Replacing an Inverter/Charger

joetann

Cadet
Joined
Aug 28, 2004
Messages
17
I have an old Heart 25 Freedom Inverter/Charger on my boat that is not working properly. It was installed in 1998 by the previous owner and has worked well until it started over charging the battery bank. I shut off the power to the unit and then reapplied AC power to it and now the monitor indicates no AC power coming to the charger. I bought a Xantrex 3000 watt (815-3000) to replace the Heart. The AC input and output functions look the same on both units and DC positive and negative are the same. Can I be pretty much assured that this would be a simple plug and play type installation? The wire sizing and fusing seem to be as recommended for the new Xantrex.

Thanks for any help.

Joe
 

Fireman431

Rear Admiral
Joined
Sep 17, 2007
Messages
4,292
Re: Replacing an Inverter/Charger

Do you have a way to verify that there is 110v coming into the unit? Put a mulitmeter or AC test light to make sure there is power. Or temporarily install it into a known solid source of 110v power (home plug). Chances are, you accidentially tripped something on the boat, such as a panel breaker or shore power breaker. What type boat?
 

joetann

Cadet
Joined
Aug 28, 2004
Messages
17
Re: Replacing an Inverter/Charger

The incoming AC goes to the back of the unit and I'd have to remove it from it's mounting to test it. Could be that something has tripped, but it doesn't explain the over cooking problem. The boat is a 1981 Marine Trader 50. On shore power, 50 amp, 220 V.
 

joetann

Cadet
Joined
Aug 28, 2004
Messages
17
Re: Replacing an Inverter/Charger

Another thought. The inverter/charger hums and heats up so there must be AC coming in. The monitor light for ac input is dark as is the charge light. That's why I think something is wrong with the old unit. Battery voltage meter works and I'm down to 12.0 on both banks as of yesterday. They normally stayed up to 13.5 v even after a 12 hour day on battery power. I'm carrying 900 Ahr in 4 8D gel batteries. Also, inverter voltage on the AC panel showed 70 to 80 V ac when batteries were at least 13v. That's pretty much why I think the old Inverter/Charger is junk.
 

Fireman431

Rear Admiral
Joined
Sep 17, 2007
Messages
4,292
Re: Replacing an Inverter/Charger

How old are the batteries? Are they still taking a full charge of have they been cooked to death?
 

joetann

Cadet
Joined
Aug 28, 2004
Messages
17
Re: Replacing an Inverter/Charger

Batteries replaced in 2008. I think they are fine but don't have the charger working.
 
Top