Electrical ??? Help - going to FL in a week, lights dim - Page 2

JimD · 02-06-2021, 04:26 PM

I attached my troubleshooting documents. Look at the sections for converter and battery charging. Might help.

Radar57 · 02-06-2021, 06:10 PM

When we did the PDI the lights were dim. The inverter control panel showed very los battery voltage and batteries not being charged when connected to shore power. It was the reverse current fuse(s) that someone referred to earlier had blown.

DamonBecky · 02-08-2021, 02:17 PM

Radar,
Yes, that was one of my problems I discovered yesterday. I had blown all four Reverse Polarity Fuses on my converter panel. When I replaced them, the converter has no problem. Battery charge is 13.6 v to cables that connect to batteries.

I still have an INVERTER problem though, and I think it is internal -- musta busted something with a short somewhere. Disconnected from shore power, with my fresh 100% 13.6v battery installed, and full 13.6 v coming to backside of inverter at input terminals, I have NO voltage coming out of the output at front. So, I think XM1000 must be fried.

Don't have to have it, we will be connected to shore anywhere on upcoming trip, and will just have to haul ice chest instead of using fridge on long road.

So, feel better, except for $400 price tag on this model of inverter. There are less expensive inverters, but no too confident in them. This Xantrec has been good so far...
Any experience out there with inverters, I welcome comments...
DD

DamonBecky · 02-08-2021, 02:22 PM

One last question guys and thanks for holding my hand thru this!

I still have an INVERTER problem though, and I think it is internal -- musta busted something with a short somewhere. Disconnected from shore power, with my fresh 100% 13.6v battery installed, and full 13.6 v coming to backside of inverter at input terminals, I have NO voltage coming out of the output at front. So, I think XM1000 must be fried.

Don't have to have it, we will be connected to shore anywhere on upcoming trip, and will just have to haul ice chest instead of using fridge on long road.

So, feel better, except for $400 price tag on this brand/model of inverter. There are less expensive inverters, but no too confident in them. This Xantrec XM1000 has been good so far...there's even an 1100W one on Amazon for $84...but first several reviews make me hesitate.
Any experience out there with inverters and brands, I welcome comments...
DD

Vicr · 02-08-2021, 02:35 PM

Have you "reset" your inverter?

houstonstroker · 02-08-2021, 02:42 PM

Most inverters have a circuit breaker on the inverter itself. I can not see mine because of the way it is mounted.

DamonBecky · 02-08-2021, 03:20 PM

Vicr, Houstonstroker,
I do have a button on the side to the right of the output panel, and manual for XM1000 says it is a reset if you use the 'GCFI outlet plug' option, but does not reset the device for the hardwired option.
Mine is hardwired...two18/2 wiring coming out on the output end.
I took off the panel, unscrewed the wire nuts carefully, and put my tester on them, no output, and this was with full battery power to input end of inverter.
I have pushed the reset button time and again (in off mode, disconnected, and connected) with no response or reset. See pic below...

Grumpy · 02-08-2021, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamonBecky

Mine is hardwired...two18/2 wiring coming out on the output end.

18/2? The wiring going to the control panel should be similar to a phone jack. Does your fridge work on shore power?

The wiring coming from the breaker panel and going to the fridge should be 14 gauge.

DamonBecky · 02-08-2021, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

18/2? The wiring going to the control panel should be similar to a phone jack. Does your fridge work on shore power?

The wiring coming from the breaker panel and going to the fridge should be 14 gauge.

Yes, Grumpy, the wiring to control panel (mounted inside camper) is a flat phone cable...but I was talking about the wiring to appliances, which IS 14/2....my old eyes fooled me, sorry for confusion.

My fridge does work on shore power...so the Pass Through with the inverter works, I suppose, but does not produce power when NOT connected to shore power. That's when I took center panel off output end of converter and measured volts on hardwired 14/2 wires there...and got nothing.

Grumpy · 02-08-2021, 04:28 PM

Is the Inverter control panel lighting up now? If not, are you sure you have the inverter wires connected properly on the batteries and not reversed? Just asking....

DamonBecky · 02-08-2021, 07:57 PM

Grumpy,
No, the inverter control panel is NOT responsive, doesn't light up.

the inverter is still hooked up as it was when it worked, I've never changed input side cables at all...and never removed output 14/2 romex line.

I was wondering if the little remote panel inside camper that is connected to telephone wire TURNS ON the inverter, and NOW I SEE IN THE MANUAL IT DOES.

I'm going to take status panel off and see if it is still hooked to wire behind status panel...could have jiggled loose.

Grumpy · 02-08-2021, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamonBecky

Grumpy,
the inverter is still hooked up as it was when it worked, I've never changed input side cables at all...and never removed output 14/2 romex line.

I thought you said earlier that you disconnected the batteries and the INVERTER is a direct connection, that I why I mentioned it. Also check the phone cable where it plugs into the inverter to be sure it's tight.

JimD · 02-08-2021, 08:11 PM

I have attached the manual for the Xantrax 1000 inverter. It has a troubleshooting section.

DamonBecky · 02-13-2021, 06:47 PM

Thanks Jim D, I've downloaded that manual and been thru troubleshoot points.
Grumpy, good point. I did take batteries off, but never took cables off inverter, thot that was what you meant.

AC power comes in when ugged to house, passes.thru to appliances.. On battery only,, DC power reads 13.7 v into inverter,, but nothing coming out..
Checked both ends of telephone cable between little Xantrec control panel and inverter, plug at inverter end and panel end are tight.

In Florida now, plan to call Xantrec and let them talk me thru entire diagnostics.
Perhaps the little control panel fried rather than the entire inverter. If so, that might be not so expensive.

Thanks for all advice, esp helping me solve my CONVERTER problem. I would have never known to look for reverse polarity fuses. All works now in that department.

krbjmpr · 02-13-2021, 10:03 PM

Just tossing this out there...

Your batteries may have a 30A fuse supplying trailer from batteries. Especially travel trailers. Converter typically charges through same fuse if xonverter is BUILT INTO load center. If xonverter is seperate stand alone, it may or may not go direct to battery.

The converter protection fuses may have been blown if you connected 'spare' battery backwards, even just for a minute.

Cavie · 02-14-2021, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krbjmpr

Just tossing this out there...

Your batteries may have a 30A fuse supplying trailer from batteries. Especially travel trailers. Converter typically charges through same fuse if xonverter is BUILT INTO load center. If xonverter is seperate stand alone, it may or may not go direct to battery.

The converter protection fuses may have been blown if you connected 'spare' battery backwards, even just for a minute.

OP stated 4 hours prior to your post the fuses were blown and he had fixed that problem.

DamonBecky · 02-14-2021, 06:54 AM

Yes kbrjmpr, that was my converter problem. When I went to move camper to house I had dead batteries, removed them and put in the spare. When I put the spare in I created an arc w wrench up against the metal sided compartment box (which I have now lined with rubber sheets, by the way), blew fuses on converter (all 4 reverse polarity fuses) or either touched cable ends to wrong posts. Not sure which blew fuses . Replacing those solved my converter issue.

Now just dealing w inverter.

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