[mikefromlb]

Previous owner of my 1989 3300 Open installed an Inverter on the boat. It has 2 wet cell batteries and the switch for it is located on the DC portion of the electrical panel. Connected to it are: Cabin OH lights, outlets, microwave, tv, blue ray; everything that you would need in the cabin while overnight on a mooring, without having to fire up the generator.

I have yet to be able to use it. After powering down the AC part of the electrical panel, I turn on the DC portion and the switch for the Inverter, none of the above listed items are live. The Inverter has it's own power panel that I keep charged and ready to go. I keep the battery water up to proper level.

Can any other Owners' help me out to figure this out?

[Uhehner]

There must be an AC switch that removes the outlets, micro etc. from shore power and switches them to inverter power. Plug a 120 volt lamp into the inverter outlet to prove that it is working. Capt. George

[Jim Gilly]

On my boat the inverter powers the items such as you list, perfect for overnight mooring when a/c is not needed; but my inverter is always on, always providing the power to these items. The back-up batteries provide power to the inverter, the charger keeps the batteries up. So I have no switches to change or move, it is rather "automatic". Could yours be wired in this way, and when you power down the AC panel, you actually are turning off inverter output to these devices?

[mikefromlb]

Thanks for your input. Yesterday, a slip buddy did some troubleshooting with me. It appears that the Inverter is not switching into action when off shore power. Plan to meter the batteries, fuse and inverter next. His take is that the batteries could be shot or, the transition switch in the inverter is bad. Will update next week.

[Persistence]

I have a xantrex on a '94 31 open with 3 separate batteries that i recently replaced. I havent totally figured out the system, but it seems happier with the new batteries. mine replaces AC power, so i need my ac panel switch on. then i can use outlets and fridge. I dont have much else. i know with the older batteries, using a coffee maker for just a few minutes drained the batteries right down.

on the xantrex, i can leave the inverter light on. if it senses shore power, the led will flash. the purpose is for shore power interruption. when i do use the inverter, i turn off my battery charger switch on the panel and ac. im not sure my engines charge those batteries either, i think they are a separate system with a charger built into the xantrex.

[czarcone]

Thanks for your input. Yesterday, a slip buddy did some troubleshooting with me. It appears that the Inverter is not switching into action when off shore power. Plan to meter the batteries, fuse and inverter next. His take is that the batteries could be shot or, the transition switch in the inverter is bad. Will update next week.

So, what did the problem turn out to be.  I'm having similar symptoms.  Unfortunately, the unit is buried in a bad spot behind dinette seat back.