Community Forums

Gadget Man · 02-25-2012, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob109

Sorry about that! I'll come right to the point! If you don't routinely invert power you, simply, have a mighty expensive battery charger with the 458 or any other inverter/charger.

No biggie, just poking fun.

I can see your angle. I don't use mine a great deal, but when I do, I'm glad I have it.

wa8yxm · 02-25-2012, 03:20 PM

So that you know... the ring terminal is not a ring terminal, it is a sensor, there is NO electrical connection between the ring and the inverter.

Inside the ring is a temperature sensitive device, TWO wires from that "phone type plug" go to it, as the temp changes it's properties (Resistance I think since that is the most common sensor) change (might also be a diode and the forward voltage drop changes with temp) The inverter reads the temp from the value of the sensor.

Putting 12 volts on those wires.. Bad idea. (As you found out)

Ragingbull · 02-25-2012, 03:37 PM

Just prior to buying the Winnebago and this Pace Arrow I was given a "blown" Xantrex Freedom 458. I had plans for it if I could get it working. I'd messed with old TV's and crystal radios when I was young as a hobby. After tearing it down I found some loose connections, Most were solder joints on a board inside right behind the panel. I didn't have to replace one part and it worked perfectly. I wound up trading it for a bunch of fishing gear that still hasn't gotten any use yet. Lakes here in West Texas are very very low right now. Point I'm making is that it might be something simple. Craig if you were closer I'd take a look at it for you. I spent all of an hour fixing mine. Wish I'd have kept it now. Sometimes childhood hobbies come in handy!

bob109 · 02-25-2012, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragingbull

Just prior to buying the Winnebago and this Pace Arrow I was given a "blown" Xantrex Freedom 458. I had plans for it if I could get it working. I'd messed with old TV's and crystal radios when I was young as a hobby. After tearing it down I found some loose connections, Most were solder joints on a board inside right behind the panel. I didn't have to replace one part and it worked perfectly. I wound up trading it for a bunch of fishing gear that still hasn't gotten any use yet. Lakes here in West Texas are very very low right now. Point I'm making is that it might be something simple. Craig if you were closer I'd take a look at it for you. I spent all of an hour fixing mine. Wish I'd have kept it now. Sometimes childhood hobbies come in handy!

Would this be the PC Board you're referring to?

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6...f1f9b147_z.jpg

Or would it be one the lower PC Boards in this photo?

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6...e728365f_z.jpg

Gadget Man · 02-25-2012, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragingbull

Craig if you were closer I'd take a look at it for you. I spent all of an hour fixing mine.

This is why I love the RV world. So many nice people offering their help.

Tell you what...I just retired and the DW will be coming home in 1-2 years. Texas is one of the few places we're considering moving to after retirement. I'll hang onto the 458 and give it to you if and when we make it to the lone star state!

Craig

Ragingbull · 02-27-2012, 01:25 PM

Bob it was the upper one, But looked smaller.
Craig yall head this way and we'll have some authentic Texas BBQ!

Gadget Man · 02-27-2012, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragingbull

Craig yall head this way and we'll have some authentic Texas BBQ!

BBQ too? I'm packing now!

bob109 · 02-27-2012, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragingbull

Bob it was the upper one, But looked smaller.
Craig yall head this way and we'll have some authentic Texas BBQ!

Thanks for the feedback. I've got my inverter sitting on the floor of my MH. Going to pull the cover for the third time and remove my upper board. I've got a good magnifying glass which should assist my old eyes. Hopefully I can find/detect a bad connection of some sort.

Dutch Star Don · 02-27-2012, 10:17 PM

Craig.....I've been running a Magnum MSW 2000 watt for 7 years now. Its been flawless. If it ever goes, Ill replace it with a Magnum PSW.

Gadget Man · 02-27-2012, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diplomat Don

Craig.....I've been running a Magnum MSW 2000 watt for 7 years now. Its been flawless. If it ever goes, Ill replace it with a Magnum PSW.

Thanks for the feedback Don. I've heard nothing but great things about Magnum. I have an appointment tomorrow to have my Xantrex evaluated. To be continued...

Craig

Gadget Man · 02-29-2012, 10:02 AM

UPDATE:

My extended warranty provider sent a claims investigator to check out my Xantrex inverter/charger. He discovered my blunder and kindly said the provider was going to deny my claim. The RV repair center claims my unit is repairable, but they would have to ship it out to a Xantrex authorized repair center. The closest one is in San Diego.

Right now I have a little extra cash in my pocket. Based on everyone’s overwhelming praise of the Magnum line, I decided to just replace my Xantrex altogether, in lieu of repairing it.

I just ordered the MS-2012 from Inverters R Us. I initially was going to purchase the Magnum from Wholesale Solar, since they include a free remote panel, but Wholesale Solar would have to charge me sales tax. Inverters R Us doesn’t offer a free panel, but their list price is less and there is no tax, so by adding the remote panel to my order, they were about $50 less for everything total.

I hated replacing something that could have been repaired, but so many people rave about the Magnum, I figured this would be the time to upgrade.

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Craig

Gadget Man · 03-01-2012, 02:35 PM

A little additional information on my purchase. You know the saying "You Get What You Pay For"?

I ordered my inverter online from "Inverters R Us" yesterday at 8am. I got an automatic order confirmation email from them. I emailed them and asked for a tracking number. 30 hours later, no response. I called their customer service number and got a recording that stated, "We can not accept your call at this time. Please leave a message at the tone." Hmm...a little bewildered, I called their sales number, and low and behold, got the same recording. I immediately got a bad feeling. Why would a company not even answer their sales line?

Not knowing if/when I would get my inverter, I sent an email cancelling my order. I then called American Express, and advised them of the situation. The charge had not hit yet.

After that, I called Wholesale Solar, my second choice, and ordered the inverter from them, gladly paying the additional $50 for a legit company. They were very nice and said they would get my new inverter out to me ASAP.

Buyer beware.

Craig

asodergren · 03-01-2012, 02:43 PM

Good choice. No sense throwing good money after bad. The only thing worse than a xantrex inverter charger is their tech support.

BigSkyBob · 03-01-2012, 03:03 PM

How do you get by without using the inverter when hooked to shore power? If I pull both of the breakers on my Magnum inverter I lose all 115VAC in the coach. If I turn off the inverter at the remote EMS panel same thing happens.