Community Forums

Zekeboy · 02-26-2008, 09:03 AM

I'm new here so I'm still trying to figure out how to post properly.

How do I operate the heart inverter? Should it be left on when I'm plugged into shore power?

Also, how do I monitor the genset? I don't see any temp or pressure gages?

1991 Monaco Signature Series.

Zekeboy · 02-26-2008, 09:03 AM

I'm new here so I'm still trying to figure out how to post properly.

How do I operate the heart inverter? Should it be left on when I'm plugged into shore power?

Also, how do I monitor the genset? I don't see any temp or pressure gages?

1991 Monaco Signature Series.

LLonearth · 02-26-2008, 12:19 PM

We have the Xantrex rv2000 inverter (I believe Xantrex now owns Heart and Trace) and we leave it on all the time. If you turn it off, you are just turning off the inverter portion as the battery charger part is still active when hooked to external power (shorepower or generator).

When not on external power, we choose to flip the breaker for the hot water heater off at the breaker panel box so we don't use battery power for that task. I know some have wired their rigs so those high amp circuits are not even fed by the inverter.

Our Onan 4kw genset has no temp or pressure gauges, either. Just an hour meter. I check oil level regularly and change oil filter at about 200 hours. Air filter depends on where we have been running the generator. I change the fuel filter with the oil filter. Maybe overkill but it is not that expensive. No problems so far.

Lukeaa · 02-27-2008, 06:00 PM

The Heart inverter and the generator are very good pieces of equipment and do not need monitoring, in general.

I unplug the fridge from 110V, so it does not grab inverter power, unexpectedly, and run down my battery bank in about an hour.

The Onan generators are bullet proof, if you run them at least two hours a month. More is better. If they start, they are good, if not, then see the Onan service man.

With time, you will find many other things to worry about on your RV. The inverter and the generator are generally not a problem.

dieselclacker · 02-29-2008, 05:36 AM

I too have a Heart 2000 inverter installed in a motorhome I inherited. Question, is it normal for the inverter to make a buzzing noise when operating. It makes this noise while on shore power, or operating on its own. The inverter is located under the forward dinette seat in the coach. Is this a normal, or good location for the unit. Seems to work well, but can be annoying with the buzzing.

Thanks,

Dieselclacker

quikduk · 02-29-2008, 07:49 AM

My 1000W Heart inverter buzzes too but it is in a rear exterior compartment next to the battery exterior compartment and is therefore separated. I leave mine on all the time as some of the AC plugs in the coach run off of it.

I will be changing it out in the future to a pure sine wave inverter between 2500-3000W but that is money waaaayyyy down the road...along with my future solar panel kits.

M&EM · 02-29-2008, 08:59 AM

I have 1500W Heart inverter/charger that is going on 12 years old and used in last 2 MHs.

I leave the power switch on the inverter case itself in the OFF position. The remote controller (connected by phone type cable) does all the controlling.

The charger part can be turned on or off after connection to a shore power/Gen source with the remote.

If it is set to OFF, it will stay off until the next reconnection to outside power. The charger part will always come on when first connected to an ac source.

The inverter part can be set on or off using the remote and will remain in that state set regardless of the shore power condition.

If left in the on position, the inverter will automatically activate when outside ac power is removed. When ac is restored, the inverter goes into standby and simply transfers the outside sourced ac thru itself(built in transfer relay).

Marty