GE Residential Refrigerator No DC Power

[SSN609]

I could use some help please. Whenever I disconnect from AC power, the refrigerator goes off. The Magnum Dimensions Inverter panel shows 12.5 volts after power is removed with a yellow status light (I believe indicating the inverter is working). Prior to removing power the status light is green indicating by-pass mode and 13.7 volts. Any suggestions on things to check that would cause the refrigerator to go off after I remove external power? This is for a 2022 3231CK.

[AZ Traveler]

Scott,

Sound like your battery bank does not have a full charge. Check that your battery disconnect in the convenience panel has the key set where it will not pull out.

[Carl n Susan]

12.5V DC is effectively full charge after the shore power has been removed for a while. I don't think the Red Disconnect key is the problem. I think there is a GFCI on the inverter but if it is tripped there would be no output on either shore (120V) or battery (12V) power.

How sure are we that the "yellow" light on battery power is a good thing? I don't have a residential refer so no actual experience with one. What is the model number of the inverter?


On Edit: I am guessing you have a Magnum CSW inverter. According to the Operators Manual (https://www.magnum-dimensions.com/si...%20CSW2024.pdf Page 20) it says



It appears the Yellow Light is an indicator of a problem and you should follow the troubleshooting guidelines.

[SSN609]

I checked the disconnect switches. They were on and good. I'm getting interior lights and jack power with no power connected, so I know there is battery DC power available. The refrigerator runs with AC power connected, so there isn't a GFCI switch that has flipped somewhere. I don't know what Magnum inverter I have but the CSW Series display panel says:
Green - Bypass
Yellow - Inverter
Red - Fault
I'm assuming Green on shore power is normal, and yellow without is normal (since yellow is labeled as "inverter" which seems correct once shore power has been removed. The only other thing I can think of to check is that I'm getting AC out of the inverter when no external power is connected. I may check that this weekend.

I've got to bring it in for some other minor repairs, so I will add this to the list for them to check out. I'm hoping the inverter just has something set wrong. Thank you for your help!

[RipNC]

Scott,
That inverter should have a single small gauge (maybe 12-14) orange wire running to it that is the trigger. That wire may be disconnected. The inverter needs 12v on that wire to be "On" and that wire is powered from the coach side of the battery disconnect. The inverter panel inside will display but the umit will not invert. I know this firsthand.

[MandK]

Also, Check the gfci on the inverter. If it’s tripped, the fridge will still work on shore power but not on 12v. The remote switch inside the coach (if legacy has that) will still show green also. I had that happen once. I just went out and pushed the test button to double check before posting and yep, fridge was still running on shore power. The transfer switch is down stream from the inverter on my basement ceiling, only inverted power comes through the outlet on the inverter. Yours may be the same?

[SSN609]

I was hoping this would be it because the symptoms suggest this is the problem, but my inverter doesn't have a GFCI (RV is hard wired directly into the inverter with no plug in as shown in your picture). Nor is there any reset button or anything like that around the output area. When I bring it in I'm definitely going to ask what they found, because the problem is either in the inverter or close to it.

Originally Posted by MandK

Also, Check the gfci on the inverter. If it’s tripped, the fridge will still work on shore power but not on 12v. The remote switch inside the coach (if legacy has that) will still show green also. I had that happen once. I just went out and pushed the test button to double check before posting and yep, fridge was still running on shore power. The transfer switch is down stream from the inverter on my basement ceiling, only inverted power comes through the outlet on the inverter. Yours may be the same?

[MandK]

Sorry that didn’t work out, the ‘22’s must be different, or maybe a legacy thing. Hope you get it sorted soon.

[Ron & Izzy]

check the gfi on the inverter unit (located in the middle of the plugin's). i had the same problem and after i pushed in the gfi circuit on the inverter, the refer worked perfectly.

r-

[66 Galaxie]

The inverter runs several outlets. If the TV works or the night stands are hot, the inverter is working. What's the remote on the inverter saying?

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by SSN609

I could use some help please. Whenever I disconnect from AC power, the refrigerator goes off. The Magnum Dimensions Inverter panel shows 12.5 volts after power is removed with a yellow status light (I believe indicating the inverter is working). Prior to removing power the status light is green indicating by-pass mode and 13.7 volts. Any suggestions on things to check that would cause the refrigerator to go off after I remove external power? This is for a 2022 3231CK.

12.5 is too low. Are you still using the factory batteries? I scrapped them day 1 and bought 4 Trojan T105's, then 6 Lithium.

[SSN609]

Update. Got the RV back from the dealer and they told me a connector was wired backwards and that mine wasn't the first one (knew what it was right away). Not sure where it was but it wasn't real close to the inverter. Anyway, it's working now. Just wanted to let others know what happened that may have run into a similar situation. I wish I knew exactly which connector, but I don't.