Potential Problem Loads Related To Search Sense Mode; Confirming Search Mode Operation; Incandescent Lights; Fluorescent Bulbs - Xantrex7 UX - REV A Owner's Manual

Inverter/charger

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5.0 Troubleshooting

Potential Problem Loads related to Search Sense Mode

Some loads can "fool" the Search Sense Mode, causing the unit to cycle on and off,

or not to turn on at all.

A neon-type nightlight can be used as a test indicator to show whether the

inverter is searching for loads. Plug the night light into the wall–if the inverter is

in search mode the light will blink, showing the search pulses sent out by the

inverter. If the inverter is running a load, the light will be on continuously

because continuous power is being delivered to a load. A typical incandescent

nightlight may also work to show the pulses, but it will use more power.

Incandescent lights have a higher starting wattage when the filament is cold than

the continuous rating of the bulb. For example: if the inverter is set to sense a

40-watt load, and a 30-watt bulb is turned on, the inverter will initially sense a

load because the bulb's cold-starting wattage will exceed the 40-watt threshold .

When the bulb warms up, it will draw less than the threshold wattage, the inverter

will revert to idle mode and the light will go off. When the light cools, its load will

again exceed the threshold and the cycle will repeat.

These work the opposite of incandescent light bulbs. If the inverter is set to

detect a 30-watt load and a 40-watt fluorescent light is switched on, the inverter

will not detect it because fluorescent tubes draw less than 30 watts until the gas in

the tube ionizes.

Some appliances draw power even when turned off. Examples of this are

television sets equipped with instant-on circuits, microwaves equipped with

digital clocks, VCRs, and other clocks. If the search sensitivity threshold is set

higher than the combined loads, an auxiliary load must be used to bring the

inverter out of search mode before the appliances will turn on.

If the sensitivity threshold is set lower than the combination of the loads, the loads

will remain on continually, and excess battery drain will occur. Three such 15-watt

loads would consume an additional 90 amp hours per 24 hours in a 12 Vdc system.

Some alternatives are:

• turn the item off at the wall,

• use an extension cord equipped with an on/off switch,

• place an on/off switch at the outlet, or

• install an appropriate circuit breaker.

P/N 975-0026-01-01 Rev A 06/2002

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