Inverter

[bwright]

Just got back to my unit after being gone for Christmas. Inverter is chirping and only showing about 10v. Battery disconnect is good, everything else looks good and works fine. Bought this unit new in July, is it even possible my batteries are dying already? Really, only 6 months?

[twindman]

Probably need more info. If in storage, is it plugged in? If inverter is for a residential frig, I think it may be on a different battery, but am not sure. And I don't think the disconnect would turn it off. Also, the disconnect will not stop the battery from running down since the propane detector and maybe one other thing are not run thru the switch.

[DutchmenSport]

If you have a residential refrigerator, your inverter runs on a separate line from the battery. You have 2 cut off switches. You have the red key that shuts down (most) of the house. And then inside your front bay, there is a red dial cut off switch. That one turns the battery off to the inverter.

If you left that switch in the "on" position and you left the inverter on, and the refrigerator on, and you were not plugged into shore power, your batteries will survive running the refrigerator, at best 14-24 hours. So, this is your scenario, (you are not plugged into shore power), there's nothing wrong with the batteries. They are just run down.

Also, if you left something turned on, like the furnace, and didn't realize it. It doesn't take long for the battery to run down, if you are not plugged into shore power.

Now, if you were plugged into shore power, and your cut-off switch was off, and the inverter switch was on, the converter will not charge the battery. That switch works both ways.

And then, if you you left the refrigerator inverter on, that would explain why your battery ran down.

[bwright]

I am plugged in to shore power with a Residential fridge. All of the mentioned switches are turned on. Hard to believe my batteries are dying already.

[Ahdmeyer]

if you are on shore the charger should be working to charge the batteries if it is only showing 10 v it does not look like the charger is working check in the fuse panel for a fuse or a breaker for the charger. i am not sure but i think it is on a 15 amp breaker.

al meyer
3931fb
az

[rames14]

Not enough information to help you. Need year, model and what options you have. The reason I say that is that our 2021 3230CK with Super Solar was dead. The problem ended up being the PD Transfer Switch that is installed as an EMS was not latching. That prevented the batteries from charging. That is one potential. Another is that you turned off the switch in the convenience center. That turns off your charger but not the parasitic draws. Do you have solar and a Victron battery monitor. How many batteries? Keep us posted.

[GEugeneS]

Why would you need the inverter on if you are on shore power?

[bwright]

I don’t, but the alarm stills beeps when the battery level is low.

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by bwright

Just got back to my unit after being gone for Christmas. Inverter is chirping and only showing about 10v. Battery disconnect is good, everything else looks good and works fine. Bought this unit new in July, is it even possible my batteries are dying already? Really, only 6 months?

Batteries are dead.

[GEugeneS]

Originally Posted by bwright

I don’t, but the alarm stills beeps when the battery level is low.

Understood. Well I would bet on the charging system not working right rather than the batteries failing on their own. However by now the batteries are ruined so when you get new batteries, put a voltmeter on them (I have mounted a VM inside my trailer so I can constantly monitor them). You should see 13+ volts if the system is working properly. Besides my trailer's standard converter (charger) which doesn't maintain batteries well and is mainly for making 12v instead of running off the house batteries, I installed an Inteli-Power PD9245C smart charger from Progressive Dynamics which keeps the float voltage at 13.2, and daily runs the batteries up to 14.4 volts to equalize the batteries (flooded lead/acid golf cart). It cost less than $150 5 years ago. Lots of different philosophies on how to maintain battery voltage out there but I've had pretty good luck with my units which more or less follow the same pattern. I usually get 4 years+ before I start seeing the battery capacity waning. Good Luck.

[Cat320]

Originally Posted by GEugeneS

Why would you need the inverter on if you are on shore power?

Some people leave it on when in a CG. In case the power fails, the inverter will immediately pick up the load. I only turn mine on when I will be using it.

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by GEugeneS

Why would you need the inverter on if you are on shore power?

When I hear inverter, I assume it is like mine which is an inverter/charger so it is always on doing a maintenance charge of the batteries as well as in standby mode if power fails and to provide (for hybrid inverters) an extra 20 amps of power if on a 30 a post.
I use the popular Victron 3000 watt hybrid inverter/charger.

[JDDilly]

An invertor converts 12 volt DC to to 120 volt AC. A converter/charger converts 120 volt AC to 12 volt DC and charges your batteries.

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by JDDilly

An invertor converts 12 volt DC to to 120 volt AC. A converter/charger converts 120 volt AC to 12 volt DC and charges your batteries.

And the Victron plus others package both the charger and inverter in a single box. This is mine
https://www.victronenergy.com/invert...48v-800va-3kva

[JDDilly]

Originally Posted by bcrvman

And the Victron plus others package both the charger and inverter in a single box. This is mine
https://www.victronenergy.com/invert...48v-800va-3kva

Learn something new everyday!!

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by JDDilly

Learn something new everyday!!

I forgot to mention, when you install one of these, disconnect completely the factory installed converter (I removed the wires from the breaker), those traditional devices are not proper chargers, they are designed to be on shore power all the time and just doing a trickle or maintenance charge. The chargers built into most decent quality inverters are at a minimum 4 stages of intelligent programmable charging.

[Cat320]

[QUOTE=bcrvman;1242120]...When I hear inverter, I assume it is like mine which is an inverter/charger so it is always on doing a maintenance charge of the batteries as well as in standby mode if power fails.../QUOTE]

I have a Magnum inverter/charger. It comes as one unit, but the control panel has a "Charger on/off" button and a separate "Inverter on/off" button.

[bwright]

Update on issue, the model in question is a 2021 Montana 3761 with residential refrigerator. I believe the converter has power, however, while moving from my site this weekend to home, the inverter failed to work as well. Yes, the battery switch is on and the wet bay switch(key) is in the OFF position, can’t remove it. We do not have a generator, however, I think most of these units are prepped for a generator. Do I have transfer switch and could this be the issue?

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by bwright

Update on issue, the model in question is a 2021 Montana 3761 with residential refrigerator. I believe the converter has power, however, while moving from my site this weekend to home, the inverter failed to work as well. Yes, the battery switch is on and the wet bay switch(key) is in the OFF position, can’t remove it. We do not have a generator, however, I think most of these units are prepped for a generator. Do I have transfer switch and could this be the issue?

Most likely the batteries are dead. Unless you have at least 4 Trojan T105's or similar or a pair of Lithium's the factory installed batteries are only good for a few hours if OFF shore power but res fridge is on.

[masterdrago]

Originally Posted by bcrvman

Most likely the batteries are dead. Unless you have at least 4 Trojan T105's or similar or a pair of Lithium's the factory installed batteries are only good for a few hours if OFF shore power but res fridge is on.

I feel obligated to intervene. Did not define "few hours". Testing with our 6 month old 5r having a pair of brand x "marine deep cycle" batteries indicated that at 60°F, the inverter would run the residential refrigerator ~36 hours b4 the battery voltage dropped to 10.5 (the point at which the inverter shuts down). This was without shore power and no other 12 volt device running.