Community Forums

.rainmaker. · 07-13-2018, 04:23 PM

Hi everyone,

New poster here. I have a Xantrex Freedom SW3012 inverter (actually two of them, not stacked) and an Onan QD8000 generator combo. Everything works fine but sometimes the AC side of the panel resets when the generator turns off. It takes a few seconds after the generator turns off, then the panel resets, and then all the AC appliances reset too. It doesn't happen all of the time but frequently enough that it's annoying. All AC appliances includes microwave clock (argh!), the TVs, Xbox (kids are yelling) and the DISH receiver (which takes *10 YEARS* to cycle back 'til I'm watching TV again.)

I can't figure out why sometimes the AC side resets and sometimes not. It isn't related to load -- I've watched the reset happen with (nearly) zero load and with several amps too.

I do not have a standalone automatic transfer switch. The inverters have built-in transfer switches that auto-detect between generator and shore power. However, I have noticed the problem happens even with no shore power (i.e., just generator and batteries while dry camping).

Inverter #1 runs the main A/C unit and everything else. Inverter #2 runs only the other two A/C units (smaller ones in the bedroom and garage -- this is a 3 A/C toyhauler). As I said the two inverters are not stacked, just share the same battery bank. Inverter #1 is also connected to Xantrex AGS, SCP, and a Freedom Sequence Intelligent Power Manager. I'm thinking it may be the Sequence IPM? It has AC relays that manage load shedding, additional "inverter assist mode" power to help with peak loads, etc. Perhaps the relays are sometimes too slow to switch when the generator turns off?

Anyway thanks for any suggestions. Everything works, I just would like to figure out why this is happening.

twinboat · 07-13-2018, 05:09 PM

Typically there is a auto transfer switch that selects between generator power and shore power. Priority is generator.

From that ATS, the output would go to the main breaker panel and then on to the inverters, that each have there own transfer or pass thru switchs. Shore or generator power is lost, the inverters kick in.

Most setups don't power the ACs from the inverters, unless you have a huge battery bank. You may have a unique setup in your RV.

The only fix for your reboots would be to run those items on a dedicated stand alone inverter all of the time, directly from the batteries.
No switching, so no reboot. The other chargers will keep the batteries charged.

.rainmaker. · 07-13-2018, 09:49 PM

Thanks, that's a decent idea to run some of the appliances directly off the batteries. I just have to install a smaller inverter somewhere, one that doesn't have a transfer switch built-in.

And actually I do have a huge battery bank (for an RV anyway). There are four L16 batteries, Rolls S-605, two in series and two parallel strings for a 12V nominal setup. 936 Amp-hr total, enough for a small house but you still can't run the A/Cs off batteries for very long.