Inverter and battery switch question

[Modmike]

Does your inverter automatically turn on when you plug in to shore power?

I just replaced my inverter and I can't turn it off or disconnect the battery's using the switch when I'm plugged in to shore power.

Is this normal and I just never noticed or did I mess up my installation?

[rkulbok]

The inverter is used to convert DC power from the batteries to AC power.

When plugged into shore power I believe the inverter is over ridden with AC power to the 110 outlets being supplied directly from the pedestal. The inverter being on or off makes no difference on my rig when I am on shore power.

To check your installation unplug from shore power to make sure the inverter can be turned on and off and is supplying AC power to the refrigerator when turned on.

[Modmike]

I understand the inverters function and I did verify it works the way it should when not plugged in.

What I am asking is: Does your inverter turn on when you plug into shore power. If yes, can you turn it off?

Also, does you battery cutoff switch light up when you plug in? Can you turn it off?

I suspect this is normal but need someone to verify.

Thanks.

[Modmike]

I undersand a heck of lot about our electrical systems and I know the difference between an inverter and converter.

Folks, I am asking a pretty simple question for those of you with a residential fridge and a Xantrex Prowatt SW 2000. I will restate the question in the hopes of getting a straight forward yes or no:

When you plug in to shore power does the following happen:

1) Does your inverter automatically turn on if it was off?
2) Once on, can you turn it off when plugged in?
3) Does your battery cutoff switch light up if it was off before plugging in?
4) Can you turn DC off with the battery cutoff switch after plugging in? (I believe answer should be no)

I think what I am seeing is normal operation but I never noticed it before, just need confirmation.

Excuse me if I sound frustrated, I must be having trouble expressing myself.

Thanks!

[Modmike]

Originally Posted by rkulbok

...When plugged into shore power I believe the inverter is over ridden with AC power to the 110 outlets being supplied directly from the pedestal. ...

That is the function of the auto transfer switch and you almost answered my question. Please see the above post for a clarification of what I am trying to validate.

Thanks!

[CheckSix]

Originally Posted by Modmike

1) Does your inverter automatically turn on if it was off?
2) Once on, can you turn it off when plugged in?
3) Does your battery cutoff switch light up if it was off before plugging in?
4) Can you turn DC off after plugging in? (I believe answer should be no)

Simple answers...

1) No
2) Yes
3) No
4) No

[Modmike]

CheckSix, thank you sir!

In all this I forgot to ask, do you have a residential fridge and a Xantrex Prowatt SW 2000?

[CheckSix]

Yes & Yes

[Modmike]

Once again, thank you sir!

[Modmike]

So either I messed up or.....

Seeing as the Xantrex Freedom Xi has a built in transfer switch, as opposed to the external one in our factory equipped Prowatt SW 2000, the act of plugging it in automatically turns it on in standby mode when it senses A/C. Furthermore, the fact that it is on energizes the battery cutoff switch light. I did see this effect in a youtube video of an Xi install.

Anybody with Freedom Xi experience care to weigh in?

[CheckSix]

I don't know a thing about the Freedom model but if it has automatic AC voltage sensing, there may be nothing you can do about it, unless there is a way to user configure what it does on power up.

[Modmike]

That's what is suspect and I have no issue with it turning on automatically, I just want to make sure that is normal, not a symptom of a faulty installation.

I think everything is working as it should but will call Xantrex to confirm tomorrow.

Thanks for the help.

[JBP]

I believe that if you turn your inverter switch of the inverter does not supply power to the coach.
On my 369 with residential ref the invert only supplies power if gen is off and shore power is off.
I have one switch with the ability to add one addition switch.

[minnesota65]

Originally Posted by Modmike

I undersand a heck of lot about our electrical systems and I know the difference between an inverter and converter.

Folks, I am asking a pretty simple question for those of you with a residential fridge and a Xantrex Prowatt SW 2000. I will restate the question in the hopes of getting a straight forward yes or no:

When you plug in to shore power does the following happen:

1) Does your inverter automatically turn on if it was off?
2) Once on, can you turn it off when plugged in?
3) Does your battery cutoff switch light up if it was off before plugging in?
4) Can you turn DC off with the battery cutoff switch after plugging in? (I believe answer should be no)

I think what I am seeing is normal operation but I never noticed it before, just need confirmation.

Excuse me if I sound frustrated, I must be having trouble expressing myself.

Thanks!

Answer to number one mine does not answer to number two and yes I can answer to number three mine is on all the time answer to number four no

[minnesota65]

Originally Posted by minnesota65

Answer to number one mine does not answer to number two and yes I can answer to number three mine is on all the time answer to number four no

I do not leave my inverter switch on when I am running orange sure power or my generator

[minnesota65]

Originally Posted by minnesota65

I do not leave my inverter switch on when I am running orange sure power or my generator

I have a Georgetown 2015 377 XL that other message I had sent was shore power

[pmsherman]

Originally Posted by Modmike

I undersand a heck of lot about our electrical systems and I know the difference between an inverter and converter.

Folks, I am asking a pretty simple question for those of you with a residential fridge and a Xantrex Prowatt SW 2000. I will restate the question in the hopes of getting a straight forward yes or no:

When you plug in to shore power does the following happen:

1) Does your inverter automatically turn on if it was off?
2) Once on, can you turn it off when plugged in?
3) Does your battery cutoff switch light up if it was off before plugging in?
4) Can you turn DC off with the battery cutoff switch after plugging in? (I believe answer should be no)

I think what I am seeing is normal operation but I never noticed it before, just need confirmation.

Excuse me if I sound frustrated, I must be having trouble expressing myself.

Thanks!

I heartedly agree with your last statement.

According to the manual for your inverter, the inverter has no way of knowing that you are plugged into shore power. The inverter will be powered whenever the switch is on and power is available at the rear terminals to the unit. If shore power has thrown the transfer switch, there's no load on the inverter and its idle current draw from the battery should be only 800ma. less than a 914 light bulb.

If you're plugged into shore power, you can turn off the inverter using the switch. I also see no reason why you shouldn't be able throw a disconnect switch to remove power to the inverter to effectively shut it off but my preference would be to use the device's on/off switch to turn it off first.

I installed Xantrex's 100W MSW inverter in my 2011 Georgetown when I purchased it to provide AC power to the rv fridge while we were driving. The fridge AC power circuit is a resistance heater which doesn't care if it's fed by PSW or MSW voltage and there's no motor that would run better on PSW power. My inverter also includes a transfer switch which eliminated the need to purchase a separate one.

Phil

Phil

[Modmike]

The mystery is solved.

I called Xantrex and asked them about normal operation and the good news is as I suspected:

1) The Xantrex Freedom Xi has a built in transfer switch that can sense when you are plugged into shore power. When you plug in, it automatically turns on, and can't be turned "off". I put it in quotes because turning it off puts it in standby mode but the display stays on.

2) The battery cutoff switch light will come on.

All is normal, phew!

Thank you to everyone that responded.

[Modmike]

Originally Posted by CheckSix

I don't know a thing about the Freedom model but if it has automatic AC voltage sensing, there may be nothing you can do about it, unless there is a way to user configure what it does on power up.

You can configure power up mode.

[CheckSix]

Awesome! Glad it is good to go!