Troubles with Xantrex 2000/4000 inverter charger

3 tons wrote:
1) If the inverter has a charger, then the standard factory RV charger needs to remain disabled at it's circuit breaker in the main panel.

2) If the inverter has a charger, then it most likely also has a built in automatic transfer switch (ATS) too and this is often referred to as a 'pass-thru inverter' meaning that when it senses power from either shore power OR the generator, its built in ATS switch disables inverter 120v output and allows either of the other power sources to pass-thru to the RV.... This inverter ATS switching action also avoids the possibility of a dangerous out-of-phase conflict (think, short circuit) between the different 120v sources...

3) Working backwards, If you have a on-board generator, then there should be another ATS switch that switches (segregates) the shore power cord from generator 120v output power. This switching action also avoids the possibility of a dangerous out-of-phase conflict between these two 120v sources.

4) The net result here of the three different power sources (shore, generator, Inverter) is a 'cascading action' as follows:

4-A) When shore power is present (or sensed), the generator ATS automatically switches to shore power, while the Inverter ATS disables inverter output and allows shore power (or gen power in 4-B) to pass-thru to RV.

4B) When no shore power is present, this same generator ATS defaults to generator output, while (assuming gen is running...) the inverter ATS disables inverter output and allows gen power to pass-thru to RV

4C) When no shore OR generator power is present, the Inverter ATS switch defaults to provide it's 120v output to RV

5) Typically (depending on inverter design), when either shore OR generator power IS present, the inverter will go automatically into it's charger mode to replenish the batteries.

Hope this helps,

3 tons

Is this standard in trailers? In our motorhome, and I understand that the standard in Morothomes, is that the generator is primary. IE start the generator and when up to spec the shore power drops out and gen takes over.

~DJ~ wrote:
Hi All,
We bought a new Arctic Fox TT and wanted the microwave and a few outlets wired in to a good sized inverter for ease of convenience. The above inverter also has a 55 amp battery charger. Everything works wonderfully except the inverter does not recognize when the on board Onan genny is running. The micro wave and selected outlets suck the batteries down even tho the gen is running. The inverter recognizes when plugged in to shore power. My Dealer has had it for 4 months and can not figure it out. Any ideas/suggestions would help immensely. Thanks....DJ

Let's go back for more information from the OP. Looks like this in an inverter/CHARGER, though I have never seen a Xantrex 2000 with only a 55 amp charger. SO, FIRST QUESTION IS EXACTLY WHAT MODEL DO YOU HAVE? This will tell us several things, including whether it has a built-in transfer switch.

And, as most of us have asked how is 120 VAC wired on the IN side of the inverter/charger. And on the OUT SIDE?

Was this added by the dealer who could not figure it out in 4 months???

Chris Bryant wrote:
Y'all are missing the fact that the inverter is powering the microwave while the genset is running. If it were a transfer switch problem it would not be able to do that. I maintain it is a power quality issue- the inverter doesn't like it, so it keeps inverting.

Good thought and he said the outlets and the MW are working on the gen. Time to check the waveform with a scope. Could be an inverter or gen problem.

Y'all are missing the fact that the inverter is powering the microwave while the genset is running. If it were a transfer switch problem it would not be able to do that. I maintain it is a power quality issue- the inverter doesn't like it, so it keeps inverting.

1) If the inverter has a charger, then the standard factory RV charger needs to remain disabled at it's circuit breaker in the main panel.

2) If the inverter has a charger, then it most likely also has a built in automatic transfer switch (ATS) too and this is often referred to as a 'pass-thru inverter' meaning that when it senses power from either shore power OR the generator, its built in ATS switch disables inverter 120v output and allows either of the other power sources to pass-thru to the RV.... This inverter ATS switching action also avoids the possibility of a dangerous out-of-phase conflict (think, short circuit) between the different 120v sources...

3) Working backwards, If you have a on-board generator, then there should be another ATS switch that switches (segregates) the shore power cord from generator 120v output power. This switching action also avoids the possibility of a dangerous out-of-phase conflict between these two 120v sources.

4) The net result here of the three different power sources (shore, generator, Inverter) is a 'cascading action' as follows:

4-A) When shore power is present (or sensed), the generator ATS automatically switches to shore power, while the Inverter ATS disables inverter output and allows shore power (or gen power in 4-B) to pass-thru to RV.

4B) When no shore power is present, this same generator ATS defaults to generator output, while (assuming gen is running...) the inverter ATS disables inverter output and allows gen power to pass-thru to RV

4C) When no shore OR generator power is present, the Inverter ATS switch defaults to provide it's 120v output to RV

5) Typically (depending on inverter design), when either shore OR generator power IS present, the inverter will go automatically into it's charger mode to replenish the batteries.

Hope this helps,

3 tons

Mr. Wizzard is correct on this one.
Dave

It may be the generator is running out of tolerance- not knowing which inverter/charger you actually have, it's hard to say for sure, but 64 hz might be too much.

So the generator is running the 55 amp converter (but not the 100 amp Xantrex charger) while the Xantrex inverter (with no 120v input) is running the MW pulling 150 amps, so you are losing 95 amps?

Very simple
It's wired in at the wrong spot
It should be on the house side of the Mfg installed transfer switch
Then it would have 120v input either way
Sounds like it was installed in between the shore cord and transfer switch

BTW You should be VERY VERY suspicious of that dealer. Any decent dealer that couldn't fix a new rig should immediately on day one be on the phone to Arctic Fox. Take over and get this resolved.

And yes with more information there is a lot of talent on these boards that can provide excellent suggestions which can help you.

At the bare minimum go to the dealer with your camera and take pictures of all of equipment labels so that you know what you have. And save them for as long as you own the rig for reference. That is one of the first things I do.