Xantrex Freedom 3000 trips breaker when charging

[DanDerrick]

Hello,

I have a Xantrex Freedom 3000 Charger/Inverter that keeps tripping it's 20 amp breaker (highest recommended) when I'm trying to charge my batteries when they are low (12.2v). I have 6 Trojan T-105 batteries it's charging, and then my start battery on the eco leg of the charger. The start battery is never low, so I'm guessing it's tripping trying to charge the house bank. Any ideas? If I flip it back on enough it will eventually stay charged, once it thinks the batteries are in the middle state on the remote display. Batteries all test good with specific gravity. I also have a TruCharge 40 as a backup and it never seems to have issues.

Thanks,
Dan

______/)_________

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by DanDerrick

Hello,

I have a Xantrex Freedom 3000 Charger/Inverter that keeps tripping it's 20 amp breaker (highest recommended)...

Better re-read the manual. Looks like it requires at least a 30-amp breaker.

[David M]

With most newer Inverter/chargers, you can limit the maximum amount of charging current....so as not to trip your breaker by attempting to overload the circuit.

But first do as Terra suggests. See if your breaker has the proper rating for current as designated by the manufacturer. And of course then make sure you have the correct gauge wire for the current and the run for the circuit.

If any of this does not make sense then hire a ABYC certified electrician to take a look and make recommendations.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by David M

With most newer Inverter/chargers, you can limit the maximum amount of charging current....so as not to pop your breaker.

But first do as Terra suggests. See if your breaker has the proper rating for current as designated by the manufacturer. And of course then make sure you have the correct gauge wire for the current and the run for the circuit.

Even the old ones, like the Freedoms, have what is called POWER SHARE which can reduce the charging output.

RTFM.

The 20A breaker seems low for that size F3000 charger.

RTFM. again

Power Share Feature for Link 2000 Controlling Honda Generators
Very helpful hint to control generators and 20A shorepower
Power Share feature on Link 2000

Don't know if you have a Link or just a remote.

[DanDerrick]

Thanks for the replies. My first instinct was to up the breaker to a 30, but when I re-read the manual it sounds like 20 is the max recommended (page 25 of the manual). This was installed with the assistance of a ABYC electrician initially. Wire size is per the install manual as well. It's an older model.

http://www.xantrex.com/documents/Dis...nersManual.pdf

[neworleansrich]

If you need it serviced, these are the guys:

https://inverterservicecenter.com/in...mation/contact

I have used them several times over the years for several Freedom and Xantrex inverters from various boats. They are fast and $ reasonable. Good communications.

[Symphony]

if the charger's breaker and wire sizes are to mfgr spec, and the 8Ds are good without some intermittent short - - - what happens to these chargers when they get old?
dried out capacitors?
corroded or shorted traces on a board?

[exMaggieDrum]

A 20A breaker seemed kind of low to me so I checked the installation manual on the Xantrex website for a Freedom 3000. It says the max breaker size for the AC Input is 30A. I did see on the spec sheet that it is rated for 22A AC input. So I would change the 20A breaker to 30A if it were my boat. If you have have clamp-on ammeter you could put that on the hot out of the breaker and see what amps it is drawing when the batteries are low.

Other than that you should check the entire AC side wiring and look for loose connections, good terminals, and proper wire size (10ga min). A loose wire on the breaker could make it pop every time.

The F3000 should not have any problem charging your batteries, and it is internally protected as well.