Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: craneman on November 11, 2016, 09:44:45 pm
Title: Inverter delay
Post by: craneman on November 11, 2016, 09:44:45 pm
Has anyone had the problem of the inverter delaying after shutting down the generator? When I turn the generator off the satellite and television shut down and have to be restarted. The work around is to turn off the main at the panel first then shut down generator and no loss of television or satellite. I don't want to wear out the main breaker and am looking for another solution.
Title: Re: Inverter delay
Post by: red tractor on November 11, 2016, 09:52:15 pm
That is also the way ours works. I have to turn off the breaker to keep all clocks and televisions working.
Title: Re: Inverter delay
Post by: jcus on November 11, 2016, 09:58:25 pm
Has anyone had the problem of the inverter delaying after shutting down the generator? When I turn the generator off the satellite and television shut down and have to be restarted. The work around is to turn off the main at the panel first then shut down generator and no loss of television or satellite. I don't want to wear out the main breaker and am looking for another solution.
I had same problem. I ran 10 gauge wires from front pass 12volt panel to overhead next to tv, and installed small [300 watt] inverter for tv, stereo and sat. It is on all the time, so no problem with tv etc shutting down. A bonus, you can shut off big inverter when dry camping and save that load on batteries.
Title: Re: Inverter delay
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on November 11, 2016, 10:49:50 pm
Must depend on the inverter. We do not have this delay. If I am on generator (or shore power) and I turn my manual transfer switch to the "OFF" position, the inverter takes up the load instantly. There is no perceptible flicker or change in any electronic device in the coach. The TV does not notice the change in power supply. We have a Magnum MS2812.
Title: Re: Inverter delay
Post by: jcus on November 11, 2016, 11:21:38 pm
Must depend on the inverter. We do not have this delay. If I am on generator (or shore power) and I turn my manual transfer switch to the "OFF" position, the inverter takes up the load instantly. There is no perceptible flicker or change in any electronic device in the coach. The TV does not notice the change in power supply. We have a Magnum MS2812.
Very possible, had a cheaper xantrex 2000 watt inverter/charger, no problems. Now have high dollar outback, that drops the tv etc before taking over the load, that is why I got the dedicated inverter for tv etc. Just depends on inverter design.
Title: Re: Inverter delay
Post by: craneman on November 12, 2016, 10:03:19 am
I am thinking it has something to do with having 2 ats boxes and a built in ats in the Xantrex SW 3012 I like the idea of the separate inverter fro satellite and tv up front, not sure how difficult to run the wire across the overhead. The vertical from the power panel up would be fairly simple. Thanks for the ideas.
Title: Re: Inverter delay
Post by: red tractor on November 12, 2016, 07:36:45 pm
Chuck I think you said the key word when you said turned off the main switch I always notice a short delay when plugging in the shore power before hearing the transfer switch engage
Title: Re: Inverter delay
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on November 12, 2016, 09:16:31 pm
Chuck I think you said the key word when you said turned off the main switch I always notice a short delay when plugging in the shore power before hearing the transfer switch engage
Sorry, but I didn't say "main switch"...I said "manual transfer switch". Not the same thing. You are talking about experiencing a time delay which is built into your ATS (automatic transfer switch). We do not have a ATS - I replaced ours with a manual switch. I can have our generator running at the same time we are plugged into shore power. If I move my manual transfer switch from "SHORE" to "GEN", there is no delay. Same going from "GEN" to "SHORE"...the change from one AC source to the other is immediate. If I then place the manual transfer switch in the "OFF" position, both 110V sources are isolated, and our inverter takes up the load, instantly.
Title: Re: Inverter delay
Post by: Barry & Cindy on November 13, 2016, 01:26:19 am
Since the delay is only when generator is turned off, it may be that as the generator is winding down, some electronics sense 'bad' electric quality and disconnect. And this happens before inverter's built-in transfer switch feels the same and determines that the generator voltage is zero. This is a common problem that happens to different model electronics, inverters, generator, etc. Many have fought this problem and you are hearing about some of the solutions, like dedicated inverters that power the electronics all the time and other ideas. Not all coachs suffer this dilemma. Some have put the inverter under the bed so one Romex power cable is powered by a separate inverter that has a large diameter 12 volt cable connected to the battery.
Title: Re: Inverter delay
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on November 13, 2016, 08:34:18 am
OK, I think Barry's comments are right on the mark, and explain how I am avoiding this problem by using a manual transfer switch! When I use my switch, I am doing essentially the same thing as craneman when he opens his main breaker. We are both isolating the generator before we shut it down. By doing that, our inverters never see the "winding down" generator phase - all they see is a instant total loss of power from the generator, which triggers the inverter to start.
In craneman's case, the only solution I see is to install a heavy duty switch somewhere in the generator circuit that does exactly the same thing as "turning off the main" breaker. Or, as suggested, install a smaller dedicated stand-alone inverter to power "sensitive" devices.
OR, just keep using the main breaker, and replace it when it wears out. 8)
Title: Re: Inverter delay
Post by: craneman on November 13, 2016, 10:23:30 am
OK, I think Barry's comments are right on the mark, and explain how I am avoiding this problem by using a manual transfer switch! When I use my switch, I am doing essentially the same thing as craneman when he opens his main breaker. We are both isolating the generator before we shut it down. By doing that, our inverters never see the "winding down" generator phase - all they see is a instant total loss of power from the generator, which triggers the inverter to start.
In craneman's case, the only solution I see is to install a heavy duty switch somewhere in the generator circuit that does exactly the same thing as "turning off the main" breaker. Or, as suggested, install a smaller dedicated stand-alone inverter to power "sensitive" devices.
OR, just keep using the main breaker, and replace it when it wears out. 8)
You know it will wear out while on vacation at the worse possible time. You have just gave me the solution, carry a spare main breaker and continue as I am doing.