Inverter Turned Off

[The Tatzlocks]

My 2022 30Fw explorer’s inverter was off this morning. I’m at home and check it daily while having my morning coffee. No load other than the refrigerator, Maxx Air fans (run on auto during the day) and nominal draws of (off) tvs etc.

According to BMV voltage never dropped below 12.8. SOC was at 91%.

Coach is not plugged in as solar maintains 100% SOC throughout the day.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[bclemens]

GoPower or Magnum?

[The Tatzlocks]

Magnum

[bclemens]

I have not heard of that happening on a Magnum before. Odd.

[johndjmix]

Fans. Check to be sure the fans in the inverter are running. I got lucky and heard them making noise (going bad) so I replaced them.

Not too bad. Removed the inverter from the coach, dissemble, remove fans, replace fans, and reinstall.

I will warn you at least on my dx3 that sucker is about 80lbs and you need to put it in a bay and lift it up. Very difficult if you don’t have a super mini jacking system for these molments (I have one).

In my old coach inverter fans went bad and I didn’t know. 6 months later I was buying an entire new inverter.

—John

[bclemens]

OK, last night we loaded the fridge and had the Inverter on, this morning I came out and the Inverter was off. Fridge and freezer were still at temp.

A quick review on the Inverter settings and it had a "Power Saver" feature. Looks like you can set the delay time. I have not read up on that yet, but I assume once the fridge and freezer got to temp, it went into power saving mode (off). Not sure if it would have turned back on....but I turned that setting off for now.

That may be the issue.

[bclemens]

OK, scratch that. The issue is not that the Inverter is off...it is that it just turns off the LCD and buttons to save power. So it could still be inverting....just doesn't look like it.

"SETUP: 07 Power Save – This setting allows you to turn off the
Power Save feature, or to select a time (from 1 minute to 60 minutes) that
determines how often the display goes into Power Save mode.
Default setting: PwrSave = 15min
Range: OFF, 1-60 Minutes
Press to save
SETUP
Press
Status...
07 Power Save
Rotate to
Press to select
Rotate to
desired
selection:
Range: OFF, 1-60 Mins
What is the Power Save feature? The Power Save feature causes the LCD
backlight and LEDs on the remote display to turn off to conserve energy. The
remote goes into Power Save mode if there hasn’t been a button press or
fault message for a set period of time. Whenever the remote goes into Power
Save mode, the LCD backlight and LEDs can be reactivated by pressing any
menu button. During Power Save mode, the LCD backlight and Fault LED will
come on and stay on as long as a fault is detected.
If you want the LCD backlight and LEDs to always be on, you will need to
turn the Power Save feature off by selecting PwrSave = OFF."

[The Tatzlocks]

Originally Posted by bclemens

OK, scratch that. The issue is not that the Inverter is off...it is that it just turns off the LCD and buttons to save power. So it could still be inverting....just doesn't look like it.

"SETUP: 07 Power Save – This setting allows you to turn off the
Power Save feature, or to select a time (from 1 minute to 60 minutes) that
determines how often the display goes into Power Save mode.
Default setting: PwrSave = 15min
Range: OFF, 1-60 Minutes
Press to save
SETUP
Press
Status...
07 Power Save
Rotate to
Press to select
Rotate to
desired
selection:
Range: OFF, 1-60 Mins
What is the Power Save feature? The Power Save feature causes the LCD
backlight and LEDs on the remote display to turn off to conserve energy. The
remote goes into Power Save mode if there hasn’t been a button press or
fault message for a set period of time. Whenever the remote goes into Power
Save mode, the LCD backlight and LEDs can be reactivated by pressing any
menu button. During Power Save mode, the LCD backlight and Fault LED will
come on and stay on as long as a fault is detected.
If you want the LCD backlight and LEDs to always be on, you will need to
turn the Power Save feature off by selecting PwrSave = OFF."

I wish this was the case on my end, but unfortunately, my fridge had started warming and my ice was no-longer frozen… and the light was off when the fridge door was opened.

[Aussieguy]

can you plug something else into the inverter to rule out a fridge related problem
or if you are at home run a extension cord from garage to the fridge make sure it works?


otherwise.....

battery may be Ok according to the screen....but

how is the fuse to inverter (if there is one)?

if you can use a multi meter, check inverter 120v output and 12v dc input
use meter to confirm battery voltage at the battery




PS... disconnect solar to test battery (or test at night)

[bclemens]

Make sure "search watts" is off as well. that is one that an cause issues.

[The Tatzlocks]

Thanks, @Aussieguy & @bclemens


I will looking into "search watts" something I am not yet savvy on.


I suspect it is a voltage issue. I'll try to get after it with a multimeter in the next day or so.



A little more context:


I've had issues with the inverter dropping out - particularly while operating the coffee maker - since taking delivery. On it's first trip back to the dealership of purchase, it was determined by the dealer to be an issue with the battery not maintaining voltage. Dealer ordered new batteries and upon bringing it back to have the new batteries installed (second trip) was told by dealer that the batteries were "fine afterall" and that they resolved the issue by cycling the battery bridge button (probably not the correct term for that) on the coach's dash.



BUT when I got the coach back home, I discovered that the BMV was no-longer displaying a readout. As a part of trouble shooting (leaving within 48 hours for next trip) I discovered that the shunt was badly corroded and crumbling to pieces. Dealer had Dynamax drop-ship a new shunt/BMV package to me, which I installed upon returning from trip.



It seems like I get up to about 3-4 days without running into an issue but by the 3rd or 4th day, the inverter will end up shutting down either overnight as cited in the OP or while under load, as in the case of brewing coffee, while using the coach.


I understand that the inverter will shut down if the battery drops below 12.5v for more than 300sec. This may be occurring. While the Victron app says the batteries never dropped below 12.8 (in the OP cited event) I have noticed a discrepancy of +/-.3 volts between the Victron and Firefly readouts.



I have tried my best as someone who's new to inverters and the like to monitor the electrical system and ensure it's operating properly (so hence my morning coffee routine of checking on the coach) but am still a google/youtube electrician at best. I have a request into Dynamax for factory service pertaining particularly to a slide issue and hope to have the electrical system evaluated at that time as well. I'm waiting to hear back on that appointment and hope to keep the coach going in the meantime as we have a six week trip beginning in a week.

Please keep the trouble shooting tips coming!

[The Tatzlocks]

Two points of note:

1) when @bclemens asked which brand I responded “Magnum”. It is infact a Xantrex XC Pro 3000. Sorry for my mistake. (I just knew it wasn’t a GoPower when given the choice of two.)

2) It shut down while I was washing it today. Checked on it in the am, everything was cool. Let the motor idle for about ten minutes before moving it. Re-parked it, began washing and somewhere over the course of about 60min it must have shut down again b/c when I went to use the exterior TV for music - there was no power to be had. (Fridge was out again as well.) BMV read 13.3v. Cycled the inverter and was good to go again.

[Bob K4TAX]

The inverter is thermally protected. If there is restricted airflow, it will heat up and the thermal protection will shut it down. Also, there is a maximum load capability. Exceed this value and the protection will shut it down.

So the question remains, is it getting hot and shutting down, or is it seeing an overload in watts demand and shutting down?

Also, check the cables from the battery to the inverter. Loose or dirty connections will allow the voltage at the inverter to drop below the safe operating level and it shuts off. This is regardless of battery voltage.

Bob

[The Tatzlocks]

I think @bclemens may have been on it with the “Power Save Mode” function. After looking for codes or faults on the LCD display and monitoring the battery voltage all week, I did find this section in the manual which specifically says that “power save mode, by function, cannot work with … devices that need power 24 hours a day” ie the fridge. I’ve changed the setting to “off”. We’ll see how it works. 🤞

[vlamgat]

Following. Had this problem with the Magnum and had to replace it. It was definitely a heat thing because when I left the Power compartment door open all day it never happened.

I have also put to pancake computer fans on top of the air channel of my Magnum to enhance the airflow.

[Bob K4TAX]

Originally Posted by vlamgat

Following. Had this problem with the Magnum and had to replace it. It was definitely a heat thing because when I left the Power compartment door open all day it never happened.

I have also put to pancake computer fans on top of the air channel of my Magnum to enhance the airflow.

Solid-state devices do not like excessive heat. Cool'em if possible. They will last longer and operate more reliably.

Bob
K4TAX

[tomkatb]

Dumb question.

That is not the inverter I would assume would be used. By chance was the original replaced with a bigger one?

If you do that the wire to the battery must be replaced. You are at 250 amps to the inverter. The wire should be a whopper.

That would mess the inverter up.

[vlamgat]

Originally Posted by bclemens

I have not heard of that happening on a Magnum before. Odd.

Happened to my 2812 last Summer. I had to reset the inverter and the Firefly/Magnum interface switch to restore function. I determined this happened only when it was hot as in +95 ambient. So left the door open and put 2 pancake computer fans on top of the inverter whenever I was camping and the problem did not return.

[The Tatzlocks]

Originally Posted by The Tatzlocks

I think @bclemens may have been on it with the “Power Save Mode” function. After looking for codes or faults on the LCD display and monitoring the battery voltage all week, I did find this section in the manual which specifically says that “power save mode, by function, cannot work with … devices that need power 24 hours a day” ie the fridge. I’ve changed the setting to “off”. We’ll see how it works. 🤞

^^^^ This was the solution!



Just got back from 32 days on the road and didn't have a single issue. Fridge kept everything cool while at a storage facility for a week (full sun) while we were checked into an AirBnb for a family reunion.


Thanks for the input! Hope this thread helps someone else.

[vlamgat]

This is the first time I have encountered a device that defines "power save" as "continuous power" . A welcome heads up. Thanks for posting.