Inverter Applications; Resistive Loads; Motor Loads; Problem Loads - Xantrex 815-2024 Owner's Manual

Freedom SW 3K2K InvChg Owners Guide.book Page 66 Wednesday, October 9, 2013 1:34 PM
Troubleshooting

Inverter Applications

The Freedom SW performs differently depending on the AC loads
connected to it. If you are having problems with any of your loads, read this
section.

Resistive Loads

Resistive loads are the easiest and most efficient to drive. Voltage and
current are in phase, which means they are in step with one another.
Resistive loads generate heat in order to accomplish their tasks. Toasters,
coffee pots, and incandescent lights are typical resistive loads. It is usually
impractical to run larger resistive loads—such as electric stoves and water
heaters—from an inverter due to their high current requirements. Even
though the inverter may be able to accommodate the load, the size of
battery bank will limit inverter run time.

Motor Loads

Induction motors (AC motors without brushes) require up to six times their
running current on startup. The most demanding are those that start under
load (for example, compressors and pumps). Of the capacitor start motors
(typical in drill presses and band saws, for example), the largest you can
expect to run is 1 horsepower. Universal motors are generally easier to start.
Check that the Locked Rotor Amps (LRA) rating of the motor load does not
exceed the maximum surge current rating of the inverter. Since motor
characteristics vary, only testing will determine whether a specific load can
be started and how long it can be run.
If a motor fails to start within a few seconds or loses power after running for
a time, it should be turned off. When the inverter attempts to start a load that
is greater than it can handle, the inverter may shut down from an AC
overload fault.
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Problem Loads

Very Small Loads If the power consumed by a device is less than the
threshold of the search mode circuitry, and search mode is enabled, the
inverter will not run. Most likely the solution will be to disable Search
mode or lower the sense threshold.
Fluorescent Lights and Power Supplies Some devices cannot be
detected when scanned by search mode circuitry. Small fluorescent lights
are the most common example. Some computers and sophisticated
electronics have power supplies that do not present a load until line voltage
is available. When this occurs, each unit waits for the other to begin. To
drive these loads, either a small companion load like a light bulb rated for
more than the Search Watts setting must be used to bring the inverter out
of search mode, or the inverter may be programmed to remain on by
disabling Search mode. (See "Using Search Mode" on page 34.)
Clocks You may notice that your clocks are not accurate. Some of the
clocks on your appliances may reset when the Freedom SW is in
search mode.
Searching When the inverter is in search mode, it may fail to start some
loads even though the rated wattage on the load is more than the Search
Watts setting. Disable Search or apply an additional load (companion
load) to make the inverter exit search mode.
Freedom SW Owner's Guide