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Trace inverter acting up
Hi Ya’ll,
Our bus has the Trace inverters, today, the #1 inverter threw an “overcurrent” error (though, we didn’t have much on, just the usual stuff) all AC’s were off.
I turned it on and off and now if I try to use shore power the AC1 flashes, but it won’t switch to AC and it inverts for a bit and then throws “overcurrent” again.
it seems to work ok if I run the generator…. at least it did for a few hours
The #2 inverter seems to be working correctly
I tired turning to power on/off to the inverter… the 24vDC and it worked once, but then failed again in a short while.
nothing has really changed and we just got back from Marathon in Texas. The bus has been sitting for a few days and this started.
I’ll call around in the AM but thought I’d ask the PC and see if anyone had some ideas..
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9 Replies
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How old are your batteries?
Later
bv
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5 years. Think they can be causing this? I know they are 5 because the dude at Marathon mentioned it but I needed to get out of there so I figured I’d get a new set on the next trip….
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Many times inverter issues are masked with bad batteries. You said a few things like sitting a few days and gen power was good.
Later
bv
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Contact me for batteries Walt..
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What you describe is Exactly what happened to me a few weeks ago. My problem was one leg of the shore power coming into the coach was intermittent. The plug on the building was arching and going bad. The plug fell apart in my hands. The screw had probably worked loose on one side.
Your problem may indeed be bad batteries or something else, I am no expert. But I thought I should at least mention my symptoms were exactly like yours.
Davy
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I am always reluctant to keep hammering on batteries often causing inverters to act like they are bad, but Bernie and Davy are likely right.
Despite this appearing like I am promoting battery sales for Tom, it is just something that has been repeated far more often than i needs to be.
I fully understand why we all want to stretch every day of life from our batteries, but if that is what is being done, just be aware as the batteries start to fail a lot of owners have spent serious money to fix inverters that were not broke, only to find a fresh set of batteries would make the issues go away.
The reward is you get more bang for the buck by keeping the batteries until they fail, but the risk is if you are not paying attention as they fail the problem looks like the inverters have failed. We all can monitor how long our batteries go from fully charged to some lower value when dry camping and as that time span decreases we will know the batteries are getting close to replacement time. Another clue is if the inverters tend to stay in bulk and absorb and take a long time before they go to float.
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Last night I had bypassed the inverter with the switch. This morning I came out and the “inverter loss” alarm was going off and the fridge was off. (Fridge is on inverter 1).
What?!?!
So I start at the power pole and chase the power… what do I finally find?
The shore power main breaker was was reading 56 volts on the #1 leg. Huh? Take the breaker off and it’s been arcing up a storm!
so it was a repeat of Davy’s problem just in a different place.
changed it all out and it’s been in for a few hours now.
Time for new batteries – I’m just sorta busy and haven’t done it yet. I will admit, installing 6 8d’s doesn’t interest me… (sorry Tom!)I did that in my boat once and that was more than enough. Maybe if I had a forklift!
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No problem Walt, I can send them anywhere you want, with a few exceptions. I too can’t do it anymore, have to rely on others.
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so it was a repeat of Davy’s problem just in a different place.
So, I was right? Look, I am as surprised as everyone else that I was right for a change.
Your welcome.
Davy
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