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Inverter/shore power problem
2000 Vantare XLV conversion with 2 Trace 4024’s. I recently was plugged into what was supposed to be 50 amp shore power on a 105 degree day. Had 3 roof airs going when suddenly lost shore power. I turned everything off and reset the pedestal. All lights green. Went back inside and turned on regular loads as well as 1 A/C on each leg. After a short time Inverter 2 decided to flop back and forth between AC1 solid green and yellow float with 119 VAC, to AC1 flashing and yellow inverting with no VAC. Inverter 1 was all normal. I checked fuses, breakers and transfer switch, all seemed normal. After trying to reset a number of times I just turned Inverter 2 off. Now I am home but temporarily only have access to a 15 amp receptacle. This is the first time I have attempted to use 15 amp shore power and with all lights green on my Progressive Surge protector I cannot figure out how to get any AC to Inverter 1. Only light showing is yellow inverting.
Any thoughts about either problem?
Thanks,
Doug
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11 Replies
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I would have fired up the generator and seen if the problem goes away/changes.
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One of your problems is you likely have both inverters going to bulk charge every time you hook and unhook and that charge amperage is probably at least 15 on each leg. That amp draw does not show on your 4024 load amp display.
If you’re now trying to use a 15 amp shore power hookup, you would have to turn off the chargers and most high amp draws such as the water heater, then set your shore cord size to 7.5 on each inverter. About all you can run is the fridge and some lights hoping your water pump or aux compressor doesn’t start at the same time.
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One of the complexities of owning and managing our conversions is having to adjust to conditions. In a perfect world roads would not have traffic, parts would not age out and need replacing, and all shore power outlets would be 50 amp.
But in the real world shore power is not always 50 amp, even when it says it is. So when a coach is on shore power the amount of current the coach draws has to be limited to 80% of the shore power rating for reliable and continuous power.
As Tom points out if you lack sufficient shore power you have to decide what devices you need to have powered up, and you need to shut everything else off. If the current draw of your needed devices exceeds 80% of the shore power you have available you are in trouble.
You have certain power loads on your coach that are either on or off. A refrigerator is usually “on”, but things like aux compressors, water pump, and HW tank kick on when a thermostat or pressure switch closes. There are current drawing devices you can adjust. As Tom points out you can adjust the current draw of inverters to a low value. You likely have no control over phantom loads. Those are electrical system loads that are always on, cannot be turned off and that have to be considered. Clocks, TV and radio memories, burglar alarms, antenna power boosters, and even inverters are all drawing power even if there is nothing else turned on.
I don’t think a coach can be reliably stored on 15 or 20 amp power and even 30 amp power requires a good deal of power management.
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Sorry for the delayed responses to Don, Tom and Jon.
Don, I did fire up the genny and had the same problem with Inverter 2 as on shore power.
Tom and Jon, I am unfortunately stuck temporarily with 15 Amp while some construction is taking place where I normally park. I have shut everything that has a breaker and am trying to get to a point where I cam maintain House batteries while I wait out the construction.
Kyle Bennett has contacted me and hopefully he can help me solve both the Inverter 2 problem as well as getting inverters properly set to the available reduced input.
Thanks for all the help and I will post results when achieved.
Doug
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I am far from knowledgible about Vantare because all devices on those conversion run through the inverters.
But, you should have shore power to your inverters even if it is 15 amps.
Hey Vantare guys……..help with this problem.
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Doug , When you say you checked all fuses , did you check the little white one on the inverter ? If you over load the inverter it will trip .
Did you then check the power to the breakers in the water bay drive side ? What are they showing ?
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You might check your main shore power 50 amp breaker. They sometimes go bad and need to be replaced. Its a simple fix and it took care of my similar problem last month.
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2002 American coach shore power comes in but nothing works have checked what we think are all breakers none thrown. Inverter 2 is giving error message 5
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we turned on generator and still no 110 power
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Flip breakers off, then on. Sometimes they can trip without looking like they’ve tripped
I’m just guessing … try turning off generator, unplug shore power, turn off the breakers, turn off inverters, and then sit for five minutes. After five minutes turn on the breakers, the inverters, plug in shore power. See if things change.
have a manual for the inverters? What does the error code mean? If no manual, go to manufacturer’s website and download it. What does code mean?
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Thank you I must have finally done something right because everything started working. Now I’m concerned with bulk charging and if I can over charge when should they go to float. I’ve pushed every button and not knowing what I’m doing I’m afraid I may have inadvertently done something wrong. We are back on the road with generator running
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