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Topic: Inverter replacement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi (Read 603 times) previous topic - next topic

Inverter replacement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Hi folks, asking for a friend...

Craig & Nancy Berger who have a 2003 U320 are parked at the Hattiesburg, Mississippi KOA for the next two weeks. On their way home from Branson and Nacogdoches. 

Their "stock" Xantrex Prosine Inverter/Charger 2.5 is dead. In need of a replacement Inverter to keep that residential fridge running on the road when they head back to Florida.

Anyone have any recommendations for a reputable Tech or facility in that area of Mississippi that you would recommend?

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

Re: Inverter replacement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Reply #1 –
Jeff as a workaround could the use a smaller inverter dedicated just for the fridge?

Re: Inverter replacement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Reply #2 –
I also recommend a separate inverter that is connected to house battery and with an extension cord fed somehow up to fridge area. Covers fridge while the best choice of inverter charger can be researched and installed.

Earlier this year, our first choice Magnum was on 4-month backorder everywhere, so getting a temp fix takes pressure off.

There may also be a need for a separate battery charger to keep battery under charge while plugged into shore power.

This failure does highlight that all with these wall mounted inverter chargers and other old brands, should pro-actively change them out when there is time to get the job done. They WILL all fail, so it is better to do it before it needs to be done, and eliminate a serious mid-trip failure.

New inverter installation may require changes to bay mounting and new monitor cable run into coach. Some will measure current usage over time and handle generator autostart.

Re: Inverter replacement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Reply #3 –
Quote from: dsd –
Jeff as a workaround could the use a smaller inverter dedicated just for the fridge?
Hi Scott, Barry- those are good ideas, that's how my system is set up. A Victron Multiplus and a Victron Phoenix 1200 for the fridge and front- end electronics.

At 15 years aged, if you still have a working original Inverter, you are on "borrowed time", The Inverter will fail...

Craig, the owner has limited tools with him and limited electrical knowledge. He's definately looking for a final solution to resolve the dead inverter before he takes off in two weeks. He's got some time. I suggested he get a smart charger, plug it into the AC outlet and keep the house batteries charged.

Not being from the area, he was hoping a fellow Foretravel owner might have some local recommendations for a respectable technician or shop.

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

Re: Inverter replacement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Reply #4 –
Jeff if he just wants to limp home I have a working Prosine 2.5 I can lend him.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Inverter replacement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Reply #5 –
The OEM Taytronic inverter (that came with many coaches) will last forever but is not efficient. The big problem is having an integrated inverter/converter and having a failure with either one. Then you find yourself in the present situation.

Any truck stop, Harbor Freight, etc, etc will have a sine wave inverter that is easy to install. Ebay or Amazon can ship it so it's only a day or two at the most away.

Pierce

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

Re: Inverter replacement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Reply #6 –
A update here on this problem:  lacking any recommendations towards a local technician or reputable repair shop to come onsite. Craig started to check a few things with the tools he had on-hand.

We discussed exactly what he's observed regarding operations in the coach and symptoms.
#1. He initially reported, "The Prosine was dead"... OK. But he's plugged into 50amp AC at the KOA.
#2. Advised Craig to get a stand alone 120v smart battery charger to attach to and maintain his three 8D batteries.
#3. After a day of charging the batteries with the Schumacker smart battery charger connected at the Prosine Inverter 12 volt +/- terminals, (had him shut off the AC breaker to the Inverter). He noticed in the morning, the Schumacker smart battery charge stopped charging and the fault light was on???
#4. Had him measure the house batteries voltage, (at the Inverter posts), 11.4V DC. Not good... No substantial charging.

#5. Suspect a bad battery?
#6. Asked Craig,  confirm the inverter works in INVERT MODE ? Meaning, with shore power removed, turn on the Inverter, does the residential fridge and microwave come on, and stay on, if even for a short time? Answer= YES,
hum...
#7. Recommended carefully pulling the cables off each MK AGM house battery and check voltage individually... Not an easy task on this U320, as the batteries are buried in the middle of the bus... 

Battery #3 read zero volts. BAD BATTERY, other two batteries around ~11.4v

He's looking for a replacement 8D AGM now. Think when he gets this new battery installed, it should resolve his issues. Did recommend scheduling to get that Prosine replaced as it's lifespan is limited at thus point, (almost 20 years old). Its a smart preventavive maintenance action to take on... Also recommend load testing the other two remaining A8D batteries to measure capacity. Interestingly, the bad battery had a 10/19 manufacture date on it.

So, we think he'll be able to get on the road and have power...

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

Re: Inverter replacement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Reply #7 –
I would stongly recommend changing all 3 batteries. 11.4 is below 10% SOC. Odds are this is not the first time this bank has been this low. The life cycle is basically gone for all of them. Replacing the 1 bad battery, the new one will very soon become like the rest. Very short run time before they are below 50%, which you really should never take acid technology batteries below. Life cycle is gone. If in a pinch unhook the bad one, fully charge the other 2 with the schmaker charger and then test that the alternator to see if it will maintain charge while driving back to a good shop. My 2 cents
Also make sure when you unhook you isolate the loose terminals.  This bank is in parallel.
Good Luck
Alan
99 U320 40
97 Jeep wrangler toad
Now full time 8 months
Starting a new brick and wood home
Chattanooga, Tn

Re: Inverter replacement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Reply #8 –
Quote from: alan1958 –
I would stongly recommend changing all 3 batteries. 11.4 is below 10% SOC. Odds are this is not the first time this bank has been this low. The life cycle is basically gone for all of them. Replacing the 1 bad battery, the new one will very soon become like the rest. Very short run time before they are below 50%, which you really should never take acid technology batteries below. Life cycle is gone. If in a pinch unhook the bad one, fully charge the other 2 with the schmaker charger and then test that the alternator to see if it will maintain charge while driving back to a good shop. My 2 cents
Also make sure when you unhook you isolate the loose terminals.  This bank is in parallel.
Good Luck
Alan

Alan,  I agree 100%...  11.4v is not kind to these batteries...
Also, he may still have a problem with the charger side of the Prosine. So once he gets these batteries replaced I've recommended he watch closely voltage on the bank... I also recommended replace the 19 year old Prosine sooner than later.

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

Re: Inverter replacement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Reply #9 –
NO smart charger will attempt to charge that deeply discharged a battery.

Either jump from another battery or use a "stupid"/automotive charger to get voltage up to 12 or so where the smart charger will take over.

Not suggesting this is the root cause of the issue, but be careful condemning the inverter/charger if this is just bad batteries or just deeply discharged batteries.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Inverter replacement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Reply #10 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
NO smart charger will attempt to charge that deeply discharged a battery.

Either jump from another battery or use a "stupid"/automotive charger to get voltage up to 12 or so where the smart charger will take over.

Not suggesting this is the root cause of the issue, but be careful condemning the inverter/charger if this is just bad batteries or just deeply discharged batteries.

Brett - Good point, I was nervous that his remaining batteries were at or entering that state... I think he's at that state now.

Tonight I asked what the status was. He's taken the 0v dead battery out of the configuration. The two batteries are saying they are at 12.59v, (that's combined) after charging seperately all day. Which, I suggested isolating them, then check voltage, SOC again.  That's still not good, all three batteries are toast, I think. 

Craig mentioned that the Schumacker charger is still saying "fault", while charging combined batteries.

He's checked 8D batteries in the area at auto parts stores (O'Riellys) they can get one by Monday, then the other two are 5 days out. Supply chain issues... We have a Motorcade member who is a battery distributer about 130 miles away, he's going him a call to see about availability. 

Think jumping these batteries individually from his car might get the voltage up to where the schumacker might  be able to charge until he can replace all three 8D's?

Thanks JL



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

Re: Inverter replacement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Reply #11 –
I would look at all of my options 12.59 v is bad if this is voltage after charge. I agree an old cheap 10 amp buzz box for a long period then let sit for 4 hours and see resting voltage. People used to boil the acid and sulfite out of batteries with a long charge then replace the acid with new recharge and sell as reconditioned.  I used a lot of them for years in old tractors and farm trucks. Just stinks during the process. Brett is correct prosine is probably good. It is a smart charger and once a bank of batteries go south it is lost. I almost condemned my xantrex because of batteries and my impatience.  Replaced my 3 8ds with Chinese prismatic 4s4p for 480amh and xantrex maintain around 80% soc. When I drive b2b will take to 100%. Chinese prismatic are 50% less than 3 years ago. I have let them sit for 6 months with disconnect off and 13.22 v exactly with several test tools. The real question, does he want temp fix to get home or what is his end game. Throwing and money and not fixing the problem cost way more. Gen set driving burns .5 to.75 gal per hour. Cost of 1 battery is about 60 hours of run time.
99 U320 40
97 Jeep wrangler toad
Now full time 8 months
Starting a new brick and wood home
Chattanooga, Tn