RV Inverter/Charger Update, AGS & ComBox Installation

Last summer we replaced our old Magnum inverter/charger with a brand new Xantrex Freedom SW Series 3000-watt pure sine wave inverter/charger. Here's an update & we install our AGS & ComBox.
After we installed Xantrex unit, we followed up with an AGS (Automatic Generator Start) module to allow the system to start on its own when needed. But the coolest new piece of equipment is our ComBox, which allows us to monitor and control our energy management system from anywhere in the world!
FEATURED & RELATED PRODUCTS ON AMAZON:
Xantrex Auto Gen Start Module (AGS): amzn.to/2EmzlHG
Xantrex Conext ComBox: amzn.to/2DZc4h1
Xantrex Freedom SW 3012 Inverter: amzn.to/2Fr4BV8
Xantrex System Control Panel (Xanbus): amzn.to/2DJIwAO
Xantrex Network Cable Adapters: amzn.to/2DVYHOv
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Full-Time RVers since April, 2003, we share DIY (do it yourself) RV maintenance, repair, travel, upgrade and operational tips & tricks.
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[@James-xq2it]

Again, fantastic video. I wish you guys could do a cable tv show. Your production makes the other you tube channels seem juvenile. Safe/stress free miles for you both. You deserve it !

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks so much. You just made our day. :)

[@starttherebellion9146]

Yep, I would second that 1000%. They could air on both the discovery and travel channels just for staters. - Talk about must-see-tv! :-)

[@MovingForwardAdventures]

Great Video as always! This is something that we are interested in adding to our RV, mostly because of our dog and making sure she is being kept cool in the summer. The ability to monitor the system from anywhere is amazing and we think it would give us the peace of mind that we have been looking for. Safe travels!

[@latada2198]

Thanks guys ! I have came along ways. Thanks to you guys! I had never owned a RV or never even camped. We purchased/had it built a 2017 Thor Challenger and we just love it! I'm always watching for a new video from you guys. Thanks for all your research and sharing!

[@RVgeeks]

Awesome! Thanks so much for letting us know, and congrats on your new rig! :)

[@RVwithTito]

Yes. That is an extremely cool setup. Also cool were the shots from your Xantrex visit. Those guys looked pretty excited to see their gear in your RV...as well as the comfy couch :)

[@RVgeeks]

They apparently did feel right at home, hopefully like all of our guests. We left out the footage from the cocktail party. ;-)

[@beach76bum]

Another great video! I learn something every time I watch your RVgeeks videos. Thanks!!

[@RVgeeks]

+Jeff Goddard Thanks Jeff! 😊

[@SandGnatBBQ]

I have had the same setup for a little over a year on my Ventana. I also have the Schneider MPT for my solar controller. Have had some minor issues with firmware updates, but otherwise, all is working very well.

[@RVgeeks]

Always great to hear from fellow Newmar owners! The fact that Newmar switched to Xantrex was one of our reasons for switching, too.

[@pamw8102]

Another great video! You are definitely leaders in the industry for RV advice!

[@RVgeeks]

Thank you so much, Pam!

[@retiredarmydog6247]

Enjoyed the video, being able to control power consumption while away from the RV and extending the life of house batteries is a great accomplishment in my book. Basically my book reads at a 8th grade level, some of your terminology had me reviewing it a few times. Anyway really interesting stuff, wouldn't be surprised if they don't put your RV in the next Transformers movie 🎥. God Bless be safe out on the road.

[@RVgeeks]

+jerry tillison Transformers is a big franchise. We'll take it! 😊

[@The_Smith]

Starting the generator remotely from a pad? is like Science Fiction! ;)

[@RVgeeks]

It still makes us giggle! LOL

[@donleamon8653]

So do you prefer Xantrex over Magnum, or did they come to you specifically with an offer? I have an older 2000 watt MSW Xantrex in my Country Coach, but just got a small MorningStar PSW to power the new Samsung fridge. Low parasitic draw when the load is off compared to the bigger unit. I just don't want to spend the money to replace the Xantrex if I don't *have* too. Peace! Oh, and impressive life you've gotten out of the Lifeline batteries. I just put four Crowns in mine with the Flow-Rite on-board watering system. So far it has made monthly maintenance quicker and less messy.

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Don! We do indeed prefer the Xantrex to the Magnum, but that doesn't mean we didn't like the Magnum, as we got over 10 years of good service out of it. But the new unit does have more power and features. As far as Xantrex "coming to us with an offer," here's how it came about. When we're in the market for equipment for our RV, we start by doing the same thing everybody does: research, and more research. We look at manufacturer's websites, product specs, read reviews on Amazon and other places, check out what's being said on the user forums on iRV2, and even check out reviews on KZbin! ;-) When we find a product we've determined is the one to buy, we sometimes reach out to the company to learn even more. We also know that if we really do love the gear as much as we're hoping, we might even have a chance to feature it in a video, or in some cases, arrange a discount for our viewers. The discussion sometimes leads to us being provided with things at no cost, which was indeed the case with Xantrex. Not only are we open with our viewers about that fact that we get some stuff for free, but there is one big caveat we make clear to the manufacturer: we will NEVER feature any product that we don't genuinely love, and would be enthusiastic about recommending to a friend. So they know up front that if they provide us with anything, they'd better have a lot of confidence in it! We're offered a ton of gear that we either turn down or decide not to feature in a video. Sorry for the long explanation, but it's obviously important to us that we never feature ANYTHING we don't really believe in. We know the moment we do that, our credibility, and our channel, become worthless to our viewers. So if you see us feature something, you can take it to the bank that we really do love it, regardless of how we got it. All that said, we had a great experience with our Magnum, and don't recommend that anyone get rid of one that's working fine, unless they're looking to upgrade to more power or features. In that case we suggest that we personally prefer Xantrex, and think they're worth a good look. If your setup is working well for you (and it sounds like it is), that's great! And running any electric motors or sensitive electronics off PSW is a good idea, so the switch you've made for your fridge is probably good for it's health. (we love our Samsung fridge, and bet you might have the same 19 cubic foot model, since it's so popular). Also, nice to hear you're happy with your new battery setup. We're looking at lithiums, but gulping at the prices. We're doing our research though, so who knows what we'll be able to work out! ;-)

[@raybbj]

WOW - that girl just made herself at home on your couch !! Did she eat your food too?? I live just 1km from the Xantrex office behind BCIT. Nice system btw.

[@RVgeeks]

We're glad people felt right at home! Everyone was so respectful (no surprise for us Canucks, right?) and took off their shoes before coming inside. A couple of times there were so many shoes on our bamboo mats outside the door that we couldn't believe that many people could fit inside at once!

[@weekendescaperv1481]

Thank y'all so much for the info!

[@WindersRanger]

This is pretty cool, i love data.

[@dreamingfool2]

I'm new to this channel but I swear the dude talking sounds like the narrator for How It's Made TV show...

[@RVgeeks]

LOL! I LOVE the How It's Made show.... so thanks! :D

[@starttherebellion9146]

Yes, that would be Peter... and he sounds better than the H.I.M. guy imo. The reason I think they sound similar is because they both use succinct, precise language and an "intentional" speaking style. Very effective don't you think?

[@RVgeeks]

;-) We just saw a couple of (newer?) episodes of H.I.M, and it was a woman narrator. Not that there's anything wrong with that! Thanks for the comment.

[@MNDooD]

Love your videos, guys! Because of your videos, we ended up purchasing a Xantrex Freedom SW3012 to replace our old Xantrex (modified Sinewave) that Newmar had installed at the factory in 2005. I was interested in installing the AGS (and now ComBox - darn, more money!), but was a little confused about the wiring diagram that came with the SW3012. It seems to indicate that it shouldn't be daisy-chained off of the control panel, but rather the inverter itself. Your video however notes that you did daisy chain off of the panel. Have you had any issues with it? Doing it the way you mentioned (down the A-pillar) would be a snap, and obviously work the best given the similarity of our Newmar compared to yours. Again, any insight you can share would be most appreciated, and keep the great videos coming!

[@RVgeeks]

Hey Patrick! Nice upgrade from the MSW to Pure Sine inverter. Your devices will thank you! 😉 As far as the remote... there’s a couple factors. First, did your coach come with the same Xanbus System Control (SCP) panel that we have? And/or are you upgrading to that one? If so, you can daisy chain using the Xanbus port(s) on each device. BUT... if you plan to use the 6-to-4 wire adapters like we used, you may run into some trouble, as the voltage using those adapters isn’t enough to supply more than 1 or 2 devices in a chain. In our case, the AGS kept dropping off the network. The SCP and ComBox were fine, but the AGS was too much. We currently have the AGS disconnected as it’s not all that useful with Lithium (it can only be set to trigger off voltage, and the lithium battery has such a flat voltage curve it’s not worth relying on it and/or risking it triggering when not needed). So if you plan to re-use the existing 4-wire cable run from your old Inverter/Charger to your old control panel, you may have the same problem. Instead, we’d recommend running a new CAT5e Ethernet cable (that’s what Xanbus uses) from the inverter to the center of the dashboard. That’s where we installed our AGS, since it allowed us to connect to generator wires. Then daisy chain up the A pillar to the ComBox and SCP. Or, use the existing wiring with the 6-to-4 adapters for just the SCP. And run the Ethernet to daisy chain the AGS & ComBox to the system. Hope this helps!

[@lindas4191]

Good video keep it up

[@DavidLGood]

STOP UPGRADING STUFF!!! I'm going broken trying to keep up with you guys!!! HA! Just kidding. Love the video. VERY cool tech there... I'd love to be able to view stats (and control) remotely like that. Awesome stuff.

[@RVgeeks]

Sorry David! We have more stuff on our wish list, but we'll wait so that we don't cause blanket RVer bankruptcies. ;-)

[@DavidLGood]

HAHA!

[@cobbles62]

Great video again. My wife and I very much appreciate all the information you put out. Quick couple of questions though, since we are in the market for a new inverter/charger too: 1) I see in the specs that this inverter/charger draws 3 amps while idle, that's 74 Ah per day out of the battery bank while doing nothing! Are the specs just exaggerating the idle current a bit for regulatory reasons or can you confirm the high idle current? 2) You mention a customized charge profile. Could you customize the settings yourself or did Xantrex need to program the charger for you? (I do have a beautiful Xantrex charger but just found out that in order to get it to shine I need to find a dealer to re-program it. Xantrex also seems to have one of the best “low idle current” inverters in the prowatt sw2000 but it's only an inverter and I imagine/hope they would use the same powersavings in their other products) Thanks in advance, Paul & Donna

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Paul & Donna, Glad you liked the video! We'll see what we can do to answer your questions... On #1... we can't confirm that the inverter is drawing that much power 24/7 when in Invert mode, as we don't have our system wired to monitor that. Plus, our residential refrigerator draws substantially more power than that, so any use by the inverter pales in comparison, and is masked by that. That said, there are a couple of things here. First, if you don't have need for 24/7 110V power, of course you'd turn your inverter off. Which would prevent it from drawing any power. So if your RV doesn't have a residential refrigerator, you likely don't NEED to leave it on all the time. Also, all modern inverter/chargers offer an option called "Search Mode", where the inverter is basically in standby until it detects a request for a larger draw. This mode reduces the amount of parasitic drain the inverter would place on the batteries, but it may not work for every device. Basically, it pulses very low amperage 110V power through the system to allow the electronics of a device to stay powered up... then waits for a load to exceed a preset (and customizable by you) minimum before kicking on "full power". Again, we haven't been able to use this feature, as our refrigerator doesn't like that setup... but it may work for you. For #2... it is absolutely user-customizable. Using the System Control Panel (SCP) with our Freedom SW3012 Inverter/Charger, we can set the bulk/absorb and float voltages that are best for our batteries. As far as the difference in circuitry between the Freedom series Inverter/Chargers and the ProWatt SW units... we can't really say. Not sure why there would be such a significant difference in the reported "no load draw" for the two units... you may want to call Xantrex and see what they have to say. Hope this information is helpful with your search!

[@lawrenceconstantine7735]

nice

[@RubenLakeSide]

Thanks for the outstanding video and you have made my inverter decision that much harder after all of your positive feedback of Xantrex. I would presume that the answer is a big "NO", but if you have a non-Xantrex AGS already installed I would presume that the Combox would not allow remote monitor/control. Correct? I have the Onan AGS solution which works great except that it would be really helpful to remote monitor. .

[@RubenLakeSide]

Sorry, should have read the manual first before posting. The documentation states that the box will only work with Xanbus devices so out of luck with my current AGS.

[@RVgeeks]

No worries, Ron. We were just typing our response when YOUR reply came in. You're correct... the ComBox only works with other XanBus-enabled devices, so no go with your Onan Energy Command. If you're only interested in monitoring whether your generator is currently running, you could try a sneaky workaround: use an old smartphone as a remote security camera you can turn on/off and see (and hear?) what's happening. Brian at RVwithTito did a video about how he did it to use as a security camera here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5KpkGasiM-fmtE And Chris & Cherie of Technomadia have talked about doing the same thing on an old iPhone... just can't find it, but here's their channel: kzbin.info. Hope this helps!

[@MovingForwardAdventures]

Hey Guys, We are looking into this system for our Winnebago Vista. We would like to be able to Monitor and manage our coach while we are away from it to ensure that power is on and A/C is running for our dog. Our Vista has a Xantrex Pro XM1000 Inverter, so we were wondering if all we need to purchase is The Auto Gen start, Conext Com Box, system control box plus cables? Does that sound right to you? if so we will order it all through your amazon link then find someone certified to install it all. Thanks for your help

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Kenny & Sabrina! We're sorry to report that we're virtually certain that neither the AGS nor the Combox are compatible with your inverter. They use a system that they call "Xanbus" to communicate with the Freedom SW series. From what we can tell, your inverter is not Xanbus-enabled, so not compatible. More info here: www.xantrex.com/power-products/power-inverters/pro-series-inverters.aspx www.xantrex.com/power-products/default/automatic-generator-start.aspx www.xantrex.com/power-products/default/conext-combox-freedomsw.aspx Doesn't look possible, but of course you can reach out to Xantrex to confirm, since we're only *virtually* certain about this.

[@MovingForwardAdventures]

We were afraid you guys were going to say that. We will take your advice and contact Xantrex to be sure. Maybe we will be able to at least install the Auto Genstart. We will let you guys know how it goes. Thanks for always helping us out we really appreciate it.

[@scottwall4669]

Gad Zukes!!!!! All those feet in Newman!!!! Hope they all removed shoes!!!

[@RVgeeks]

Every single one of those polite Canucks left their shoes outside on the mats we put down for just that purpose. You can see some of that in the video, and at one point, there must have been two dozen pairs of shoes all at the same time! Not to worry. ;-)

[@scottwall4669]

Thinking when Newell, Newmar or Prevost finally hire you with a new rig and a million dollar annual salary the wife and I will gladly keep shoes out of Newman the Newmar!!!!

[@kevinerickson2595]

I decided to go for a entegra anthem its loaded with this stuff already ,its called vega and silverleaf.

[@RVgeeks]

Entegra is a great brand, and Silverleaf rocks! Congrats, Kevin!

[@meteor109]

Thanks, guys for your channel... very helpful. Question - any idea what you'll do when it's time for a new house battery? would you consider a lithium battery? solar panels? (BTW, about a year ago I was watching the live call-in show you did with Technomadia. Someone asked about your next RV, and you said, "... a Newmar, and we will definitely go shorter." Wow, that was a light bulb moment! I subconsciously knew I'd rather be out wild camping & listening to the birds sing, rather than be in the campground listening to the dogs barking. That comment flipped my active search from a 45 ft behemoth to something in the 35-40 ft range. You may have saved me from a costly mistake. Thanks!)

[@starttherebellion9146]

I had been strongly considering going the lithium route myself until just recently in hopes of being able to run A/C constantly while out in the desert... but after after looking at Technomadia's postings on the topic and those of others who have huge lithium banks as well it appears that even after spending upwards of 15k on a huge lithium bank (not to mention what you'll spend on your super hybrid inverter, rooftop blanket of solar panels, charge controller(s), and associated cabling, fuses, breakers, switches, etc.) it's still not possible to run your rig's A/C totally off of just solar & battery in an RV. -- You're simply going to have to supplement it with a generator to be able to run unlimited A/C. No way around it. So... in light of it not being able to achieve that stated goal, I personally cannot justify the expense. Yes, you can save a lot of weight and space over an equivalently powered AGM bank, but that doesn't matter because you're no longer trying to run A/C solely off of solar & batteries.

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Rick! How great to hear that we helped you avoid what we think was our only mistake in replacing our first RV.... going too big. Don't get us wrong... it's very comfortable. But we'd be more comfortable in a 37' rig in Yellowstone, which we can't fit in with this rig. We'd also be more comfortable with a smaller mortgage! ;-) We thought we'd gotten so much national park time in during our first couple of years on the road that we could do without for a while. Little did we know that 12 years later we'd be in the same RV... with the same mortgage! We are leaning heavily toward lithiums all right. Other than the obvious high cost and the re-wiring needed to upgrade, they are superior to everything else. We're hoping to be doing something about those batteries this summer, and you can bet we'll have video about it! And more solar panels too! ;-)

[@starttherebellion9146]

I may possibly go with a smaller lithium bank though for the efficiency and longevity. Still weighing the pros and cons.

[@RVgeeks]

We agree with you on the A/C thing for sure. You may have seen us re-wire Nikki & Jason Wynn's inverter to allow them to run off solar ( video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGHVi4xrqtSngas ). While you CAN do it, the reality of being in a hot climate without shore power for more than a day or so appears to us to be unrealistic to think you can just run the a/c off batteries that only get recharged from solar. Just not practical. As far as cost goes, they are indeed dear. We always tell people that the purpose of solar, and now lithium, is not to save money by reducing the need for diesel to run the generator, or even so much to reduce costs for full hook-up camping. It's all about the quality of life we get from peace and quiet of not having to run the generator. But just like any other quality of life stuff (like a trip abroad for example), it comes at a price. If you can afford it, and decide to, great. But we sure do get it that lithium, and even very much solar, can be pretty pricey for many people. You might want to consider something we've heard about... carbon foam batteries from Firefly Energy. We're looking at that as a possibility: fireflyenergy.com/ One of our viewers turned us on to them and they look promising. Drop in replacements for AGM or lead acid, higher performance without the bankruptcy.

[@meteor109]

The problem is the lack of quality at 37 ft. The only thing close is a couple of Dutch Stars at 38 ft. The other (short) brands are just not up to the quality challenge. That's been my delay finding a coach. But now, looking at a custom-built Super C... hoping to get what I want at about 40 ft. Good luck with the lithium. That's where I'm headed.

[@kathleentole6516]

Love your videos. We do a great many mods ourselves and often look back at your older videos for guidance. However, we are shocked that you have not upgraded your TVs to LED smart TVs. What's up with that?

[@RVgeeks]

Great question Kathleen! After our DVD/VCR combo, our TVs our oldest piece of tech (although we're at least grateful that we were able to upgrade to an LED model as an option in 2005). ;-) The main reason upgrading hasn't been much of a priority is that we don't watch much TV (we canned our satellite dish years ago) and the little we do watch is mostly done on -demand on our iPad or laptops. That said, upgrading that old TV to something larger and state-of-the-art is indeed on our list, and we'll be sure to share the details when we do! And don't look in our bedroom... the old TV in there (which I think has been turned on maybe twice in 12 years) is a TUBE TV!!! =:-O LOL

[@kathleentole6516]

Thanks for your answer. Being TV folks, we wouldn't want to be without them! When you decide to swap out your bedroom TV for a smart flat screen, you may want to do what we did. Replaced it with the TV mounted to a finished door on a piano hinge. I added a bottom and a shelf to the open area behind and now have a fantastic storage cabinet.

[@RVgeeks]

We've seen other people reclaim the space from an old tube TV the same way you have, and it's a great idea! Since we never watch TV in the bedroom, we could actually just jettison the TV in favor of a storage cabinet and not bother with the flat screen. But then there's the re-sale consideration, right? :)

[@kathleentole6516]

You guys are as funny as we are! Resale value??? We use the same line while knowing we are keeping our coach because we couldn't stand going through all the work to get a new coach to be as perfect as our old one.

[@RVgeeks]

We're keeping our rig for the same reasons.... and because we're so upside down in our "forever" mortgage that we're stuck in it. Good thing we love it! ;-)

[@Coolbreeze61]

so what can the schneider conext combox track; i'm looking for something that can track everything; solar flow, electric usage, gen run times min, hr, day etc (basically metrics on everything), and will it work with other brand names

[@RVgeeks]

+Coolbreeze - the ComBox can only track/control/report on Xanbus-enabled devices... so, basically, it's limited to Xantrex/Schneider components. According to their product page for it (xantrex.com/power-products/default/conext-combox-freedomsw), that means it can track info about shore power, generator power, and battery power. When looking at our display from the ComBox, it also shows the option for displaying PV (photovoltaic = solar) power... so it MAY mean that it can provide info about a solar array connected using a Xanbus-enabled charge controller from Schneider... but we'd suggest contacting them if that's important to you, as we can't 100% confirm it will work for that. Otherwise, it can definitely provide info about gen run times (reports from daily on up), etc.

[@gagethacker]

2 questions for ya, have you had any software bugs. Ie where the app freezes when you try to turn on or off the generator. And 2 does this system somehow tie into your fuel tank level, itd be a big bummer to come back to the rv with no fuel because the generator used it all

[@RVgeeks]

+gadgethacker No software bugs and no problems. It's not actually an app, but rather a web page hosted on the ComBox itself. And no worries about the generator running the fuel out, because the RV was built with the fuel pickup line for the generator high enough in the main fuel tank that it will starve the genny of fuel before using it all up. Guess they thought of that one long before remote control was available, so apparently it was a problem even with people on board. 😉

[@DOCSAFETUBE]

like your channel a lot guys , i have a 2001 fleetwood mallard i really dont like it..can you give me some ideas of a good rv that is 30 to 35 ft and is easy to operate and is under 20k used ...thanx

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Doc! Sorry you aren't happy with your current rig, but shopping for a new one can sure be fun! ;-) Your question is a good one, but it's hard for us to be much help on this one, since we haven't bought a new rig in 12 years, and not in that age/length/price range. We can however recommend the best way we know to do every imaginable type of search to narrow down your options by price, size, brand, location, etc. That would be RV Trader ( rvtrader.com ) We did a video where we talked a bit about RV Trader, and still think is the best way to find an RV, especially a used one, that meets very specific criteria. In case you're interested, here's that video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3y8m3hnjrWJi5o

[@DOCSAFETUBE]

thanx alot guys , look forward to your're next vid

[@hussietart]

Gentleman;Have you any experience on Low Voltage disconnect systems for coach batteries. I have looked into systems like Priority Start & systems made by Blue Sea Inc. Was wondering if you had any info that would help us guys who are RV,ing on a budget. Many thanks for the fine video's. THOMAS

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Thomas. Good question... but, unfortunately, we don't have any experience with systems like those. They certainly sound like a good idea. But if you really want to save money, and if you're primarily concerned with battery drain while NOT using the RV, you may be better served by installing a battery cut-off switch and just remembering to turn it on/off as needed. Something like this from Amazon: amzn.to/2o939l9 would do the trick... and is even less expensive than the systems you mentioned. Just be sure that whatever you get is rated to handle the maximum amp-load for your battery bank, so you don't cause an even WORSE problem!

[@MrSlovenc86]

app for smartphone ? (please for the link ) As I know, you can load only an app on the Android tablet

[@RVgeeks]

The only app that we know of from Schneider Electric that works with the ComBox is their "NetworkExplorerSE" app... and it appears to ONLY be available in the Canadian App Store: itunes.apple.com/app/network-explorer-by-schneider/id826438301?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 We have the app installed and running on both our iPhone AND our iPad Mini... so it will WORK on a tablet, but it's not optimized for one. But all that the app does for us is to ensure that we have a link to launch the web-based interface. If you assign a static IP address for your ComBox, you'll always know the address and can just bookmark the web admin panel instead. That will work on ANY device. Hope this helps.

[@MrSlovenc86]

Thenks

[@deadliestcatch_toddstanley]

PLEASE!!! can someone tell me/show me how to use the ipad/iphone to connect to the combox! I've looked all over the internet and cannot find anything on this. furthermore, there's not an app for either apple products, only android... huh what say what??? Im sure theres another way obviously but I really would like to access my this remotely. Im using a Wifi Ranger with internet access always on. Pretty cool system however... more info please! My current situation is an installed SW12v 3000 watt inverter, AGS and remote display. Thanks in advance to anyone who can shed more light on this confusing part.

[@RVgeeks]

OK Todd. Here goes... First, you need to be sure your ComBox is connected to the local network (we assume you're using your WiFiRanger as your primary router... but this may pose a problem for being able to access the ComBox from outside your local network, as you need to be able to assign it a static IP address so you can port-forward a WAN request to the ComBox... you might need to check with WiFiRanger to see if your unit can do that). You can get that by plugging a USB flash drive into the Host Data Port on the Combox itself. There are instructions on page 2-16 in the ComBox's owner's manual (available here: www.xantrex.com/documents/Accessories/Combox/975-0704-01-01_RevA(Vendor).pdf ). Basically, you plug it in... wait for the "Memory" LED to flash quickly five times... remove the drive and plug it into your computer and look for a file called "serial number.html" (where serial number is actually your Combox's serial number). Double-click that file to open it in your browser and you'll find the IP address (with other information, including the MAC address that you'll likely need for setting up port forwarding). You can click the "Connect" button in that web page and it will launch the ComBox's admin login screen (just look at the URL in your browser to see what the link is for accessing it again... just being sure you know the IP address... which is why you're going to want to assign a static one, so you don't have to keep using the USB stick to get it each time you want to access the ComBox). To access the system remotely, you're going to need to set up a dynamic DNS service so you have a URL you can access from outside your RV's local network that routes through the Internet to your Combox. We use the free option from No-IP.com. That service uses an app/utility running on our computer to update the publicly-available address our network is on. We configured our AirPort Extreme Base Station to assign the ComBox a static IP address on the local network... and port-forwarded a custom TCP/UDP port to the ComBox's internal IP address so that when we access our publicly-available No-IP.com address... it gets routed to the ComBox. Complicated... but we hope that makes sense to you!

[@deadliestcatch_toddstanley]

RVgeeks thanks for your reply! Yes! Makes sense and I was afraid of that . WiFi ranger is so buggy with my Verizon mifi jet pack AC791L - if idle then it just stops recognizing the internet connection. Sure would love to be using an AirPort Extreme 🤗 I’m familiar with setting up static up and port forward etc. I haven’t bought the combox yet as I’m not going to spend the $$ until I figure out how it works remotely. Grrrrrr! Xantrex really ought to be up with the rest of the world in making it easier to access remotely. I’ve been using xantrex products for 25-years I’m off grid solar application and simply assumed that they’d be the best! I did my homework after I installed my components to find out I really wished I’d gone with VictronConnect and their multi plus 3000 watt inverter. Mostly because of their ease of connectability and ESPECIALLY because of their “power control” that will allow you to runoff of limited shore power such as 20-amp circuit. We all have friends we stay with who only have a 20-amp available. The inverter will allow you to pull off batt bank the additionally needed power to run your AC... duh! Brilliant. Not with the SW series. Thanks fir your input!!

[@RVgeeks]

Hey Todd. We had some problems with our AC791L... turned out it was the power-off setting in the MiFi. If, when connected to it, you go to my.jetpack you can log in and change that setting to keep it from disconnecting. And you're smart to do some pre-planning to be sure all the pieces are going to work the way you want them to, before shelling out the money. This stuff ain't cheap! 😉 The Victron equipment IS pretty neat... several other RVers (including Cherie & Chris of Technomadia) have used their stuff in their RVs and seem to really like it. Depending on how your RV is wired, you may be able to get similar (though not exactly the same) functionality as the "power control" Victron has. Xantrex offers a feature called "Gen Support". If your RV is wired like ours, where shore power & generator input come in through the transfer switch to the main circuit breaker box... and then a single breaker in that box feeds 120V power to/through the inverter, the output of which goes to a second breaker box for the "inverted" circuits. With this configuration, the inverter passes shore/gen power through to the same outlets that it powers when no shore/gen power is available. And the "Gen Support" feature lets the inverter pick up the load when amp-draw criteria are met. The neat part is... since the inverter has no idea whether the incoming power is from the generator OR shore power... the feature works for both. We used this just last week. We were at a site where we only had a 15-amp connection... with poor voltage that sagged significantly under any load over about 7-8 amps (NOT our power cord connection, it was the wiring at the park). Running our coffee maker in the morning was enough of a load that it was sagging the power badly. We set the FSW to 15-amp Shore Power, and then turned on Gen Support at 7 amps. If the combined load on the inverted circuits (which in our RV is ALL of the outlets, including our refrigerator) reached 7 amps, the inverter kicked on and took over the load, freeing up that 7 amps on the shore load. That doesn't match the Victron/Magnum capability to add inverted power to the shore/genny power, allowing you to boost low power for all devices, including air conditioners. But it's still a help! Hope this makes sense!

[@RVgeeks]

Oh... and another setting to check on the AC791L... the number of connections you're allowing. Ours had them set too low, so when a WiFi device connected, it was using up a connection and something had to be dropped. For some reason, it always dropped the WiFiRanger (maybe it prioritizes wireless connection over wired?), which was a PITA. We've changed ours to allow maximum connections... and to disable WiFi when it's tethered. Since then... no probs.

[@CreachterZ]

Isn't Xantrex a prescription drug? ;)

[@RVgeeks]

Xantrex doesn't require a prescription, but it does make us feel pretty good. ;-)

[@armanddd9956]

what year is your Newmar?

[@RVgeeks]

2005

[@floridablackbear7318]

:)

[@rmcintyre1779]

8th comment

[@RVgeeks]

8 is our lucky number! (not kidding actually). :)