteries were new Apr. 1/15. The battery connected to the new one was quite low before I replaced the other. This low battery has charged up somewhat to ~12.5v. The other batteries are all about 13-13.25v, including the new one. The battery was replaced about 10 days ago, should the one which was low be charged up by now?
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Dec 22, 2015
    You could have another bad battery.
    If you have an energy management center, try shutting down or turning off the inverters one at a time to see which is causing issue.
    Are the inverters the same or is one an inverter/charger?
  • 3_tons's avatar
    3_tons
    Explorer III
    Dec 22, 2015
    Per the data you've provided, the principle of occums razor would not suggest an inverter problem...

    3 tons
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Dec 22, 2015
    6v batteries are charged at about 6.4v

    Are you talking about shore usage or battery usage?
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Dec 22, 2015
    i sure hope your talking 'pairs' of batteries when you say 12.~13.5v
    a single 6v should not read 12+ volts
    you would be boiling them dry , IF that is the case
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    Dec 22, 2015
    When you say "electric usage," do you mean 120 VAC electric usage from shore power, or 12V usage from the batteries? Are you connected to shore power?

    Particularly if it's battery power only and no shore power involved, do you somehow have an inverter set up such that it's driving a converter or battery charger (perhaps the other inverter in charge mode if it's an inverter/charger)? Do you have an RV fridge on 120V rather than propane? Those would be my initial guesses.

    If 120V power, possibly it's going through a double conversion when you aren't expecting it to, though that shouldn't double the power usage overall.
  • noshow905's avatar
    noshow905
    Explorer
    Dec 22, 2015
    I'm hooked into 50amp shore power. The 2 inverters are identical Magnum MS2000 pure sine wave. The electricity usage is based on my reading the electric meter each day.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Dec 22, 2015
    Those are IC's, so I'd suspect overzealous battery charging.
  • coolmom42's avatar
    coolmom42
    Explorer II
    Dec 22, 2015
    2oldman wrote:
    Those are IC's, so I'd suspect overzealous battery charging.


    Yep.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Dec 22, 2015
    No 6 cell battery is "charged" with a reading of 12.5
    It is near impossible to render 12.5 volts from a paralleled 12 cell (6V) battery

    Disconnect and check voltage across the suspect 3-cell battery. Do ALL the batteries while you're at it. A bad battery can gobble 100 watts and provide lots of generated hydrogen and oxygen. 2.4+ MINIMUM kWh per day.

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