Inverter problems.

[canalboater2012]

I have a pure sine inverter onboard & when I got to the boat this morning the lights were very dim & water pump was hardly worked. It's connected to hook up. I went to switch inverter on but didnt even light up. Got the macanic at marina to come over & check & he checked power from shore & batteries eye. It turns out the inverter has blown a fuse & hasn't been charging up the batteries. So any ideas folks?

[Gibbo]

Could be a tired fuse (they do age and go weak).

 

Could be a fault in the inverter that blew the fuse.

 

Could be somebody shorted something out and blew the fuse.

 

Could be the wrong size fuse.

[eightacre]

Slightly confused here. An inverter doesn't charge batteries - that is the function of a battery charger.

[bottle]

What he said.

 

but (just to be pedantic) inverters do not charge batteries, chargers charge batteries. I suspect you have a 'combi', inverter and charger in one unit.

 

Edit: SNAP!!

Edited December 11, 2012 by bottle

[canalboater2012]

Sorry yes it's a combi

Thanks for advice

[dor]

One thing to watch out for in this cold weather is condensation. Inverter is sitting nice and cold - you come in and warm up the boat and the inverter acts as a little dehumidifer and gets wet inside. Turn it on and ...

[canalboater2012]

Well ive just had the bad news the inverter is pooped.and its going to cost 1500 to replace so as you can imagine am not best pleased!!!

[Paul C]

Maybe its time to think about getting a separate inverter; and battery charger. Then if one or the other does break down again, at least you don't have to spend so much. Also would be very helpful if you went back and edited the title of this thread etc, for clarity.

[mrsmelly]

Maybe its time to think about getting a separate inverter; and battery charger. Then if one or the other does break down again, at least you don't have to spend so much. Also would be very helpful if you went back and edited the title of this thread etc, for clarity.

 

A very very sensible post. Combis are one of the worst ideas known to man, another is marriage oops wrong thread.

 

Tim

[canalboater2012]

Yes that is, wot am having done. Get both seperate

 

Yes that is, wot am having done. Get both seperate

[Paul C]

Do you really need a PSW inverter? You could buy a cheap MSW one, and if it blows up, you'll have lost less money. And/or put the extra money towards a better battery charger.

[Richard10002]

Well ive just had the bad news the inverter is pooped.and its going to cost 1500 to replace so as you can imagine am not best pleased!!!

 

What make and model? Who is telling you it would cost £1500 to replace? You can get a reasonable Victron for about £1000.

[Boat&Bikes]

What make and model? Who is telling you it would cost £1500 to replace? You can get a reasonable Victron for about £1000.

Depends on combi size doesnt it?

 

Ian.

[canalboater2012]

Hi Richard the £1500 is to put a charger & change over switch in & put a new victorn inverter it.

 

This is the engineer at tattenhall

[Richard10002]

Depends on combi size doesnt it?

 

Ian.

 

Of course it does - IIRC it would be around 1200W inverter, and 50A charger, 12V. I may be a bit out, but not much

[Arthur Brown]

Can you beg or borrow a charger -almost any charger, while you get the combi back to the manufacturer's repairer?

[mrsmelly]

Can you beg or borrow a charger -almost any charger, while you get the combi back to the manufacturer's repairer?

 

Hi

 

I bought a three stage marine type charger 20 amp for £ 45 quid off ebay. Works an absolute treat and they do bigger ones for not a lot of money though the 20amp does me no problem as a liveaboard.

 

Tim

[DeanS]

I have an £80 battery charger.

I used to have a £300 MSW 2500Watt invertor.It ran everything I needed.

I used both for a year while CC-ing.

I've used the battery charger for months to keep a battery happy for water pump, etc while in a marina.

 

 

You definately have some choices to make....no ways I would ever spend £1000-£1500 .....