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Small Inverters Shutting Down
By ghurd, Section Controls Posted on Thu Jan 4th, 2007 at 10:54:13 PM MST
No obvious problems, and a very light load

I know this setup is borderline ridiculous, but it is not up to me.
The small inverters keep shutting down.
The only power a on/off light timer which draws about 2W.
The timer had the contacts reconfigured to be connected to 12V, therefore the lights are not inverter powered.
The inverters are not even warm and do not have a fan (well, most of them don't).
The batteries are never below about 12.4V or above about 14.4V, within inverters specifications.
It does not appear related to the timer being near an on or off trip point.
The inverters just shut down. Turning the switch off then back on fixes the problem. They may stay on for a week or 2, then shut down twice in a day.
A couple are a nice little 50W "Jazz", made during a brief joint venture between Whistler and Xantrex. One is a 175W Vector. Neither model was exactly intended for 24/7 use I'm sure.
FYI- All the inverters make the timer lose about 30 minutes per day.
Any ideas?
Maybe bypass the switch? I don't expect that to help, but it is all I can think of trying.
Also, does anyone know of a decent, yet reasonably priced 12V timer for a 2A LED load?
G-

Small Inverters Shutting Down | 13 comments (13 topical, 0 editorial)

Re: Small Inverters Shutting Down (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by Turbulent (radioactive(underscore)01@hotmail.com) on Thu Jan 4th, 2007 at 04:28:41 PM MST
(User Info)

Ghud, Most inverters have a standby feature and it sounds like the load could be on the border line of running and going into standby in certain conditions ie air temp change, as for the timer slowing down (if your using one) modified sine wave inverters will because of dirty power (noise) that comes out of them. Turbulant.

Re: Small Inverters Shutting Down (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by asheets on Thu Jan 4th, 2007 at 04:28:45 PM MST
(User Info)

Do you have one of those el-cheapo Harbor Freight IR/Laser thermometers? Aim it inside the thing and see how hot it is inside. Or, hook up a small fan to your inverter to keep it cool(er).
_____________________________

Alan Sheets

Re: Small Inverters Shutting Down (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by Volvo farmer on Thu Jan 4th, 2007 at 04:56:29 PM MST
(User Info)

Are you SURE the batteries aren't going over or under voltage? What are you charging them with?

Volvo Farmer

May you always have success in your quest to irritate those who you despise. -Ben Goode

Re: Small Inverters Shutting Down (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by ghurd on Thu Jan 4th, 2007 at 06:00:16 PM MST
(User Info)

Two 70W Shell MonoCrys PVs with seperate Morningstar SS-6 controllers, both charging the same pair of T-105s.
Pic's are on my website... the ONLY thing on my website. Just lucky I guess. LOL
http://www.ghurd.info/solar.html

Not sure my $7 non contact thermometer will read through the vent holes.
G-

[ Parent ]

Re: Small Inverters Shutting Down (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by Volvo farmer on Thu Jan 4th, 2007 at 09:19:06 PM MST
(User Info)

Pigeons?

I used to raise those! Smart birds... I got a soft spot in my heart for pigeons.

I'm about out of ideas but the one thing that seems fishy to me is the "reconfigured to switch 12V" stuff. Whaddya want? light at night on a timer? Maybe try CFLs on the inverter? Maybe the "reconfigured" part is what's messin up the inverter.

Volvo Farmer

May you always have success in your quest to irritate those who you despise. -Ben Goode
[ Parent ]

Re: Small Inverters Shutting Down (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by ghurd on Thu Jan 4th, 2007 at 09:55:49 PM MST
(User Info)

I don't know anything about pigeons. Except he has a bunch of them. 500 breeding pairs?
The guy wants the lights to come on ~3:30 to 8:00AM so they multiply faster.

The timer only had the 120VAC wire to the switch cut, and now 12VDC goes to it instead.

I didn't care for the idea of a timer on an inverter... But he did (It saved $50).

CFLs were a no-go, mostly for the cost of the extra PVs needed, and for some other too complicated to explain reasons (Amish).

[ Parent ]

Re: Small Inverters Shutting Down (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by jonas302 on Thu Jan 4th, 2007 at 06:16:48 PM MST
(User Info)

here is a 12 volt timer hope that helps http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2007010419052780&item=29-M-075&catname=

Re: Small Inverters Shutting Down (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by zap (bell47g5a at comcast dot net) on Thu Jan 4th, 2007 at 08:56:03 PM MST
(User Info)

http://tinyurl.com/y56yu9

http://www.gaiam.com/retail/product/25-064?HCR=OTC-booyahfeeds&site_id=boofd_nexttag_25-064& Atlas=True&gcid=C18376x020&keyword=25-064

http://www.sailgb.com/p/12v_digital_timer/

zap
[ Parent ]

Re: Small Inverters Shutting Down (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by ghurd on Thu Jan 4th, 2007 at 10:09:50 PM MST
(User Info)

Now that's a list of timers!

[ Parent ]

Re: Small Inverters Shutting Down (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by zap (bell47g5a at comcast dot net) on Fri Jan 5th, 2007 at 08:04:51 AM MST
(User Info)

I got a hard copy of Real Goods catalog 5 or 6 years ago at a green energy event at the NREL. I can't find it(hehe...G, you know why)but I swear they had a version of a 12vdc timer that was only about $30. If I manage to find it I'll email a copy. Maybe your solder guy could whip up a DIY version out of a travel alarm clock or such?

zap
[ Parent ]

Re: Small Inverters Shutting Down (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by ghurd on Fri Jan 5th, 2007 at 10:13:47 AM MST
(User Info)

"travel alarm clock"
Considered it, but the clock voltage is too low. 1.5 or 3V isn't enough for mosfets.
Opto isolators etc. may work, but not worth the effort. I know if I make it they expect a lifetime no-fault warranty. But if it came in a fancy package and only lasts 6 months, then they are happy.

Gaiam bought Real Goods, or vice versa. I was personally never impressed with their prices and quality, at the same time.

[ Parent ]

: Small Inverters not necessary? (3.00 / 0) (#12)
by Norm (peppysue@suite224.net) on Sat Jan 6th, 2007 at 04:50:03 AM MST
(User Info)

If you had a 12 volt timer you wouldn't need
the inverters?
( :>) Norm
( :>) Norm

Re: : Small Inverters not necessary? (3.00 / 0) (#13)
by ghurd on Sat Jan 6th, 2007 at 12:38:30 PM MST
(User Info)

Right. I tried to talk him into a $90 timer at the start. Or a pair of wind-up timers, where one turns the lights on, the other turns them off.
The inverter uses about as much power in a day as the lights use.
G-

[ Parent ]

Small Inverters Shutting Down | 13 comments (13 topical, 0 editorial)

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