RS2000 Remote Panel Blank

[Wil Rathke]

Yesterday I set the Xantrax system clock back using the Remote Control Panel. Everything Ok - generator autostart in Automatic. The coach is connected to AC but unattended.

This morning the generator started and ran for about 20 minutes which I assumed was the "exercise cycle". I went to check it later and there was no display on the LCD panel. The LED lights on the left of the panel indicated AC present which was correct. I tried the red "SYS" button and shut it off and then restarted. The inverter works when I disconnect the AC and the charger indicates it is working by the light on the RS2000. There was a fault light on the RS2000. I reset it at the unit and the fault light went away. All indications seem ok but no Remote Control Panel display data. It has some brightness but no data. Any thoughts?

[Wil Rathke]

Yesterday I set the Xantrax system clock back using the Remote Control Panel. Everything Ok - generator autostart in Automatic. The coach is connected to AC but unattended.

This morning the generator started and ran for about 20 minutes which I assumed was the "exercise cycle". I went to check it later and there was no display on the LCD panel. The LED lights on the left of the panel indicated AC present which was correct. I tried the red "SYS" button and shut it off and then restarted. The inverter works when I disconnect the AC and the charger indicates it is working by the light on the RS2000. There was a fault light on the RS2000. I reset it at the unit and the fault light went away. All indications seem ok but no Remote Control Panel display data. It has some brightness but no data. Any thoughts?

[Mike & Mike]

Hi Will,

I had a problem with my Xantrax panel a few days ago that was quite different from yours but the Troubleshooting Guide in the Owners Manual provided the right info. It told me to unplug the phone wire cable from the panel to the inverter for 30 seconds and plug it back in. I did this at the inverter end of the cable since the inverter is right at the foot of the bed under the bedroom TV.

What an easy fix that turned out to be!

Give that a try and I hope it works out for you as well as it did for me!

[Techie]

You're lucky. Our panel actually went bad -- no LCD display. Happened when the DW went to turn off the gen from the panel.

Contacted Xantrex who told us that never happens and since we had already gone the route of unplugging/replugging AND disconnecting the 2000 from the batteries and then reconnecting it must be a cable. And since we were out of warranty they woudl be happy to sell us a new panel.

We went as far as buying a new cable and actually connecting it directly between the 2000 & the panel outside so that there could be no question as to anything in-between (existing cable). Still no joy.

Ended up buying a new panel (it was actually cheaper directly from CC) and it worked from the time we plugged it in.

Afterwards I took the old one apart and there wasn't any obvious problem like a leaky capacitor, burned circuit, bad solder, etc. I even tried cleaning the contacts (connectror to the board) and then re-connecting but it was still dead.

BTW, I have tried 3 times (the panel and a prior problem with the 2000 as well as a question) to deal with Xantrex and have never had a good experience. They are also very slow at responding to electronic support requests.

[Wil Rathke]

Thanks for the input.

After looking closer at the System Control Panel I noticed that the display text was present but very dim and most of time blank. When it was somewhat present, I increased the brightness and contrast with no results. And I checked all Xanbus connections by removing and reconnecting of flexing them. I disconnected the panel and reconnected it at the RS2000 with only the short cable and had the same results. The "Network" light on the RS2000 is green which indicates that it is active and the Fault light is not lit. I will try to contact the factory today for support.

Techie - where did you purchase your panel? Who is "CC"??

[RV Wizard]

Wil, the back light in the display is probably bad. I had this happen to a laptop screen. CC is probably Country Coach.

[Techie]

Sorry -- CC is Country Coach.

[Wil Rathke]

Now why didn't I think of that - CC = Country Coach. DDDAAAAA!

The current state is - yesterday when I went to call Xantrex customer support, the display was normal. I called them anyway and discussed the possible fault and the consensus was that the SCP was on its last leg. They sold me one for a 30% discount - $175.

Thanks for all your help!!!