Xantrex Inverter

[Sez_Hoo_]

My Xantrex Freedom Marine 30 inverter stopped charging my batteries. It shows voltage the remote panel but no amps. I can charge the batteries with a battery charger and the batteries will hold the charge so I know its not the batteries. I'm open to suggestions

[wa8yxm]

smkettner wrote:
If Xantrex still will not charge after all the testing consider just getting a separate converter to keep the batteries up.

This is exactly how I do it for several reasons

ONE: I like the Progressive Dynamics Wizard better than I do my Prosine.. NOTE.. This is mostly a matter of preference, I give them both the same marks (top end) but I still like the Wizard better.

Second.. If you are running on "iffy power" I can cut off the 30 amp branch breaker TO the Prosine, and then I have

Shorce--Converter--Battery--Inverter---Senistive loads.

That's called a power line conditioner.. Though I can't microwave all day, it will sure take care of TV's and Computers.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

The secret is in the washer. This is one of two types of lock-washer that will stay tight with thermal heating and cooling.



This is the -utimate- lock washer for mechanical and electrical use. Cam-locs are used exclusively on Baja 1000 racers and critical military machinery. They can not accidentally back-off......ever. A stud or bolt can be put in a hardware store paint shaker while red hot and this lock washer pair will not give one micron. An amazing fastener, this one.

[Sez_Hoo_]

OK so here is the update Just as I started to disconnect the positive cable from the unit I noticed it was very loose. So I tightened it up and everything is working just fine. Lucky me!!!!

[jplante4]

I had inverter issues that turned out to be a bad ground. It started with my old Magnum inverter after I pulled the battery tray all the way out to fill the batteries. I suspected a loose wire and told my local RV shop (Fat Chance RV and Taco Stand) that I thought it was a loose wire or bad ground. They called and said the inverter was gone (2 years old). They installed a new Xantrex and still had no power. Then they installed a third inverter and with still no power, finally troubleshot the wiring and found.... wait for it..... a bad ground.

I sent the Magnum back to the factory and they refurbed it at no charge. I have a spare.

[Sez_Hoo_]

I'm no stranger to working on equipment. I'll short the caps to discgarge them. I would rather try to fix it then send it to xantrex for repair. The rv was plugged into a 20amp circuit that kept tripping the breaker, so a blown fuse is quite possible.

[Tom_Barb]

Sez Hoo! wrote:
The unit will not work in the invert mode

It sounds like you've had a surge and blown the mother board fuse. I do not advise a novice to disassemble the inverter to change this fuse, there are capacitors in these units that can really hurt you.

To replace this fuse you must remove the case, and the smaller of the two circuit boards, you will see the fuse.

I replaced this fuse twice before I realized there was more damage to the inverter / charger than just the fuse, so we up graded to the magnum 3000 W. these are not a plug and go swap. you must do some relocating of wires and the grounds. and change the remote control panel in the coach. that is easy to do the new panel uses the same phone chord, and fits the hole of the old inverter.
that ended our problems.

[Sez_Hoo_]

The unit will not work in the invert mode

[MEXICOWANDERER]

"The only thing he said was left to do was to do a complete shut down. No 12v or 120v to the unit for at least 2 hours"

Time enough to allow him to finish his shift...


Try the inverter part. If it works then that's a horse of a different color.

[Sez_Hoo_]

Tom/Barb wrote:
If you are inclined there is a tiny fuse on the mother board.

is the inverter providing 110 voltage ?

I did ask the tech on the phone about the possibility of a fuse and got no answer from him

[Sez_Hoo_]

I was on the phone with xantrex and we went through several tests. The guy on the phone was stumped. The only thing he said was left to do was to do a complete shut down. No 12v or 120v to the unit for at least 2 hours

[RoyB]

I am always conscience of my 12VDC battery voltages. A fully charged battery bank will read 12.6-7VDC. When I hook up to shore power this reading should jump up to 13.6VDC or whatever mode the smart mode charging source is doing...

What you don't want to see is your battery voltages are always sitting at 13.6VDC all the time when on shore power or generator as this is known to boil out your battery fluids over time. The batteries do well if your smart mode charging source drops back to 13.2VDC when demands are down... Then jump up to 13.6VDC when more demand is required.

This is most likely where your battery acid damage has come from...

I would definitely look at my batteries fluid levels after seeing this...

Roy Ken

[Tom_Barb]

If you are inclined there is a tiny fuse on the mother board.

is the inverter providing 110 voltage ?

[time2roll]

If Xantrex still will not charge after all the testing consider just getting a separate converter to keep the batteries up.

[wa8yxm]

You mentioned the "Remote panel" I do not know your specific inverter but on my Xantrex the remote panel has switches and buttons... ONE OF THE SWITCHES WILL CAUSE YOUR SYMPTOMS.