Dimensions Standby Power System - Page 2

John_Canfield · 11-01-2008, 12:55 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by NoMoreAZ:

John... What is the software level of your SCP so I can compare to mine?

Any possibility that there is noise on the CAT5 cable due to the cable itself or what the cable is near?

Do we need to start another thread for this to not bother the Dimensions folks with any more problems? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I'll take a look today or tomorrow and start a new thread - that's a good idea.

I think the RS2000/3000 cat5 uses ethernet and the protocol is pretty robust. As I remember, each packet has to have the correct checksum to be accepted. If anything, noise would cause lots of retransmissions and a slow down of communications among the units.

Golfingene · 11-02-2008, 04:23 PM

I just arrived at my Winnebago in the desert after 4 weeks away. It had been plugged in to shore power for the duration with the A/C on. House batteries were dead (and I can't seem to charge them with my external charger...they're 15 months old) and no power to the coach other than 110v for the TV, power outlets and Microwave. Everything works well when engine is running, including A/C, but not on shore power. Dimensions Inverter seems to be dead, no noise when 50A shore power is connected or not. Reset is not tripped nor are any other breakers.
Does this sound familiar to others?

2004 Winne 39K

AA4WP · 11-02-2008, 08:13 PM

No, Golfingene.

When you say the engine is running, does that mean your generator? I cannot imagine the motorhome's traveling engine would have the effect you describe. When you write "A/C" does that mean Alternating Current or does it mean Air Conditioner?

Do a bit of sleuthing. Check your house batteries (the three on the top shelf) without the ground cable connected. Use a volt meter; does it have 12 V DC nominally? Do the batteries have water in them? Could the Dimensions charger have boiled the batteries dry? What kind of noise would the inverter make when connected to shore power? Does it hum? Does it click when plugging it in to shore power?

We leave our unit (a 2004 Journey) plugged in all the time to the AC mains when at home and only once did the charger boil the batteries dry. (See my earlier post in this topic)

Let us know what you find out.

Wendell

SCVJeff · 11-02-2008, 09:55 PM

Also note that there is a fuse in the battery bay; upper right corner as you open the door (at least on mine). That's the inverter DC fuse.

Golfingene · 11-03-2008, 06:44 AM

AA4WP
Thanks for your help, I was talking about the engine of the MH. A/C meant Air Conditioning. Tested the House batteries with volt meter, all dead, and won't take a charge. The batteries are no maintenance (gel). The inverter has a fan in it that always seemed to come on when I plugged into shore power. It doesn't make any noise or hum now. Didn't hear it click either. This is the second set of house batteries in the four years since new.
Jeff
Can't find a fuse in the battery bay.
Thanks, for the help so far.

AA4WP · 11-03-2008, 07:18 AM

Golfingene

So I expect that the next step is to try to charge the batteries with a portable battery charger (assuming they don't take a charge from the Dimensions charger) There is a fuse on the inverter (there was one on mine) which may be blown. Last winter our Dimensions unit would not charge our batteries, even though the inverter would work. I charged the batteries using a portable unit; so they held for a while. So far I have been pleased (with one exception) with the RS2000 unit.

Good luck,
Wendell

Golfingene · 11-03-2008, 11:54 AM

Well, I tried to charge the batteries and they wouldn't charge...I have now replaced them. The Dimensions inverter is still not charging the batteries, but I now have 12V lights, etc. until they run down. Got my charger at the ready. Waiting for repairman to evaluate before replacing the Dimensions.
Re your Xantrex 2000, does it fully replace all the functions of the Dimensions?
Thanks again.

cbeierl · 11-03-2008, 05:39 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Golfingene:
...
Re your Xantrex 2000, does it fully replace all the functions of the Dimensions?
Thanks again. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes, it fully replaces the Dimensions and provides you with Pure instead of Modified Sine Wave output. It also gives you the option of adding an Automatic Generator Start. Here's a link to the writeup I did for my upgrade in my Vectra, and the beginning of it also contains a link to John Canfield's description of his install: Xantrex RS2000 Install in a Vectra 36RD . I susbsequently also installed the AGS as well.

AA4WP · 11-03-2008, 09:22 PM

Golfingene:

Best advice from others here is to replace the Dimension with an RS2000; mine also. It does have a strange glitch, in that it will report incorrectly the charge mode; otherwise seems to be a good charger. My installation caused me to take the easy way out, installing the control panel over the chest of drawers just over the water inlet panel in the bay just under the chest of drawers. I found it to be really difficult to run the CAT5 cable up to the "One Place" panels location. Running the cable up into the bedroom was a "piece of cake" and saved me a lot of concern. To run the battery temperature cable was fairly easy, as I used the Dimensions cable to pull the Xantrex cable through the rubber "grommet" (not actually a grommet, but a slug of rubberized glob) in the hole the cable passes through.

By the way, Solartron (I think) has it on sale for around $1.3K. By all means I would not have the Dimension unit repaired. I have one you can have if you come after it. Only thing, I wouldn't wish it on any one.

Wendell

Golfingene · 11-04-2008, 08:15 AM

Update:
Still waiting for the final word on whether the Dimensions can be reprogrammed or something. Looking at the RS2000 as a replacement and really appreciate your comments.
The repairman also mentioned a "Magnum" product he says is good.
Thanks for the pictures and link to John Canfields description of his conversion.
I'm thinking of mounting the control panel in the bin next to the inverter unit to avoid the wiring problem. Don't mess with it much anyway.
For now, my small charger is keeping new batteries up and everything else is working inside the coach.

cbeierl · 11-04-2008, 09:34 AM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Golfingene:
...
I'm thinking of mounting the control panel in the bin next to the inverter unit to avoid the wiring problem. Don't mess with it much anyway.
...QUOTE]

I think you really want the panel inside, ideally in the OnePlace center where it would just replace the Dimensions panel. A bit of exploring should find a path one way or the other back to the electrical bay.

AA4WP · 11-04-2008, 11:15 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by NoMoreAZ:

No problems here on our RS2000 like you describe. System Control Panel is correct. When you think the charger is in bulk or absorption, what does the front panel lights on the unit itself say? Are they correct? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, I did look at the light on the RS2000, and they did also indicate "float". I had just run the inverter for 2+ minutes using the microwave and TV. After restoring AC to the RS2000, the panel indicated 35-40 amp DC to the batteries. I then looked at the unit in the bay, and saw the float light on. I then went back in and saw that the System Panel indicated 15 +/- DC amps (the rate was tapering down), still indicating "float on the inside panel. Evidently the panel is reporting what the RS2000 is reporting.

Panel reports following system information:

Device info: RS2000:
Model number: 809-2000
Serial #: 0000118FB515
Firmware Revision: 104.00

Device info: SCP:
Model number: 809-0910
Serial #: 000011012797
Firmware Revision: 106.00

For whatever it is worth.

Wendell

Golfingene · 11-05-2008, 07:19 AM

Has anyone explored the Magnum Inverter? The service guy recommends this one as well as xantrex.

John_Canfield · 11-06-2008, 04:29 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Golfingene:
Has anyone explored the Magnum Inverter? The service guy recommends this one as well as xantrex. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Never heard of Magnum. Went to their website and they seem to be a smaller company with a limited product range compared to Xantrex. Xantrex has a good track record and my RS2000 has a three-year no hassle warranty, Magnum is a complete unknown to me. They might produce great products, but I don't want to be the first to find out

AA4WP · 11-06-2008, 08:32 AM

Golfinggene:

I also read Magnum's Owner's Manual for their inverter. My first concern is the weight of their unit is only 40 lbs. The Xantrex unit is around 70-75 lbs. To me, the extra weight is probably in a "smoothing" filter for the better suppression of switching spikes found on lighter inverters. (I conjecture) The dimensions of the Magnum is less than the Xantrex; that could be a factor in replacing the Dimensions's dimensions. The Xantrex is more of a "boat anchor" and requires more consideration in finding a secure mounting place. I braced the vertical wall on which I mounted the Xantrex (same wall as for the Dimensions) with aluminum plywood edging connecting left and right, to the bay boundries. The wall on which the inverter was mounted had separated from the ceiling of the bay (three rivets shorn off) and it wiggled a lot. Also: the cost of the Magnum seems to be very much the same as that of the Xantrex. The Magnum manual does not seem to show as many safeguard features as does that for the Xantrex. Since I installed the Xantrex, I naturally think it is the better way to go.

Just a few random thoughts.

Wendell

Golfingene · 11-06-2008, 05:05 PM

You guys are absolutely great. Thanks so much for your counsel, I will order the RS2000 tomorrow. I tried to get it for the $1221 from an on-line site but they were out...didn't know when they would get any more. So now it's a logistical and freight decision.
I appreciate the photos and I'm sure the service man will too.
Thanks again,
Gene

Darryl · 11-21-2008, 07:49 PM

I pulled the Dimensions inverter for one of the posters in this thread (rather not say which one) to see if I could locate the problem. This inverter simply stopped charging. Found the diode board toasted. We've sent it in for repair to Dimensions. Hope we get a good one back. Time will tell. I intend to test well before buttoning it up.

Golfingene · 11-22-2008, 03:29 PM

Thanks for responding. I still haven't bought a replacement because we had to go back home. Do you know what message was on the remote control before you took it apart?
Please let me know how the repair works and what the total cost is. Thanks.

Party Barge · 11-22-2008, 05:12 PM

I am interested in this discussion. I was camping with 50 amp service last month. I believe that the inverter was on standby.

At about 7am we heard a click/pop noise in the bedroom, and then a elect burn smell. I ran out and opened the elect. compartment and got a puff of light smoke and then shut off the 50 amp breaker.
Later went through the entire system trying to find the problem with no success. Wrote the forum about problems with my AC surg-gard, but I'm am thinking it my have been the inverter.

I have 540 watts of solar on the roof and have experimented with running on inverter with the refer on AC. So far OK, but after the incident with the elect smell. the Microwave which is on the inverter circuit was making noises?? After opening and closing the door the noise stopped, but re-acurred again. I swiched the inverter off for more investigation. Any suggustions.

John_Canfield · 11-23-2008, 03:33 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Party Barge:
... At about 7am we heard a click/pop noise in the bedroom, and then a elect burn smell. I ran out and opened the elect. compartment and got a puff of light smoke and then shut off the 50 amp breaker.... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Could have been the MOVs (metal oxide varistor) blowing in the surge protector. MOVs have the duty of clamping any voltage spikes in surge protectors. Could have been a problem with the MOV themselves, or they were doing their job and sacrificed themselves to protect your line.