ProMariner inverter questions and problems

[captstu]

Hi, I've just installed and tested my 3ed Promariner inverter charger.

After reading about the problems with the ProMariner being installed on the shore power, I decided to install it on the generator circuit - that way when I leave the dehumidifier/ac on unattended, it won't drain the battery if shore power fails.

Some questions:

1. Is there any way to defeat the charger? Since my generator is feeding the ProMariner via the Shore Power circuit, the load of the initial battery charge is added to whatever the inverter is powering. The 700+ watts when the air conditioner starts on the generator cause the ProMariner to fault out. The generator easily powers the ac if I bridge out the inverter. I have no need for a battery charger because there is one fitted on the boat

2. How to I force the transfer switch to stay in the shore power position? I start the generator, wait, flip on the ac and the momentary load causes the voltage to fall enough to trigger the inverter. Since the inverter won't carry the startup of the generator, it faults and resets - by this time, the ac has undervolt paused, the generator is back up to power and the cycle starts again. If I manaly connect the air conditioner to the generator it works fine.

Thanks

 

[knotflying]

Stu,

I think I would set up my wiring differently. I would put in a manual transfer switch in case the promariner transfer switch fails. This way you can have the shore power go through the promariner and then if the auto transfer fails you can switch to shore power direct. If you have a separate battery charger why are you even purchasing the promariner combi? Just get a standard 2500 watt inverter and a manual transfer switch. This way you either are on shore power or inverter power.

 

[captstu]

Mike,

I'm about to do that. A manual transfer switch seems the right solution.

But, I'm trying to swap the inverter/charger/transfer for a pure inverter and get rid of the battery charger. It draws 700 watts on startup, to much for my Mase 2.5.

Thanks

 

[captstu]

As to why I purchased the combi? Foolish mistake. At the last Rendezvous, I bought a ‘near new’ combi that was busted when I bought it.

Shipped it back expecting warranty, no go, it was several years old and had been tampered with internally. They sold me a rebuilt at more than Amazon charges new.

It worked a few months and died.

Combi number 3 has a short timer on the power failure part of the internal transfer switch. So, it switches to inverter when the boat’s ac starts. By that time, the generator is back to full power so it switches back, in the meantime the ac start has failed, so the generator faults. This triggers a switch back to the inverter causing that to fault.

About 20 seconds later the cycle starts again.

Each time the generator picks up the load, the battery charger starts at high charge, dumping a 700 watt long on the generator.

I’m hoping they swap this mess for a inverter.

What transfer switch did you use? Is there a way to fit a 3-way lockout switch in the panel?

I tried to hard this time.


Stuart Bell
Ranger 25: Shearwater
(561) 352-1796

 

[knotflying]

Stu,

I am not sure how you are using things or if your wiring is different. The inverter has a rocker switch. Middle position is off. Up position is on when on shore power and down position should be used when on battery power only. Why would you be using your generator to power your inverter? I would think your generator is bypassing the inverter and providing 110 direct to your panel.

 

[captstu]

Hi,

Your description of the switch is not how my unit works - according to both the documentation, Craig Roy at ProMariner, and my testing, the switch works as:

Top: Inverter is in standby, shore power is passed thru only when there is "demand" - the inverter periodically looks for load by injecting a low voltage and testing current. (I didn't design this, just copied it from the doc)

Middle: Off - the unit does not pass shore power - unit #2 did pass shore power, but this one does not.

Bottom: Inverter is on except when shore power is present, then inverter is idle and shore power is passed.

I connected the generator to the INPUT of the inverter for a few reasons:

1. I run a small air conditioner (about $20/month) 24/7 to dehumidify the boat. This is necessary for us since it helps control mold on the mouse fuzz. If I wired the shore power through the inverter, there is no way, according to ProMariner, to defeat the inverter and just pass the shore power.

2. I wanted the switches to make sense. The top switch, Shore Power, is unchanged - the second switch - Generator - is now "internal power". Normally underway we run the small ac off the inverter with the 400 Watts or so it draws made up by the 1200 Watt Ranger alternator.

Clearly, while this worked perfectly with unit #2, the present unit #3 works fine with the small air conditioner but faults if we (very occasionally) try to run the big air conditioner for a few minutes when we first board from a location without shore power (dinner, for example). This worked for a quick cool for 5 minutes with the engine running and the balance being made up by the battery bank. Then we switched off the boat's air conditioner and switched on the rooftop unit.

I suppose this is OK, but my current plan if to take the INPUT off the inverter, effectively bypassing the transfer switch and battery charger. I'll then covert the 2-way lockout switch delivered with the boat to a 3-way lockout (shore/inverter/generator) and all will be well.

Thanks for all your help. BTW, the engine works fine now - 195 at 3400 RPM and about 150 at idle - I don't expect I'll put the thermostat back in. /Stu

 

[knotflying]

Your explanation is a bit different then mine with the toggle up. On mine when the toggle is up and on shore power, power is fully supplied and no hunting for draw. If in the up position and on the hook it will hunt for a draw and the inverter kicks in as long as there is a sustained draw.
I still do not understand why you would have the generator power the inverter. You don’t need 110v from the inverter if your generator was to feed the panel direct. Shore power should be entering the input on the inverter and the auto transfer switch should engage.

 

[captstu]

I think our inverters work the same way - but instead of shore power, mine is fed by the generator.

Why? Well, my thought is that with the engine running, I wanted to run the small ac from the inverter powered by the battery and the engine's alternator. That works fine.

When I shut down the main engine, the small ac stays on the inverter and starts draining the battery.

Now, I start the generator to run small ac overnight - and the internal transfer switch in the inverter kicks over to the generator and starts charging the battery (400 Watts for the ac and 700 Watts for the battery charger, ok). This works as planned.

Now the problem is, when we go out to dinner, I shut down everything, not wanting to run an engine at dock when people are eating.

We come back, the boat is hot and stuffy, we turn on the generator and start the BOAT's air conditioner - it worked fine for a few years on the generator - but with the ProMariner in place, the starting load of the ac causes the generator voltage to dip momentarily, triggering this ProMariner (but not unit #2) to switch over to inverter - only to have the generator voltage to go back to 120 or so and try to switch back. The sudden switch faults the inverter on the second try - and faults the generator when the now-locked-motor on the ac tries to start.

Why did I do this? Silly, I suppose - I was trying to avoid a 3-way circuit breaker on the panel.

I have ordered a third dual breaker, a 3-way lockout and other stuff and will wire the inverter without input power - I don't need or want a battery charger that dups 700 Watts into my bank - prefer the 100 or so the built-in battery charger will supply on shore power - and the higher amount the alternator supplies when the engine is running.

thanks for all the help. /Stu