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rcornelius View Drop Down
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Joined: 09 October 2009
Location: Antigo, WI
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Posts: 5 		  Quote rcornelius Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Cabin System Questions
    Posted: 09 October 2009 at 6:59pm
We are re-wiring our cabin and I have a handful of questions.

We currently run a generator into the inverter/charger through a breaker box through batteries then out breaker box then back out inverter/charger.

I have a question, the batteries we use are two deep cycle 6volt batteries i believe connected parallel to creat 12 volts. Why was it suggested to use two 6 volt batteries? why not 2 12 volt? or one 12 volt for that matter?

Reason we are re-wiring is because the person that installed it claimed to have known what he was doing. We have issues like having to plug in a space heater to get the "overload" off the inverter/charger so the power will come on while generator is running.

Not sure if any of this makes sense? I was curious about the battery config before we redo this again.

THANKS!!
RCornelius
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Dave sparky View Drop Down
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Joined: 08 July 2004
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Posts: 361 		  Quote Dave sparky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 October 2009 at 6:45am
The two 6 volt patteries are connected in "series" to get the 12 volts that your inverter rquires. The reason they were installed this way was to get more storage on energy. There are many ways to connect batteries and they must be the deep cycle type. Need more info like what model Inv/charger.
"we go where the powerlines don't"
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rcornelius View Drop Down
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Posts: 5 		  Quote rcornelius Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 October 2009 at 2:24pm
The inverter is a heart interface freedom 10. I guess the man my dad purchased it from suggested the two 6volt batteries in series.

We are hoping to re-wire it all. I am just looking for hints or tricks.

Like I said it seems when we fire up the generator then plug in the system the lights won't come on and the remote box for the inverter flashes overload. We have a direct outlet wired from the generator and we plug an electric space heater to it to put a load on the generator and then the inverter system will turn on.

RCornelius
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Dave sparky View Drop Down
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Posts: 361 		  Quote Dave sparky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 October 2009 at 8:45pm
It sounds like you need to play witht the adjustments on the Heart.
I can't remember if there is an ajustment for line voltage. I would try raising the 120VAC adjustment higher, if there is one.

The generator may be slightly high and by loading it you are bringing the volatge down. What model generator?.
"we go where the powerlines don't"
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rcornelius View Drop Down
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Posts: 5 		  Quote rcornelius Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 October 2009 at 7:36am
I will check the inverter to see if there is a setting.

The generator is a Coleman Powermate 1800

RCornelius
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Dave sparky View Drop Down
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Posts: 361 		  Quote Dave sparky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 October 2009 at 6:40am
Coleman is not known to have a great reputation for doing battery charging and running a cabin. If there is not a tweak on the inverter I would consider an inverter based generator. Many folks are making them now and the Honda and other Japanese makes are excellent. Good Luck!
"we go where the powerlines don't"
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rcornelius View Drop Down
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Posts: 5 		  Quote rcornelius Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 October 2009 at 9:29am
That may be our issue. When we originally installed the system we had a big Pincor (orange in color) generator that ran off propane. Worked well in the beginning. It is now sitting (collecting dust if anyones in the market) so my dad purchased this more Coleman because we do not use much power.

RCornelius
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mike90045 View Drop Down
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Posts: 224 		  Quote mike90045 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 October 2009 at 6:19am
Originally posted by rcornelius

That may be our issue. When we originally installed the system we had a big Pincor (orange in color) generator that ran off propane. Worked well in the beginning. It is now sitting (collecting dust if anyones in the market) so my dad purchased this more Coleman because we do not use much power.



I'd suggest firing up the other genset and see if it solves the troubles. (and give it an oil change too)

Series connected batteries (your 2, 6V) have fewer wireing troubles than parallel connected (2, 12V) for the same capacity. Unless you like a 230# monster 12V battery, that needs a forklift to move.
"Since the dawn of time it has been mankind's dream to blot out the sun"
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rcornelius View Drop Down
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Posts: 5 		  Quote rcornelius Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 November 2009 at 9:15pm
(not that anyone probably cares)

My father and I rewired our system. We believe we found the problem.

At one point the guy that wired the cabin had added a direct line from the generator to an outlet. The problem was he brought one line from the generator and junctioned above the inverter and sent one line throught the inverter system, and another to a dedicated outlet. When we rewired we ran two lines to plug into the generator and did away with bringing the dedicated line out of a junction before the inverter. So we have one line to the inverter system and one to a single dedicated outlet. This totally has eliminated our problem. Probabaly won't need the dedicated outlet but its there. We also bought a brand new Honda 2000 Generator/Inv./Charger. Super quiet, Super portable and super efficient/

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!

ROB
RCornelius
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Dave sparky View Drop Down
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Posts: 361 		  Quote Dave sparky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 November 2009 at 7:34am
Thanks for coming back Rob! Very few do and it is nice as the pay here is only average..........
"we go where the powerlines don't"
http://www.sierratel.com/offgridsolar/

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