Inverter Problem

[Lester]

We have a 3600 watt inverter in our bus. We have 2 large deep cycle batteries hooked up in sequence for 24 volts. We plug the bus into the shorepower and start the inverter. The red light goes on and off at the remote indicating it's charging the batteries. If we leave the inverter on when we are not at the bus, it boils the water out of the batteries.If we shut the inverter off then the batteries go dead and we lose all our electric 110 and 12 volt. Could something be hooked up wrong? Could someone explain to us how an inverter should work? If the batteries get charged by the inverter, shouldn't the charger shut off? When the bus is plugged into shore power and the inverter is shut off, should we not be getting 110 v0lt?

[Moof]

Lester,

If not properly installed inverters can be quite fickle.  It doesn't take much to get them to misbehave.  Incorrect grounds or voltages can cause a lot of headaches.  Have you contacted the inverter dealer for any advice?

Here is a link to a site I found useful.  It does say the document is in Beta test form, but everyone I have talked to seems to think this is good stuff.  Has anyone else looked at this?

http://www.equalccw.com/hardcore.html#INVERTERS

HARDCORE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS:
Boondocker-Grade Energy Conversions For RVs
By Jim March © Sept. 2005.
As of 9/3/05 this document is in BETA TEST FORM
for review by qualified off-grid energy system engineers.
ALL INFORMATION SHOULD BE VIEWED AS
-=PRELIMINARY!=-

[gumpy]

Need more information.

What kind of inverter?  Brand/model?

What kind of batteries?  How old are they?

What is the charger voltage set to?

How are you producing 12 volts off your 24 volt battery?

Boiling is typically a sign of the voltage set too high. It can also be caused by a short in one of the batteries.

You seem to have it right on your understanding. When unplugged from shore power, the inverter takes battery power and makes 120v AC. When plugged in, the charger portion of the inverter should recharge the batteries. However, the charger may or may not shut off, depending on what inverter you have. The Trace inverters remain on float charge indefinitely.

Give us more info.

[DrivingMissLazy]

Great Link. I will save it and add it to the boards Link Page when we establish it.
Richard

Lester,

If not properly installed inverters can be quite fickle.  It doesn't take much to get them to misbehave.  Incorrect grounds or voltages can cause a lot of headaches.  Have you contacted the inverter dealer for any advice?

Here is a link to a site I found useful.  It does say the document is in Beta test form, but everyone I have talked to seems to think this is good stuff.  Has anyone else looked at this?

http://www.equalccw.com/hardcore.html#INVERTERS

HARDCORE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS:
Boondocker-Grade Energy Conversions For RVs
By Jim March © Sept. 2005.
As of 9/3/05 this document is in BETA TEST FORM
for review by qualified off-grid energy system engineers.
ALL INFORMATION SHOULD BE VIEWED AS
-=PRELIMINARY!=-