Xantrex Inverter/Charger fan problem

[GLConner1]

Greetings. I do not know if anyone here had this problem with their inverter fans. However, my inverter is working however, the pathmaker pops and then disengages. I had to put an external fan there to help cool it down and it worked for a week and started popping again. The inverter batteries show fully charged where the house batteries show 12 volts. My RC7 remote board shows no errors and yet shows full charge. If this is caused by fans not working are these replaceable and how complicated are they to do? Any help would be appreciated. I watched Youtube videos and they do not cover fan replacement. Help, please. My manual has 3 RV numbers. 2012, 2512, 3012. Cannot see the M/N. I do have a part number. 445-0609-01-01. Again Thanks.

 

[Alfa38User]

It would be nice to know what vehicle (make and model) this is installed in, the model of the "inverter", and some details on your battery installation to get an accurate response.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

My manual has 3 RV numbers. 2012, 2512, 3012.

Those three model numbers are the same Xantrex RV GS inverter in different wattage capacities (2000W, 2500W, 3000W).
The fan is thermostatically controlled and runs as needed.  As long as the RC7 (or the inverter face panel) isn't showing a over-temperature fault, the fan is doing fine.

I'm guessing that "the pathmaker" is the circuit breaker on the Xantrex?  That trips on a current (amp) overload, not temperature.  Adding fans or better cooling won't help that.  You are simply pulling too many amps through the inverter.  If you have the RV 3012, it may be under the total capacity but exceeding one of the two 20A branch circuits.  The 2512 has one 20A circuit and the 2012 a single 15A circuit.
http://www.xantrex.com/documents/Inverter-Chargers/RV-Series-GS/RVSeries_2012-2512-3012-GS_Owners_Manual(975-0209-01-01_Rev-A).pdf

You mentioned house batteries and inverter batteries, but in 99+% of Rvs those are one and the same. It is highly unusual to have a separate set of batteries exclusively for the inverter. How did you determine the house batteries are at 12v rather than the full charge shown on the RC7?  By the way, you can display actual voltage values with the RC7 using one of its alternate display modes. There is a lot of detailed information available there.

 

[GLConner1]

I am new at RVing. Up by my TV, I have meters that read the 120 volts twice on shore power. The other scale read the inverter voltage and the other gage reads the house voltage. You mentioned a current overload through the 20 amp. How can I check this? Also if I start the engine it will put the house batteries to full charge. Also, I do have the RC7 and it is showing a full battery charge. After I ran the engine somehow the fans came on. Even after I blew a can of air and styrofoam came out it worked for a week. There is a knife switch there that has been in the normally opened? Would this have anything to do with overcurrent?

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

If the circuit breaker on the Xantrex is tripping, that pretty much proves there is a current overload. That's what the breaker does, right?  From there, you need to investigate what things in the RV can draw power from the inverter and figure out which ones are on. Some of the items may have switches that you can control, and others may have thermostats that switch them on/off at need.

We have no idea what circuits receive inverter power in your RV - you didn't mention year/make/model or anything else that would give a clue. Given that it is a fairly hefty size inverter, I expect quite a few things can receive power from it, but there isn't enough power to run all the things all the time.

 

[GLConner1]

Thank you for what you have given so far. The year of my Motorhome is 2006, Alpha Gold See Ya. The breaker at the inverter/charger is ok. That one has not tripped. The green light is flashing. However, at the Pathmaker the Overcurrent kick in and out and will do it about 3 times and quit for 5 minutes and start again the same cycle. What does the knife switch do? Should I leave it closed when on shore power or should I open it?

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Never heard of a device called a Pathmaker is, so cannot help you there.

If the green light in the Xantrex is flashing, it is working fine and you ought not to be worrying abut its fan.

Where is this knife switch and what is it connected to?

You aren't giving us much to go on, so I'm guessing a lot. Maybe some photos?

 

[GLConner1]

I will send some pictures this weekend. Thanks and have a great 4th of July.