botemon
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2007
- Messages
- 38
Hi folks,
Been away a long time I know! I would like to query folks who may have exposure to Victron Inverter Chargers. I have a 3kw unit that I purchased about 9 months ago. This replaced a 2.5kw Zantrex.In the last four years I have gone through 2 Zantrex inverters and as you know the support non existent. We have been cruising almost full time for the last 4 years and the boat is now moored in the Dominican Republic.
So during a trip back to the states, I purchased a brand new Victron and hauled it down to the DR and did the install. I have 6 new Trojans (T-105s) and fired it up and this thing worked great, charging and inverting. Since the boat is on a mooring, every two or three weeks I made my way to the boat, start the genny and top off the batts for an hour or two. After about three months of this lite use the charger failed. I spent a lot of time with the support folks at Victron and they agreed, I got a bad one! They shipped me another new inverter / charger to the DR (long story here) and I installed the second one about three months ago. Sosame routine every two or three weeks of toping off the batts, very lite use. Everything worked fine until 5 days ago. Same exact thing. It will not charge and exhibits the same symptoms.
Before I contact Victron again, I thought I would toss this out and ask if anyone has had a similar experience or thoughts. Here is a little more detail.
I am an electrician and an EE. I have a 12kw Northern Lights genny 120vac / 60 hz, right on the money. Its wired correctly and grounded correctly. Batt bank (6 T-105s) is a bit far away from the inverter at about 10 ft. The unit is not located in the engine room. It is in the lazerette cause its cooler there but a bit damp. (Whats not damp on a boat in the tropics?). I have a Pulsetech battery de-sulfater wired across the bank. (Maybe problem-o?). I hate the thought of going through this process again! It literally takes months to accomplish the boat being out of the country. I have never heard a bad word about Victron, in fact just the opposite. This is a great argument for separate inverter / charger options.
Thanks!
Ken
Been away a long time I know! I would like to query folks who may have exposure to Victron Inverter Chargers. I have a 3kw unit that I purchased about 9 months ago. This replaced a 2.5kw Zantrex.In the last four years I have gone through 2 Zantrex inverters and as you know the support non existent. We have been cruising almost full time for the last 4 years and the boat is now moored in the Dominican Republic.
So during a trip back to the states, I purchased a brand new Victron and hauled it down to the DR and did the install. I have 6 new Trojans (T-105s) and fired it up and this thing worked great, charging and inverting. Since the boat is on a mooring, every two or three weeks I made my way to the boat, start the genny and top off the batts for an hour or two. After about three months of this lite use the charger failed. I spent a lot of time with the support folks at Victron and they agreed, I got a bad one! They shipped me another new inverter / charger to the DR (long story here) and I installed the second one about three months ago. Sosame routine every two or three weeks of toping off the batts, very lite use. Everything worked fine until 5 days ago. Same exact thing. It will not charge and exhibits the same symptoms.
Before I contact Victron again, I thought I would toss this out and ask if anyone has had a similar experience or thoughts. Here is a little more detail.
I am an electrician and an EE. I have a 12kw Northern Lights genny 120vac / 60 hz, right on the money. Its wired correctly and grounded correctly. Batt bank (6 T-105s) is a bit far away from the inverter at about 10 ft. The unit is not located in the engine room. It is in the lazerette cause its cooler there but a bit damp. (Whats not damp on a boat in the tropics?). I have a Pulsetech battery de-sulfater wired across the bank. (Maybe problem-o?). I hate the thought of going through this process again! It literally takes months to accomplish the boat being out of the country. I have never heard a bad word about Victron, in fact just the opposite. This is a great argument for separate inverter / charger options.
Thanks!
Ken