I have a 3,000 watt modified sine inverter that quit working and is showing an error code. I had this for our small solar system for a travel trailer I have in place in New Mexico. I have checked all the fuses (8- forty amp fuses) and none are blown. I can see no sign of anything getting hot or damaged.
This inverter was working fine and had very little use and was never over-loaded as far as electrical draw.
The only thing I can think of causing it to fail is that it is rated for a maximum charge current of 15 volts DC and does not have over-voltage protection. The charge controller typically never goes over 14.8 volts in equalization mode. On my phone I have an app that communicates with the charge controller via Bluetooth and it showed the charge controller briefly went over 15 volts the previous day before the inverter failed. (15.2 volts)
When I purchased the inverter I did not realize it did not have over-voltage protection.
In the travel trailer I have a small 750 watt inverter that is well over 15 years old wired on a separate circuit tied to the battery bank and when I turn on the 3,000 watt inverter after it failed, the 750 watt inverter trips for low voltage. This tells me the 3,000 watt inverter is drawing a great deal of juice from the battery bank even though it is not working.
The 3,000 watt inverter has two circuit boards (a primary and secondary board) neither show any sign of anything being damaged. Both have multiple rows of Mosfets. I am guessing there is a failed Mosfet, transistor or capacitor. The key word is guessing! I have no idea.
The company that sells these inverters show replacement primary and secondary circuit boards, but are no longer in stock.
I have since purchased a Samlex brand inverter I have yet to install, that has over-voltage protection and shuts down if voltage goes over 16 volts DC.
I am thinking if the failed inverter could be repaired, I would keep as a backup.
So I was wondering if there is an electronics guru or nerd on OSA that would be interested in taking a look at this inverter. If it can’t be repaired, it will probably end up at the bottom of the lake where I lost all my guns in the boating accident!
Electronics and their repair are above my pay grade!
Thanks!
This inverter was working fine and had very little use and was never over-loaded as far as electrical draw.
The only thing I can think of causing it to fail is that it is rated for a maximum charge current of 15 volts DC and does not have over-voltage protection. The charge controller typically never goes over 14.8 volts in equalization mode. On my phone I have an app that communicates with the charge controller via Bluetooth and it showed the charge controller briefly went over 15 volts the previous day before the inverter failed. (15.2 volts)
When I purchased the inverter I did not realize it did not have over-voltage protection.
In the travel trailer I have a small 750 watt inverter that is well over 15 years old wired on a separate circuit tied to the battery bank and when I turn on the 3,000 watt inverter after it failed, the 750 watt inverter trips for low voltage. This tells me the 3,000 watt inverter is drawing a great deal of juice from the battery bank even though it is not working.
The 3,000 watt inverter has two circuit boards (a primary and secondary board) neither show any sign of anything being damaged. Both have multiple rows of Mosfets. I am guessing there is a failed Mosfet, transistor or capacitor. The key word is guessing! I have no idea.
The company that sells these inverters show replacement primary and secondary circuit boards, but are no longer in stock.
I have since purchased a Samlex brand inverter I have yet to install, that has over-voltage protection and shuts down if voltage goes over 16 volts DC.
I am thinking if the failed inverter could be repaired, I would keep as a backup.
So I was wondering if there is an electronics guru or nerd on OSA that would be interested in taking a look at this inverter. If it can’t be repaired, it will probably end up at the bottom of the lake where I lost all my guns in the boating accident!
Electronics and their repair are above my pay grade!
Thanks!