Genny / Inverter issues

[Seas the Moment]

I am now down in the Ft Lauderdale area and I am in need of a good Northern Lights mechanic and frankly inverter/battery troubleshooter.

Last month on the hook, my genny would not stay at a consistent RPM, and my inverter would shut down at low voltage within an hour or less after I switched to inverter. Typically, I could make it through the night and still have enough inverter power to fire up the coffee maker and then some in the morning. I even ran the engines with the inverter on to run refer/ice maker etc while underway and the inverter shut down. So, I think I have either battery issues, charging issues, inverter issues are all 3. I have the outback 3232 (I believe). The puzzling part is why on earth the engines did not charge the batteries enough to power the inverter while underway. BTW, the engines crank over without hesitation as they always have. Noteworthy, the only changes made prior to this trip, would be the fact that I had a competent individual install a generator start control module and interface it to the "mate" controller and the NL generator.

Any suggestions on how to attack this would be much appreciated. Mike, Sky I know you have a similar set up as I, and Sky, I followed your methodology and I am running the entire boat through the inverter. I am just careful to regulate what I have active while on the inverter. It has worked well for over 2 years prior to this.

Thanks!

 

[REBrueckner]

Well there really isn't the detailed information needed to help much, but here are some possibilities:

"Last month on the hook, my genny would not stay at a consistent RPM"

Is it steady [normal] now...under load only or while off line as well? Did you check your 'Racor'?? couldbe air or water or dirt. fuel valve fully open?



"and my inverter would shut down at low voltage within an hour or less after I switched to inverter..."

Sounds like a very heavy load or weak batteries. Which batteries power the inverter....isolated house or one of the start pairs? age of batteries? Let the batts sit idle for a few hours, either load test or check specific gravity. Dirty battery terminals?


"Typically, I could make it through the night and still have enough inverter power to fire up the coffee maker and then some in the morning...

"ON same loads as you recently experienced trouble? What are the loads? Are those batts fully charged when you start use?? Is batt charger at dockside working??


"..I even ran the engines with the inverter on to run refer/ice maker etc while underway and the inverter shut down...

Do either engines actually charge the batts used for the inverter?? via a combiner?? is it working?? Check inverter battery voltage with engines running...inverter off.....should be about 14 volts if 12 volt, about 26+ volts if 24 volt batts. Turn inverter on, with loads off, battery voltage should not change...if it does, likely an inverter trouble. If batt voltage remains the same, shut off engines and turn on you regular loads, one by one, and monitor batt voltage...see if any one load causes a big drop...


So, I think I have either battery issues, charging issues, inverter issues are all 3. I have the outback 3232 (I believe). The puzzling part is why on earth the engines did not charge the batteries enough to power the inverter while underway. BTW, the engines crank over without hesitation as they always have.

could be. have to isolate which is the cause as already noted....

"Noteworthy, the only changes made prior to this trip, would be the fact that I had a competent individual install a generator start control module and interface it to the "mate" controller and the NL generator."

doesn't seem related to your operating issues.

 

[Pascal]

When you say th Genset doesn't stay at a constant rpm, do you mean voltage dip when a heavy load start? Or does it hunt around even with a light load. If only when a load (air con) kicks in then it s likely a fuel filter issue, change the primary and the secondary before calling a mechanic.

As to your inverter/battery issue, do you have a dedicated bank for the inverter or are you feeding th inverter from either of the main banks.

If you have a dedicated inverter bank, he is it hooked up to your alternator? Or is it? Often invert banks are charged by the inverter when on shore or Genset so it s normal that the engines will not recharge the bank.

Finally, there could be two reason for your inverter to shut down so quickly... Either you have a bad bank or a bad battery in the bank, or your bank doesn't get recharged.

I m not familiar with the outback but many inverter have an option to reduce the charge rate. If yours was set to a low charging rate by mistake you may think your bank is charged enough after a few hours but it's not.

You need to know how your systems are set up to troubleshoot.

 

[Dan Mapes]

What voltage are the inverter batteries at while under way with the engines charging, and how many amp hours.

 

[MikeP]

"Noteworthy, the only changes made prior to this trip, would be the fact that I had a competent individual install a generator start control module and interface it to the "mate" controller and the NL generator."

Unfortunately, one of the very first things to look at when troubleshooting is, "has anything changed in the system since it was last working correctly?" It's one of those "usual suspects" and I'd bet that IF it was working properly until that start control/interface was installed, something occurred during that install that is causing the problem. It could simply be a setting in the Mate for the inverter/charger that was accidentally changed which could easily be corrected but IF the system was OK prior, that installation/associated work is the first place I'd look.

Is there an easy way to completely disconnect what was done and see if the problem disappears?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Check the specific gravity of all battery cells in that bank. You may have one bad cell bringing the whole bank down prematurely.

 

[Seas the Moment]

Guys, I don't want you to think I am ungrateful for all your guidance and suggestions. Just recently I am battling some health issues and undergoing test after test. I have put the old girl on back burner for now, but will reengage and respond to your questions and suggestions asap. Again thanks so much for all the valuable input.

Loran

 

[Seas the Moment]

As I think more about this issue, and after searching the forum, the first thing I am going to do is equalize the batteries. I honestly can say that I don't think they have been equilized for over a year or more. I first will check all the cable connections, and perhaps you can remember, I posted that I have an automatic watering system that I know keeps the batteries topped off all the time. But, I am somewhat optimistic that the equilizing will bring back any weak cells. I have just been hesitant to set up the equalizer when I am not on the boat for obvious reasons. I will definitely post the results after the equalization and if it works I hope it helps many HOFers out with this issue.

Still looking for a good Northern Lights / Lugger mechanic in the Fort Lauderdale area if anyone has a recommendation. BTW, the last oil analysis on the genny came back with flying colors and the lab recommended I extend the oil changes.

And Mike I did scope the intake manifold for the possible "ingested" foam air cleaner, not to be found. And in fact I had expanded metal piece that frankly would not allow the foam to be sucked into the manifold as yours was. But, not knowing if the expanded metal was an after though by PO, I did scope it anyway and found nothing.

 

[drburke]

Hey Loran--best of luck with your medical issues. Take care our yourself first!

DAN