Inverter help - Montana Owners Club

JMickulin · 04-24-2021, 07:21 PM

Hey Everyone! I just bought a 2016 Montana High Country 340BH. I got it off an auction and it needs a few things, but I think it is going to be a great trailer. One of my big issues I have is the power inverter is gone so when plugged into shore power I have no power. I do have battery power though. I have ordered 2 inverters that so far won't work in here. Can anyone tell me the brand and model of inverter there's has? From what I found out it should be a 1000 watt pure sine wave inverter. The problem I have with the inverters I have tried is the wires in the 5th wheel are way to huge to fit on the hardwire blocks of the inverter, if that makes sense. I attached some pics of the wiring and the inverter.

**Carl n Susan** · 04-24-2021, 07:58 PM

Don't you mean you are missing the converter? That is the thing that produces 12V DC output from 120V AC. AFAIK, the HC didn't have an residential refer option in 2016 which is the only time Montana provides an inverter. I think the HC's used a separate converter (not integrated with the fuse panel) and likely was a Progressive model (45 amp?)

JMickulin · 04-24-2021, 08:30 PM

No I mean the inverter(12v DC to 120v AC). The converter(120v to 12v) is there. Here are a couple pics where the wires are and where you can see the inverter was mounted.

**AZ Traveler** · 04-24-2021, 09:10 PM

John,

As Carl said the HC did not come with an inverter. That leaves you several options. You may want to go a little bigger if you want to boondock and run the microwave or a coffeemaker.

The missing inverter should not prevent shore power coming into the rig and powering your a/c circuits unless the previous owner set much of the a/c to run through the inverter which would be unusual. You will want to check for voltage at your circuit breakers. Since your converter is working it appears some a/c is getting into the rig.

It may be worthwhile getting professional help.

**scottz** · 04-24-2021, 09:12 PM

The only reason you would need an INVERTER is to run AC things off your battery when you do not have shore power. When hooked up to shore power there is no need for an inverter. Carl is correct, almost 100% sure that unit did not come from Keystone with an inverter. Those mods were made by the owner.

Like Zack said, it looks like the previous owner split into the shore power cable. Perhaps had a transfer switch and inverter installed. I would be careful; when you plug into shore power, one of those cables may be hot with 120VAC. Disconnect from shore power until you figure this out. With only three conductors, that unit must be 30A.

Got a multimeter? First, disconnect from shore power, then make sure there is no voltage on either of those cables. Next, ohm those cables out. One of them might go to the the AC breaker panel/converter and the other to the shore power cord. If you don't have the equipment or are not comfortable working on it; get some help.

JMickulin · 04-24-2021, 09:29 PM

So in my first pic of the two wires, one set is 6 gauge and the other set is 10 gauge so I know it wasn't the same wire. Both sets of wires went into something(my guess is an inverter). But you guys are saying i shouldn't need an inverter? The big 6 gauge set of wires is hot when I plug into shore power.

**scottz** · 04-24-2021, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMickulin

So in my first pic of the two wires, one set is 6 gauge and the other set is 10 gauge so I know it wasn't the same wire. Both sets of wires went into something(my guess is an inverter). But you guys are saying i shouldn't need an inverter? The big 6 gauge set of wires is hot when I plug into shore power.

My best guess is one of those cables (#6) is incoming shore power. The other is owner installed going to the AC breaker panel/converter. The missing parts are a transfer switch and an inverter. The incoming shore power might have been connected to one side of a transfer switch, the inverter to the other side of the transfer switch and the output of the transfer switch heading to the breaker panel. If that is correct, hooking those two cables together with wire nuts should restore normal ops, or (disclaimer here, remember this is the internet) it might burn your new 5th wheel down. Once you get things back to normal, you can decide if you want an inverter or not. I would not mess with it if I did not have a meter and the know how to use it.

mhs4771 · 04-25-2021, 08:06 AM

My guess is that the original owner had a Good EMS installed that they removed.
Buy yourself a good EMS and install it between those two leads and you should be in business.

**scottz** · 04-25-2021, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhs4771

My guess is that the original owner had a Good EMS installed that they removed.
Buy yourself a good EMS and install it between those two leads and you should be in business.

I had not thought about that; yes, a hard wired EMS would also fit the situation.

Ram Montana High Country · 04-25-2021, 08:13 AM

wonder if that was an EMS removed?

Ram Montana High Country · 04-25-2021, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ram Montana High Country

wonder if that was an EMS removed?

oops - didn't read them all. guess an easy test would be to connect wires TEMPORAIRLY for full function???

**Carl n Susan** · 04-25-2021, 08:49 AM

If it were an EMS, why the step down from 6 Ga. to 10 Ga. wire? Wouldn't you normally cut the 6 Ga and insert the EMS into it?

jrmart77 · 04-25-2021, 09:27 AM

I have a 2016 MHC 353RL with Residential 3 door refrigerator with ice maker. It has an inverter which is mounted to the ceiling of the storage area. From the pictures JMickulin posted, that is where my inverter is mounted. The frig is plugged into an outlet that is wired to the inverter. So yes, some High Country models did come with an inverter if they had a Residential refrigerator.

**scottz** · 04-25-2021, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl n Susan

If it were an EMS, why the step down from 6 Ga. to 10 Ga. wire? Wouldn't you normally cut the 6 Ga and insert the EMS into it?

Factory wiring probably not long enough to insert the EMS. The previous owner had a piece of 10ga and used it.

**scottz** · 04-25-2021, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrmart77

I have a 2016 MHC 353RL with Residential 3 door refrigerator with ice maker. It has an inverter which is mounted to the ceiling of the storage area. From the pictures JMickulin posted, that is where my inverter is mounted. The frig is plugged into an outlet that is wired to the inverter. So yes, some High Country models did come with an inverter if they had a Residential refrigerator.

He need to let us know if he has a residential fridge or not. If the previous owner took out an inverter needed for the fridge, the guy should be ............

rohrmann · 04-25-2021, 10:31 AM

If you look at the top photos, there are three #6 wires and one #8, which would be the ground wire. I can’t tell if the ground is insulated or bare, but on our rig the ground is bare as was the short piece of cable I bought from Lowe’s when I installed our EMS.

JMickulin · 04-25-2021, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottz

He need to let us know if he has a residential fridge or not. If the previous owner took out an inverter needed for the fridge, the guy should be ............

Doesn't look like a residential fridge to me, well at least comparing it to the residential one in my Open Range(trailer I'm replacing)

JMickulin · 04-25-2021, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottz

My best guess is one of those cables (#6) is incoming shore power. The other is owner installed going to the AC breaker panel/converter. The missing parts are a transfer switch and an inverter. The incoming shore power might have been connected to one side of a transfer switch, the inverter to the other side of the transfer switch and the output of the transfer switch heading to the breaker panel. If that is correct, hooking those two cables together with wire nuts should restore normal ops, or (disclaimer here, remember this is the internet) it might burn your new 5th wheel down. Once you get things back to normal, you can decide if you want an inverter or not. I would not mess with it if I did not have a meter and the know how to use it. PM me if you want to talk on the phone.

Hahaha!! Love the internet disclaimer. I am fairly handy with wires and have a good multimeter to use. I am headed to my shop now to temporarily connect those wires a s see if I have shore power.

JMickulin · 04-25-2021, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrmart77

I have a 2016 MHC 353RL with Residential 3 door refrigerator with ice maker. It has an inverter which is mounted to the ceiling of the storage area. From the pictures JMickulin posted, that is where my inverter is mounted. The frig is plugged into an outlet that is wired to the inverter. So yes, some High Country models did come with an inverter if they had a Residential refrigerator.

Jrmart77 that is exactly where these wires are and where I can see the mount holes of what used to be there. Can you tell me what make and model your inverter is by chance?

**scottz** · 04-25-2021, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMickulin

Doesn't look like a residential fridge to me, well at least comparing it to the residential one in my Open Range(trailer I'm replacing)

Does your fridge has the option to run on gas? If so, it is not a residential fridge.

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