Renogy 2000w inverter install

Mechead11 · 01-07-2023, 03:16 PM

Hey all!
So I have been reading post after post about installing an inverter. I have a 2021 hideout 175bh.

I’m trying to install a 2000w renogy inverter/charger. I bought this one after returning the first one I bought because it has pass though.

I’ve added a 200ah AGM battery.

I’m absolutely boggled.
I cut the prep romex.
I’ve determined which side was powered once when I plug in the shore power.
I wired the side that was hot to the input side of the inverter.
I wired the other end to the output of the inverter.

The inverter powers up… and nothing has any electricity in the camper. None of the outlets that have stickers that say “inverted outlet” work.
Have confirmed with a non contact voltage detector that the output side of the inverter is definitely energized.

I’m going to check the wires behind the panel tomorrow to see if anything is energized when the inverter is on.

What is kind of odd, when the shore power is plugged in, the air conditioner outlet is still energized… despite its sticker that says that it is and inverted outlet. Actually all of the outlets say they are inverted.

I’m just at a loss. I feel like I’ve been searching and reading the same few posts over and over again today. It’s driving me nuts.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions or potential fixes to my issue!

**chuckster57** · 01-07-2023, 03:34 PM

Welcome to the forum

You should have kept the inverter with pass through.

Any inverter needs 12VDC input to produce 12VAC. It sounds like you forgot the battery leads. I prefer pass through, it allows the outlets powered by the inverter to be powered when plugged into shore power without the need for a transfer switch.

Mechead11 · 01-07-2023, 04:39 PM

Thanks for the welcome!
I think I worded my sentence about returning the inverter wrong. I returned the one without the pass though and bought the one with the pass though.
I have also run 2/0 wires from the battery to the inverter. The inverter makes power, I’m just having trouble getting it to the outlets. And it’s been driving me crazy all day.

**chuckster57** · 01-07-2023, 04:44 PM

Ok. Make sure the AC in and AC out are hooked up to the right contacts. Then look for a breaker on/in the inverter. There may be a breaker in the power distribution panel that has tripped. Turn them all fully off and then back on.

Mechead11 · 01-07-2023, 04:47 PM

So, using a meter to confirm which side of the prep loop is hot when I plug it into shore…

The one that is energized connects the the input of the inverter, correct?

And I have flipped all the breakers, but I will go ahead and try them all again tomorrow when it’s not so cold. About chilled myself to the bone today while laying in the pass through that my belly barely fits in. Haha

**chuckster57** · 01-07-2023, 04:50 PM

Yes. The “hot” side of the loop connects to AC in
“Cold” side of the Romex connects to AC out

Battery leads connect to 12V in.

Double check grounds.

Does the inverter have a remote panel? If so make sure the power switch on the inverter is in the correct position.

Mechead11 · 01-07-2023, 04:53 PM

Okay, so I’m thinking I have everything wired just that way. Will confirm tomorrow morning.

Which brings me to a question I asked myself earlier… chassis ground to the inverter, it’s a must have?

Thank you so much for replying to this thread! Really hoping to have this all figured out tomorrow.

**chuckster57** · 01-07-2023, 04:58 PM

Since ALL grounds are connected to the chassis I don’t think it makes a difference, but I have always installed it.

Mechead11 · 01-08-2023, 08:08 AM

Okay… so the problem is weird. The inverter seems to be working perfectly in pass though… and then when it’s just on inverter it says 120v output… except it seems to have broken up the voltage between the neutral hot, giving about 60v to each when tested on the ground. The internet and some boating forums have me thinking there is an open neutral somewhere…. And this seems to be the source of all my issues.

**chuckster57** · 01-08-2023, 08:31 AM

Get a cheap plug checker, it will show you

https://www.harborfreight.com/electr...sis-63929.html

**flybouy** · 01-08-2023, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechead11

Okay… so the problem is weird. The inverter seems to be working perfectly in pass though… and then when it’s just on inverter it says 120v output… except it seems to have broken up the voltage between the neutral hot, giving about 60v to each when tested on the ground. The internet and some boating forums have me thinking there is an open neutral somewhere…. And this seems to be the source of all my issues.

Are you taking your voltage reading at the inverter? If the pass-thru is reading correct voltage, (i.e. 120vac between line and neutral, 120vac between line and ground, zero voltage between nutral and ground) on both the input and output side of the inverter then the wiring outside of the inverter is correct. Confirm that the 3 wires are connected to the proper terminals on the inverter. If they are, then I would suspect an internal issue with the inverter.

Mechead11 · 01-08-2023, 08:56 AM

Yes, checking voltage at the terminals on the inverter. I suspect it has to do with the neutral to ground bonding. I’m going to get the harbor freight outlet checker, but I’m not sure it’s going to help me. The Klein one I have doesn’t even power up.

The terminals on the inverter read as such-

120v line-neutral
60v ground-line
60v neutral-ground

Everything works fine on shore with pass through. Nothing works when there is no shore and the inverter is outputting 120v

**chuckster57** · 01-08-2023, 09:04 AM

I might be thinking faulty inverter then.

Mechead11 · 01-08-2023, 09:09 AM

I am going to call renogy tomorrow and see if can get some insight. I’m gonna be so mad if it’s a faulty inverter. This has been driving me crazy this weekend.
Doing some research this seems like this may just be how the inverter works… I’m thinking about returning the renogy regardless of what they say tomorrow, and just getting the xantrex. They’re on sale right now anyways for about what I paid for the renogy.

Mechead11 · 01-08-2023, 09:14 AM

Here is the kicker. The outlets actually work.

I just plugged a heater into the one outlet in the kitchen and it’s working.
The air conditioner outlet has a sticker on it… but… I don’t think it’s actually an inverted outlet. Which is so infuriating.

**flybouy** · 01-08-2023, 09:16 AM

That's not how it should work. If it was then you couldn't use it to power a GFCI. Confirm that ALL connections are correct, (both AC & DC) and if they are then logically the issue is isolated to the inverter when it's energized.

Mechead11 · 01-08-2023, 09:34 AM

Yeah…. I have a feeling that it’s definitely the inverter. I’m just going to call tomorrow and see what they say.

It’s very frustrating.

What’s also frustrating is that the air conditioner does not seem to be on the inverted circuit. Despite having a sticker on it.

**flybouy** · 01-08-2023, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechead11

Yeah…. I have a feeling that it’s definitely the inverter. I’m just going to call tomorrow and see what they say.

It’s very frustrating.

What’s also frustrating is that the air conditioner does not seem to be on the inverted circuit. Despite having a sticker on it.

Typically the air conditioner is not on an inverter circuit. With the amperage requirenment IF the inverter could handle it the battery would be depleted in a matter of minutes.

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