Inverter Issues & Answering The Question(s) You Ask the Most.

[@dougben7477]

Just to be safe, if I were you, I would not use that inverter, I would disconnect it, replace it with a new one. It's not worth your safety, and you could have that old one fixed, possibly, and keep it as a spare. You should always have two inverters. You know the old saying, two is one, one is none.❤

[@1990lumina]

Turn each breaker on individually with the others off (minus the main breaker) to isolate the bad circuit on your trailer.

[@gypsyjenna]

I just did it. Unfortunately, I guess the inverter is already damaged since it still couldn't handle my hair dryer only 😞

[@1990lumina]

@@gypsyjenna That sucks! Nothing lasts forever though these days. Make sure you verify the integrity of the trailer wiring before replacing your inverter - would hate to another one up in smoke if there is a short somewhere. Hi from Saskatoon!

[@fdx997]

Try hair dryer plugged direct to inverter. Bypass camper wiring.

[@gypsyjenna]

@fdx997 yup, I did that in the video 👍

[@fdx997]

@@gypsyjenna then the next thing I would check would be the wiring from the inverter to the batteries. It may be powering up and running small things, but like a car with a bad battery connection not enough to start the engine or in your case a dryer or microwave. And definitely check the ones on the back of the inverter. I’ve had mine come loose before.

[@NorthGhost539]

The vicious cycle is the same reason I left my house, job and car in the city and did the same thing. I have 2 kids a wife and a dog I packed up with me too! We've never been more stress free and we get to keep the money we earn instead of lining a landlords pockets! and as you mentioned, the insanely high utility bills. Debt free is worth it in my opinion and my kids don't have to grow up in a dangerous city. BTW There's more people starting to do this than you might think. Stay safe Jenna and thanks for sharing your journey and tips.

[@chrisnoeske8904]

That critter that you showed chewing on the wood is called a bald face hornet. If you've ever seen the beehives hanging up in the trees about the size of a basketball or even bigger, that's what they make and they are pretty vicious.

[@mary1494]

Yikes!

[@acidreign8551]

Yupper!! And they are bad news too, mean little buggers. Had some of those in some 100 year old elms and oaks when i lived in Wallah Wallah Washington. These trees were 100 footers, and those wasps are mean as hell, they get big too, bad juju!! Do something to annoy them and it is game on baby, they get missile lock and don't stop.

[@johnnyreb8030]

Yes, and their stings really hurt! Don't mess with those!!

[@MsLori-BassGirl4Life]

Im seriously allergic to them. They're all black mostly n really long. I got bit 3x n I didnt bother them 2 even got in my bedroom window n bit my arse like it stalked me. The first one an hr first nailed me between my legs in lu lu pants. Was terrible. I got so sick I carry an eli pen. Ground bees are bad for dogs too. Had to throw dog in lake one time tey don't come off easy

[@lesliepropheter5040]

@@MsLori-BassGirl4Life- ground wasps, hornets in blueberry patch, not happy campers

[@albinosguy]

Clean all your battery connections and also turn all your breakers off and turn them on one at a time to see witch circuit is causing the problem

[@edwardtodd6160]

came for the off grid living.........stayed for the gypsy eyes

[@OkieBucketList]

same!!!

[@billb945]

If the inverter can't handle the load(s) it used to it is dying. It is probably mis-reporting the load but you still might want to find out what the phantom load is in the trailer even though it probably isn't 140 watts. Bad enough aninverter has a built in running loss at idle you don't want small loads in the trailer either if you can help it. The first $100,000.00 is the hardest. :-)

[@scottfoster2487]

The issue with the rv is power converter for the unit is going bad,Need to rip it out and put a breaker panel and a seperate fuse panel ince your basicly off grid set up. Those converter in the rv is a major power hog and they generate a ton of heat. If you dont want to rip out the unit run a few exstention cords and ditch the camper breaker system since it is going wonky. This is why i like power station that have a built in battery and all the tech to charge ,all you have to do is plug in a solar panel and the loads.

[@gypsyjenna]

Simpler is better sometimes for sure

[@ConradBeckner]

Plug the trailer in. Turn all the breakers off. Turn the breakers on one at a time until you discover the load. Determine what's connected to that breaker. Look to see that all wired connections on that circuit are in good condition with no breaks or missing insulation.

[@humanvideosponge4529]

Word of advice. That Damp Rid stuff is good but whatever you do, don't ever spill it indoors once it has collected all the water. It makes a horrible mess and is extremely difficult to clean up! I made the mistake of having some in my bedroom refrigerator door and dropped it when taking it out. Took me several hours to clean and I was still trying to scrub that stuff off of everything it touched for days.

[@allenmouldey7784]

I think you are an introvert like me. Valuing your alone time, loving the independence. Feeling the sense of accomplishment, yet you can have company when ever you want. Have a great time. Greetings from Ontario.

[@ScrewMaga]

Hello Jenna! I enjoy your channel and feel somewhat of a kindred spirit. After years of working, I decided to drop out. I'm old enough at 60 years old. I took $25k and bought 2 acres and a 12x32 shed. I do have grid power and county water, though. No bills. 😊 Your resilience is awesome and extremely admirable. This year I planted 10 fruit trees. Hope to keep adding trees until there's about 40. Adding chickens and bunnies in the spring. Good luck to you!

[@gypsyjenna]

Sounds awesome congrats on your land purchase, hope you enjoy retirement!!

[@raylucas4281]

Genna, About the inverter. Turn all the breakers off as you did in the early part of this video. Plug your camper back in. Then turn on only one breaker at a time and check the inverter on each breaker, you should find your phantom load. Secondly those canadian tire inverters are ok at best, and you probably know they are a modified sine wave, not a pure sine wave (dirtier power) Pure sine wave inverters have come down alot in price since we both started our off grid journey. you might want to think about an upgrade I use Renogy inverters now, and find them to be very good. I am running a freezer and a fridge off them. they have a Canadian website. Good luck Sunshine, always enjoy your content !!

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you!

[@kellilangley3875]

I’m staying on family land also; but I’ll get 1/3 of it someday. I’ve already made arrangements to buy my 2 siblings out, but since we’re in California I’m starting to change my mind! Great video, just shows the struggles of being off-grid

[@garygardner-j3f]

You have the most interesting problems, lol. I'm definitely wanting to know what's wrong with the electric, keep us informed. Something tells me that one day your own property is going to sit between a stream and a lake and they will be totally stocked with fish! Maybe even a brewery on another side :) Thanks GJ, Love your vids

[@gypsyjenna]

That sounds like a fabulous place to live! Haha

[@jacindam8721]

Hi Jenna, maybe try going through each breaker to see where the draw is coming from, I am down to only having 3 breakers out of 8 on in my "house". If you are still powering your on board converter, they do a constant pull. ( That is the box under/ behind your 12 volt system, but it pulls from the regular power, and when they fail/ short they can cause all kinds of issues) . But once you figure out which breaker is pulling power it will shorten up the hunt to see where your power is going.

[@RobertHarrington-d8z]

I noticed when you turned the gray breaker back on your lights dimmed for a second. If you're not using anything that's 220v turn it off and see if that fixes it. There might be something from the air conditioner drawing amperage.

[@gypsyjenna]

Thanks, the lights do dim when running generator too. I will look into this 👍

[@ghettohillbilly1]

i was thinking the same thing an old dead fan or something perhaps?

[@gypsyjenna]

So the air conditioner breaking doesn't have a draw but I determined that the main branch breaker does. This is the one that brings power to all my outlets. Sounds like it could be a maze to try and find the problem lol

[@MsLori-BassGirl4Life]

Replace your main plug that has the red or black square on it. Usually in bathroom or kitchen. Runs all the plugs n lights. Its a breaker type plug for safety. Forget what they're called. When they go they do that too. Keep in mind it's the worst to change screw wise cuz of how it was originally installed. Post an update plz. I have a class c. I didn't know we could plug our rv cord into our inverter n into batteries. Makes me question why my fridge is quitting n showing codes if I was plugged in different maybe it'll make a difference

[@artpatronforever]

Try leaving your RV plugged into the inverter, and run charging to the batteries from your generator, to make sure the inverter is getting enough power to run the load that is causing the inverter to trip and alarm. Give it a few minutes on the generator charging the batteries and leave the generator running for the load test of the inverter. If the inverter still trips and alarms, the inverter is probably bad since the inverter should have plenty of power at its input from batteries being boosted by the generator and charger. If the inverter keeps running under the load test that it was failing before, then one or more of your batteries is going bad or already gone and is not providing enough current to the inverter under big loads.

[@MHawkeye]

its tripping because the batteries arent at a high charge rate as you mentioned, they are lead acid and 12.5v will dip into 10v when trying to pull more than 1000w which her hair dryer would be attempting to pull. If the sun were out and similar situation with having her run the generator to charge the batteries, battery would sit at a higher voltage because there would be enough amps to supplement the dip.

[@gypsyjenna]

@rookm13 it was tripping at 12.8 too though..

[@artpatronforever]

@@gypsyjenna I saw 11.2 last but a transient input low power issue could be tripping the shutdown before the visual display shows the last reading. That hair dryer or microwave could be drawing over 100 amps into a 12V inverter. It is like a situation where a a car battery is weak and will operate the lights, but when you try the starter with that huge load everything dies.

[@MHawkeye]

@@artpatronforever personally, i dont trust the meters that come with inverters. i have suggested(probably lost in the comments) using a shunt for a more accurate reading of her power consumption. lead acid batteries need to be measured without a load for a certain amount of time to get an approximate state of charge(using just voltage). from my understanding the actual state of charge also affects the amount of power you can draw from the battery. if the state of charge is below the optimal range (above ~80%), it’s harder to pull high loads. im assuming a lot here but im willing to bet in the past her system was able to handle the load because the sun supplemented her power consumption. if her hair dryer pulls 1200W on high then at a dip of 11V(no solar) that would require 110 amps from the battery to the inverter but those amps drop to 96amps when the battery voltage can sustain 12.5v so if her charge controller was supplying 200W, that's 15 amps going into her battery, which brings down the amps to 81. i think i have also mentioned in the past to use the lfp as her main battery and use lead acid battery to trickle charge her flp(yes a few losses from converting but worth it) along with using the higher wattage panels on the lfp because of how much faster it is to charge them vs lead acid. i think if she were to connect her inverter to the lfp battery it would not trip because they sustain a higher voltage down to like 15% state of charge but if it does, then its definitive proof that the inverter has become weak.

[@MHawkeye]

​@@gypsyjenna thats based on the inverter reading, right? you can see if its accurate/fast enough by connecting a volt meter along side it. if its not too much of a hassle can you try moving the inverter to the lfp battery and use the hair dryer again? if it is, arts suggestion on using your generator to power a battery charger will be fine for testing too. the idea is to attempt at isolating the components to figure out what is actually wrong weak battery cell could be bringing down your system or it can also just be your inverter failing.

[@jerrytalley802]

It has to be tough to live off grid? You’re fighting to keep charged, panels working, rain, overcast, haul water, etc, etc. wishing you all the best success out there GJ. Love when yiu talk to the cats like you expect them to answer, lol

[@survivewithjon]

It sounds like you're still experiencing some difficulties with your solar panels. Hang in there, you're very resilient. Solar jenna lives....❤

[@TheCodgernaut]

You started out in the right direction for troubleshooting the inverter when you shut off all the breakers, where you got sideways was turning them all back on at the same time. Shut them all back off and turn them on one at a time checking the inverter each time to see when you start seeing the watts appear, that will narrow it down considerably. My guess is the wattage is the fridge plus toasting inverter. Good luck...

[@victorbenner539]

Howdy lady. So glad so many folks asked those questions and you answered because I was wondering most of questions myself but didn't want to ask because of respect to you. It also gives me a better better understanding of why you don't cut down a few more trees. About the inverter problem good luck. I drove long haul truck 13 years and went through a few a few inverters. It was always a love/hate relationship with them. You go through the process of trying to figure out what's wrong but sometimes it's just that they went to crap on you. MADDENING. So good luck. Hears my question for You today. Do you ever keep and take home to cook any of your fish? Catch and release is great. But catch & fillet is pretty good also 😂. Have a great day.

[@gypsyjenna]

Thanks for the info ! I don't actually eat fish so I always do catch and release, haha

[@katehopkinsbrent5573]

I’d say squirrels may have chewed a wire 🤷‍♀️ Also, not know much about inverters BUT the cover being metal… it’ll draw heat could it may just be overheated? You’ll get it figured out I’ve no doubt. But do unplug when you go to bed or work 🙏 middle of the night- electrical fire in my wall took my house and some pets and my son needed skin grafts cause if getting me and some pets out. I hate electric 😡. Insurance won’t cover you if you burn only wood and candles YET making me hook Power back up or else took my house. I guess it’s mandatory to have insurance when you have a mortgage … so is why I hooked back in. Just be careful hunni while you’re figuring this out. 🙏 be safe. Very glad you have a door at the other end of your camper. I only have the one door 😕. It’s a 1964 Glendale Falcon ( she compared it to can of ham 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️😄 )

[@gypsyjenna]

Stay safe in the ham can 🙃

[@kylereese4822]

@@gypsyjenna Having 2 inverters(one spare) or have 1 that`s over the maximum amount you use daily so it`s not struggling with any unexpected loads.... Also keeping the connections clean stops any issues like heat build up....

[@billbradley2480]

You have a sweet deal on the no rent situation. I use mostly DIY solar power to run this 3 bedroom 2 bath home. My electric bills average $14-$20/mo. Before my electric bills were $50-$200/mo.

[@gypsyjenna]

Pretty sweet and small bill!

[@ronpearson1790]

12.5 volts on the battery. If the batteries connected to that inverter are lead acid or agm, your voltage will drop below 12 volts with a high load on it and the inverter will shut down due to low voltage. You might consider running those high loads with your power station or off of your lithium battery.

[@TitanTrails]

You could also plug the rv into your ecoflow, just to test for the same result. If the ecoflow shows no power draw problem then you've isolated the problem to your faulty inverter. Seems like you've pretty much drawn that conclusion anyway, but good luck! I stumbled upon your videos and found a fellow Nova Scotian! Very entertaining and great humor! Fun to watch.

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you, and I never thought of that! Good idea!

[@db.mc2]

Hi Jenna, Rory 🐈‍⬛, Ramsey 🐈 👋🏻 Sorry to hear about the inverter issues, hope you get that sorted out my friend 🤞🏻Stay safe and take care 🙏🏻God Bless 🫶🏻Appreciate you my friends! 😊

[@thereasonableconsumer]

Hi Jenna, I hope the inverter issue is an easy fix. If you decide, try to pull up the user manual for it online and keyword search olp (overload protection) to see if there are any troubleshooting steps recommended by the manufacturer. I am no expert in those, but if it has any fuses, I would check them to see if they are burnt out. Some people go as far as to take those units apart to see if there are any replacable parts that fried, but its an extreme shock/death risk. At that point its probably best to just buy a new one. Be careful and best wishes! 🤟🍻 Edit/add on. You may have already tried this, but some inverters also have a reset sequence that usually requires you to disconnect the battery and holding down the power button for 20 seconds. Your unit may vary. Hope this helps! ✌️

[@ghettohillbilly1]

i think you may have a couple issues, 1st and foremost check and recheck as well as clean your battery connections. battery terminals. connectors and where the wires plug into the inverter. there is likely corrosion beginning. when I worked at Coveys junkyard we had a similar mastercraft inverter in the yard truck and it was VERY fussy about proper connections, as for the trailer i think there is something unknowingly on mistakenly turned on or plugged in drawing that power(it may not be functioning), try turning off all your breakers with the trailer plugged in then turn them on one by one until you find which circuit is causing the draw, then you can isolate it and trace it down to the source much easier. other thing is the inverter could also be crapping the bed, but Id try those things first before getting a new one and potentially having the same problem

[@3rubberboats]

From many of the other comments, it could be one or all three things: A bad breaker, a faulty inverter or the inverter is getting too hot. Put a thermometer in the inverter box to see what the temp is in there. Just a thought. Thanks for sharing and have a great day.

[@gypsyjenna]

Thanks Moses!

[@nightwolf1963]

Thanks for your comment back girl.I always follow you EVERYDAY,NIGHT your (ONE(BEAUTIFUL)WOMAN.😊

[@kevinmackenzie560]

I have one of those 3000 watt inverters, the problem with them is there not 3000 total, they are 3 - 1000 watt. Each plug is like a separate inverter but the max is usually 1000 watts, that’s how they fool you into thinking it can handle big loads but it no better than a single 1000 watt. I have both, 1k and the 3k and there not very good, not even close to the Bluetti I have which can power a full 2200 watt, even your Ecoflow has more power, so the other inverters are gathering dust. The issue with the draw, as someone said, turn each breaker on 1 at a time till you find the draw and investigate that circuit, I would say there must be a wire problem. Love your videos, if you wanted another inverter I’ve got 1 sitting here for free, I doubt I’ll ever use it again. Fellow Nova Scotian here.

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you, it's just odd because it always ran my hair dryer before no problem, also ran the microwave no problem, which is a lower watter microwave as well. Something to investigate for sure

[@racebanning6390]

Gotta be something on inside , direct drain. Start unpluggin stuff 1 at a time. Or.... maybe its Toast. Yoo may have used it up. May be time to upgrade. Ya im very fortunate here in Idaho, my power bill is 27 buks a month with my AC set at 74F. But i use my Bluetti and Solar on my Callen Camper to keep the power bill lower. 👍👍 I own my land, but cant afford to build yet. Learning to live debtfree and as low utilities as possible. year 4 now. I commend you , and happy you can stay on Family property. 👍👍What a Blessing. Hang in the Lil Lady, you Rock!!

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you 😊

[@onrycodger]

That's Awesome about your camper and the property. Can't beat it! Thumbs up!😎👍

[@ve4edj]

Hi Jenna! Haven't watched to the end yet but I think you need to switch off the breaker that is powering your 12V converter underneath the breaker box. Since you are now running your 12V system directly off the other solar and lithium batteries, you don't want to be charging it off your lead system anymore. Let me know if that makes sense! Edit: the 12V converter also explains the 160 watt load - it's probably a 10A converter

[@PlanetaryThoughts9861]

That makes sense to me. It would be easy to test for the mystery load. The inverter may already be a little crispy though.

[@PerryChamberlain]

I have been off grid since 1996. I put up a huge solar system, with windmill. lost the system to the BOBCAT forest fire. lost the house as well. the shop survived, so I turned it into a home. I bought a DC SOLAR TRAILER, and it took over everything. google the trailer. there are hundreds of these on the market. 2 -6kw sunny boy commercail true sine wave invertors, 1- midnight solar charger ( 250 volt) 2 large tubular battery banks, 1200 ah, a Kubota 11,000w diesel generator, diesel fuel tank and two banks of solar panels. its run flawlessly since 2021.

[@katehopkinsbrent5573]

Oh yah. Speaking of extra door, when you were answering questions, I spied the door. Backed up paused and tried to see how you attached the little roof. Mine is only the roof on the camper but wondering could I still somehow attach a small overhang on my door BECAUSE I have my dog EHO when out and it’s raining, I call her with door open snd she says HANG ON BE RIGHT THERE. I’d love to not get wet 😄 WAITING. 😄She has a good recall so I let her loose 95% of the time but still need to watch her- close- she’s a husky ~~ need I say more 😂😂🐾. She stays around WHEN she knows I’m watching. Do I trust her alone outside HECK NO. If she finds the opportunity to stretch her legs, it could be hours ( surrounded by woods ) once coming back and $400 later to have her de-quilled.

[@gypsyjenna]

Totally understand the need to keep a close eye on her. Maybe a small material awning would do the trick? Or even a 10x10 tent shelter pulled up to the door for temporary use 🙂

[@michaelrodriguez9700]

Thats exactly how i thought of it i am staying in my car until i can afford property then save and buy a camper cause at the end of the day renting only means you will never own it and also to me throwing money away love the videos 👍 side note my grandmother had 10 anchors for all family members until my uncle stole it under her then got it taken from all of us cause he grew 1000 Marijuana plants and was raided and lost it

[@gypsyjenna]

I'm sorry to hear that, keep on keeping on and I hope things work out for you and you find your land ❤️

[@michaelrodriguez9700]

@gypsyjenna thank you but I must say when I do get property I hope I am as proactive as you cause to me watching you do all that makes me love the way you live problem solving and improving your living condition 👍

[@P_RO_]

Long before my aging Mom died all of us discussed what would happen with her home on her passing. We all agreed that if was to be a family home where any of us siblings could live should the need arise, but it would be in one siblings name due to legal technicalities. I'll give you a free guess of what happened once Mom passed and the Deed was signed over. Which is why I now live in a camper on my own because I have no other options.

[@gypsyjenna]

@P_RO_ I am so sorry. That seems to happen alot and death can often separate families due to greed.

[@michaelrodriguez9700]

@P_RO_ I'm sorry to hear that too, and I hope the best for you, and what makes it worse is that it's family and I would think that they woukd honor the parent's and or grandparents wishes be safe

[@Truthspreader-Official]

For goodness sake people! Your excess power draw is coming from your ecoflow charging through mains power which automatically kicks in when enough power is available. It's called (priority charging) disconnect your ecoflow from your mains outlet and try again. You should find a major power draw drop on your inverter immediately. How do I know? I'm offgrid and specialise in solar and I own a ecoflow unit. Further I should add. There is nothing wrong with your inverter. The reason it's going into overload protection is because the combined power draw of ANY heat source AND your ecoflow charging is exceeding the inverters capabilities that's all... ecoflow units draw massive power when charging off mains power. Much more than even I expected them to draw when I first got mine. Whether you have them set on fast or slow charge. Not to mention at 12.3 volt running a hair dryer even direct on (high) with surge ratings extremely high will also trip your inverter because it drops your already low battery to protection mode levels.

[@emilyfeagin2673]

Thank you fir the information

[@gypsyjenna]

The ecoflow was unplugged when testing it out several times. Turns out the power draw is coming from a certain breaker in the control panel

[@Truthspreader-Official]

​​​​@@gypsyjenna then my question is, what is the breaker connected to? And why is it's load constantly on all of a sudden? And thanks for replying 😊 very cool

[@gypsyjenna]

@Truthspreader-Official it powers all outlets and I just came to realize that it is also triggering the built in battery charger. Maybe previously I didn't hear the fans or notice a load because the batteries were full. Still trying to figure it all out, electrical confuses me lol

[@Truthspreader-Official]

​@@gypsyjenna Okay. So it's the main control breaker,. So knowing that it leaves you with the following options... 1) find the battery charging unit and disconnect it from your mains power outlet. 2) locate the battery it's connected to and disconnect it from that battery it's trying to charge. (Be sure to tape the wires so no contact can be made) 3) see if the charging unit is connected to a fuse within your fuse box which should be located in line after the breaker but before the charging unit and remove the fuse to break the circuit. ( this is the easiest and quickest solution) 4) do all of the above to be extra confident in yourself that the problem is solved. (Optional) Note: doing 1 or all of these options should solve your issues? But if they don't, then just keep talking to me and I'll keep checking for messages in order to help. 😊 I love talking solar and problem solving. 😁

[@kingscairn]

Hey Jones - you have a short in the rv system somewhere - trial and error - unplug everything in the rv then - turn on inverter if it doesnt trip it's not an rv issue - one by one, turn each of them on until the inverter trips again if it does it's that device or that plug outlet

[@jeffhill5865]

I admirer your opening up on your living situation. Your family member that is letting you stay there is very generous but, that's what family does if they can. Can't wait to know what you have planned and please don't jinks yourself but, can't wait and hope you continue your station. Thank you Jenna!

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you! 😊

[@ericwitt4586]

I hope you get your own place Jenna you deserve it your a type of person that doesn’t give up your a free spirit and Ido admire that in you girl so live free as you can and be happy 😀👍😎

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you

[@alicerafferty9595]

Well you aren't in a hurry to move. You can take your time and find the property you want. You don't pay taxes you can hardly beat Free. How kind of your relatives to clear a space for you. You don't have a Canadian accent. It is easy to tell by the way they say Out. Are you American? You are keeping it together, there are many aspects to living off grid. Good job!

[@MatthewBurton-yq4ut]

It is interesting to see how you problem solve. Your video combined with viewer comments really explains things. Keep up the good work.✌🏼

[@xlamontx]

Hi Jenna. If I try to suggest what is wrong with your inverter, I would only be guessing and I would likely be wrong. Instead, what I would do is check ALL my wires and connections. Check that nothing has been chewed on by a critter and everything is clean and tight. Secondly, I would charge my batteries to 100% and try the hair dryer test again. Keep in mind a fully charged battery can still be weak on the inside. Like a cell phone that says 100% when plugged in but immediately drops to 80% when disconnected. I would also check the fuse on the inverter and if you have a fuse between the inverter and the batteries, check that one too. Bonus comment: And if you don't mind me sounding like an older brother for a moment...(pun intended😁), I would change all the pinch clamps at the batteries to crimp on ring terminals/connectors. I have zero expectations that it will change the inverter situation. More than likely, the inverter already has ring terminals. Nevertheless, ring connectors in general are more secure, and give more contact surface area to provide better electrical conductivity. Just saying.😉

[@gypsyjenna]

Thanks Lamont, everything does now have ring terminals. I did some testing of everything yesterday, will update it all in the next vid 🙂👍

[@jimbor2279]

Jenna, Could your inverter be looping power into your homes converter. If so … it would be consistently forming a loop of power from the batteries… into the inverter… into the homes converter… which in turn is trying to recharge your batteries. Could also be that your refrigerator is in defrost mode ? Check your breaker panel and switch off the breaker for your converter…. If this is not the issue… then turn off all the breakers… all at the same time , then one by one turn the breaker on until you find out which the problem child is. I hope this helps 😁

[@sharong8511]

I love the problem child 😂

[@raymondrhorer2695]

The RV I have as a converter behind the breaker panel. Converts the AC power to DC power. More commonly know as battery charger. They pull a lot of power depending on amp output. Of scene my voltage do the same yours is doing. Not saying that the problem but my experience here. One size don't fit all, adapt and overcome.

[@carlbrown5150]

To find your electrical problem try isolating the circuit. Shut off all your breakers then plug in your inverter, next try each breaker one at a time. when you turn the one with the problem that's when you can find the cause.!!😉

[@user-em5oo7fd3l]

Also, 12vdc to 120vac is x10 correct so.. loads DC side will be 10 x amps vs AC side. AC 10amp = 100amp DC. Ohmns power law and Voltage law show this. Battery and or other connections if bad can also cause increased resistance, lower voltage, higher amps ,more watts. Maybe one those AGMs are bad or the connections. The suggestion to trouble shoot via circuit isolation helps if it is a particular load in house. Good Luck! Be safe! Stay well.

[@lisawyer7524]

I learned something new about the wasp today, plus lots of solar information. As always, worth the watch!

[@gedym5443]

I know I am late to the video and maybe you found the issue with your inverter overloading. Don't know if anyone mentioned but I also would check the load handling on each of your batteries. Not sure if they are lithium, agm or just plain lead acid. If AGM or Lead acid than one or more cells can be dead/dry which your charge controller would still show full charge but as soon as you introduce heavier load, batteries cannot handle that if some cells are bad. Also, you have to keep in mind that every time resistive loads like hair drier, space heater you should start them at the lowest setting or power hogs with inductive loads like motors - fridge, AC - every time any electric motor starts, it introduces what's called inrush current which for motors for a split second can be up to 6X their amperage draw on the name plate. Combination of weak battery/underpowered inverter, too small gauge of wiring, loose connection somewhere, draws a lot more current which your inverter cannot handle. Like somebody already advised, I would start with disconnecting everything and turning every device at home one by one on, while checking which of them consumes that phantom wattage. I would check each separate battery with test load tester (if your batteries lead acid or agm), then I would check every connection while everything is working, physically for hot wires/plugs/outlets for loose connection. I do Industrial maintenance, hvac and electrical work for living. So far I like your videos. Keep up the good work. Cheers from Indiana US.

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you for the info!

[@Dinsdale2020]

OLp only has four digits. It should translate to GULP. Put the cats in the car and sit at the end of the driveway. If there is no smoke go back and prod it with a long stick. Usually works 😂😂😂 Kidding. Nice video 👍👍

[@gypsyjenna]

😅😂

[@sikes185]

Hey Gypsy. I didn’t go back and look at all the comments. So this may have been answered. Did you turn off the charger inverter that runs your camper. Should be a breaker. Inverters do not like to do a circle load. Meaning the battery’s are using the inverter to try a charge the camper battery’s. The camper charger inverter pulls a ton of wattage. Flip off that breaker and try it. Also use the next setting cooler on the hairdryer

[@TIREDOFEVIL]

Hey girl, life is nothing if you have no dreams, go for it. Wishing you the best from the deep south.

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you so much and I totally agree!! 👍

[@Green_Leaf]

OLP = Over Load Protection. I noticed the battery voltage displayed is 12.4VDC. A fully charged battery, off charge, should be 12.6 minimum. The lower the battery voltage, the more current is required to drive the inverter. You may need a new or larger inverter, more battery capacity, and PV panels. The 170 watts may be the trailer’s built in battery charger.

[@gypsyjenna]

Gotcha. It doesn't seem to have a built in charger and it never ran at that before with no load on it

[@Green_Leaf]

@@gypsyjenna Good catch ;-) 30Amp RV load centers typically have an AC/DC converter built-in, so to power both the 120Vac and the 12Vdc loads. Your 30A Plug that goes into the inverter leads into a 30Amp RV load center. The load center is inside the trailer and is what has the circuit breakers in it; typically it should have Fuses in it too. Cheers!

[@carld3184]

Hi Jenna, you definitely have a built in RV charger because when you plug the trailer into the generator your ceiling lights flicker and then stay powered on until you shut of the generator, then they flicker again and are now powered by the 12V battery bank. Like others have mentioned, turn off one breaker at a time, if the lights flicker when you turn off the breaker for the RV charger you have found your parasitic load. Leave that breaker off when the RV plug is inserted into the outdoor inverter.

[@Green_Leaf]

@@carld3184 Also, if the RV internal 12 volt battery is tired, it may be pulling constantly and adding to the condition. Try checking that battery too ;-)

[@gypsyjenna]

@carld3184 I think the problem is the breaker happens to be the one that powers all my outlets which I need to plug in and power my fridge off the inverter. I don't know where to disconnect the built in batter RV charger

[@phillyfathead]

My hat is off to you!! You are making the decisions to move forward in life a rare quality today!

[@maricormier121]

Love your channel! Have you thought about a tiny house on wheels? I have lived in mine for 9 years and love it! I had mine built for my needs and it has been great. I live 35 miles southwest of Seattle....we have hot and cold weather and I'm cool in the summer and warm in the winter. I have never regretted my decision.

[@gypsyjenna]

Tiny Homes are great! All you need, eh!?

[@lanceschustereit1896]

I'm always looking myself, good luck in the search

[@artpatronforever]

Depending on the soil and the water table depth, a shallow driven well may provide potable water for a depth of 60 feet or less. Dig a test hole with post hole diggers and see what the subsoil looks like down four feet and if it is sandy and moist then you are probably in business good to go for a driven well point 1 1/4" galvanized 5 feet long sections sledge hammered into the ground. For a few hundred bucks you could have good water and not need to get a well drilling company. It would beat having to haul water.

[@John_Chiasson]

Fellow Nova Scotian here - forget about driven wells around here. This is an area with almost nothing but hard clay. The only areas with good soil above the clay are the farming areas. The well drillers know their stuff and are quite honest about which type of well you need and how deep you have to go. You used to be able to put in a well starting at $2000 but I wouldn't be surprised to find it's $10,000 and up. You're better off with catching rain water and carting in barrels of water. If you feel lazy, you can always buy a 100 gallon fill up from the tanker truck that fills wells that go dry in the summer - but it will be chlorinated city water from a hydrant in Halifax.

[@gypsyjenna]

@John_Chiasson no worries there, I rarely feel lazy 👍

[@cliffyarboro1163]

Enjoyed the video hopefully by now you have the inverter problem fixed pretty lady👍👍

[@curtisfoster2891]

Hi Jenna Clean all DC and AC connection, the Ac plug that connects to the trailer looked coroaded sand all copper aluminum what ever connects. And then look up The Magnum 2812 inverter my first has a Mastercratf 3000 watt return the same day all the best. I'm all of grid 😅

[@garynewton2016]

hope inverter problem solved hope not 4 weeks to find out how you made out You are fortunate to have the setup you have but you do put your energy into it be careful around the hornet and maybe check your area close to trailer and out building for nest 😗

[@nightwolf1963]

I wanted to try boondocking so I bought a used camper and started to buy the things needed to do just that. Like a Diesel heater Solar panels ect but with all the problems you seem to be having i keep thinking maybe its NOT such a good idea to try.i understand there's going to be said problems but you seem to have more then I want to deal with everyday.😊

[@LongRider47]

I’m off grid as well but I’m in a tiny shed to cabin. In 9 years I’ve been through 3 or 4 inverters. Don’t risk a fire. As soon as one shows an issue replace it. Not worth burning the place down while you’re away at work.

[@stewartrogers494]

Good vlog Jenna: Perhaps calling on the phone make and model of inverter they maybe able to rectify or diagnose the problem or even search on you tube ........ nice transparence of you living arrangement finances cool......... moreover; I have that same inverter from Canadian tire still in the box bought it some years back ( 10 years or More $169.49) unopened good to here the follow up if I ever use it ........S

[@DerekFrampton]

I love how you humanize your cats. SO hilarious! :) Love 'em :)

[@oldminer5387]

Good post Jenna. Hope you are able to figure out the power converter problem. Take care.

[@Flap999]

Hi Jenna. Keep in mind one thing you’re operating your new refrigerator off that inverter, as temperatures go up the harder your refrigerator is going to have to work meaning higher demand for power. I don’t know if it’s enough to cause the overload condition but it’s something to keep in mind. In refrigeration, temperatures go up pressures go up and current draw goes up. Another viewer commented that your inverter may be having issues and that certainly is something worth looking into. As an aside, I don’t know how you feel about dark beer, but recently I tried dragons, milk, stout, and it was amazing. Might want to pick some up if you know you’re going to not be operating a motor vehicle for 12 hours. But it is so good.

[@gypsyjenna]

Thanks for the info and not too keen on the dark beer, I guess I'm a wimp 🙃

[@JohnSmith-b4b]

Maybe your family would allow you to purchase your plot that you are on. Still keeping it in the family that way. However, still extremely kind and you are a lucky Gypsy Jenna, Ramsey and Rory...Good luck to all 3 of you!

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you so much!

[@craigtarbox3499]

Nice to see Mr. squerriel . I would keep a close eye on the inverter . something is going on with it ,and it might catch on fire !!! Just saying .

[@donnamccaffrey4364]

I really admire your determination to live off grid and get yourself out of debt. You make it look quite comfortable, your set up is quite cozy. You are an inspiration to many who are struggling to live comfortably without accumulating massive debt.

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you so much 😊

[@johnstouchpad6437]

​@@gypsyjennahow great was the feeling to be debt free?

[@gypsyjenna]

Amazing! I waited years to feel it and it was as great as I imagined. Knowing you owe nothing is spectacular and felt like a weight was lifted!

[@christinamillikin311]

Hi Jenna, love when yo give updates on your daily living and what it means to live off grid. Love your story of how you got your spot to live on, very envious. ❤🍁

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you, Christina 🙂

[@billgustafson5997]

Refillable DampRid products When these products are full of water, you can pour out the liquid and refill them with more crystals. The container can last for several years, but the active ingredient may need to be replaced every 45 days or so, depending on humidity levels. You can dispose of the liquid by flushing it down the toilet or pouring it into the sink, as it's septic safe.

[@billgustafson5997]

And so?

[@odettec1]

Your doing pretty well Jenna good for you.....lm sure your on the up and up when it comes to YT too. Go get it gurl. xx ❤️

[@TheCornucopiaProject-bd5jk]

When you pulled the RV plug out, it looked rusty? It could have corroded the outlet on the inverter which then might lead to OLP. Double your solar and you should be fine for winter. In many states in the US property taxes get lower if the lot is 10+ acres. Some kind of “green” initiative. I’m curious now what your plans are.

[@stevenmorris4706]

Love your go get em attitude. I am full time rving for basically the same reasons as you. Right now at my site I have electric and water. I'm learning, through you to go completely off grid, your troubles are my benefit, lol. Keep up the good work. I look forward to your posts, highlight of my weekend

[@gypsyjenna]

Awe, thanks very much and glad to hear it! Learn from my mistakes, I don't mind that at all! 😄

[@scable-eq7bp]

Hi Jenna, The inverter issue could be one of your batteries has a bad cell or maybe the inverter is ready to take a shit. Since we moved on to our off-grid property 3 months ago, our debt has gone to zero. of course we sold the condo in the Florida Keys for $1.6 million so that helped. We actually started construction of our new house, it's going to be a dome house built from sandbags. It will be about 1500 sq. ft. and it will be two stories. The reason we went with a dome house and sandbags, we are only 3 hours north of Panama City, Florida and the hurricanes come right up through this area. According to the architect and contractor, the way this house is being built, it should be able to withstand winds of 220 mph.

[@462ANIMAL]

Sounds interesting ! I’ve always thought about building a home with tires packed with sand..

[@scable-eq7bp]

@@462ANIMAL It's a totally different design and comes with some challenges.....

[@user-em5oo7fd3l]

For larger Inductive loads you need a pure sinewave inverter. Ohms law, power and voltage will help. The lower your battery voltage the higher the load(amps,watts). This can cascade thru out the system.

[@maxonthemountain2062]

Love the video! I get about 3-4 weeks with those damprid bags when they're hanging in my basement. They do help a ton. As always, looking forward to more great videos!

[@gypsyjenna]

Awesome! I have to remember to check mine, haha

[@theunwanted6122]

ColdSky Camping Fan 20000MAH 7" Dual Fan Blades Type C Charge As skateboarder that is continuously outdoors in the heat. You should look into one of these fans. They boost a 40to50 hour run time going by the one I have I don’t doubt it they go about 21 hours before showing one light used. And they are very nice to have also have a built-in light on

[@gypsyjenna]

Thanks for the info!

[@davidpotter9462]

I had to change my oven, and my freezer this month. The timer thing went out on the oven, and it was leaving the air fryer on all the time. So I got a new one, and my freezer went out three days ago. It may have been too full, so if so, I have two of them now. I see you're having fun too. I have to shut the brand new freezer off manually in the evening, or it will just keep running. So, Im going to move the washing machine and put the old freezer there, to test if it's still working. But how much power is two freezers gonna pull? It's going to be 100 ° F here tomorrow. I guess I'll put some of the bison 🦬 in the old one, if it's still working, and see if they'll shut off then. My uncle says it's too full, and I don't want to burn it up by making it run constantly. It's going to cool up in another week. I added a cheap pwm controller to help the wind generator charge the twelve marine batteries. Works pretty well like that. Maybe you oven controller is bonkers. Try unplugging it. I couldn't believe the freezer was running my lithium batteries down until I unplugged it. Im going to relocate some panels tonight. There's 400 watts of panels in the shade in the afternoon. And I need them to help charge.

[@SoloRiderJoe]

If you shut off all the breakers in the trailer then plug the trailer into the inverter is it still pulling watts? If so it's probably the cord running to the breaker box. If not turn on the breakers 1 at a time to isolate the damaged circuit and point you in the right direction. When you find the breaker/ circuit that is pulling the watts check everything that is plugged into it.

[@johnseitz6578]

Sorry, but it looks like your inverter is done for! Since it wouldn't run your hair dryer with the trailer disconnected, it's not a sort in your wiring. That's my best guess!

[@gypsyjenna]

Thanks for the info!

[@catherinebennett9378]

Hi Jenna hope the problem with your inventory get solved for you and enjoyed your video you make me laugh some times every one needs a chuckle now and then thank you

[@RVingwithG]

I bought the harbor freight inverter with their warranty so when something like this happens, you just take it back and get a new one for free. I highly recommend adding on the two year warranty on the new one as well. Always get the warranty.😊

[@brianpulstsr8680]

Leave RV plugged in and turn off breakers one at at time. Check inverter every time you turn one off. This will tell you which circuit is drawing so much power. I suspect an appliance inside

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you

[@brianpulstsr8680]

@@gypsyjenna You're welcome! Please let us know what you find out!

[@OurCabinInThewoods]

I am playing catch up on your videos. Having a place to live like that is so nice of the family. Makes your dreams due able. Heading over to your next video

[@gypsyjenna]

Thanks Tony 🍻

[@derrickreed]

🤔 ah that’s what the driveway looks like 😂 I’ve only seen it under ❄️ ⛄️

[@lengabel9479]

Dinner looks so good. Third video I've watched, just binging ❤ you are awesome.

[@Morgan-bh5sp]

Best of luck with your 'plan' cheers!

[@gypsyjenna]

Cheers!

[@nightwolf1963]

I think what your doing is amazing girl.

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you!

[@PerryChamberlain]

OLP MEANS OVER LOAD PROTECTION. The invertor does not output enough amperage to power the devices. You should be investing in Anker power stations. you can get whole house units with expansion batteries. I have them for work, and have replaced my generators with Anker units.

[@benshafer3124]

You got it right a place away from everyone to much development here, can't do you want without a permit even to put a water heater in cray cray. Cabin in the woods yup

[@laureldell7377]

You can use lump charcoal instead of damp rid. It's much cheaper, imo.

[@gypsyjenna]

Cool, I didn't know that, thanks!

[@dianaherring8594]

Interesting. Could you explain how to use charcoal please. I need cheap ways of getting started in 2025. Bought sm used TT but can’t use till later. The summer heat in south USA is brutal & it’s parked in an in closed metal RV shed. Not sure how to protect my investment I love. But due to elder family issues I can’t solo travel yet. Any advice is appreciated. Just found this channel @gypsyjenna & found it most interesting. Thank You both.

[@jonsymmonds1120]

On the inverter, I have several around here doing different things. Many I only use in a pinch. I will have to say that I agree with what some others have said. I think the inverter is on its last leg and is dying. I had a 2500 watt unit out in my barn for years that I ran everything off of that exhibited the same symptoms before it died. The barn runs on solar and deep cycle batteries with a charge controller. A mini setup of what you have. One other possibility is your batteries or your battery connections are not good. I have seen some inverters display the same OLP message when the input (battery voltage) falls below a certain point.

[@ericwitt4586]

OlP over load protection your inverter is possibly taking a crap Jenna maybe time to look for another one 👍

[@johnwillis4706]

If you turn off all breakers in the RV then turn on one breaker check the invertor the turn on another until it spikes again. The last breaker that causes the spike is the circuit that the problem. If the first breaker causes the spike turn it back off and turn on another, etc if they all cause the spike replace the invertor.

[@DEADJ0E]

My guess on the inverter is an insect nest. They like to nest where it is warm and dry. Power off, Short the DC in and AC out then open it up. If there is a nest then be carefull and short all capicitors with a plastic handled screwdiver. Clean the boards with a toothbrush and denatuterd alcohol, then rinse with water. Dry in sunlight for a full day. Spray the inside of the case with bugspray, reassemble and move the inverter indoors. Good luck!

[@gypsyjenna]

Wow, thanks for the info! I did wonder about insects going in there lol

[@mixmediaproductions]

Unplug each thing inside all undone, plug one in check the inverter, if not.. then unolug what you tested, go to another until you find the one causing a problem. Your plugs may have crossed, or are sparking.

[@deanzimmer9974]

Jenna , does your generator have a watt meter ? If so you could compare that to what your inverter is displaying. It may be the inverter that has gone bad . another thing you can do is turn all your breakers off , then turn them back on one at a time . while checking the inverter display. I don't think it is a short , that would kick your inverter right away , also your generator would fault . Hope that helps .

[@gypsyjenna]

Thank you

[@tomhayton-he2vk]

Chase virtually the same camper I'm living in roof over it except I had a little stove SHED on the side where I run a where I run a Barrel stove in there...if I don't really run any power to it I guess I could butI don't need it

[@Critical-Thinker895]

Unplug things in the trailer one at a time then look at the inverter display. That's how you isolate the cause of that 170 display. You may still have to address battery issues but the only way to troubleshoot is to take one thing at a time.