T&T: Inverter Boards/Relays

[DosAbogadosIII@aol.com]

We had the same thing happen to our Heart 2500 last December which, at  the 
time, was about 5 years old.  It was a relay and the entire board  was 
replaced.  Another board had a lot of corrosion which was also  replaced --  
about $500.

The "factory" service guy told me that  the cause was plugging and unplugging 
the shore cord when there was a big  load on it causing the relay to  arc.

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I have had the same problem a couple of times; my inverter guru  told me 
essentially the same thing; but also told me to take all possible AC  loads off as 
well as DC loads before switching over in either direction; that is  from 
generator or shore power to invert; and vice vera; 
 
Here's the problem: every time you switch over there is an arc at  the relay; 
if you are running a 30 amp load when you switch over that's a 30 amp  arc; 
no small thing.
 
The other thing is that the relays currently being used are not as  robust as 
those of 10 years or so ago; they have cheapened them up and they just  don't 
have the good plating that they used to have.
 
So now I just have made it a habit to switch off loads and then go  to invert 
or the other way; same with the battery charger function as it can be  
independently switched with the Link 1000. 
 
When it starts to take a while for the inverter to switch over;  it's time to 
see what the balance is in the check book because I think that's  when the 
relays are telling you that you hit them too hard too many  times.
 
 JOHN HOUTS