Refrigerator on inverter

[JohnVtx]

Should frig lights be on when I open refrigerator door when running on inverter?

[wanderingbob]

Should Be no different as when operating in a house . Refrig does not care where electric comes from!

[JohnVtx]

I had inverter on for an hour and a half. No lights. No door panel readings. Yet when I plugged back in temp settings were the same.

[18CrewDually]

If your fridge light and panel isn't on then it's not getting power from the inverter or the inverter isn't getting 12v power from the batteries.

[Flybob]

Check to make sure the inverter is turned on. Check the battery voltage. If it is too low the inverter will not come on.

[ScottBrownstein]

make sure that the GFCI on the inverter output isn't popped. The remote switch should glow green, if it does the inverter is on. Then check the GFCI if the reefer doesn't light up.

[JohnVtx]

12.8 volts on side of inverter. No errors. Plug on side of inverter works when I plug something into it

[ScottBrownstein]

If the reefer works on shore power but not on inverter, all with all of those things said, it has to be the inverter transfer switch. It is stuck in AC mode. Find it (black box plugged into the inverter) and give it a rap with something. It is powered when the inverter runs.

[CHICKDOE]

has it ever worked on the inverter? you plugged some other device into the inverter and it worked. when you did this was the transfer switch also plugged into the inverter? is the refrigerator plugged into the transfer switch (as opposed to being plugged into a normal 110 receptacle)? if so, you know that the transfer switch is getting shore power and sending it to the refrigerator. if it is plugged into the working inverter then something is wrong with the transfer switch when shore power is not present. did you buy the unit new or used? is it possible that a previous owner modified things? if new, can dealer help?

[JohnVtx]

Bought it new 6 weeks ago. Trying to avoid being to dealer

[Bluepill]

Originally Posted by JohnVtx

12.8 volts on side of inverter. No errors. Plug on side of inverter works when I plug something into it

That would indicate that the inverter is functioning. If the inverter is a Modified Sine Wave type, it is possible that the fridge electronics don't like the modified waveform, and you may have to go to a Pure Sine Wave inverter.

More info here:

http://forum.solar-electric.com/disc...wave-inverters

[CHICKDOE]

go back and check everything again. this is resolvable. what make and model inverter? some have a separate external transfer switch. some have a built in pass thru function. what I will describe is with the external transfer switch. the refrigerator power cord should be plugged into the transfer switch and it will have a power cord that plugs into the inverter. (it will also have a 110 power connection to shore power). we know that the refrigerator is getting power through the transfer switch when connected to shore power. is the power cord from the transfer switch plugged into the inverter? while disconnected from shore power turn on the inverter and check if refrigerator has power. if not, unplug the transfer switch from the inverter and plug is some other device to the same receptacle on the inverter. if this device works then the problem has to be in either the cord to the transfer switch or inside the transfer switch itself. if you can do this and the transfer switch is not working i'd then call the transfer switch tech support if you don't want to go through dealer.

[JohnVtx]

Opened up black box. Both breakers were tripped. Before I test again, is there a correct procedure for turning it on? I have been turning on before I unplug rv from shore power

[CHICKDOE]

i'm having some difficulty following this. can you describe what model refrigerator you have. did we ever confirm that it is a residential refrigerator that requires 110 volts. also what model inverter? you said it works. the only thing between it and the refrigerator would be the transfer switch and i'm not aware that it has breakers in it. what black box did you open that had the tripped breakers? there normally would not be two breakers on a single circuit.

[JohnVtx]

Full size LG refrigerator. Prowatt 1500 inverter. There are no circuit breakers in the transfer switch. There is also a prowatt black box as well. 110 plug in side of inverter has power. No power at refrigerator

[CHICKDOE]

this is so close to getting diagnosed / fixed. you have said multiple times that there is power coming out of the inverter (the 110 receptacles). all that should be between it and the refrigerator is the refrigerator transfer switch. this is not the main transfer switch that you might have if you have a generator installed. it is a small transfer switch for the refrigerator only. you said there is a small xantex black box. I suspect this is the refrigerator transfer switch. assuming it is, it should have a power cord coming out of it. is this plugged into one of the receptacles on the inverter? is the refrigerator cord plugged into the 110 volt receptacle on this black box? if yes, then this is the refrigerator transfer switch. if these devices are connected as I just described, and the inverter is outputting 110 volts, then the problem has to be inside this refrigerator transfer switch. what is confusing is that you said you opened the black box and both breakers were tripped. the refrigerator transfer switch would not have breakers in it (at least I don't believe so).

[JohnVtx]

That little black box that says Prowatt was not plugged in. Plug was tuck up behind to right, so I assumed it was hard wired. Yanked all wires today and the plug appeared. Still had plastic cap on the end of it. All is good, thanks for the replies.

[CHICKDOE]

yippee!!!!!!!

[JohnVtx]

Yippee correct. We are living in it while house is being remodeled. Had a trip planned in 2 weeks and dreaded a trip to dealer

[The Otters]

I had the same issue. Hard to believe they leave the factory or dealership unplugged !!