The inverter is the heart of your RV's electrical system; if it suddenly fails, it can disrupt your travel plans. This article will show how to identify and repair a faulty RV inverter.
Why do RV inverters matter?
RV batteries store 12V DC power, while household appliances such as air conditioners, water heaters, and microwaves require 120V AC power. When away from shore power, owners use an inverter to convert the battery's DC power to AC power.
When an RV inverter goes bad, refrigeration, hot water, and even lighting can be lost, and the entire electrical system can fail. That's why it's important to identify inverter failures quickly. Getting it repaired in time can eliminate a lot of inconvenience and safety hazards.
7 red flags when your RV inverter is bad
1️⃣No AC output
The most obvious failure of an RV inverter is that it won't power the unit. If everything is fine with the battery voltage and connections, but there is no AC output from the outlet, then the inverter may be defective.
2️⃣Output power becomes low
If you notice that the lights dim when you turn them on, the refrigerator temperature is uneven, the screen flickers and the appliances turn off unexpectedly. This is because the inverter has trouble effectively converting DC power to AC power and the output power has become low.
3️⃣Inverter overheating or automatic shutdown
If the inverter overheats with a burning smell and sometimes shuts down automatically, this indicates internal damage to the inverter or an overloaded circuit.
4️⃣Inverter makes unusual noises
The inverter is quiet during normal operation; if it makes strange noises, there may be a faulty internal component. Don't ignore these warnings! TOPBULL inverters have 7 built-in protection functions with alarms, please refer to our product manual for specific faults and solutions.
5️⃣Error Codes
Most inverters fail with a realistic error code or flashing warning light. An explanation of the codes can be found in the user manual.
Real Case: The user encountered the "E05" code, through the official TOOPBULL website to find out that the fan stalled, cleaned the dust, and returned to normal, saving $200 replacement cost!
6️⃣Rapid battery depletion
A faulty inverter can draw too much heat even when unloaded, causing your RV's battery to drain quickly.
7️⃣Exterior Damage, Corrosion
Inspect the surface of the inverter for damage, wires for burned or rusted wires, and parts for expansion. Humid environments or voltage spikes usually cause physical damage.
RV inverter failure tests
If you suspect that your RV inverter has started to fail, there are some simple tests you can perform to find out what the problem is.
Step 1: Check battery status
RV inverter can lose power due to long-term self-discharge, if it's just a dead battery then the problem is simple, recharging the battery will solve it. If the battery is aging, please replace the battery.
Measure the battery voltage with a multimeter, with the red tip touching the positive terminal of the battery and the black tip touching the negative terminal of the battery. The voltage should be higher than 12V under normal conditions (12V system), as undercharged batteries can be recharged and tested again.
RV travelers are recommended to extend the battery life with TOPBULL solar panels.
Step 2: Check cables and connections
After making sure the battery is OK, check for faulty connections between the battery and the inverter. Look for loose wires; a loose connection can cause high resistance and trip the inverter. Corroded cables can be cleaned of rust with a wire brush. Broken wires can be easily replaced with new ones.
With our RV inverters, there is no need to worry about cables. All inverters are made of 100% oxidation-resistant pure copper material, which not only has excellent conductivity but also has excellent heat dissipation to ensure safety and reliability.
Step 3: Check for blown fuses
The purpose of the RV DC fuse box is to manage and distribute DC power to prevent the circuit from being affected by short circuits or overloads.
Use a multimeter to touch each end of the fuse; normally, the multimeter should read the same degree as the battery voltage. If it is outside the normal range, the fuse is damaged and must be replaced. In addition to checking the fuses, check the fuse box.
Step 4: AC output test
Next, test the voltage at the output of the inverter with a multimeter AC voltage gear, the normal range should be 110V-120V. If there is no AC output, the inverter power module or control board may be damaged. Voltage results below 100V are commonly found in low-quality corrected sine wave inverters, which are prone to damaging sensitive equipment.
Step 5: Checking the RV inverter cooling fan
Overheating of the RV is a serious problem and prolonged high-temperature operation will shorten the life of the capacitor. The normal temperature of the inverter should be less than 50°C when operating without load. After increasing the load operation, observe if the inverter fan is working properly and make sure there is no obstructed area around the fan.
NOTE: Incorrect operation can be dangerous; if you are unable to correct the problem, consult a qualified technician.
When to Replace an RV Inverter?
Old or faulty inverters can damage your equipment and, in serious cases, pose a risk of fire. If the above tests confirm that the inverter hardware is defective, stop using it immediately!
Reasons to choose TOPBULL RV inverters:
- Seven built-in protection functions reduce the failure rate by 90%.
- High temperature, humidity, and shock resistant, specially designed for the complex caravan environment.
- Dual intelligent temperature-controlled fan + copper tube cooling module, even if the ambient temperature of 45 ℃ can still run at full load.
- The inverter is equipped with zero standby power consumption technology to prolong the caravan's battery life.
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FAQ
Q: What happens when the inverter goes bad in an RV?
A: There are many signs of a faulty RV inverter, the most immediate being no AC output and plugging in devices that don't work. Devices will also not work properly if the inverter's power output is unstable. In addition, abnormal noises when the inverter is operating, error codes displayed, flashing lights, high temperature, and burning smell are all signs of malfunction.
Q: Should the RV inverter be on all the time?
A: The inverter consumes power even when there is no load. RV inverter can be turned off when no load is present to reduce unnecessary battery consumption.
Q: What is the life expectancy of an RV inverter?
A: The lifespan of an inverter is usually around ten years, depending on the quality of the design and how it is used.
