My Inverter Went Crazy

[onewinglo]

Hi Everyone,
We have a 2010 GrayHawk Class C (FK) and the inverter never has worked. We have owned this motorhome for the last 4 years. I drove the MH and ran the generator about a week ago just to exercise everything... I stopped by the storage facility yesterday and found the coach battery dead. I took the battery to Battery Depot where it was charged overnight and load tested today and pronounced healthy. During installation of the battery, I saw notable sparking, indicating a load on the battery. (The shore power was not connected.). Looking inside the coach I saw the Red TV power indicator light ON. The inverter switch was OFF. The TV now has power and will come on with the inverter ON or OFF. (No shore power)
Im at a loss. Any ideas on how to troubleshoot this issue?
I'm fairly competent with a multimeter and understand basic AC/DC circuits.
Thanks in advance!
JP White

[craigav]

From your description, the inverter may be on all the time and the switch isn't working properly (perhaps someone wired it direct or there is something wrong with it)... or perhaps you have a 12v TV. I would check that you have a 120v TV and then check the inverter to see if someone perhaps changed it out to a larger inverter and bypassed the switch (or there is another switch now). ~CA

[onewinglo]

Originally Posted by craigav

From your description, the inverter may be on all the time and the switch isn't working properly (perhaps someone wired it direct or there is something wrong with it)... or perhaps you have a 12v TV. I would check that you have a 120v TV and then check the inverter to see if someone perhaps changed it out to a larger inverter and bypassed the switch (or there is another switch now). ~CA

CA,
The TV is a 120 VAC TV.
The inverter had never worked until this week. After thinking about it, it may be a control (inverter switch) issue. Because the inverter is working for the first time, and I can't turn it off.
Thanks for the suggestions!
JP

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by onewinglo

CA,
The TV is a 120 VAC TV.
The inverter had never worked until this week. After thinking about it, it may be a control (inverter switch) issue. Because the inverter is working for the first time, and I can't turn it off.
Thanks for the suggestions!
JP

Pull the Inverter control panel and unplug it. See if that helps.

[onewinglo]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Pull the Inverter control panel and unplug it. See if that helps.

AHHH, Good idea!
Thanks Grumpy.
JP

[onewinglo]

My inverter problem is resolved. The inverter was stuck in the ON position. Turning it OFF or ON remotely (at the coach control panel) made no difference. Disconnecting the remote switch made no difference.
However, I was able to turn it OFF locally (on the inverter) and that has resolved the problem of it being on constantly and killing my battery.
The inverter is still not fixed, but I do not need it. It only supplied power to the TV in the living area. Never needed or wanted that capability.
Thanks everyone for the pointers!
JP