Heart Inverter/Charger Question???

[Born2RV]

Husband and I just got back from a VERY COLD but enjoyable Michigan weekend of camping, but we had some problems with our inverter!! We've never had an inverter in any of our trailers or motorhomes before, so this is all new to us.

We own a 2003 Fleetwood Providence with a Heart Freedom 458 Series Combi Inverter/Charger, Model 81-2022-12. We've only really used it a few times (cooked a pot roast on the way to South Carolina last month!) but it seems to "trip" very easily! Most of the time, we're plugged into 30 amp, but watching our power panel, we never really seem to exceed 19 amps or so when it trips. My husband then has to go outside and reset the "breaker" on the inverter. Last night when it knocked out our power again, he went to reset it - and it started smoking and threw some sparks he said!!! He said it smelled hot!

Now I don't know if I'm describing the issue correctly (I can ask him again so I pass it along in the correct fashion), but it scared him and we're going to call our extended warranty company and a repairman. Whenever we're plugged into shore power, we NEVER have the inverter on. Is that the correct thing to do??

What would we do without all of you!!!

[GaryKD]

Hi Born2RV,
At 2K WATTS you have the power. However, how many coach batteries do you have? How old are the batteries? Are the coach batteries at full power? Full of distilled water and fully charged? Other than not having enough source power, from the batteries, the only other thing I can think of is that your inverter is a modified sine wave output. Some appliances do not like this kind of power.

I leave my inverter on all the time. I have too many gadgets plugged in to have power lost when we disconnect from shore power.

For me, it sounds like the batteries are your primary suspect.

[Norm4015]

Where there is smoke - there is a problem. Even if you overload the inverter there should not be any smoke. I would not attempt to use it again until it is repaired. Next time the smoke could be fire.

[RV Wizard]

Inspect the conductor connections with power off to insure all are tight and proper. Loose connections generate heat and/or arcing. Even with the inverter off, power for circuits are passed through the inverter and circuit breaker is protecting the 120 vac conductors.

[Born2RV]

Thank you! We plan on contacting a repairman today to come out and take a look. Our extended warranty covers the inverter. The batteries are original (2003), but the husband said he keeps them topped off with battery acid and charged, etc.

So, it wouldn't hurt if we just kept the inverter on all the time whenever we're plugged in to shore power?

[Route 66]

Quote:

So, it wouldn't hurt if we just kept the inverter on all the time whenever we're plugged in to shore power?

No. It won't hurt.

My inverter has been on for 3+ years.

[Born2RV]

How would we check the batteries to make sure they're good?

[Gary RVRoamer]

At 7 years of age your batteries are likely quite tired. Don't be surprised if a change is suggested.

The power to the inverter-supplied outlets passes through the inverter even when on shore power. You probably have two 15 amp circuits with breakers feeding nearly all the outlets in the coach, so if either circuit exceeds 15A the inverter's internal breaker will trip. It's pretty easy t exceed 15A if you have a couple of electric appliances plugged into one circuit. Don't forget the microwave is probably on that circuit too.

[Born2RV]

Well that explains it!! It was cold - and we were running the hot water heater on electric, an electric ceramic heater, etc. We switched the hot water heater over to gas and turned on the furnace (gas), then all seemed okay.