When should inverter kick in?

[Brian S]

I had a high voltage error (PE5) kick off one leg of my power, the side with the residential fridge. However, inverter did not automatically kick in so fridge was off. Luckily I was here and the high voltage was short so shore power came back on pretty quick. But my question is, shouldn’t the inverter have kicked in right away? Before power came back on I checked the GFI in the basement t.hat covers the fridge but it didn’t seem to have power (pushing either button didn’t do anything, both “soft”j. Is there supposed to be a delay or do I possibly have a bad inverted again? Original one replaced as it never worked and this is my first extensive (3 month trip) with the new one.

[DutchmenSport]

The inverter should come on immediately when there is a shore power loss, no delay.

Did you check to see if the inverter is actually turned on (at the inverter). Second, did you check to see if the cut-off switch between your battery and the inverter (red dial switch, usually in your front bay near the batteries, on the wall) was turned on also.

Again, when there is shore power loss, the inverter kicks on immediately.

[Foldbak]

More info please. Did you get an error code on your inverter control? What inverter do you have. Dimensions doesn't have a PE5 error code.


The inverter will only go active when it doesn't sense shore or generator power. Otherwise it's in bypass mode allowing the incoming AC to pass to the inverted outlets. Did you check the breakers? Your inverter should also have a breaker/reset.

[Brian S]

Originally Posted by DutchmenSport

The inverter should come on immediately when there is a shore power loss, no delay.

Did you check to see if the inverter is actually turned on (at the inverter). Second, did you check to see if the cut-off switch between your battery and the inverter (red dial switch, usually in your front bay near the batteries, on the wall) was turned on also.

Again, when there is shore power loss, the inverter kicks on immediately.

Stitches are on and everything looks wired correct (thanks to your 2020 diagram!). I’m going to test it again but with turning off the power…ie, step by step.

[Brian S]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

More info please. Did you get an error code on your inverter control? What inverter do you have. Dimensions doesn't have a PE5 error code.


The inverter will only go active when it doesn't sense shore or generator power. Otherwise it's in bypass mode allowing the incoming AC to pass to the inverted outlets. Did you check the breakers? Your inverter should also have a breaker/reset.

The PE5 is my EMS. I’m going try to replicate step by step instead of in quick WTF mode (ie, we just lost power!)

[Brian S]

Originally Posted by Brian S

Switches are on and everything looks wired correct (thanks to your 2020 diagram!). I’m going to test it again but with turning off the power…ie, step by step.

When I turn off power the inverter did not go on, even after some time. When I turned the inverter off/bypass switch off and back on again it worked. I’ll try those steps again tomorrow but any idea why that would be?

[Foldbak]

As I stated we need more info? What inverter do you have? To clarify, when you cycle the battery on/off switch the inverter starts to invert?

[RMcNeal]

I don't want to seem silly here, but to be clear a power loss will not "turn on" the inverter. The inverter should be on all the time. You should have an auto transfer switch to move from shore power to the inverter whenever shore power is not present. My auto transfer switch is separate from the inverter, but some have them built in. I leave the inverter on always unless the rig is in storage. The auto transfer switch will favor shore power and switch to the inverter whenever there is a loss of shore power.

[Foldbak]

It depends on the inverter. Most inverters today have an internal pass through relay/transfer switch that prioritizes the AC input whether it's shore or generator. There is a transfer switch in the rig that switches between shore and generator. I recently learned it prioritizes generator for exercising purposes. I'll be changing that as my gen will exercise when I tell it to.



Depending on how your inverter is programed will determine if the inverter is on all the time. I have my Dimensions programmed to allow me to turn it off at the remote. This allow me to eliminate any parasitic draw when not in use and I dont have to use the battery disconnect.


Example while boondocking and sleeping or in bad weather the solar will not provide enough to keep the batteries charged. Rather then leaving the trailer to flip the battery disconnect I just turn off the inverter from the remote. No I don't have a residential fridge.


To the OP's comment that the inverter turns on after cycling the battery disconnect. I had a similar problem with my first inverter and replaced it. Dimensions has some issues with these models. That's why I asked what inverter do you have?

[Brian S]

Again turned off power at the pedestal and inverter did not power anything. It’s a magnum dimensions CSW2012-X. Turned of the power or bypass switch (?) and back on and it works. First picture is the inside control on shore power, second is the unit, third is before I turned the power/bypass off and on and fourth is when inverter is working. Any suggestions? Ps I’m back on shore power and it’s reading 14.4 volts. Kind high?

[AZ Traveler]

I installed a hybrid inverter. Once you turn it on it is on until you turn it off. It has an integrated transfer switch. When the shore power is off it picks up the load. If we are hooked up to 30 amp or using an external genny and we need a little more power it will add power in addition to the shore power or genny. Everything in the rig can be powered by it except for the water heater and a/c.

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by Brian S

Again turned off power at the pedestal and inverter did not power anything. It’s a magnum dimensions CSW2012-X. Turned of the power or bypass switch (?) and back on and it works. First picture is the inside control on shore power, second is the unit, third is before I turned the power/bypass off and on and fourth is when inverter is working. Any suggestions? Ps I’m back on shore power and it’s reading 14.4 volts. Kind high?

14 volts while charging is fine. Press the select button and and see if the first display is PS1. If so the power button on the remote is disabled. If it reads PS4 it's enabled. To turn on the inverter if PS4 press and hold the power button until you hear a beep. Top light green is in bypass and orange is inverting. Top light off means the inverter is off. Top light must be green for the inverter to begin inverting with loss of shower power.



If the top light is green and you unplug the shore power the light should change to orange meaning it's inverting. If it stays green the inverter transfer relay is not sensing loss of shore power. Inverter is bad.

[Brian S]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

14 volts while charging is fine. Press the select button and and see if the first display is PS1. If so the power button on the remote is disabled. If it reads PS4 it's enabled. To turn on the inverter if PS4 press and hold the power button until you hear a beep. Top light green is in bypass and orange is inverting. Top light off means the inverter is off. Top light must be green for the inverter to begin inverting with loss of shower power.



If the top light is green and you unplug the shore power the light should change to orange meaning it's inverting. If it stays green the inverter transfer relay is not sensing loss of shore power. Inverter is bad.

Thanks, as always, for yours and everyone’s advice. The third picture above is what it looks like when shore power goes off. No top light all. Should it me in 0 or 4 for the inverter to automatically kick in? Or do you think I have a bum inverter?

[Lee-CI]

Originally Posted by Brian S

Thanks, as always, for yours and everyone’s advice. The third picture above is what it looks like when shore power goes off. No top light all. Should it me in 0 or 4 for the inverter to automatically kick in? Or do you think I have a bum inverter?

As per the tech rep from Magnum-Inverters, the unit should be programmed to the PS1 setting. Our CSW2021-HX unit will only go into invert mode when shore power is secured and the DC input to the unit is cycled Off and back On again from the supply switch in the battery compartment. When doing so we can hear a resounding "thunk" as the power relay inside the inverter energizes. We have copy of a build order from Magnum-Inverters to replace our unit as they had no new builds in stock as of April 21st. Maybe your unit will act similarly. Let us know how you come out...

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by Lee-CI

As per the tech rep from Magnum-Inverters, the unit should be programmed to the PS1 setting. Our CSW2021-HX unit will only go into invert mode when shore power is secured and the DC input to the unit is cycled Off and back On again from the supply switch in the battery compartment. When doing so we can hear a resounding "thunk" as the power relay inside the inverter energizes. We have copy of a build order from Magnum-Inverters to replace our unit as they had no new builds in stock as of April 21st. Maybe your unit will act similarly. Let us know how you come out...

They come from the factory programed PS1. This is a safe guard for units with residential refrigerators. As per the Magnum Rep PS4 is better for my use. That being said you can only turn the inverter on using the remote when there is Shore or Gen power. But once on it stays on and automatically bypasses or inverts.

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by Brian S

Thanks, as always, for yours and everyone’s advice. The third picture above is what it looks like when shore power goes off. No top light all. Should it me in 0 or 4 for the inverter to automatically kick in? Or do you think I have a bum inverter?

Cycle the inverter battery switch while plugged into shore power. The top light should be green. Disconnect the shore power and the top light should turn orange. Plug the shore power back in and the top light should turn green. If it does then it's operating properly.

[Brian S]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

Cycle the inverter battery switch while plugged into shore power. The top light should be green. Disconnect the shore power and the top light should turn orange. Plug the shore power back in and the top light should turn green. If it does then it's operating properly.

When I turn off shore power the top light goes off, nothing. If I “cycle” the inverter by tuning the bypass/off switch connected to the inverter off then on the. It goes amber/orange. Then, when shower power goes back on it goes back to green

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by Brian S

When I turn off shore power the top light goes off, nothing. If I “cycle” the inverter by tuning the bypass/off switch connected to the inverter off then on the. It goes amber/orange. Then, when shower power goes back on it goes back to green

Then I'd say that you have bad unit.

[Brian S]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

Then I'd say that you have bad unit.

Dang it!

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by Brian S

Dang it!

Check you PM