Visit our Popular Forums

kkdesigns · 01-14-2019, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDM

Be sure the inverter has 110ac to it.

You were absolutely correct.

I took an extension cord and plugged it in to another outlet, fired right up. so now the issue is that plug. Went down to the local RV store and picked another on up. Got it re-wired and tested it, no juice. So, now I need to trace that wire back and see where the short is. Good times. Have the inverter temporarily plugged in via extension cord to another outlet.

Argghhhh.

mattRox · 01-20-2019, 11:42 AM

I have a 2018 INTL Serenity 25FBT.

Since the first day of ownership I have had to have the inverter switch ON (with green light) to power anything from the inverter outlets with shore power. I have never been able to understand the rationale of this, but have learned to live with it. (we don't watch much TV while camping)

Is this incorrect? Can someone with a 2018 25 confirm that they can (or cannot) watch TV on shore power without the inverter switch being on?

Thanks,

Dave-n-Janet · 01-20-2019, 11:56 AM

review this thread. You should be getting 120V on shore power to your inverter which will pass it through to your inverter outlets.

mattRox · 01-20-2019, 01:08 PM

On the top corner of the back of the inverter there is a resettable ac power cb. I can't look at it directly but using my phone camera and feeling around back there I cannot figure out how to reset it. The thing seems immovable.

My inverter works when powered on (green light on switch) but I am getting no pass through from shore power.

Anyone know how to operate this cb?

Thanks,

LDM · 01-21-2019, 11:04 AM

120v has to go to inverter for it to pass through. You say green light at switch. But you need green light on inverter on are you do not have 120v to it check plug were it is plug in. When working right the inverter does not have to be own for tv to work. It does need 120v to it.I think the cb you are talking about does the same thing as wall switch.

mattRox · 01-21-2019, 11:50 AM

Thanks,

My inverter is wedged under one of the twin beds and it's almost impossible to access the top and bottom of the unit. If there's a light I haven't seen it.

I checked the outlet where the AC input cord (AC pass through) plugs into and that outlet has no power to it.

So I'm kind of at a loss as to where to go from here.

Thank you,

mattRox · 01-21-2019, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acheron2010

Just for grins, check the GFCI button on one of the outlets. That was the source of my 120V mystery in my 2019 FC.

As to this, I can't find a GFCI button on any of my outlets, inside or out. There is a GFCI test button on the circuit breaker that when pushed trips the breaker.

Thanks,

LDM · 01-21-2019, 12:16 PM

On my 2018 the gfci test button is on circuit breaker. If you had 120v to inverter green light would be bright. I think you could see it even through the screen panel. When it is on battery power can you see light on inverter? Plug a fan or light in were inverter is plug in see if it works?

mattRox · 01-21-2019, 02:09 PM

No, there's no power at that outlet. All of the normal AC (non-inverter) outlets have power.

LDM · 01-21-2019, 05:03 PM

The inverter is on a breaker by it self. Check to see if it is off are the receptacle could be bad.

Acheron2010 · 01-21-2019, 05:54 PM

Just one, and it is on the Inverter circuit, as are one each on either side of the dinette at ankle level. One of the dinette outlets has a GFCI button on/test/reset button on it. If that trips, which has happened to me, it takes out all the outlets in the entire trailer on Inverter.

mattRox · 01-22-2019, 08:50 AM

This is so weird.

Just finished up with a phone call to my local Airstream service department and he says that it is NORMAL to have to turn the inverter on when plugged into 30amp power. He says different models have different inverters/converters, though and some MAY work.

Sounds like they have no idea how these things are wired.

LDM · 01-22-2019, 10:43 AM

My trailer is 50amp service it has a breaker just for inverter and inverter plugs no GFCI. I bet if you get AC to that plug it will work the way it should.

mattRox · 01-22-2019, 10:55 AM

I bet you're right. I mean, what possible reason would there be that the 'AC IN" plug is plugged into something if it were not intended to pass through the inverter?

I guess I can contact Jackson Center directly and get their word on it, but I'm not sure it's all that bad to run the inverter while shore power is charging the batteries.

Thanks,

LDM · 01-22-2019, 12:22 PM

Read post #21 you may try that just to see. The inverter will work you battery a little harder is all. I don't dry camp so I never turn my inverter on.

mattRox · 01-29-2019, 03:59 PM

UPDATE

So I'm loading up the trailer today for a camping trip. Hooked up to120V 15amp shore power. Inverter switch off. I hear a bit of a click and all of a sudden the TV comes on. The AC power is "passing through" the inverter for the first time since the trailer was bought new in October of 2018.

So now it's working as it should (after I messed about with it with no results last week).

Obviously there is a bad connection somewhere but it'll have to wait until I get back to trace it down.

Not looking a gift horse in the mouth,

rowiebowie · 01-29-2019, 04:15 PM

IT'S A MIRACLE!

(Hallelujah singing in the background, like during Clark Griswald's Christmas lights display)

Obviously something reset, but what and why would be nice to know should it happen again. Regardless, glad everything is now working.

Cirrusaly · 02-02-2019, 03:57 AM

I joined the ranks of “connected to shore power, inverter outlets not working” last night. Power to those outlets is restored when inverter switch is turned “on,” as others in this thread.

This is a suddenly appearing “new” condition for our 2019 FC 27 FBT 50A which, for the five months we’ve owned it, had powered inverter outlets when on shore power without the inverter switch on.

I will inspect the inverter ASAP but it is a bear to get to. I’ll report back later!

Fair_Enough · 02-02-2019, 06:03 AM

Wonder if JC installed a transfer switch on your trailer? That could explain the click. My inverter / sub-panel / auto-transfer switch is DIY. The way I wired it was to move what I wanted to power via the inverter (all outlets, fridge, microwave) to a sub-panel that is powered thru an transfer switch. The inverter has a CB in the main panel. When the inverter is on, the transfer switch operates and those things are powered via the inverter, when the inverter is off, the transfer switch falls back and those things are powered via shore power. Using this arrangement, I don't have to have special inverter outlets and it prevents inverter 120vAC from accidentally back-feeding to the shore plug.
WW

kkdesigns · 02-03-2019, 08:16 AM

Check that you have power to the outlet that the inverter is plugged into. My plug isin the front hatch (fb flioor plan) where the inverter is. It was bad. I ran an extension cord to a different plug and everything works as it should.i changed out the plug with a new one, but it still doesn't work. I'm taking mine in.