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Byrogie's avatar
Byrogie
Explorer
May 16, 2018

Riddle me this, inverter

Xantrex Freedom 2000 watt inverter
Trailer is 50 amp service. 4x6 volt GC2, fat wires.
Hooked up to main trailer power via inverter outlet, extension cord and adapter.
500 watt coffee pot/ 800 watt hair dryer trips inverter outlet. These work fine if plugged directly to the inverter.
All other stuff works fine in trailer, TV, charging phones, ceiling fan, etc.
My ac tester shows good power, but trips inverter outlet when I press GFI test button.
Will eventually hardwire the inverter, will it work properly then?

????
  • Have you plugged into a home or pedestal GFCI? Does that work?
    Often the fridge or converter is connected to the convenience outlets. Either can cause GF issue. Start by unplugging the fridge... usually a plug in the exterior service compartment.
  • All ac breakers are turned off except for receptacles.
    Inverter is grounded to frame.
    Devices work fine plugged to inverter outlet directly or with extension cord.
    Trips inverter GFI outlet when plugged to trailer receptacles.
    I have used whole house with old trailer and different inverter. Everything worked properly.
    Everything works fine if using 2000 watt generator.
  • dougrainer wrote:
    Try running a GROUND wire from the Inverter Ground wire case connection to the Ground/frame of the RV. Inverters are supposed to be grounded to the RV. The Battery neg is not enough. Doug


    My 2000w Vector MAXX inverter manual says the chassis ground is just for reducing interference on the television, etc.

    The manual warns not to run the chassis ground wire around to the input neg terminal of the inverter, but to run it directly to the frame.

    With inverter to battery, you don't need the battery to be grounded to the frame at all, but it usually is of course in an RV
  • Outlet is supposed to trip, when you press the test button

    If gfi trips when plugging the trailer into inverter via cords and adapters, there is a power leak to ground, like an electric heating element
    Or do you mean inverter overload trip

    Overt load mad too much stuff using inverter power
    Be sure fridge is on lp unit on automatic,
    Wh soon lp for off
    Converter turned off, no such thing as free power, charging your batteries from your batteries, it's just one big power drain loop

    It's a common thing to forget about power hogging drains when first getting an inverter
  • time2roll wrote:
    You are plugged into the inverter GFCI outlet right?
    So the GFCI test trips off power... sounds normal to me.


    X2, that's what it's supposed to do when you press the "test" button.
  • Try running a GROUND wire from the Inverter Ground wire case connection to the Ground/frame of the RV. Inverters are supposed to be grounded to the RV. The Battery neg is not enough. Doug
  • You are plugged into the inverter GFCI outlet right?
    So the GFCI test trips off power... sounds normal to me.
  • You need to turn off the converter, fridge, and water heater from 120v while using the inverter with the shore cord plugged into it as "whole house".

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