Trace Mariner Inverter Charger flashing green

[trawler1342]

I had a trace inverter charger unit that recently failed. I simply thought why not source the exact same unit and came across a “similar” Trace product called a Mariner series. I installed it and found out the unit requires and RC6 or RC7 (which I have neither panel). I have an RC8 panel and I now have a fully installed inverter charger unit…but only a green “searching” blinking light. I bought the unit off of eBay and the seller assured me it is working. I’m struggling with this as shouldn’t I be able to operate the Trace without the RC panel? I actually have access the the Trace Mariner from under a bunk and can turn it on…see led’s etc. My options are to go buy a RC panel ($500 shocking dollars on eBay)… or ditch the whole thing and go buy a standalone Bougerv pure sine wave inverter and losing the $500 I already spent on this used Trace Mariner inverter. I guess what I need to know from you all…I have a blinking green light (searching). I cannot get off that. I don’t have a panel besides my RC8 (which doesn’t work to change the light) and I know the manual definitely says I need an RC6 or RC7….but can’t I just manually operate the Trace unit somehow just for testing (verify) it works without the RC panel cable connected? I’m a little stumped here. I had the previous Trace unit installed for twenty plus years and never had a problem so I never thought twice about sourcing anything other than another Trace product. My model is the Trace Mariner series inverter charger. I do have a manual. Trace haven’t responded my questions…or potentially it’s because the unit is obsolete.

 

[trawler1342]

There is one piece of information I did leave out. The old Trace unit didn’t have the Green ground block location. It did have a chassis housing ground. The new unit has the chassis housing ground and also as shown in the photo I attached (the extra green ground) which the manual says is supposed to connect to start battery negative. House batteries obviously feed the Trace Mariner. I do have AC loads connected and am stuck in AC blinking green search mode. Maybe Simon who knows this particular Trace unit can school me on what specifically needs to be connected for this unit to work. It looks identical to my old Trace unit just is the (Mariner series) and I had a gray colored box chassis ( a genuine Trace product) just no green bonding ground port.

 

[trawler1342]

Typo above NOT “Simon” rather someone knows this series of unit and can advise if the green stud has to be connected etc. Whether the unit can be operated to invert without a remote panel. I’m sort of stumped as my old Trace unit did not have the green bonding lug (both my old and this new Trace Mariner) have a case ground. Just the Mariner has the extra bonding connection…

 

[Frosty]

I’m sort of stumped as my old Trace unit did not have the green bonding lug (both my old and this new Trace Mariner) have a case ground. Just the Mariner has the extra bonding connection…

If you ground the new connection, then what happens?

PS: I wouldn't normally just say "hey connect and see what happens," but I don't see how you could do anything wrong with a green/negative/grounding etc. type wire. At least to try it.

 

[Frosty]

To add: I downloaded a manual and looked in the troubleshooting section. Here is what they say for if you have a flashing green light (this was the only possibility listed for a flashing green light):

Symptom: No power output and LED indicator is flashing green
Problem: Load too small for search mode circuit to detect
Remedy: Reduce search threshold or defeat search mode.

Have you already tried this/does it apply?

 

[trawler1342]

Ok so couple of things. I checked battery voltage because the manual says that the unit will stay in search mode if battery source voltage is below a threshold of 11.1 volts. My battery voltage is good and at 12.6 volts on my house bank. I tried a microwave and although it’s a working unit it would not detect and the Trace Mariner just keeps flashing “searching”. I next tried a different load (hair dryer) and it didn’t detect it. Both items plugged into an actual AC source are working. I decided to just plug in shore power and the LED suddenly went flashing red and I head some strange loud relay clamp noise or something that kind of concerned me so I unplugged the shore power AC source from the inverter. Normally this would simply pass AC power to outlets but no it did not. I am looking for possibly someone familiar with the workings of the TRACE Mariner. I only know the seller told me it was working perfectly..which is why I bought it for $500.00. At this point the purchase was made in winter time in 2024 and I didn’t get around to installing it so possible something could have failed between now and then but it’s likely the seller misrepresented the functionality of this unit. If anyone has any ideas like how to reset or potentially repair depots? Please let me know.

 

[Frosty]

I decided to just plug in shore power and the LED suddenly went flashing red and I head some strange loud relay clamp noise or something that kind of concerned me so I unplugged the shore power AC source from the inverter.

Sorry I'm not familiar with the Trace inner workings but I do have the manual now.

Question: How many times did the red light flash? Did you still have power then?

Here is what the troubleshooting guide says for red light flashes:

Four red flashes = "Charger Fault has occured" and the solution is "Have inverter serviced." I guess that would be "It's broken" in layman's terms.

Other faults that involve red light flashes PLUS no power output are these:

One red flash = Low battery voltage
Two red flashes = High battery voltage
Three red flashes = High ambient temperature

I don't see any other listed problems that involve a red flashing light.

 

[SteveK]

Try disconnecting both shore AC and battery DC. Let it sit a few minutes and turn on battery. This is like a computer reboot.
Is it inverting? Yes then plug in shore power. Is it passing AC thru and charging?
If it is not inverting, not charging, then it is broken, needs service.

 

[trawler1342]

Update:
The charger function is now working. Both batteries were sourced NEW two weeks ago from academy sports. One of them had a June 2023 date stamp and was found to have failed. The charger was blinking red because it was unable to charge the bad battery. I still have a blinking green “searching” with two brand new marine agm batteries. As said charger function now works but search mode I cannot come off of. I plugged in different loads to the outlets fed by the inverter and no change. AC wiring is correct per diagram in the manual. I going to examine a GFCI that I have. I will update further as I learn more.

 

[Frosty]

I was just looking in the manual about "search mode." Interestingly they said it is turned OFF from the factory but a person can turn it on using the RC-7 remote (which I know you don't have). I didn't see anything about turning it back off, though I suppose the RC-7 command might be a toggle.

So the previous owner must have turned search mode ON?

I guess your RC-8 doesn't work at all with it?

 

[trawler1342]

Yes correct! I have an RC8 and it will “NOT” activate the unit. My bad in thinking I just go buy a “similar” Trace product. The sad part is…everywhere you look RC6 & RC7 control panels are now 4 times the price than when they came out new. Used ones are selling via RV tear down (parts resellers) for $500.00; I saw a new one on eBay and the seller wants $575. The problem with that (isn’t necessarily the pricing) but if I buy it from eBay and it “doesn’t” work (that my inverter does have some issue) then I have to have a good excuse to the seller to ask for a return. I could ask the RV reseller if they would allow me to “test” it and keep if functional…but I have a problem with them charging $500 for a used panel. A used control panel… I think a fair price is $190.00
I may need to set a search for item on eBay and maybe someone will come in at $300 new etc. $575 is really steep especially (and the guy selling it says he’s a coin collector); so now you can buy a decent modern true sine wave inverter for $550 why spend $500 plus dollars just for the chinsey Trace control panel…

 

[trawler1342]

Try disconnecting both shore AC and battery DC. Let it sit a few minutes and turn on battery. This is like a computer reboot.
Is it inverting? Yes then plug in shore power. Is it passing AC thru and charging?
If it is not inverting, not charging, then it is broken, needs service.

So I have disconnect switches for both the inverter and the main batteries. I have done so (what you’ve described) and upon reconnect (via main switches) it just goes into a flashing green “search mode”. The shore power cable when plugged in next does switch to charge mode but I noticed the inverter isn’t passing AC (as one expects it should). So two issues…stuck in “search mode”, and if you connect Shore power “charging only” won’t pass AC to outlets. I will advise that the house battery state of charge is greater than 12 volts. I know that the manual states if battery voltage is “below” 11.1V then the system won’t operate. I actually have an onboard NOCO charging unit and don’t intend to use the TRACE charging feature.

 

[SteveK]

May I suggest you try to return the unit as not working.
I suspect you are right that it should work without a remote, My previous Xantrex and now Magnasine both work without in a basic mode.

 

[tiltrider1]

If I understand this conversation correctly, when the boat is plugged into shore power the Trace will charge the batteries but it will not allow AC to pass through to the master panel.

If you unplug from shore power the Trace will not go into inverter mode and send power to the master panel.

Actually charging the batteries says AC power is getting to the unit. My first question is, have you put a meter on the AC out at the unit? Is it possible a breaker between the Trace and the master panel is tripped?

I am very familiar with the Trace SW2012. With that unit a blinking green light meant it was searching for good AC power, a solid green light meant it had hooked up to the power.

Unfortunately, I am not that familiar with your unit.

 

[trawler1342]

May I suggest you try to return the unit as not working.
I suspect you are right that it should work without a remote, My previous Xantrex and now Magnasine both work without in a basic mode.

Unfortunately I bought the unit on eBay six months ago and just finally was able to install it. The seller is no longer accepting returns..

 

[SteveK]

Unfortunately I bought the unit on eBay six months ago and just finally was able to install it. The seller is no longer accepting returns..

Then I suggest you look hard at the installation. Confirm all wires are connected where they should be. See if there is power in and out at the inverter connection points before looking further away for any. Is there a fuse/breaker at the inverter tripped?
Get it working before worrying about remotes which can fine tune only.

 

[trawler1342]

Great suggestions! There are three AC wires going into the inverter which (we already know) feed the inverter and the charger kicks in (charge mode works). AC voltage out wires are connected btw (no not swapped Hot versus Neutral)…that would be too easy wouldn’t it? What doesn’t work…search mode is constant even with various loads connected. No breakers are tripped and panel breakers are not tripped. I don’t have an RC7 or RC6 so at this point if anyone has one I’d entertain the idea to buy it for a reasonable price. If anyone knows where to find one also let me know. I called some salvage stores but they are asking $500 for a panel used with wear and scratches. This unit although a so called mariner or marine charger inverter is not sealed and truly a borderline “truck inverter” at best.

 

[SteveK]

One thought, my inverters have a pop out breaker on one side, do you have those? Did you meter the AC output to confirm the outgoing wires are hot?

 

[trawler1342]

In my mind we know the AC shore cable when connected “charges” the batteries (the inverter LED switches to charge mode. Interesting…the inverter does NOT switch to Flow through. Independent of DC inverted to AC the simplest function of an inverter is to “flow through” when connected to shore power. My unit isn’t doing that. Nor does it invert DC to AC (stays in “search” mode only). There should be an internal relay that (in flow through mode) is closed when the cct detects AC from the shore power cable. At this point I am starting to think the unit has a bad relay internal. If charging works, the flow through should work at a minimum. Lastly if those two things work then it “could be” that the unit needs a control panel to activate invert mode. Doubtful the latter and only one out of the three work which is charge mode. We get bi pass through to any AC outlets. I have a GFCI inline between the inverter output and main vessel outlets. That GFCI is NOT tripped and is new. I’m going to swap it with a basic outlet just in case the GFCI is sensitive to voltage and will update the forum. Obviously if that isn’t it it would have to be an internal fault like with the flow through relay. The pop out breaker is not tripped. First thing to always check in marine electrical or any electrical system (we always say)….is the fuse block.

 

[SteveK]

We are left to assume that you metered the connection terminals inside the inverter or the wires coming out of the inverter as you have not replied to that.

 

[trawler1342]

Great point. I’ll remove the cover panel and use a DMM.

 

[luna]

I know nothing about this particular inverter/charger.

Understanding that, you say that the charger mode works, but nothing else. No pass through of the grid's ac or inverter produced ac. Oh, and the unit remains on search.

If the charger is actually is working, (I have my doubts) then the unit has qualified and has accepted the ac that it's being feed. Otherwise one would expect that nothing would work. If it has already accepted the ac power as being good enough to run the charger, then what is it searching for?

 

[trawler1342]

Thanks for the reply. As one poster said “why don’t you Measure AC output voltages with a multimeter”. We already know the unit isn’t outputting AC so using a DMM will only verify that. What I do know as one other poster commented is that this unit requires an RC7 remote and that particular device can in fact (and is the only way to change) impact the AC threshold. What I have learned is that the prior owner may have raised the AC threshold to a maximum. So in other words a phone charger or something minimal plugged in for testing may not be detectable so the inverter stays in search mode and never switches over to AC on (invert mode). The only way to know is to connect an RC7 remote panel and change the settings on the search mode threshold level to a minimum. You “cannot” change that setting without an RC7 remote panel. At this point I’m looking for an affordable RC7 panel which is working. I’ve came across several used ones some unknown but they are asking $350 and won’t take a return etc etc. A new one is available online for $575 but that cost impact makes it smarter to just replace the whole inverter altogether. Thanks everyone for chiming in. This is an old technology inverter and isn’t supported. Designed obsolescence if you will. There are more cost affordable units on the market. Law of supply and demand. The sellers of the panels know the inverter works with a panel “only”…so they hike the price.

 

[luna]

If you feel that the unit is searching for a big ac load, then put a 1500 Watt space heater on it . Surely that is big enough to exceed the present minimum threshold setting.

 

[SteveK]

I suspect you did not connect to the correct output terminals. That is assuming the inverter is working.
On mine it has two line input with two line output for hot. If you connected hot to L2 out with only L1 in then it will not work, simple.
Verify you are connected to the correct terminals.
Heck the search function perhaps goes to 100W, plug in a 500W heater, even a hair dryer. If that does not overcome the search, it is broken or not connected properly.

 

[trawler1342]

Thanks again, Steve. The Trace Mariner is “different” than many similar Trace units they make such as their RV version (which does have multiple Out). In the case of my Mariner it has just Hot Out 1 and Line Out 1. It’s a good idea to try a larger load. I’ll dig into it further. Either way once I resolve the matter I’ll update the forum for root cause. Thanks again

 

[SteveK]

Do you have this manual? I think it is the right one.

 

[Frosty]

Just curious: I assume you have tried doing the same steps they tell you to do on the RC-7 panel, but using your RC-8 panel instead? But just figured I would ask. (Say to turn off search mode.)

 

[trawler1342]

So, I have the system working now. I replaced a GFCI outlet that transfers power through the system for testing only with a non GFCI outlet. I found that my RC8 does NOT work to activate but that matter is irrelevant. With a non GFCI outlet power is being transmitted to all of my outlets as soon as the inverter is switched on. The only issue I have now is I need to locate an RC7 controller. The seller on eBay has a brand new one and he is asking $575 which I truly feel is a ripoff. In fairness to the seller he has three of them and they are brand new old stock. As to why the issue with the GFCI it wasn’t an old GFCI but I read somewhere that some of these are sensitive and who knows. Bottom line I’m going to do a bit more research and get a working GFCI back in there. I do not need an RC7 to keep the system working it’s just a remote panel. I would like to track an RC7 down so if anyone has any leads on where one might go about finding one let me know. Just a heads up I have seen them for $140 (they go immediately at that price). They don’t sell at 400 bucks on up. Case in point I can buy a 3000 watt watt full sine wave Xantrex inverter brand new on eBay for a bit over 600 so it makes absolutely no sense to buy an old rc7 panel.

 

[SteveK]

Great you found a solution to the outlets getting power. They are powered by inverter, are you still having issue with pass through from shore?