Inverter Problems

dvideohd · Oct 2, 2008

Have You...

1 - looked at the user manual - to see if your expectation was right?

2 - if you don't have a user manual - did you call the MFR and ask for customer support - to see if this is right?

3 - there may be good truth in what you were told.. depends on how the AC is hooked up... you DON"T want your inverter driving SHORE POWER... that could be very bad....

So there might be a wiring diagram - since you did pay a good bit - showing the connections...

4 - I also suggest going to the Web Site and looking for more insight.. a google search with your unit's name - and checking user forums - might help too...

5 - AC is something that CAN be dangerous.. so it's good that your are cautious.. that makes a good position when you go get more information....

--jr

Steve Dion · Oct 2, 2008

Re: Have You...

Mary:

I think you had someone that really did not know what they were doing on this installation. The purpose of your charger/inverter is to do exactly what you expected. Based on the price you paid, you technician should have told you that there was something wrong with your wiring (if that was the case) or should have followed the instructions to install it properly.

I took a little different approach and purchased a charger and a seperate inverter which I plan on installing or having it installed this winter. I hope that I find someone that know what they are doing too.

Buck420 · Oct 3, 2008

MaryC

I completely agree w/ Steve, the entire reason to have an inverter is to invert DC to AC so that you can use your AC equipment when disconnected from shore power.
I would find another person knowledgable in boat electrical wiring and ask him to check your boat's wiring and the inverter installation. Based upon this "second opinion" you'll be better able to decide what to do.

seadaddler · Oct 3, 2008

My Inverter

I had a freedom 2500 inverter/charger installed at the hunter factory and it works the way you expected it to work.
What model inverter did you buy.
I also have a controller panel for the inverter to do all the different things that it does,charger off or on inverter off or on and rate of charge and Amp hours.
Again what model unit so maybe we can copare and help you out.
Like already mentioned you need to be careful with the shore power and inverter hooked up properly.
Nick
Just got from Florida and see this new forum set up,how do I post photo in this posting.

Don S/V ILLusion · Oct 3, 2008

MaryC said:
I bought a Xantrex Freedom inverter/charger and paid $800 to have it "professionally" installed - as I am uncomfortable working with AC power. I thought it would be set up so that when I'm plugged into shore power I'm using my AC outlets and the charger is busy charging the batteries, and when I'm not plugged in my AC outlets would still work so I could use my computer, watch t.v. etc. The brochure implied that the inverter would automatically switch over, and that I just needed to be smart enough to make sure and turn off the water heater....

Instead only the charger part works. The installer told me that on my boat it couldn't be hooked up so I can use the outlets and that I have to plug any appliances directly into the inverter (basically running extension cords around) - but that doesn't work either. They installed the inverter in a bin under the settee has no ventilation. They also did not install the fuse between the battery and the inverter as called for in the manual.

So, I'm curious if anyone has experience with this -- I'm not sure what to do next. I'd hate to be ripped off by someone else trying to get this to work... did I just have unrealistic expectations on this?

Mary
It does sound like your so-called professional installer was not!

Almost any inverter can be connected such that it automatically switches over upon disconnecting shore power and any boat can be wired so as to power the existing outlets from the inverter. Whoever did the work for you either didn't know what he was doing or simply was too lazy to do it properly.
There is no excuse for even an amateur to not properly fuse the inverter.

For no other reason than the fuse, you really should have someone whom you can trust re-do it correctly and the best way to get there from here is to ask around locally for someone who is reputable and experienced in marine electrical work before spending any more money.

John Nantz · Oct 3, 2008

A couple thoughts....

First off, I agree with the previous posters that the inverter should provide AC to the outlets when you're not on shorepower. That's what inverters are for.

Second, the required fuse is probably not included with the inverter because of it's expense. I have an older Heart inverter and the fuse, fuse block, cable, and terminals were all extras.

Depending on how the "contract" was worded, providing the fuse MAY be an extra.

Third, to determine if the installation met the requirements for a proper installation, a licensed surveyor should be able to make that judgement but ... that's extra cost. If you bought the boat used and had it surveyed, especially recently, perhaps the surveyor would do this relatively cheap. I've found that some surveyors refuse to look at a boat unless they do a total survey for liability reasons so this part could be difficult.

What a bummer.

You did good coming here, though, to get some feedback. Hope it helps.

Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi · Oct 5, 2008

Re: A couple thoughts....

My H356 inverter charges when hooked to shore power and the shore power provides the ac power. When the ac is unplugged, it automatically shifts to inverter power. You either bought the wrong inverter or had someone installing it that didn't know what they were doing. You will need a controller panel to make the transition from shore ac to inverter ac, but that is generally included with most large inverters. Please tell us what kind of inverter you bought.

shemandr · Oct 5, 2008

I'm not an expert and don't even have the background of other posters but I have a Xantrex/Freedom system installed on my H356. Your expectations are basically OK although you can't expect to run on invert as if you were plugged in to AC 110 volt. It would drain your battery to watch TV for hours for example.
When we wish to run an AC appliance, coffee maker for example, we switch to the invert function by pressing the invert button of the Xantrex controller and then plug the coffee maker in and start it. The controller is supposed to sense the AC load and begin inverting. That's the way mine works. There is an adjustment on the controller that adjusts the sensitivity of the unit to a load to know when to start inverting - I think (I'm sorry I don't have the manuel handy to name that adjustment for you). Perhaps that adjustment is preventing your unit from inverting when called to.
BYW we now heat water on the propane stove and pour it into the Mr Coffee because I find the inverter draws too much from the battery. I use the inverter to recharge batteries for my phone or computer and other shorter lower load functions. Maybe my batteries are tired but ........

seadaddler · Oct 5, 2008

Xantrex Freedom Inverter/Charger

I have a 2000 Xantrex Freedom Inverter/Charger with the optional control panel and pretty much the control panel turns on and off the Inverter when needed,this control panel does control the Inverter/Charger.
When first turning on shore power the charger does go into charging automatically but can be turned off at any time from the charge mode on the panel which also gives all info on what the batteries are doing and what the charging system is doing,pretty much it acts as a battery monitoring gauge.
If I turn off the shore power and turn on the inverter it automatically connects to all electric outlets and the AC panel which has breakers for the Microwave which does suck up a lot of battery and you will need a big bank to run it,once the inverter is switched on any thing that is connected to the main AC breaker panel can work off the inverter,I have one large bank of two 4D's and a starter battery.
What model Xantrex Freedom Inverter/Charger do you have and than some one can give info from their manual.
Nick

Rick D · Oct 5, 2008

Simply Wrong

Mary, the installation is wrong.

Ask around and get another professional to look at it. You can also check the installation vs. the manual yourself.

Regardless, the Freedom series should do exactly as you expected.

The missing fuse is certainly an alarm!

Good luck and let us know what you find out.

windward54 · Oct 5, 2008

Mary, it does sound like your technician installed your inverter/charger incorrectly. The guy who installed mine told me he wouldn't install the unit without a fuse unless I signed a full release. Needless to say, I have a fuse. Just one thing to add to what the others offered. My tech suggested that I have the system wired so that the hot water heater could not be operated by the inverter. That way if I wouldn't kill my house batteries by accidentally leaving the water heater on.

A second opinion is a smal price to pay for peace of mind.

larryw · Oct 9, 2008

Inverter

I've dealt with three so called marine electricians. None of them was worth spit. I battled one guy for two years over problems on my boat, and finally ended up just taking the time and doing it myself. For your problem, you know of course that you have to turn on the inverter function separately from the charger function, and also turn on the AC outlets at your AC panel.