Heart Freedom 20 low voltage problems

[oldmansax]

I haven't done any research on this yet as I thought this board may give me the lowdown quickly.

I have a Heart Freedom 20 with a Link 1000 interface. It has been working fine to my knowledge.

When I installed the satellite stuff, I used a standard APC 500W battery backup/surge protector between my receptacle & the router,satellite controller & modem. I usually don't keep the inverter on while on shore power & don't want damage or loss of power to the equipment if shore power dies. I had occasion to use the satellite while running the inverter on batteries during the snow storm last week & noticed the battery backup kept clicking, meaning it was switching from power to battery. I just got around to checking the problem & found out voltage from the inverter on batteries is 101 volts, which, of course, is not enough. My battery bank is charged, & was reading 12.85v to 12.35V while I used it. The last time I checked the voltage on inverter power was when we bought the bus over 2 years ago & I don't remember exactly what it was but it was 110v or better.

Any ideas what to check?

Thanks, TOM

[JackConrad]

Tom,
   Were you using a Fluke meter to check voltage while running on the inverter?  For some reason, a standard VOM will always show a low voltage when reading output from a MSW inverter. We had tried an APU in our bus and had the same results you did. When on the inverter it would bounce back & forth between inverter power and battry back-up.  I decided the APU just does not get along with the MSW power.  Jack

[oldmansax]

Yes I was! I was using my Fluke digital VOM. I used a standard voltage meter I had laying around the shop when I first got the bus. I had intended to hardwire the meter in the circuit but haven't yet.

Do you know if another brand battery backup would work? Or what can I use that woun't break the bank? I hate to have sensitive electrical equipment connected without some protection.

TOM

[Old4103]

Tom,

How about disconnecting the batteries that are installed in the UPS and connecting the house batteries instead? You would also be able to disconnect the onboard charger from the UPS and use the house charger full time.

I've seen this done on a couple of buses and motor homes, and I also plan on doing it, except my bus is 12V and the UPS I have is a 24V unit.

Just a thought,

Dallas

[Sean]

Tom,

You need to use what is called a "True RMS" voltmeter to get an accurate reading.  Unless you have the higher-end, more expensive Fluke, it will not be True RMS.  If it is, it should say so right on it.

If you are using a True RMS meter, and it is showing 101 volts, then you have a bad inverter.  No user-serviceable parts there -- it has to go back home to mama for repair.

It's a distinct possibility that the APC does not like MSW power.  You should check with their tech support to find out.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[JackConrad]

Or what can I use that woun't break the bank? I hate to have sensitive electrical equipment connected without some protection.
TOM

We decided to use laptop computers. The battery chargers for the laptops seem to wok fine with our HeartInterface 2500 watt MSW inverter. We use a low cost printer that would not hurt us too much if it got toasted. It has been in use for about 3-4 years now.  No problems so far with any of the  TVs, Sat receivers, etc. All our stuff is average quality (not high end/expensive). Radios are all 12 volt.  Jack

[oldmansax]

Yes....... it's all coming back now.... like a bad dream!

I remember having this same conversation when I bought the bus. I also remember the true RMS meter I borrowed..

I am sorry to have wasted you guys time. I will ask this same questions in a couple of years. Someone please remember to direct me back to this post! LOL!

I still would like to have  something between my electronics & the world.

Dallas, I will look into your suggestion. I had not thought of that.

Thanks to all!

TOM

[Sean]

Yes....... it's all coming back now.... like a bad dream!

Hmm, would that have been this thread:
http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=8294.0?

That wasn't even a year ago Tom... You sure you're OK? 

Back then it looks like I suggested you invest in an RMS meter (you can find 'em used on eBay) -- my suggestion still stands.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[oldmansax]

Sean,

No, I am NOT OK!!!

I BOUGHT A BUS DIDN'T I??!!!!!!!!!!!

But, you didn't have to add the humiliation of looking up the thread!!!  LOL


I think there should be  a way to remove incriminating and humiliating posts from the board!



TOM

[cody]

What were we talking about? lol

[Hartley]

CROWBAR....

I have found that my Large LCD (HDTV) that sits above the drivers area decided to have an attitude problem when ever my inverter kicks on and off sometimes. Seems that both it and my Dish network receiver are a little finicky at times with the MSW Heart 3000 that I have.

Funny Part: The TV will come on but get stuck during the computer boot sequence into a blue screen.. It will keep doing that until I unplug it physically for about 10 minutes. Then I tap the remote PWR switch, the LED on the TV blips on then off.

I plug it back in and it works fine again. The Dish network receiver would drop the LNB power if hooked to the Kingdome Sat on the roof and needed to be unplugged the same way. It hasn't done that since going to a dual-dish external mount.

Stuff just acts up to get you to waste time... Then it's happy for a while..

[oldmansax]

I have replaced my APC battery backup with one made by Energizer (whoever that is) and it seems OK so far with my inverter...

We'll see......

TOM