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Liberty – Inverter shut down – Help Required
As new owners of a 2000 Liberty Elegant Lady … we have learned a TON from this site and the people that are part of it. Hoping someone has seen this before and can point us in the right direction -> Note – I have searched the site for reference to the topic – lots of discussions, but nothing exactly as my current issue.
Yesterday started as a normal day – the coach is connected to Shore Power with surge protector and we left with the Rear and Front Cruise Airs on. Same as every day for the past 20+ days. The 110 panel was completely normal … 118-120 Line Voltage and 15-25 Load Current. When we got home after 4-5 hours, as soon as we opened the door, it was unusually warm – the front Cruise air was off. Checked the panel, Line 2 was completely out.
Freedom 25 Inverter #2 had shut down – all lights on the 110 panel were out, Line Voltage = 118-120, Load Current = 1.0 – 1.1. On the Heart display remotes – both are identical, EXCEPT Line 2 “AC INPUT” light is NOT on.
As a newbie – I tried a few simple things – but no luck. 1)the pop out breakers (3 per Inverter) all seem fine. Pushed them all anyway, but nothing. 2)Powered off/on the remotes- nothing. One other thing I have noticed – maybe completely unrelated – we have always controlled the Cruise AC’s from the dash touch panel or the touch panel in the bedroom – Since both AC AFT and AC Port are on line 1, I had them both on – when I went to shut off the AC’s, on the touch panel(s), it didn’t and won’t shut off. If I use the SMX II controls, I can obviously shut off both.
Update – during the night, there were a few strange, loud clicks … a few loud, short burst static sound (sorry, I stayed up for an hour trying to record it). This morning, the lights on both remotes, seemed to be back to normal – we didn’t push it, just toggled Battery Charger 2 on. Light came on … and left it, with only the Rear Air on.
Just got home – all appeared normal – Flicked only FRNT AC toggle on Line 2, started Front AC from dash panel – it started and ran for 20 seconds, then system shut down – Currently, Line 2 out, as before. Line 1 running fine and supporting Rear and Port AC (thank god).
Please let me know any questions that might help diagnose. Have not tried on Gen – will let the coach cool down, do some more research and hopefully get some suggestions of things to try. Will update any progress or changes.
Liberty is closed for the weekend … any input or suggestions welcome.
Rob&Sue
Ontario Canada
2000 Liberty Elegant Lady -
25 Replies
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Rob,
We met in Ottawa a couple of weeks ago. I’m not sure if I can help diagnose your issue, there a lot smarter folks on this site than me. However if you find that the Freedom 25 Inverter is damaged, I have a couple in my garage out of our Liberty that I replaced with Magnums a few years ago. You are welcome to have them, if required. Just send me an email from our card we gave you when we met.
Darcy
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Freedom 25 inverters will not carry a cruise air and were never wired to do so on a Liberty. So you are loosing a leg of voltage. Check the plug that you are plugged into. Also start and run the gen, problem go away or stay the same? Issue could be the plug, power cord, or transfer box
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Exactly what Jeff said. Your inverters do nothing more than charge the batteries and pass power through to the electrical panel (not inverted power, but line voltage) to the circuits that the inverters handle.
I think on your coach you have front outlets, rear outlets, refrigerator, TV, microwave, aux compressor and water pump on inverters. You can check to see what is on which. Knowing that can help you diagnose an issue if it is related to inverters.
While it is possible your transfer switch could be the problem, my gut suggests the pedestal for shore power or your plug or cord is likely the problem because those are often never maintained until they fail.
1984 96" with 8V92TA
(remodeled Liberty Coach)
Greenwood, MO -
Good morning all —
Darcy – thank you so much for such a quick reply. We trust your trip has been going well. The feedback I am getting is leading away from the Inverters being an issue, but I will know more after some testing today. We sincerely appreciate your offer – I will send you a direct email to discuss Freedom/Magnum, since that was something on my list to consider as well.
Jeff and Jon – thank you. I appreciate the info and am off to try your suggestions.
I will provide an update later today on progress.
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FWIW I had a contactor in the Liberty transfer switch fail as a result of high heat associated with a loose terminal. If you do rule out the power pedestal a very careful visual inspection of the contactors in the transfer switch box would quickly reveal if you are having a similar issue. I still vote for the power pedestal having a bad leg likely due to a failing circuit breaker or a loose electrical terminal at the pedestal.
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Quick update – following everyone’s suggestions —
->Checked voltage @post – good.
->When plugged back in, with Surge Bar – it all came back. Seemed great (for 25 minutes). Line 2 all green, FRNT Cruise Air working. Flushed toilet – 🙁 system went down, as before.-Unplugged @Post – removed Surge Bar and plugged in directly – it all came back. Let it run for 60 minutes, then flushed (since that is what tripped it last time). All good – now been running for 90 minutes.
Seems like the Surge Guard Model 34750 is the likely issue. Which is probably the absolute best outcome.
Question: Do I really need the Surge Bar, or does Prevost/Liberty take care of it? If I don’t need it urgently, I will do more research and order the best there is. Otherwise, I need to get to the camping store before 5pm and buy what they have.
Tks again everyone.
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Liberty does not have built in surge protection. Whether you need it or not is a personal decision. There is a risk without one, but there are instances in which even with surge protection electrical systems were damaged.
If you are in an area without forecast thunderstorms it might be worth using the coach without one for a while to insure that was the issue. It might even be worthwhile to see if the problem goes away at other RV parks.
There are some really good surge protectors in the market and a search of the forum might give your some insight as to which one might work for your needs.
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I had 2 of the surge guard 37450 fail. In my case not restart when power was turned on at the pedestal of after a power outage. The tail tail was the LCD screen being blank when power was on.
I no longer use one. I’ll take reliable power over the risk of a lightning strike.
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FWIW, Low voltage will do damage too. The Progressive PT 50X will monitor voltage and disconnect if it is not within acceptable limits.
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Good morning. The coach seems to be back to normal in every respect, without the Surge Guard.
Will order the Progressive Industries product … it would seem to have a lot of positive feedback and happens to be installed on the coach to the left, and the coach to the right of me.
Thanks again for the awesome feedback and support.
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Smart move Rob!! My Progressive has shut down twice due to low volts. But I have yet to have a surge.
Get the top of the line unit with LED readout. You’ll like it the first time you plug it in. Hang onto your receipt!!!!
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What is the top Progressive model that is mentioned, please?
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EMS-PT50X is their top model portable plug-in model.
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Charles is correct. That’s the spicy meatball version. Also buy from Progressive their security cable. Works slick.
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Any thoughts about the Progressive Hard Wired HW50C protectors vs the portable EMSPT50X?
Doug
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