Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Inverter faulting from lightning strike (Read 374 times) previous topic - next topic

Inverter faulting from lightning strike

Had and issue last night when parked at a parking pullover in Wyoming. Lightning strike in the distance and all power went out. Cleared faults and everything came back on. Got me to thinking about all the spares I carry that I will add an inverter before the next trip. With our residential refrigerator an inverter failure would stop the trip right then. I have an older sw3000 Xantrex siting at the shop at home and it will be with me next time.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Inverter faulting from lightning strike

Reply #1 –
Quote from: craneman –
Got me to thinking about all the spares I carry that I will add an inverter before the next trip. With our residential refrigerator an inverter failure would stop the trip right then.

I have had a refrigerator,  generator, AC unit, battery charger, or slide not coming in failures on different trips.  They may have slowed me down but have not stopped a trip. Now no air, busted belt for engine water pump, or engine not starting has put a damper to a trip.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Inverter faulting from lightning strike

Reply #2 –
Just doesn't make sense to have a good inverter charger at home and have to buy one to keep a trip on track.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Inverter faulting from lightning strike

Reply #3 –
Chuck,

I bought an extra Magnum 2000 watt sine wave inverter for $60 that was almost new. I also have another new 1500 watt sine wave and a 1500 watt Trace MSW inverter so can switch over easily. They are small and light so no big deal having one on board for a backup. I like to have a separate sine wave inverter for the microwave so it's fast like home and another for the TV, electronics. Easy to modify the box so circuits 2 and 5 all work off one inverter.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Inverter faulting from lightning strike

Reply #4 –
Getting my refrigerator and the front electronics on separate inverters has been on my to do it list.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Inverter faulting from lightning strike

Reply #5 –
Chuck,

Quote-
"Getting my refrigerator and the front electronics on separate inverters has been on my to do it list."

Great idea! Redundancy with regards to your 120V AC generation.

As you probably know several of us use the Victron Phoenix 12/1200 inverter, (or similar Inverter)  to power the residential fridge and front-end electronics. You have a significant Solar investment on board that will act as the energy source to the batteries and the Phoenix Inverter.

My thinking is, I can get a replacement "xyz" inverter on the road in three days or less in a hurry. should my main Inverter fail.  I carry alot of tools too. I'd have a HUGE problem on my hands if I lost power to the residential fridge on the road. I'd likely spend $$$ running the generator. The Solar plus the Phoenix provide me redundancy until I can resolve the main AC inverter issues on the road.

BTW, as Inverters age capacitors dry out, it's the number one failure point. At the 15+ year lifespan  point, the likelyhood of an Inverter failure increases dramatically.

Just my two cents the redundancy approach...
Jeff


Jeff & Kristen
2002 U320 build #6039
Living the Dream!

Re: Inverter faulting from lightning strike

Reply #6 –
I all ready have that inverter at home thanks to Roger's suggestion. What has been holding me up is whether to mount under the bed and have an A/B type of switching so I can switch at bedtime to turn off the Power hungry Xantrex SW 3012. or mount under the big drawer in the kitchen and splice into the Romex. DW needs the coffee maker and not sure the Victron is up for it along with the refrigerator.

















w
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Inverter faulting from lightning strike

Reply #7 –
Most all inverters including the 1989 1500 watt Trace MSW inverter I purchased new, can easily have a remote switch fitted so you only have to run a couple of wires or even do it wireless. Here is a link to a YouTube page with lots of remote ways to turn your inverter on/off. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=remote+inverter+switch

Nice to install the inverter so the ventilation is good. Some inverters are good for another 500 watts if a fan blows on them.

Some inverters will have a sleep position that pings the coach every second and only comes on if an appliance is turned on. They will have some dip switches or software so the parasitic AC load is below the threshold and allow it to sleep unless you turn on the TV, micro, etc.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)
 

Re: Inverter faulting from lightning strike

Reply #8 –
Hum... Chuck, think you are correct that the Phoenix 1200 does not have the power required to operate both applIiances... The coffee maker will push it to hard.

Residential Fridge, compressor start ~ 800 watts
Home coffee maker ~ 1400 watts

Roger's design, which we also implemented keeps things simple, with seperate loud circuits. The Phoenix is dedicated to the Samsung fridge and front--end electronics. Always on.  The large Victron Inverter can be easily switched off if we need to conserve the 12V battery bank.  We've found since adding the solar and Lifo batteries, hardly ever need to switch off the large Inverter anymore.

Jeff
Jeff & Kristen
2002 U320 build #6039
Living the Dream!