inverter bad installation ?

[jusbumn]

A few weeks ago, before I moved my boat 110 miles to Miami, I had a outback 3232 installed. Not a replacement, first time installation. The installer told me everything was working proper including all circuits for when on the hook with the generator running. Left yesterday for a four cruise to the upper Keys. Tried to go on the hook, however the windlass didn't work, the lights on the 12v and 32 volt chargers and four or five other circuits were not working with the generator running or not. When we arrived back last night and hooked up to shore power everything was working. I called the installer and he said something is wrong with the generator wiring, not by him but previously. It doesn't sound like he tested his work with the generator running.

Does anyone know a inverter repair in Miami that will come out and check the installation, reprogram and fix the problem?

[bobk]

If you can't find someone in the Miami area, Yves Denault at Trinity Electric in Stuart is very good.

Bobk

[Pascal]

A few weeks ago, before I moved my boat 110 miles to Miami, I had a outback 3232 installed. Not a replacement, first time installation. The installer told me everything was working proper including all circuits for when on the hook with the generator running. Left yesterday for a four cruise to the upper Keys. Tried to go on the hook, however the windlass didn't work, the lights on the 12v and 32 volt chargers and four or five other circuits were not working with the generator running or not. When we arrived back last night and hooked up to shore power everything was working. I called the installer and he said something is wrong with the generator wiring, not by him but previously. It doesn't sound like he tested his work with the generator running.

Does anyone know a inverter repair in Miami that will come out and check the installation, reprogram and fix the problem?

What kind of windlass do you have? It should have nothg to do with the inverter unless you have some odd AC windlass which I doubt.... My guess for th windlass is that either the windlass battery switch or breaker was turned off

Battery chargers should not be hooked on to the inverter power circuits so it s normal for the chargers to be off when th Genset or shore is off. Now obviously they should work on generator

Your post is somewhat unclear. Were the chargers working on generator before the inverter installation?

Are you sure you didn't forget to switch over one of th rotary switches when on generator? Or breaker maybe? Not sure what boat or set up you have.ll

Basically power comes in the panel from the Genset and shore power thru either rotary switches or breakers with safety slides. There should be no difference in either source and all circuits and systems should work with either.

[jusbumn]

All of the switches on the panel for the 110 circuits were on when the generator was running. Yet, it appears, that the only circuits with 110 on, were the circuits connected for the inverter. Is there a inverter specialist that can check the outback 3232 installation and programming?

[MikeP]

It is impossible to diagnose from long distance but, as has been noted, unless you have an AC windlass, the inverter should not have anything to do with that IF it was installed correctly. Is the inverter set up as a "pass thru" or do you have to manually throw a switch to operate it?

Is the inverter "on?" If you have the Mate control panel, the inverter can be turned off and, if so, so none of it's circuits or the devices it powers will operate if you disconnect shore power and do not run the genny. I leave mine off when the boat is unattended for lengthy periods.

But it's all about how your inverter was set up. The problem you are experiencing could be due to faulty installation OR simply that switches/settings are in the wrong position. Of course, if that's the case, your mechanic didn't brief you very well... He should have left a written guide of what to do to operate the inverter based on HIS installation.

As far as checking the installation - all the necessary info is in the Outback manual so anybody who does boat elec work should be able to sort it out with the help of the instruction manual.

[Canuck Dennis]

I have my 240 v a/c inverter off my 32 v system connected to my 12 v gen set start batts with no problems for 10 yrs, just don't connect it to the 32 v batt charger..

[GJH]

When you turn on the generator, are you switching the mains to "generator" form "shore" and turning on the appropriate breaker for the genny? Whe the guy did the re-wire, did he break out a seperate panel for the inverter-driven loads?

[Dan Mapes]

If you have an inverter, the notion that everything works with the generator running is a b.s. quality statement. Whatever circuits you have associated with the inverter should be hot when the inverter is active, and draining the batteries.
If you need to have the generator running to enable the inverter A.C. output, you've been had.

As George mentioned, you should have either a slide switch to enable the inverter output to the A.C. panel, or, a separate panel driven by the inverter.

Without a description of the installation, this is very difficult to understand. However, I will stand by the notion that the generator should not be required if you have a properly installed inverter and a battery bank to drive it.

[MikeP]

Whether you have a manual switch to enable the inverter or it is automatic will depend on the installation and how you wanted it to function. If you just told the mech to install it, he could have done it "correctly" several different ways. Some folks here have the Outback set up where they physically turn on the inverter and the associated circuits with a switch; others use the Outback's pass-through circuitry where everything is essentially automatic. Some wire it to operate only certain specific circuits, others set it up to run all 120vac circuits.

Was any of this discussed before the installation? In any case, your inverter could be perfectly OK from an installation/safety standpoint but you simply have a disconnect between what the mech did and what you THINK he did or what you thought the inverter would do.

I do have to say again that he should have left detailed instructions on the operation if you weren't on board for a demonstration of how to use it.

[Pascal]

There is marine electrician I often see around here oh does inverter install but I can't remember his name... Ed or Angela know him, you may want to message them if they don't read this

Or, you could call ward electrics in ftl they are a well known marine electric supplier and should be able to recommend someone.

If I remember the name I ll post it