need trace inverter help

David Anderson · October 16, 2008, 12:19:33 PM

The remote control panel on my trusty SW2512 is haywire. I have a backlight display but no messages. The AC1, Bulk, and Float lights are all on at the same time. It won't respond to any key inputs nor a factory default reset. I pulled it out and checked everything and all looks good. I pulled the 25' cable and found no continuity on pins #19, 20, 22, 23. Those are the pin numbers stamped in the plug and I can read them with good glasses. They are hard to see. The cable has 25 pins, but the plug inside the controller only uses 20, so I suspect the cable is ok, though I have nothing to compare it with. The main control board on the Trace panel works fine, no problems there.

I called Dick Wright at Wrico, and he has nothing to plug my remote into since Trace no longer is in business. He does have a new remote for the low price of $295. I don't want to buy one until I isolate the failure of this one. Could I send this to one of you guys to plug into yours to see if it does the same thing? If it does can they be repaired or is it just some more E-waste?

The bad thing is we will be living in the bus in Cleveland Tx building a church building for the next two weeks. I'll have to open up the bay every time I want to check my power status. I love my Trace. It is the nerve center of my coach as far as power management goes. It is ashamed that Xantrex bought these guys out and only give us a choice of Chinese made throw away inverters.

Thanks,

David

usbusin · October 16, 2008, 02:44:58 PM

David, when I thought I had problems with my SW2512 Trace I emailed Xantrex's tech dept and they were very helpful. We went back and forth several times and it finally turned out my problem was with the voltage regulator on my generator!

Give them an email.

hargreaves · October 16, 2008, 03:22:50 PM

David, the control panel on the Inverter should be the same as the remote. you can swap the two, hit the reset and you are in business.

Gerry

PS I just bought my sw 2512 in April / 08 They still make them.

David Anderson · October 16, 2008, 04:24:36 PM

Gerry,

Swapping was suggested. However, the entire inverter shroud has to be removed from the carcass to get to the controller. To do that I have to remove my inverter from the bay which in my installation is a BIG deal, probably 2 hours. not something I want to do if possible. That is why I want to check the remote on a good cable and working inverter.

I guess I'm going to have to buy a 25 pin cable to eliminate that first. It is the same as my old printer cable on my computer except both ends must be the same. The computer cable has a different connector at the printer, so it won't work.

I can't do anything Friday. We will be on the road most of the day.

Thanks,
David

Jerry Liebler · October 16, 2008, 04:27:23 PM

David,
Have you turned off all power and restarted the whole system?
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120

hargreaves · October 16, 2008, 05:24:36 PM

David, you can go to an electronics store and buy the ends you need that just clamp onto the ribbon wire that can be bought there as well. much cheaper.

Good luck Gerry

David Anderson · October 16, 2008, 06:04:30 PM

Yes, I've rebooted the system, same results numerous times.

The cord is a Trace OEM 25' cable with 25 pins 28 AWG wire, the same as an old Lexmark printer cable except it is the same on both ends. The Lexmark has a different end on the printer connection, thus it won't fit on the Trace.

David

Jerry Liebler · October 16, 2008, 06:26:30 PM

David,
The cable is 'straight through' in other words pin 1 goes to pin 1 etc. You can test it with the ohmmeter function of any multimeter. I know it's straight through because I made my own after calling Trace. If it is the cable, which I doubt, I do have an unused factory supplied one but I'm not sure where it is & it would take a bit of searching to find it.
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120

David Anderson · October 16, 2008, 07:14:07 PM

Quote from: Jerry Liebler on October 16, 2008, 06:26:30 PM
David,
The cable is 'straight through' in other words pin 1 goes to pin 1 etc. You can test it with the ohmmeter function of any multimeter. I know it's straight through because I made my own after calling Trace. If it is the cable, which I doubt, I do have an unused factory supplied one but I'm not sure where it is & it would take a bit of searching to find it.
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120

Yes, it is straight through. I doubt it is the cable, also. However, I ohm tested it, and as I wrote above, pins 19 20 22 23 had no continuity. If you have some spare time, could you check yours for the same result?

Thanks, David

Nick Badame Refrig/ACC · October 16, 2008, 07:19:19 PM

Hi David,

Just to back-up Jerry's advice, No matter what cable/ribbon you are using, all should have continuity to corresponding #'s at each end.

Good Luck
nick-

Lin · October 16, 2008, 11:00:46 PM

I suppose it is possible that the original cable was designed with dead pins meaning that there are really 21 rather than 25 connections, but it does seem to be rather illogical. Maybe tech support would be able to at least tell you that.

David Anderson · October 17, 2008, 05:41:57 AM

I agree. It does seem that all 25 should have continuity. I'm leaving in the bus in a few minutes, so I won't have a computer for a while and can't really chase a solution until Nov 1. Thanks for all the suggestions. I did do a search and found this place http://www.inverterservicecenter.com/ I may give them a call while on the road.

David

David Anderson · November 11, 2008, 02:47:41 PM

I sent the remote to Inverter Service Center and it tested good. The tech sent me a new cable, and I installed it today and all works well. When I pulled the old cable out I found where a @#$%$#@ mouse had chewed into it down in the bay.

That was a $45 meal for that rascal. An appropriate trap is set in the bay as we speak. He will meet his demise soon.

David

jjrbus · November 11, 2008, 03:09:22 PM

Thanks for posting the results, always appreciate it. Jim