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19-03-2011, 11:21
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Baltimore
Boat: Pan Oceanic 43
Posts: 55
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Need help trouble shooting an Inverter
Before I pitch this thing overboard, does anyone have a recommendation on how fix it?
The inverter I acquired with my boat is only putting out 73VAC when unloaded and 88VAC when loaded. Brand name “Genius Power”, Model G-12-100. The company website is down, and I can find no manuals online. I can find no obvious means of adjusting the output, unless there is some kind of manual adjsutment inside the case.
Thanks
__________________
"Not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails..."
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19-03-2011, 11:23
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2008
Boat: Teak Yawl, 37'
Posts: 3,006
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Re: Need help trouble shooting an Inverter
Be sure your batteries are fully charged. Then make sure the inverters not pulling your battery voltage down.
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19-03-2011, 16:40
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Boat: Dragonfly 1000 trimaran
Posts: 7,239
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Re: Need help trouble shooting an Inverter
If it's a modified sine wave inverter, most meters won't accurately read the output, as they're designed to see a sine wave.
Fluke meters should give you an accurate reading.
What problem do you have, or are you just relying on a meter?
__________________
'You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
Mae West
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19-03-2011, 16:46
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Adirondacks
Boat: 1967 Alberg 35
Posts: 589
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Re: Need help trouble shooting an Inverter
Check that line side wire size and run are adequate. They need a fairly hefty cable.
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19-03-2011, 19:51
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Cormorant Island, BC, Canada
Boat: Lancer 44 Motorsailer
Posts: 1,877
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Re: Need help trouble shooting an Inverter
Since the output voltage is greater under load, the problem may be difficult to troubleshoot online. My suspicions would be in the circuitry that controls the output and develops the frequency. Unless you are an experienced electronic tech my advice would be to find one. The circuits in inverters are quite involved.
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19-03-2011, 20:44
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 238
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Re: Need help trouble shooting an Inverter
What is the input voltage when loaded vs unloaded. Thinking about a shorted MOSFET dragging it down or an open MOSFET not allowing full power. Since it's working some I tend to believe the chips that allow the outputs to alternate are OK. Are you taking the 120 volt readings with it open or with a load on it. Verify that you have the correct input voltage, put a light load on the 120 volt side and check the input and output loaded and unloaded.
Let us know. Thanks and have a great day.
__________________
Failure is most often times a temporary condition........
Giving up is what makes it permanent.
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20-03-2011, 03:09
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#7
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Nearly an old salt
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lefkas Marina ,Greece
Boat: Bavaria 36
Posts: 22,801
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Any number of things could be wrong , feedback loop components , modified sine wave oscillator , power stages. You really at the very least need an oscilloscope and a circuit diagram.
Dump it.
Dave
__________________
Interested in smart boat technology, networking and all things tech
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20-03-2011, 14:37
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Baltimore
Boat: Pan Oceanic 43
Posts: 55
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Re: Need help trouble shooting an Inverter
Thanks for all the feed back, guys.
-Input voltage is good. Running off battery chargers and the outputs are in the 13VDC range.
SeniorMechanico...
-I'm only using a multi-meter to check the AC volts. Is is possible that the meter is only reading 1/2 the wave voltage?
- I have no other symptoms, I plugged in a vaccum cleaner(750w) and it seemed to work ok. I'm afraid to plug any electronic components into it until I can be assured that the output won't cause them permanent damage.
__________________
"Not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails..."
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20-03-2011, 15:49
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Boat: Dragonfly 1000 trimaran
Posts: 7,239
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Re: Need help trouble shooting an Inverter
Try an incandescent light bulb and compare the light output with grid supplied power.
If it's the same brightness on both, you're good to go.
__________________
'You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
Mae West
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20-03-2011, 15:54
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: W Florida
Boat: Still have the 33yo Jon boat. But now a CATAMARAN. Nice little 18' Bay Cat.
Posts: 7,086
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Re: Need help trouble shooting an Inverter
Quote:
Originally Posted by senormechanico
Try an incandescent light bulb and compare the light output with grid supplied power.
If it's the same brightness on both, you're good to go.
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Visual volt meter.
Cool!
Learn something every day.
Then I was thinking.......next year they will be illeagal to sell.
Sheeeiitt. What next?
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20-03-2011, 16:01
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#11
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Nearly an old salt
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lefkas Marina ,Greece
Boat: Bavaria 36
Posts: 22,801
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Agh ok. What I suspect you have is that the inverter is in standby mode. Some invertors put out about 80 or so volts so that any device plugged in causes the invertor to automatically come out of standby. This is usually a selectable option. The reason you're reading a low voltage is that the multimeter isn't a big enough load to cause the inverter to come out of standby ( sometimes called power save mode). I suspect the units working fine. Put a load on it and then measure the AC voltage.
Dave
__________________
Interested in smart boat technology, networking and all things tech
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20-03-2011, 16:19
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 238
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Re: Need help trouble shooting an Inverter
^^^^Yep, what he said about the load and try again. I wanted that to happen earlier too. Must be something on our minds.
Quote:
put a light load on the 120 volt side and check the input and output loaded and unloaded.
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Good luck.
__________________
Failure is most often times a temporary condition........
Giving up is what makes it permanent.
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20-03-2011, 16:24
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Bainbridge Island Washington on the Salish Sea
Boat: Hardin 45 Voyager Alice B., Gig Harbor 10, Orca 7 1/2 sloop, 16' sea kayak
Posts: 439
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Re: Need help trouble shooting an Inverter
Used a modified sinewave inverter on the house for years and had no electronic problems until we got a Maytag Neptune washer. Faulted 10-20 times a load! you don't say if you're reading an analog or digital meter, but your reading sounds about right for a good quality analog to ground reading.
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20-03-2011, 16:41
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Cormorant Island, BC, Canada
Boat: Lancer 44 Motorsailer
Posts: 1,877
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Re: Need help trouble shooting an Inverter
Quote:
Originally Posted by capnorv
Used a modified sinewave inverter on the house for years and had no electronic problems until we got a Maytag Neptune washer. Faulted 10-20 times a load! you don't say if you're reading an analog or digital meter, but your reading sounds about right for a good quality analog to ground reading.
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I have the same problem with a combo washer/dryer from Splendide. Electronics in these units don't like the modified sine wave. Use the generator or shore power to wash clothes.
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20-03-2011, 16:47
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Boat: Dragonfly 1000 trimaran
Posts: 7,239
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Re: Need help trouble shooting an Inverter
Quote:
Originally Posted by Therapy
Visual volt meter.
Cool!
Learn something every day.
Then I was thinking.......next year they will be illeagal to sell.
Sheeeiitt. What next?
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I'd sure like to see a curly fluorescent HEAT lamp!
Buy what you need NOW and be prepared.
__________________
'You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
Mae West
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