Promaster Van Build 2500 159WB - DIY- 12V Inverter Install - Part 33

[@TOTALLYRELAXED]

Hi Al! Good to see you again on this blessed sunny Sunday morning in Houston,Tx! Geez I hate that the Renogy inverter didn’t work. Instead of using it as an anchor type paperweight maybe you should take it to a tv/electrical repair shop to see what’s wrong with it if any. I ‘do’ appreciate your honesty with showing your fails as well as your success in your videos. Looking forward to your next video for sure! Stay safe and God bless! ~Jim~

[@OregonBatman]

Thank you Jim! A littl discouraging, but I have a plan! :)

[@TOTALLYRELAXED]

@@OregonBatman > I have NO doubt you have a backup plan! 😂😂😂….can’t wait to find out what it is! Have a great Sunday!

[@danielstover3029]

Big Bummer Batman!

[@vizio213]

Maybe try the inverter on a different battery, such as a car battery and see if its defective? I have a Renogy 2000w and 2 Renogy lithiums and after 18 months of use it seems to work just fine.

[@OregonBatman]

Thanks aloha, it has something to do with the BMS that is used in Bigbattery.com's battery. I will try it other batteries... hate to think it's actually a bad unit!

[@aspendell209]

I guess there is a good reason that we see so many "New still in box" Renogys on eBay. The only reason these would be incompatible with that battery chemistry is if the Renogy has an overvoltage cutoff below 13.2v (the current charge of your batteries). 2 possibilities to fix your current inverter: 1) See if you can reprogram the overvoltage on the inverter, either via a port (likely USB) or via switch settings on the mainboard inside. or 2) Most of those type of inverters have some type of fuse on the AC output stage (should be around 25-30 Amps for a 3KW). If it's turning on but not outputting, it's likely blown. But why it's blown is another question. If you can find this fuse, you can see if it has 120Vac on one side of it to see if its worth replacing the fuse. A fully charged lead/acid battery recently removed from charging can read 13.2V or more, so it seems unlikely to me that you would be hitting such a low overvoltage. And they can charge at up to 15.5V to get the necessary current (amps) into the battery. If you had asked me, I would have said avoid Renogy and Aims. Both are very old designs, very noisey waveform outputs (that you can especially hear on your AM radio), and inefficient by modern standards. And I agree with you that 3000 watts is way too much for a 12V system. 2000 watts should be ok with your beefy cables though. I can feel your frustration! Let me know when you have a couple of those questions answered and I may be able to offer more.

[@ivokouters3415]

Hi, did you open the unit to see if there may be some internal fuse that has been blown?

[@OregonBatman]

Haven't popped it open just yet... on my to do list! :)

[@kenjohnstone2354]

Hi, did you end up running an earth to the inverter. The manual shows one and you did mention the earth before you started testing. BTW I enjoy videos, keep up the good work.

[@OregonBatman]

Thanks Ken... I did run that ground as well, with no luck. Think I'll try something different :)

[@grayandgrumpy]

Where did you buy your crimper? Thanks

[@OregonBatman]

I purchased that on Ebay 3 or 4 years ago, actually surprised how much I have used it since!

[@edm7356]

I'm no expert, but you would think the inverter would not know or care what brand of battery it is hooked up to.... a volt is a volt! And the same with the battery. I think if the GFCI and Fault lights are not on and the 120v load actually works (I see you tried 2) then it would appear the inverter is not working. I hope that is not the case and hope you find an easy solution.

[@OregonBatman]

Thanks Ed... talking with Bigbattery.com, it has something to do with the BMS that is used. Some have reported a loud hum when it actually works.

[@davidmaslanka3145]

Possibly an internal circuit breaker in the inverter? Also, main disconnects ( the red knobbed switches ) should always go on the positive side of the circuit. Circuit breakers should NOT be used as switched as you have done. Grounds should always be continuous!

[@OregonBatman]

Thanks David.. I'll have to change that over, realized what I did after the fact!

[@mowguy1]

Bummer

[@OregonBatman]

Right?

[@lawrenceblue8207]

Check out EXPLORIST LIFE for the Camper Van Electrical system on KZbin!

[@OregonBatman]

Will do! Thank you!