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XANTREX Inverter / Charger Issues

March 27, 2019, 09:47:16 pm

The previous owner changed out the original inverter / charger with an xantrex freedom SW 2012 sinewave invert / charger.  The date of manufacture is 01/SEP/2016.  The inverter function has not worked since I have owned the coach (~4 months).  The charger portion appears to work as the house batteries are always 12.6+ volts.  The house batteries where checked out a few weeks ago by Foretravel and passed inspection.

The inverter is putting out 88 to 98 volts in both the on and off position.  I got different readings over the few days of testing it.  I am checking the voltage at the transfer switch under the bed.  I isolated the incoming line from the inverter to the transfer switch and got the same voltage.  I thought I might have had a poor connection so I removed the inverter and checked the connections.  The connections where a little loose.  I also checked the voltage at the inverter out connection only to get the exact same voltage reading.

I went through the configuration settings and verified the settings per the owners manual.  I am improperly swapping over to inverter power?  Is there anything else to check or change?  Is it possible the inverter is bad after only a few years? 

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Re: XANTREX Inverter / Charger Issues

Reply #1 – March 27, 2019, 10:01:31 pm

Some troubleshooting is needed.

First 12.6  VDC at the house battery bank is NOT OK if on shore power with inverter/charger working.  Should be in low 13's.

And if not on shore power, generator and inverter OFF, there should be ZERO VAC to any circuits supplied by the inverter.

With shore power on, the transfer switch built into your inverter charger will merely "pass through" voltage that arrives to it from the breaker in the main 120 VAC breaker box.

Pull out your digital voltmeter and verify battery voltage at house battery and at lugs on inverter/charger.

If you are safe working around 120 VAC, check for voltage IN to the inverter/charger when shore power is on.  Also, voltage OUT (any outlet downstream of the inverter/charger can be checked). Should be same as reading at plug you are plugged into (assuming 30 or 50 amp CG outlet).

Then disconnect from shore power, generator off.  Turn inverter ON and check AC voltage at outlets supplied by the inverter.

Let us know what you find.

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Re: XANTREX Inverter / Charger Issues

Reply #2 – March 27, 2019, 10:15:13 pm

Brett - thank you for the troubleshooting tips.  I don't remember the exact readings in the various conditions you list.  I will verify these things this weekend when I get a chance to work on the RV again. 

I can say with certainty that there was voltage at the output of the inverter 110VAC with everything off and disconnected from shore power.

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Re: XANTREX Inverter / Charger Issues

Reply #3 – March 27, 2019, 10:27:15 pm

Glad Brett is helping you.  If that does not get issue resolved, Xantrex has a transferable two year warranty.  Can you check with prev owner when they bought it or from whom?

http://www.xantrex.com/power-products-support/warranty-policy.aspx

What voltages are you getting on the remote panel? Have you gone thru the menue to see if it is showing any faults?

Make sure the search mode is off, can be disabled thru the menu.

See page 71 in the manual to help resolve your issue.
xantrex sw2012 pdf manual

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