Inverter for fridge is not powering

slmckel · 10-23-2015, 07:54 AM

Hi. When I press the inverter switch button, the green light comes on, but I do not hear a "click" and the fridge does not power up. (Fridge is fine on shore power or generator.) Is there a breaker some where for the inverter? I could not feel one on it. It is mounted in the enclosed compartment above the propane tank on driver's side. Someone mentioned a bad relay? Thanks!

Witch Doctor · 10-23-2015, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slmckel

Hi. When I press the inverter switch button, the green light comes on, but I do not hear a "click" and the fridge does not power up. (Fridge is fine on shore power or generator.) Is there a breaker some where for the inverter? I could not feel one on it. It is mounted in the enclosed compartment above the propane tank on driver's side. Someone mentioned a bad relay? Thanks!

Don't know what invertor you have but check for a fuse on it.

TURBS · 10-23-2015, 08:10 AM

If the green light is coming on then it is obviously turning on.

Have you checked output voltage on the inverter?

TURBS
2008 duramax
2015 columbus 320RS
2015 camping "31 nights"

doc73 · 10-23-2015, 08:12 AM

Or the battery... Could it be to low to supply the power for the fridge but enough to light it up.

TURBS · 10-23-2015, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc73

Or the battery... Could it be to low to supply the power for the fridge but enough to light it up.

True

TURBS
2008 duramax
2015 columbus 320RS
2015 camping "31 nights"

ScottBrownstein · 10-23-2015, 11:12 AM

There is a GFI on the inverter itself where the frig is plugged it. I bet that it has popped. Mine did that. The remote switch will glow green since the inverter doesn't know the GFI is popped. Bet that is your problem.

TURBS · 10-23-2015, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottBrownstein

There is a GFI on the inverter itself where the frig is plugged it. I bet that it has popped. Mine did that. The remote switch will glow green since the inverter doesn't know the GFI is popped. Bet that is your problem.

Good catch.

TURBS
2008 duramax
2015 columbus 320RS
2015 camping "31 nights"

rdenslow · 10-23-2015, 01:10 PM

With mine, if I don't remember to turn it off before plugging in shore power, it will not work when I go back to the invertor. Each time this happens I have to pull the fuse for a few seconds with the switch off, reinstall the fuse and power it back up. It's a pain and happens often...

ScottBrownstein · 10-23-2015, 01:18 PM

That is possible depending on the model of inverter and the installation. Georgetown uses a Xantrex inverter and a Xantrex transfer switch dedicated to the reefer. I suppose it could trigger what you are describing but if I remember correctly, the Xantrex ProWatt inverters do not have an external fuse. In addition, if the fuse needed to be removed I would expect that the remote switch would not glow green in the interim.

14 CC 38CK · 10-23-2015, 02:27 PM

I am gonna have to check mine because when I tried to use it this summer it didn't work either

ozarkcamper · 10-23-2015, 05:00 PM

I have the same issue with my'15 320RS. Works on shore power but not off batteries or when connected to tow vehicle.

Still Kickin · 10-23-2015, 05:28 PM

Inverter has a fuse, check that. Also, most have a "pass through" when hooked to shore power, allowing 120v to pass through the inverter, since it's not needed to "invert" on that circuit, while on shore power. Sounds like an issue with either the GFIC, or fuse on the 12v side. Just a hunch.

ozarkcamper · 10-23-2015, 05:48 PM

Thx, will ck. Fuse is ok. Where is the GFIC located for the fridge

ScottBrownstein · 10-23-2015, 05:49 PM

There is a lot of confusion on this forum regarding converters and inverters. While there are inverters that actually have a "pass through" mode, some units use inverters that do not offer this function. Xantrex offers both and a pass through unit in effect has an integral transfer switch...hence the pass through mode. FR uses Xantrex ProSine and ProWatt units. ProSine has a pass through (yellow unit) and ProWatt doesn't (black unit.) Georgetown uses ProWatt...no fuse, no pass through and a separate transfer switch.

Vince and Charlette · 10-23-2015, 06:34 PM

Be sure the "Battery Control" is in the connect position. Also, as previously noted, the Xantrex has a reset on the GFCI outlet that controls the refrigerator. I found my finger didn't push the button in far enough to reset it. But it worked with the end of my pen.

efgsr47 · 10-25-2015, 10:23 AM

check that all battery connections are tight. Mine worked on shore and generator but did not work with inverter. The ground battery cable was not tight and did not make good connection. Tighten the ground and all works great

ScottBrownstein · 10-25-2015, 10:33 AM

My bet is on the GFI since the remote switch is glowing green which indicates that the inverter is powered.

efgsr47 · 10-25-2015, 01:03 PM

Like I stated mine showed all green BUT ground cable from battery not holding strong direct contact. Need to be cleaned and tighten .

ScottBrownstein · 10-25-2015, 02:35 PM

I am sure it would depend on the inverter. A Xantrex would go into fault mode if the battery voltage dropped below acceptable and a loose ground would do that.

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