Community Forums

Edouard · 10-27-2010, 05:25 PM

Regarding the "Xantrex "Freedom Switch" It's a single rocker switch with a Green On light.
If the Invertor/Charger unit in the Battery Control Center, (Outside basement compartment) is turned OFF, no Green lights on for Invert or for Charge.
Whether I am connected to 120v or not connected, with or without Genset set on, turn on Freedom Switch/Grn Light in the hallway will turn on the Inverter/Charger.
If there is 120v available, Invert Green light is Blinking/Standby, Charge Green is Solid/Charging, or without 120v available, Invert Grn light is Solid/Inverting, Charge Grn is Blinking/Waiting to Charge. All is correct & fine, that's how it should work, from reading the Owner's Manual.

However, when I turn the Freedom Switch in the hallway off, the Inverter/Charger remains on with both of the Green lights on in the position required based on 120v present or not.

Therefore, with the Freedom Switch in the Off/no grn light postion, when I turn on/Green Light on the Freedom Switch in the hallway, while the Unit itself is already powered, it has no effect whatsoever in offering a function as an Off/On switch. Is this correct.

As it is in Standby/Charge or Invert/Charge Waiting all the time, whenever I take the MH out to travel, the Invertor is powering it's targeted outlets/appliances, and being charge maintained by the Engine Alternator charge system. This is also per manual correct.

If I want to shut off the Unit itself I must go out to the BCC and press the Invert button till it shuts down. Or I can shut off the Battery Disconnect switch in the stairway to turn off the Xantrex unit.

Does this make sense, almost makes the Freedom Hallway switch obsolete, except it does turn on the Invert/Charge unit if it is in fact shut down?

Did a search on the Xantrex site, but there is no info available. Edouard.
PS... Sorry for being so long!

WSRG · 10-29-2010, 01:11 AM

If yours is like mine, the rocker switch in the hallway only turns on the inverter part of your 458, that is, when you are not hooked up to shore power, the inverter converts 12 dc volts to 120 ac volts. This only supplies 120 volts to one of the circuits inside your coach. This switch [in the hall] should not be used when you are plugged in to shore power. The converter part of the 458 only turns on when you are plugged in to shore power...charging the batteries and supplying 12 volts to all the lights and other 12 volt items in the coach.

Hope this helps.

Bill

WSRG · 10-29-2010, 01:15 AM

By the way...If you turn off the battery disconnect switch, it does not turn off the converter. All this switch does is turn off battery power to the coach.

Bill

Edouard · 10-29-2010, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSRG

If yours is like mine, the rocker switch in the hallway only turns on the inverter part of your 458, that is, when you are not hooked up to shore power, the inverter converts 12 dc volts to 120 ac volts. This only supplies 120 volts to one of the circuits inside your coach. This switch [in the hall] should not be used when you are plugged in to shore power. The converter part of the 458 only turns on when you are plugged in to shore power...charging the batteries and supplying 12 volts to all the lights and other 12 volt items in the coach.

Hope this helps.

Bill

Hi Bill,
From sunny Phoenix, hey, that's where we purchased the beautiful Dolphin in May, from a small used dealer on University St. Very happy with the unit and the dealer in Phoenix.
Anyway, back to the subject at hand. The only function the switch in the hall provides, when not plugged to shore/or genset, is turn on the inverter process, only if in fact the 458 is in the total OFF position, no green lights.

With no 120v available, Invert On Mode/Charge Blink Standby Mode, If I then turn off the hall switch, the 458 does not turn off it stays in Invert On/Charge Blink Standby Modes the lights remain in same mode. Hall switch does not turn off the 458, I have to physically go out to the 458 and press the Invert button and hold until lights go out/Off.
I know not to turn on the hall switch, when I am on Shore cord/or Genset.

However, with no Shore/Genset power and the 458 is on and in Invert Mode/Battery standby mode, there is an auto transfer switch inside the 458 which automatically switches OFF the Invert mode putting it on Invert Blink Standby Mode, and the Charge Standby Mode goes to Solid Grn Lt Charge Mode, when Shore/Genset provides 120v.

When I cut off Shore/Genset, it automatically returns to Invert mode/battery standby mode.
I realize the 458 does not power the two lines L1 & L2, but as I mentioned in my OP what our 458 does power, is it similiar to your Invert On power to 120v outlets/appliances?

Hope this all makes scense! I have trouble keeping it straight. LOL
Regards. Edouard.

PS... I did try using the Battery disconnect switch in the stairway, that as you state kills the 12 volt to all lights etc., but the 458 still provides 120v at outlets etc., using the available battery amps.

WSRG · 10-29-2010, 04:44 PM

Do you remember what dealer it was in Phoenix? It sounds like you are good to go with your 458. There are some mods. I did to mine that are to hard to explain here, so call me on my cell.

602-738-0080

Bill

Edouard · 10-29-2010, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSRG

Do you remember what dealer it was in Phoenix? It sounds like you are good to go with your 458. There are some mods. I did to mine that are to hard to explain here, so call me on my cell.

602-738-0080

Bill

Hi Bill,
Great, easy to work with, everything was as he said/photographed, bought it over the net, flew down, inspected, drove it home same day, and he got us all documented to import to canada. Matt Tamke, Logistic Leasing and Sales, 4030 E. University Dr. Phx. 602-437-1011
Will try to call you tomorrow Bill. Thanks. Edouard.

WSRG · 10-30-2010, 01:39 AM

What a small world!! I used to own a boat dealership 3 blocks from where you got your coach.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Bill

two2go · 11-02-2010, 02:07 PM

In another thread about '04 Dolphin problems, I wrote about poor battery life from the Xantrex charge. I found that there is no equalization charge unless a remote control unit is connected, and NRV did not put a remote in, just the inverter off/on switch discussed above. I did find that there is a battery temperature sensor installed on my coach. Also, the Xantrex manual states that a jumper must be installed at the connectors labeled "Auxiliary Switch Port" which is under a thin flap, if no remote control is installed. I had no jumper, so I made one from a small wire nut. I measured 12v across those terminals, so there must be some reason for the jumper. I see that there is a phone wire from the inverter off/on switch to the Remote jack on the Xantrex unit which I may be able to use to replace the switch with the Freedom r/c unit on the mid-hall control panel. Hopefully I can find enough room and wire slack to put the remote panel there somewhere. I'm ordering a Freedom remote today.

Edouard · 11-02-2010, 05:48 PM

two2go wrote: Also, the Xantrex manual states that a jumper must be installed at the connectors labeled "Auxiliary Switch Port" which is under a thin flap, if no remote control is installed.

Hi again, two2go, we do also have the simple rocker on/off switch in the hall, and also the Battery Temp Switch. Not certain if there is a jumper in the Aux.Switch Port, will check tomorrow.
However per the Freedom Remote on/off install instructions there is no mention of a Jumper, so I'll check, wondering if it's not there, perhaps would answer why I can only turn on the 458 with the On/off, but cannot turn the 458 off, we'll see..

Now, in reading the 458 manual it clearly states that without the Freedom Remote Control Panel or Link installed, the jumper is to be used, otherwise if either of the Control Panel or Link, then do Not use the Jumper, so I should have the jumper.

I do have the Owner's Manual for the Xantrex Freedom Inverter/Charger Basic Remote, which is one in the same: Freedom Remote Control Panel, which has a total description of the benefit's of this remote, most import of which is the ability to the Equalize Procedure. It's definitely on my To Do List.
We'll stop at a Gander store in St-Augustine, next to a Camping World next week.

This forum is great, thanks again. Edouard.

two2go · 11-05-2010, 04:15 PM

More information on the Jumper for the Model 458 charger/converter. There is an errata sheet on the Xantrex web site that says the jumper is no longer required on models made in 2001 and later. The Auxiliary Switch Port can be used to turn the inverter on or off. It has no other function apparently, and no jumper is supplied according to the data sheet. Click on the Freedom 458 Addendum link on THIS site.