Help from Inverter Oracles Needed

[banderabob]

After looking through about 45 of 72 pages dedicated to inverters and converters, I thought I had found an answer from Lewster as to why my stock inverter did not work....blown fuses. (This is on a 2012 23D we acquired six months ago). Took about 15 minutes to check all the hiding places for the inverter, but found it, and the commodious access panel about 10" wide. Didn't find fuses, but the inverter doesn't work because it is not plugged in! And, I don't see a socket within the small compartment where the inverter is located. Certainly this has been covered somewhere in the past. Where do I plug this in? Thx in advance.

[DKB_SATX]

So, if we're talking INverter, it only needs to be plugged in to a 120v outlet if you're actually using it as a pass-through device (i.e. the inverter outlets would get their power from shore power when available, and otherwise from the batteries via the inverter.) That may be the issue, and that should've prevent it from working to provides 120v from battery power. That battery source wouldn't be a plug, it should be hard-wired to the battery with fairly sizable conductors (the greater the inverter's capacity and/or distance from the batteries, the bigger the wires)

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Some basic vocabulary:

Inverter = takes 12V in and puts 120V out
Converter = takes 120V in and puts 12V out
Charger = converter aimed at battery charging
Transfer switch = takes 120V internal outlets over to shore or generator
Pass through switch = transfer switch built into an inverter

Most models have a converter / charger that attaches to shore power. Most have inverters that do not have pass through switches.

Lots of terms ....

Bob

[banderabob]

Thanks DKB. My only interest is using the inverter (sparingly) when off the grid. So, I see the battery connect wire you reference. There is a switch on the inverter with three options 1) Remote, 2) Power On, and 3) With this switch in the Remote setting, I'm thinking the remote switch above the galley (called the remote) should turn it on, but it doesn't.

It is possible the prior owner blew fuses. When we inspected the unit, she had every conceivable electric component on, including the AC, running off 110...and you could smell the batteries boiling. I think I read another thread that the fuses for the inverter were not in the main panel, do you know where they might be hiding? Additional thoughts? Thx.

[lsbrodsky]

In 2012 AS did not pass through; your inverter will not be plugged in. As was said, it will be connected to the batteries with some large cables. Trace those out and you will find fuse protection. The AC side has its own wiring that connects to the dedicated outlets in the trailer; I do not remember what sort of protection is on those outlets.

Larry

[banderabob]

Item 3) should have said "Off".

[DKB_SATX]

My factory inverter is wired directly to the batteries, bypassing the store/use switch and the 12v fuse block. I assume it has inline fuses but I haven't exposed it to be sure.

[banderabob]

Thanks all. When the heat index drops below 105 later, I'll check for the fuses.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by banderabob

Thanks all. When the heat index drops below 105 later, I'll check for the fuses.

Before you dig too deep for fuses, measure across the inverter's 12V inputs with a multimeter and see if it's getting power or not. The inverter could have an internal problem, or the remote may not be working properly or plugged in fully, etc. Try the easiest things to check first, it might save you some hunting, though it's probably good to know where to find the inline fuses even if they're not the problem this time around.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Compared to most things Airstream, replacement inverters are not a big ticket item. You can buy a few of them for the price of one of those curved windows. If the poor beast has died, pick up any of a number of good alternative units out there. Just make sure you get one that is a "pure sine wave" unit.

Independent of the choice of inverters is the transfer / pass through switch debate. I would go for the switch and stop playing with the "inverter only" outlet plugs. Yes, there is some smarts that needs to be exercised if you do this. Do not plug a hair dryer and the 500 cfm /250 lb air compressor into the "inverter" outlets when on shore power (or any other time either ...)

Bob