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rg neumann · 01-19-2022, 05:52 PM

Our 2105 Dutch Star has recently exhibited failure of the inverter/charger power. The AC appliances normally draw their power from the AC current. However now they draw their current from the inverter, resulting depletion of the batteries and the exercise of the generator to restore the proper battery power. The generator is activated only when the system not connected to an external power. The charger portion of the system is never activated!
Newmar service dept. believes that the Transfer Switch has failed since the "charger" never is activated. They claim that this failure is common in RV'S. I have never seen any threads on this failure, no comment yet from the manufacturer.

tomato · 01-19-2022, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rg neumann

Our 2105 Dutch Star has recently exhibited failure of the inverter/charger power. The AC appliances normally draw their power from the AC current. However now they draw their current from the inverter, resulting depletion of the batteries and the exercise of the generator to restore the proper battery power. The generator is activated only when the system not connected to an external power. The charger portion of the system is never activated!
Newmar service dept. believes that the Transfer Switch has failed since the "charger" never is activated. They claim that this failure is common in RV'S. I have never seen any threads on this failure, no comment yet from the manufacturer.

Are you saying that everything on the inverter leg pulls inverted power even when you are plugged in to shore power or running the generator? If so, it is something with the AC pass-through. It may be as simple as a fuse on the inverter itself. Or possibly the AC breaker that feeds your inverter from the main panel.

Dutch Star Don · 01-20-2022, 12:59 AM

I think you need to start from the beginning and check incoming power. From what you describe, it sounds like the transfer switch is stuck in the generator position. It could also be a power cord reel failure. I would open the transfer switch and check for AC power coming in (checking the cord reel) and then AC power going out of the TS. If no AC power going out, a transfer switch issue.

Before you do any of the above, take a rubber handled hammer and using the handle, give the TS a good whack.

YC1 · 01-20-2022, 05:59 AM

Start at your AC breaker panel and look for the breaker that feeds the INverter/charger.

It could be a 30 amp. Push it to the off position and press it off. Cycle back on.

If no joy, grab a voltmeter to see if there is 110 volts coming into the inverter. There are plenty of diagrams and your owners manual for the inverter will show you where to measure.

If no 110 into the inverter it will not come on of course and you have already tried the AC breaker so you can open the panel and see if there is incoming 110 to the breaker.

If no joy there, find your transfer switch as already suggested and take measurements inside of it. Again, you should have a manual for that device. It could be as simple as a loose connection which is common.

It is common for transfer switches to fail. If it is bad you can wire around it.

Of course you need to be sure you have voltage coming into the transfer switch on both legs. I have seen breakers on posts with separate breakers for each leg and one got tripped.

This should be pretty easy to sort out.

rffowler55 · 01-20-2022, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rg neumann

Our 2105 Dutch Star has recently exhibited failure of the inverter/charger power. The AC appliances normally draw their power from the AC current. However now they draw their current from the inverter, resulting depletion of the batteries and the exercise of the generator to restore the proper battery power. The generator is activated only when the system not connected to an external power. The charger portion of the system is never activated!
Newmar service dept. believes that the Transfer Switch has failed since the "charger" never is activated. They claim that this failure is common in RV'S. I have never seen any threads on this failure, no comment yet from the manufacturer.

Magnum technical support will be able to assess if the inverter is working properly. We have several Magnum inverters for our coach and home's solar power system and they all have internal transfer switches within the inverter that senses A/C power, from shore or generator, and when present, utilizes the A/C power, when the above A/C is not present the internal transfer switch activates the inverter to start pulling power from the batteries and inverting the 12v to 120v needed for the appliances that rely on the inverter backup power supply. If the internal transfer switch fails what you describe above is to be expected either on the A/C in side or inverter activation side.

We have also had Magnum inverters that did not have internal transfer switches so we had to install a separate transfer switch to utilize A/C shore or generator power when available and inverter power when not. Again, Magnum technical support will know the functionality of your specific unit and can help with trouble shooting your problem.

YC1 · 01-20-2022, 02:43 PM

One side note, you should be able to control the inverter output by turning it off and thus not running your batteries down.

But, no goes into, no goes outta. Needs 110 volts in to pass it through and begin charging as well.

powerboatr · 01-20-2022, 04:48 PM

when my magnum failed a few years back it got stuck applying voltage to coach even when power was available from shore and back fed 120 volts into the microwave and coffee pot on the return line both let out smoke, thankfully the convection micro only blew an internal fuse, coffee pot died suddenly

so we had 2 hot lines feeding the appliances, vice one hot and one return and a ground. blowing a 200 amp 12 volt fuse was an eye opener as well when it happened.

it tripped everything on the inverter powered side of coach

your control pad should have tech info and trouble codes if its actually failed and not a tripped breaker.

magnum support/techline was a HUGE help when it happened.

Mr JP · 01-20-2022, 07:41 PM

When our magnum inverter failed while plugged in to good 50 amp pedestal. We had no charging to the coach batteries. Anything that ran from that power source was dead. I had to hook up a battery charger to the batteries just to get some charge in them. The magnum tech. explained to me that as the power goes thru the inverter it passes thru a charger part that keeps the batteries charged and when the charger goes bad it creates an open circuit. If you call magnum a tech can walk you thru a simple testing procedure to troubleshoot your inverter.