Heart EMS 1800

[3Lakes_Steve]

My new to me 1994 Beaver Acclaim came equipped with a Heart Interface EMS 1800 Inverter/Charger. It seemed to be in working order, but recently quit working entirely. The unit has incoming AC voltage thru shore power, or generator power, but no outgoing AC voltage or DC voltage to the batteries. No circuit breakers are tripped, and connections look good. This inverter only powered one GFI outlet in the whole coach.

I have a brand new PD 9260C converter, which was for my old rig, but never installed before I sold it. I'd like to replace the inverter with this unit, as we would seldom use the coach without shore power. I also have a 300W Samlex inverter from the old motorhome we used to watch TV at night while on the road.

I'm thinking I could use all the existing wiring to the current inverter, and reinstall the converter in it's place. I realize I would lose the GFI outlet from the inverter.

Does anyone see a potential problem with this swap?

Thanks, Steve

[3Lakes_Steve]

Looking thru some old threads, looks like ONLY the battery cable on one side of the shunt, All negative loads (including charging negative) to the other side.

Am I getting this right?

[2oldman]

3Lakes Steve wrote:
will the uneven lengths be a problem?

Not imho.

[3Lakes_Steve]

The cables to the exiting inverter are hardwired in, I'll need to cut off the positive side, and use some sort of lug to attach the 4/0 to the 4AWG to fit the converter output terminals. The new negative to the converter will also be 4AWG, but needs to be a longer length to reach the negative battery. will the uneven lengths be a problem?

[3Lakes_Steve]

OK, I'm in the process of changing out the inverter for a converter.
The existing Positive DC cable to the inverter is 4/0 and is on the fused side of the Positive feed, The Negative Cable is also 4/0, and attached to the Chassis (not the negative battery).My thought is to use the existing positive feed to the new converter, and run a new Negative feed to the battery negative. My coach has a monitoring system and a shunt between the negative line and load. Which side of the shunt should I run the negative converter cable.

To power the converter, I would tie the existing AC incoming line to the existing AC outgoing line, and install an outlet in that circuit to power the converter. There is a breaker in the AC distribution box marked INVERTER for this circuit. Again, I am eliminating the inverter.

Sound Good?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

A note:

A Marinco / Blue Seas cigarette lighter socket seems to tolerate a bit higher amperage without complaint.

[pianotuna]

Here is what I would do.

1. make sure shore power goes to the distribution box when the old inverter charger is removed.

2. replace the old unit with the PD

3. hard wire a 300 watt inverter to power the gfi outlet using the wires to the new converter. Make sure to have a cut off switch on the DC side.

I'd consider a little larger inverter *if* the DC wiring to the converter is large enough.

[3Lakes_Steve]

The 12V outlet leads to another issue. My coach did not come with a cigarette lighter at all. No 12V outlet in the rig at all. There is a 15A circuit breaker for the CB radio, and I was thinking of tapping into this wiring, and adding a 12V receptacle for the GPS and Phone charger. The electrical panels for both AC and DC are above the bed at the rear of the 36' coach. Running new wiring from the dash to the panel will be difficult at best.

[2oldman]

Sounds fine, although 12v outlets are not known for supplying much amperage.

[3Lakes_Steve]

The plan was to eliminate the inverter entirely. I think I can live with a converter/charger only. The Samlex 300W plugs into a 12V outlet.

[2oldman]

You will also lose shore AC, so you'll need to reroute that to the main box.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

YES

The new inverter is forgotten and you plug in. Shore power wins, and guess what (and whom) loses?

Dealing with power management is essential. Shore power and inverter power cannot see each other, ever - even for an instant.

It takes a properly wired TRANSFER RELAY of correct capacity to direct traffic.