Community Forums

RufussSewell · 02-20-2014, 02:08 PM

I have a Heart Interface Freedom 20 2000w inverter/charger that is basically useless. It doesn't charge and now one of the two 20a lines is turning off and on again about once per minute.

It looks like Heart is now Xantrex. Can I just replace what I have with a Xantrex 458?

There's a 1500w for sale here for $500. Is it not advisable to replace a 2000w with a 1500w?

Is there a reliable source for a refurbished 2000w 458?

Is there a completely different model that is recommended? I'd hate to have to replace the remote and cabling if I don't have to.

Thanks!!!

RV Wizard · 02-21-2014, 03:09 AM

Your unit has some fuses inside that may have blown. This can cause a scenario you describe if the battery bank is low. I don't know your electrical abilities but I would check this out before replacing the inverter. The cover must be removed and good access to some control boards inside are needed to check and/or replace a bad fuse.

zzjea · 02-21-2014, 04:11 PM

Check out my thread on this subject.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f54/xantr...em-188358.html

My inverter was not doing what it should and I took it apart and replaced all 3 relays. Now it works like new.

Read the thread and ask questions if you want to attempt this too. It will save you almost $2000 as that is what you will pay for a new one. It cost me less than $20 for the relays. The labor was me. My fuses were good. If you have a friend who has worked with solder then he could do it for you once you have the board out.

John

PyrateSilly · 02-21-2014, 07:42 PM

We changed out our 1500 watt modified wave Xantrex for a 3000 watt pure sine Xantrex. Yes we needed to also change out some other things but since we needed to go higher in wattage in order for the microwave/convection oven to be able to run correctly we had to go bigger and just spent the money to run what we needed to run.

RufussSewell · 02-25-2014, 11:18 PM

So, do you just need more wattage while using the inverter with house batteries? Or does the inverter wattage affect power when the generator is running?

I have a 50a system and I found a 1500 watt Xantrex for $500.

It would be a step down but only while on battery power correct?

Papa_Jim · 02-26-2014, 12:00 AM

I replaced our old Freedom 20 inverter/Converter with a Magnum MS2812 Pure Sine Wave Inverter/Converter.

It was an easy swap. The new inverter uses the same data cable that the old inverter used.

Jim

PyrateSilly · 02-27-2014, 04:48 PM

The manual is very large and not scanned in. It is at least several hundred pages long. You might want to ask the ones on this forum to see if they've scanned them in yet - Kohler 10CC061 service manuals - SmokStak

Or you could contact Kohler to see about getting one - Kohler Engines: Owners and Service Manuals: Manuals and Maintenance

VanDiemen23 · 02-27-2014, 11:05 PM

I sent my Freedom 20 to Biobenefit in Costa Mesa. They are the authorized repair center. My unit wasn't charging, but on receipt they couldn't find anything wrong with it. they cleaned everything and re-seated the boards and it worked fine. This weekend it stopped inverting and has the cycling issue you describe. Another person on IRV2 had this problem and it was related to the wake-up circuit, which can be changed or disabled using the dip switches on the back of the control panel.

Wish I had a schematic - I could figure this stuff out, but without one its a crap shoot. Replacing fuses and relays is often a cheap fix, and these days it's also a good bet to replace any aluminum electrolytic capacitors. They develop internal shorts that kill power supplies and a lot of consumer items are affected by that these days.