Older Xantrex Inverter/Charger Trouble

[steve77]

We have an older Xantrex unit, model 81-3011-12. The unit was manufactured in late December, 2003. Recently, it has been shutting down and the red FAULT LED has illuminated. From the manual, this doesn't mean an electrical fault, it just means there is some internal problem and the unit is shutting down until it is fixed.

Shutting the unit down and restarting, it will run properly for about 24 hours before the FAULT light comes back on. During this time, it appears to be charging the batteries properly. We are in the boatyard, so we are not using the inverter section, only the charger.

Anyone have any ideas where to start troubleshooting?

We are in Portugal, and we have an isolation transformer to drop shore power to 120 VAC. Of course, the input frequency is still 50 Hz. Will 50 Hz power damage our inverter?

Any ideas appreciated. Cheers!

Steve

[ColdEH]

Electrolytic capacitors . I had the same problem with a xantrex I owned , they dry out and crap out . Replace them all , basic soldering . Be careful to put it all back together the same way you took it apart .

Regards



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[steve77]

Typhoon - good suggestion. I know they have a limited life. I'll check into it.

Steve

[ColdEH]

No problem after I replaced the set of capacitors in my xantrex it purred like a kitten . You can tell if they are gone you can see where they have leaked out all over the board they are soldered to , it's not a hard fix .

Regards


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[smac999]

so you are feeding 50hz into your 60hz inverter / charger?.......

I would defiantly not do that....

[Jubilee39]

I have been running my charger an even older (Hart) before Xantrex with 50 HZ for about 3 years. I would also check the fan to make sure it is running, not clogged etc.

[islandfeverJim]

I was just about to say check the fan when I read you had already checked it. I was eating inverter circuit boards before a technician confessed that they had a manufacturing problem early on and had changed manufacturers. The fan would go out and unit overheat frying the circuit boards. At about $500 a pop for the boards that got expensive fast. The new unit with improved fan has been used for the past four years with no problems.

[01kiwijohn]

You do know about the procedure for re-setting one of these? It is on the Xantrex site. Try that before you go "fixing" stuff.

[steve77]

Well, no. I did go to the Xantrex website but I saw nothing about resetting these inverter/chargers. I'll take a look tomorrow and see if I can find what you're talking about.

Thanks!

Steve

[YARGESOL]

on my Xantrex Prosine 2000 there is an option for shore power quality adjustment for voltage and frequency. Before I set it up "45-65 Hz " range,outgoing power was blocked. Worning:"BAD FREQUENCY!"-BLOCK.Than, I had have to adjust "automatic restart after error". It's arrange the way,so it works his way,not mine. Contacted Xantrex - they said:"no chance,it made for NA market". Finally,local electrician set up a switch before:" trasnformer/inverter". So,I decide,if the current is good/bad. Thought,it will charge batteries...but,I prefer to charge on solar.

[eMarineSystems]

Here is a little on if the unit is charging or not from the manual.
CHARGE - Green LED
When the LED is solid green, the unit is in the charge mode and external AC power is
being supplied.
When the LED is blinking slowly, (1 time per second) the charger is ready, but external
AC power is not available.
When the LED is OFF, the charger has been manually turned OFF. This can only be
accomplished while AC power is being supplied since the charger will automatically restart each time AC power is applied.

Also this unit will test the incoming AC, if it is not within its parameters, 55 to 65 Hz, it will not except it and will not charge or by pass AC out.

[northstarseatac]

Originally Posted by ColdEH

Electrolytic capacitors . I had the same problem with a xantrex I owned , they dry out and crap out . Replace them all , basic soldering . Be careful to put it all back together the same way you took it apart .

Regards



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This is what I need, new capacitors. Unit is 14 years old, hummmmm while charging is getting worse, louder on radio, each year now in the Sea of Cortez, won't last long and hum is getting annoying.

Please, what are the Capacitor specifications and how many each? I will order from DigiKey.

[01kiwijohn]

That's interesting. Lately, I have had my old 458 making strange 'clunking' noises when plugged into shore power. Sometimes, it would charge at a higher rate of 14+ volts. Other times, I get a buzzing through the FM radio. The factory tech said it sounded like a sudden capacitor discharge issue. Their advice was to replace it with a model XC2000 (?) for about $700. Since I've once had a 'professional' dealer repair done once before, I'm inclined to agree with him as another repair will cost almost as much.
Has anyone else had this same problem?

[steve77]

Honestly I don't even remember starting this thread. Whatever - we have been running on 50 Hz ever since the original post in 2016. The original problem of the inverter shutting down seems to have fixed itself. No problems since.

For those who posted with similar problems, good luck. Mine seems to have healed itself.

Cheers!

Steve

[northstarseatac]

I knew it was a long shot to get electrolytic capacitor list, if you don't try you already know the outcome.
Here are my findings for anyone else that might find this Xantrex inverter/charger thread. The so called "power board" has most electrolytic capacitors on it can be purchased. It's a reasonable alternative to extracting the board and replacing the individual capacitors.
Xantrex Heart Freedom Marine 20 inverter charger
Model Number: 81-2011-12
board replacement $322.01
https://inverterservicecenter.com/Sh...rex-70-0136-02
good luck,
Dale