Inverter troubles Heart Freedom 25

July 21, 2003, 10:00:41 pm

I am going through some inverter problems and wonder if any of you have had similar problems and have a fix in mind. I have had my inverter out and sent it to the mfg while under warranty a couple of years ago. They could find no problem (of course) and suggested that the circuit board was just a little loose and that the removal and replacement shook it into place. No too very comforting huh?
This last winter while parked in San Diego, I lost 110 power to one side of the coach. I found that by tapping on the side of the inverter, it would regain normal operation. Just a light tap. When I called the mfg, they suggested that I had the same problem, a loose circuit board and that a replacement board with gold contacts could be had for $200.00 plus shipping. They suggested that the inverter was also probably dusty or dirty which would cause the loss of contact as well.
Guess where cc mounts the inverter in my Intrigue? Right behind the rear wheels with lots of vent holes. When I began the process of removing it, I found that it was extremely dusty and dirty from road dirt. When I took an air hose and cleaned it out, it worked fine again.
When I looked at the inverters in some friends coaches this winter, I found that all were mounted within compartments that were not directly in back of the wheels and were mostly clean.
Therefore, I am assuming (a bad word, eh?) that I can modify the compartment, seal up the vent holes by the tires and make a new vent system that draws air from the access door and has a rubber seal, similar the engine intake in the next compartment. I have listen to a further suggestion that I install a small fan, perhaps from a computer, that runs only when the inverter is on, thus providing lots of air flow around it.
Apparently the engineers at cc don't read some of the mfg installation folders. The manual that comes with the echo charger in my Intrigue specifically states that the unit should be mounted in a clean area and in a vertical position. Where is mine? Mounted flat (horizontal) and right next to the inverter, full of dust and dirt!
I try to avoid dusty roads whenever possible, but the biggest problem I have had is getting caught in construction where the road has been recently sealed and chipped, (very dusty) or even worse, torn up entirely. I recall getting some bad sign language from passing motorists when I was crawling along in an attempt to avoid the mess.
I'd appreciate any suggestions or comments on the re-venting of the inverter and echo charger.

Thanks,

Larry
Intrigue

I'm a bit bewildered about cc and their engineering

Re: Inverter troubles Heart Freedom 25

Reply #1 – July 22, 2003, 12:16:52 am

Yahoo Message Number: 5470

-Hi Larry,

Consider this - I hate drilling new big holes, so attach an external baffle about an inch in front of the hole area so the air comes in sideways. RTV on a screen over the existing holes. I like the idea of a PC fan about $15 with ball bearings, 12 vdc. When it fails in 3-5 years, buy a new one!

Be sure you fuse it. The question is - what powers it? With shore power connected or the generator running - the converter is a battery charger and with shore power off and the converter switched on, it's an inverter. Only with the converter off and no shore power connected or generator running is it really off. I'd have to think about this to minimized the circuitry needed. Poor man's approach is a switch and a light. Some converters have a signal available indicating activity.
Fred Kovol

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