Freedom 20D Inverter Problems

[Matthew Harger]

Was in Lake Tahoe dry camping this weekend and started experiencing some problems with our inverter/charger.  It is the Xantrex Freedom 20D on our 1998 Beaver Patriot.

Worked fine while simply inverting power from the batteries, however once the generator was fired up to recharge and run microwave etc for a couple hours in the mornings and nights, after about 30-40 minute of the generator running the inverter remote above the door with indicate an "overload" and shutdown.  

With the generator turned off, i cycled the inverter remote off/on to reset it and it did.  However it did this overload repeatedly every consecutive time the generator ran.  Upon returning home today I plugged into  our 50A shore power  at our house and within 30-40 minutes the same thing would happen, inverter overload.

I crawled into the bay and looked at the inverter and saw nothing strange.  I checked all the vents for debris and wiped them down.  The inverter was extremely hot, which i'm assuming is what might likely be triggering the overload.  After letting it cool down I plugged back in and the same exact thing happened within 30-40 minutes.  I also listened for the sound of any fans running inside the inverter as the manual says it has cooling fans but did not hear anything obvious.

Any words of wisdom....?  Or is a new inverter in my future....

Thx

[Gerald Farris]

Matt,
You may be able to repair the inverter cooling fan or install a muffin fan that runs anytime that there 120 volt A/C current, but If I were you I would start shopping for a new Magnum inverter.

Gerald

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Matt,
My neighbor had a similar problem. Found the fan at fault.
Steve

[Matthew Harger]

Thank you both.  

Gerald what model of Magnum should I be looking at for a similar replacement for the model Xantrex or your recommendation for that matter.

[Karl Welhart]

Matt,

I would recommend the Magnum MS2012 (P/N 030-02332) pure sine wave 2000 watt inverter/charger with the ME-ARC50 (030-02352) remote control that will be mounted inside your coach.

[William Brosam]

ill be replacing mine with the magnum 2800 version just cause i would love the extra 800 watts

[Gerald Farris]

Matt,
You current inverter is a 2000 watt modified sine wave inverter. The is a Magnum direct replacement for this inverter, or you can spend a little more for a pure sine wave unit, or get a higher wattage unit. You need to decide what you want in a new inverter, and what is in your budget.

Gerald  

[Jerry Emert]

I'm shopping for a Magnum MS-2812 2800 Watt inverter also.  If anyone finds a really good price on one please post it.  In my research I noticed that there are Magnum versions of the battery and coach temp. sensor, remote control and Gen remote start.  I fear I know the answer but I don't suppose that the old Xantrex versions will work with a magnum?
Thanks
Jerry

[Matthew Harger]

Jerry- this was the cheapest place I could find the Magnum inverters online.  I have no idea about the company selling them so do your homework, but the price seemed good.

http://www.tacticalwholesalers.com/Magnum-MS2812-2800W-Inverter-12v-W125A-PFC-Charger-MS2812_p_93246.html


Would anyone happen to know the size / model / type of 12v muffin fan I might need to try replacing the one in my Freedom before buying the Magnum?   I called  Xantrex for help but got nowhere.  They referred me to a service place that was of little help too.

[Jerry Emert]

Jerry- this was the cheapest place I could find the Magnum inverters online.  I have no idea about the company selling them so do your homework, but the price seemed good.

http://www.tacticalwholesalers.com/Magnum-MS2812-2800W-Inverter-12v-W125A-PFC-Charger-MS2812_p_93246.html


Would anyone happen to know the size / model / type of 12v muffin fan I might need to try replacing the one in my Freedom before buying the Magnum?   I called  Xantrex for help but got nowhere.  They referred me to a service place that was of little help too.

Thanks that does seem like a great price.  You can get a wafer fan at any electronics/computer repair shop.  Probably at Radio shack also.  Just make sure it runs off 115.

[William Brosam]

Thanks that does seem like a great price.  You can get a wafer fan at any electronics/computer repair shop.  Probably at Radio shack also.  Just make sure it runs off 115.

cheaper here http://www.imarineusa.com/magnumenergyms28122800watt12v100atruesinewaveinvertercharger-1-2.aspx

[William Brosam]

Mathew you'll have to open up your inverter and take a picture hard to say what kinda fan is inside. im gonna guess and say its a basic computer fan but i dont know.

[Karl Welhart]

Jerry,

Yes, the battery temp sensor w/wire does have to be the one that comes with the Magnum Inverter/Charger and yes, the remote control is different, however the existing wire to the remote will work.  The mounting hole for the remote is slightly wider and much less height.  I just made a cover out of black Plexiglas the OD of the old remote and cut a hole to fit the new remote.

[Dick Simonis]

When I replaced mine with a Magnum the installer tried using the same battery temp sensor and it didn't work.  However, he just splice a telephone adapter to the existing cable so it was and easy installation.

As far as the remote panel, the Magnum panel was exactly the same size as the Xantrex 480 panel so you may or may not get lucky here.  You might give a call to Maganum and chat about the details.  They are great t work with.

I got the 2020 PSW which provided two 20 amp breaker vs. the 15 amp breakers on the Zantrex.  This solved a problem with the breaker tripping if I ran the microwave and coffee pot at the same time.