Freedom 30 Inverter/Charger problems

[boaterholic]

Hi All
Can someone please help me with an issue on inverter charger. If I press any button on the remote panel I get blinking charge light for about 15-20 seconds and panel goes dark. The led’s on the actual inverter also blink for charge that entire time then also go out.
I have verified it has 120 volts going in. I don’t think the charger is working properly.
Is ther an internal fuse to check for? What else can I look for? Maybe some sort of factory reset? If so, how do I do it? And the little 30 amp breaker by the front of panel is not tripped.
Thank you!

 

[Bmarler]

Have you checked the voltage of the batteries? A lot of inverters won’t function if the batteries are dead. You may need to bring in a different charger to put an initial charge on them, then see if it turns on.

 

[tiltrider1]

How old is this unit?

 

[boaterholic]

The unit is original, 2007.

The batteries were around 12 volt or little bit

 

[twistedtree]

The manual lists what all the LEDs mean. A blinking green Charge LED means there is no AC input power. But also check the other LEDs because they may provide more info.

How have you verified there is 120V going into the unit? Somewhere, internally or externally, it isn't making it all the way through.

 

[boaterholic]

There is AC on the AC input, checked by meter.
Are there any internal fuses? There is a small bag of small glass fuses previous owner left ziptied to one of the dc battery cables going to inverter.
I was also going to try disconnecting battery to it, and AC input off and leave it totally disconnected from power a few minutes to see if that would reset it some how

 

[twistedtree]

There is AC on the AC input, checked by meter.
Are there any internal fuses? There is a small bag of small glass fuses previous owner left ziptied to one of the dc battery cables going to inverter.
I was also going to try disconnecting battery to it, and AC input off and leave it totally disconnected from power a few minutes to see if that would reset it some how

I'm not sure about internal fuses, but the zip tied bag is an interesting clue. I have no direct experience with this particular inverter. While you have it powered down, perhaps remove a cover or two to search for fuses. Do you have reasonable access to the unit, or is it hopelessly buried as so many are?

 

[SteveK]

Make and model?
On my inverters a blinking AC light indicates searching for good AC. It is looking to see if there is AC before beginning to charge.
But the inverter also blinks while it searches for a minimum wattage device in order to start inverting.
I have had inverter cases off and yet to see inside fuses. Not mine but there are some that have a fuse that can be changed from exterior. You mentioned 30A breaker not tripped which could be for the load side. You would know if it was the line side by turning off and on again, but then what are the fuses for.

 

[Iggy]

Is there 12v to the inverter? Which could be a fuse, but I was thinking of a switch.

 

[boaterholic]

The invert unction seems to be working fine. The AC input is good.
It is when in charge mode the unit not working except intermittently.
It is a freedom 30 mode on xantrex.
Thank you

 

[neworleansrich]

I don't have any affiliation with these guys, but they repaired two different Xantrex inverters on different boats. Very efficient, knowledgeable, and easy to do business with. Also, they have been helpful with technical question on the phone. Good company to know.

Inverter Service Center

inverterservicecenter.com

Inverter Service Center
102 SCT Drive
White House, TN 37188

800-621-1271

 

[boaterholic]

I don't have any affiliation with these guys, but they repaired two different Xantrex inverters on different boats. Very efficient, knowledgeable, and easy to do business with. Also, they have been helpful with technical question on the phone. Good company to know.

Inverter Service Center

inverterservicecenter.com

Inverter Service Center
102 SCT Drive
White House, TN 37188

800-621-1271

Thank you, I’ll check with them and see if they can suggest anything over the phone to check for

 

[boaterholic]

Update,
after talking to Xantrex tech support it sounded like the AC board had problem seeing the AC incoming voltage. He said it was expensive piece to replace, maybe consider spending money on new.
Since at that point I had nothing to loose, and those fuses were in my mind,
I shut power off to inverter, took the cover off, and looked around. Found the fuse. Replaced it, all working as it should now. I will be ordering more of those fuses. They are tiny at 1/4 amp rating. Hard to see the filament.

 

[twistedtree]

 

[SteveK]

Great news. Did they ever suggest check the fuse?

 

[boaterholic]

No they did not, unfortunately.

 

[Delta Riverat]

Yeah, just buy a new one...

Quarter amp fuse. Sounds like a bad design that needs a quarter amp fuse as a band-aid.

Yeah, get some more of those fuses -

 

[boaterholic]

Apparently whatever that fuse ties together on the AC board tells it there is AC power available and to wake up and do it’s job.

 

[twistedtree]

It’s probably a sense circuit which explains the fuse and its low rating.

 

[Nepidae]

Is it a charger or a charger/inverter?

If it is just a charger, do you see sometime down the pond that you might need or want an inverter?

IF so, now might be the time to swap out for newer capabilities. Look at a Victron Multiplus.

 

[boaterholic]

It is an inverter charger. So far working good.
If I can float it another year since we just got the boat and bleeding money getting it set up including a new davit crane, I’ll wait it out.
Then yes, I love the Victron product.
Thank you

 

[Nepidae]

Great on the C/I.

If you aren't too far long on the crane I'd drop the idea unless you don't plan on using your dinghy very often. I've known a couple of people who had cranes and removed them, plus you may end up with a big hole in a top somewhere that you have to keep an eye on, leaks. But that's for a different forum entry, so PM me if you want to discuss.