Issue with Xantrex Freedom 458 Inverter

[Rob Howden]

Hey folks,

This is my first post here, although I've benefitted from your knowledge on other occasions.

Here's my issue. I am in my Beaver Monterey on-site for an event in Las Vegas, and we plugged into a large mobile generator for 30 amp power. When I plugged in, I did not have power to the coach, and then when I checked my Xantrex Freedom 458 inverter, I believe I'd blown one of the breakers. When plugged in, the power monitor in the coach was flicking on and off.

So, I fired up the generator, and the power keeps flicking on and off.

On the inverter, the light for 'Low Battery / Gel 2' lights up, followed quickly by the light for 'Charge / Gel 1'. The inverter then immediately clicks off, both lights go out, and the 'Low Battery / Gel 2' light goes back on and the routine starts again. This loop keeps happening.

Inside, on the monitor, I get full 15.5 on the DC Volts gauge, and then it goes off, while the light onor the 'Charge' button goes on.. It comes back on, and then goes out....following the routine from outside.

Can anyone let me know what's going on? I'm assuming something got fried. It's Saturday, and I have a call into a mobile RV service company. I'd love to have some info to tell the guy.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Respectfully,

Rob Howden

[KIX]

I have the same inverter as you have. If I was experiencing the symptoms you are I would shut down the genset, disconnect the 12 volt cable from the inverter, wait about 15 miuntes then hook the 12v back up and then start the genset.
Check the breakers on the inverter itself and it's easier to disco the 12v (at least on mine) at the battery vs. the inverter itself. Let us know how it works out.

PS I've heard often of problems hooking up to other gensets like you did.

[Rob Howden]

Originally Posted by KIX

I have the same inverter as you have. If I was experiencing the symptoms you are I would shut down the genset, disconnect the 12 volt cable from the inverter, wait about 15 miuntes then hook the 12v back up and then start the genset.
Check the breakers on the inverter itself and it's easier to disco the 12v (at least on mine) at the battery vs. the inverter itself. Let us know how it works out.

PS I've heard often of problems hooking up to other gensets like you did.

Kix,

I've unhooked the 12v from the battery bank, but the problem remained.

Here's what we did for trouble-shooting:

- coach batteries all have 12v - getting battery power inside (ie. lights)
- power coming out of 'inverter' breaker inside bedroom breaker box when genset running
- with genset running, inverter again displaying 'Low Battery' then 'Charge' then click off, like a breaker is hitting

QUESTION - there appears to be a 25 amp breaker button to the right side of the inverter box. If this is faulty, would it cause the quick 'flick' off of the inverter? And....the breaker button is loose in the receptacle, like there is no spring-load to it. Could this be the issue? Is it faulty? Is it tripping the breaker?

RH - HMG

[KIX]

Originally Posted by Rob Howden

- coach batteries all have 12v - getting battery power inside (ie. lights)
Have y9ou checked batteries, independently, for a shorted cell?
- power coming out of 'inverter' breaker inside bedroom breaker box when genset running
Are you talking about an inverter sub-panel? Or are you talking about the main distribution panel? If main panel then you're saying that power is being supplied to the inverter. If you're saying the sub-panel then you're saying power is being supplied by the inverter. Which one?And I assume you're saying 110VAC?
- with genset running, inverter again displaying 'Low Battery' then 'Charge' then click off, like a breaker is hitting
This makes me thing you either have a loose 12VDC connection or perhaps a defective PCB in the Xantrex.


QUESTION - there appears to be a 25 amp breaker button to the right side of the inverter box. If this is faulty, would it cause the quick 'flick' off of the inverter? And....the breaker button is loose in the receptacle, like there is no spring-load to it. Could this be the issue? Is it faulty? Is it tripping the breaker?
What does the "breaker" serve? Check continuity across the breaker and you'll know if it's working.
RH - HMG

It's difficult to do this type of diagnosing via email. Are you using a digital volt-ohm meter?

[Rob Howden]

Just we're using the right meter to check everything. I think I'm just going to need to suck it up and call an emergency mobile repair service. I'm stranded right now.

[KIX]

OK. Please advise the outcome.
Good luck

[sallylillian]

I had problems with my 458. Blinking 15.5 is battery overcharge and the unit will stop charging. There are 2 causes, a secondary charging source to the battery or control board failure. Mine was the latter. This is a common failure $300 +. I have to say Xantrex do not bring anything to my day except trouble, the 458 is a crude unit and if your control board has indeed failed I would simply replace the whole unit rather than try to fix it. Victron Multiplus is a good option and has true power sharing and an excellent digital remote.
Michael 2008 CC Allure

[Scooter]

My wild guess is that there is a small "bump" on the front or side of the 458. Not sure what it does. Reset?

[sallylillian]

You can only reset by complete disconnection of AC & DC electric.

[wickedrevs 56]

Sounds like control board failures, have the RV guy "wire around" the inverter. Have the controller replaced. You may have to use the chassis engine to recharge batteries in the meantime.

[Rob Howden]

Originally Posted by wickedrevs 56

Sounds like control board failures, have the RV guy "wire around" the inverter. Have the controller replaced. You may have to use the chassis engine to recharge batteries in the meantime.

Hey guys...here's the final scoop on what happened.

When I pulled into this racing event in Las Vegas, one of the event staff plugged the RV into the junction box the rental company set out with the mobile generator. A 50 amp plugs were already being used, so they put my 30 amp adapter on and plugged me into the 30 amp receptacle. The problem is that it was a 30 amp, 240 volt receptacle. The RV tech I brought in to diagnose the problem with my inverter explained that the full 240 volts from the receptacle traveled to the inverter and blew it up - something about the other 120v using the neutral line. The bottom line was too much power and a fried inverter.

I was able to get a used unit at a great price, and will look into repairing my old one to have as a back-up.

Lesson learned. Research power outlets and be more careful.

Thanks for all the attempts at diagnosis and assistance.

[KIX]

Originally Posted by Rob Howden

Hey guys...here's the final scoop on what happened. ...........explained that the full 240 volts from the receptacle traveled to the inverter and blew it up - something about the other 120v using the neutral line. The bottom line was too much power and a fried inverter.
Lesson learned. Research power outlets and be more careful.

I built a tester to simply be able to test a 50A receptacle before connecting and with a dog bone test a 30A. It tests for correct wiring and checks no-load voltage.

At least it was only the inverter and not other appliances too.

[wickedrevs 56]

I have seen those horror stories, got out to rig with all appliances burned out.....$$$$$$$$.

[Rob Howden]

Originally Posted by wickedrevs 56

I have seen those horror stories, got out to rig with all appliances burned out.....$$$$$$$$.

I guess I'll just count myself lucky then. Thanks guys.

Just another chapter on the learning curve of RV ownership.