Dead inverter on a brand new 2019 Montana HC

[John McLean]

Just wondering, has anyone else experienced the death of the inverter that works between the batteries and the Samsung residential refrigerator? We purchased a new Montana High Country from CW last March (2019) The coach was stickered to have been manufactured in February of 2019. So, it was brand new when we took possession op0f it.

CW delivered it to a campground 2 hours away from their dealership and positioned it on our lot that we rent as an annual member for the particular campground.

Used the camper, without too many issues, from mid-March 2019 through mid-November 2019 just before the campground closed for the winter. We winterized the camper, disconnected the shore power and I took the batteries home to maintain a charge on them over the winter. Put a charger on them twice. Did not take very long each time for them to reach a full charge, so I knew the batteries were good.

Installed the batteries in the coach at the end of this past March 2020, de-winterized the water system, connected the shore power and no power, lights, etc. at the inverter. Of course the refrigerator works as we are on shore power.

No blown BA fuse between the batteries and the inverter, so power does come from the batteries through the red positive cable from the battery cut-off switch inside the battery compartment, but that is where it stops. The GFCI outlet will not trip or reset and the green light on that outlet does not come on.

What is going on with such a new inverter and why?

[jimcol]

A GFCI will not trip or reset if there is no A/C power to it. I don't have this set up but following your description It sounds like you are not getting DC voltage to your inverter. Isn't your battery cut off switch between the battery and the inverter. If that is the case either your cut off switch is in the wrong position or it has gone bad.

[John McLean]

Thanks for your reply Jim. Yes, the battery cut-off switch is between the batteries (I have two) and the inverter. Must not have been clear about that in my initial post. Also, the cut-off switch is in the 'ON' position and power comes from the batteries, through the battery cut-off switch to the back of the inverter. There are no lights on the inverter panel, which there should be and no power at the GFCI outlet. I believe the inverter just died an early death and it is not a cheap replacement.

[AZ Traveler]

John,

I would call the manufacturer of the inverter for troubleshooting tips. Remember the inverter serves no purpose when you are on shore power. It is there to provide a/c power off your batteries when you do not have shore power.

[John McLean]

Thanks. I did that last week before submitting my post. Was hoping to see if other Montana owners were experiencing a similar problem indicating a patter with the manufacturing of these inverters.

[wecker1]

Jim,

By chance did you possibly turn the inverter off via the inverter on/off button when winterizing and not turn it back on...?

Just thought I would ask.

And yes, these things go bad, had to replace mine just after my warranty expired.

[John McLean]

wecker1,

I did not do that as I saw no reason to, but perhaps Jim did.

Thanks,

John (original poster of this subject)

[triplebvalp]

Originally Posted by John McLean

wecker1,

I did not do that as I saw no reason to, but perhaps Jim did.

Thanks,

John (original poster of this subject)

John, have you tried to press the on/off button on the inverter? Perhaps, with the batteries disconnected, the inverter defaults to off. Just to remind you, you will need to hold the power button in for at least a second.

[Montana Man]

Have you checked the fuses on the inverter? I fixed one that blew the two 40 amp fuses as a result of connecting batteries backwards.

[mazboy]

I'd push for warranty work since it is a 2019. So, back to the dealer to figure it out.
good luck

[John McLean]

Yes. Thanks. Held the power button down for at least a second as you suggested. That was also the same direction I received from the manufacturer's technical help.

[John McLean]

Montana Man,

There are two fuses inside the case of my inverter. We opened the case and checked. They were both good. Having a dealer look at the inverter Monday morning.

[Kbruch]

John, had the same problem with my 2020 3121 RL. Took it back to dealer and the battery switch between the batteries and the inverter was bad on mine. Put in a new switch and it works like advertised.

[badaxemi]

Originally Posted by John McLean

Montana Man,

There are two fuses inside the case of my inverter. We opened the case and checked. They were both good. Having a dealer look at the inverter Monday morning.

Keep us updated on this issue please just for future reference!

[John McLean]

Kbruch,

How did you know the battery switch was bad. I would like to know this before installing a new inverter which will now be provided by the inverter manufacture.

John

[Uncle Nate]

I have a 2017 3661RL Monty. When I took delivery of it I disconnected my shore power to run down the road. When we arrived at a campground my wife opened the Samsung fridge and found the ice had melted into a wet block.
After investigation of several things I found that the power cord that is supposed to supply the 110 to the converter made a loop back into it self. The dealer told me that I was crazy but they looked at it and had to keep my Monty for a month before they figured it out. They used the excuse that the factory didn’t know what they were doing. Hopefully this will help you.

[Fred]

Originally Posted by John McLean

Just wondering, has anyone else experienced the death of the inverter that works between the batteries and the Samsung residential refrigerator? We purchased a new Montana High Country from CW last March (2019) The coach was stickered to have been manufactured in February of 2019. So, it was brand new when we took possession op0f it.

CW delivered it to a campground 2 hours away from their dealership and positioned it on our lot that we rent as an annual member for the particular campground.

Used the camper, without too many issues, from mid-March 2019 through mid-November 2019 just before the campground closed for the winter. We winterized the camper, disconnected the shore power and I took the batteries home to maintain a charge on them over the winter. Put a charger on them twice. Did not take very long each time for them to reach a full charge, so I knew the batteries were good.

Installed the batteries in the coach at the end of this past March 2020, de-winterized the water system, connected the shore power and no power, lights, etc. at the inverter. Of course the refrigerator works as we are on shore power.

No blown BA fuse between the batteries and the inverter, so power does come from the batteries through the red positive cable from the battery cut-off switch inside the battery compartment, but that is where it stops. The GFCI outlet will not trip or reset and the green light on that outlet does not come on.

What is going on with such a new inverter and why?

Same here. Brand new unit and the 1,000 watt inverter never powered up. Didn't realize it until my first trip. The dealer replaced it in a couple of days.

[John McLean]

To all my MOC friends and contributors out there I found out yesterday that the manufacturer of the inverter is going to replace the defective unit, but in a sort of convoluted way. Hope the switch-out doesn't go south on me.

Thanks for everyone's input.

[garstar]

I think your gfi is gone bad. Our 2019 3700LK inverter did not work from the day we picked up our unit. As full time RVer's we needed it to work.



After two replacements (one from the dealer and one from amazon) we took upon ourself to remove the gfi receptacle and replaced with non gfi. Almost two years still works great.

[John McLean]

Don't thinks so. Repair shop had inverter out of the fifth wheel and on a test bench. Hooked up positive, negative and ground to the power entry side of the inverter. Inverter control panel and GFCI are on the opposite end of the inverter. Inverter control panel has no readout, start button will not start or reset and GFCI will not function, test or reset. Inverter died and early death.