T&T: seeking advice about battery chargers/inverters

[graham pugh]

I recently inherited a Trace 2.5 kw inverter just removed from a sail boat
manufactured in the mid 90's, with what appeared to be a fairly simple
technical problem. Unfortunately the offending components fet's  had lost
their part number markings. I was able to find the exact Trace U2512  SB
manual and technical description on the Xantrex web site. So an email to
their tech support dept. was in order only to find it was against company
policy to provide schematics or any information to customers, neither could
they repair it,  if I had wanted them to.  So after a few more emails  I got
the information I needed, only because the tech used a bit of discretion and
went the extra mile.

Having worked in the engineering milieu of the electronics industry all my
life, I found their policy very pathetic.  We always provided schematics in
the manuals, and customers could even buy spare parts kits. Yes I have been
retired  for a good few years, and yes it's probably cheaper to just replace
the whole pcb  or unit for the average person, but if I was stuck out in a
becalmed mid-Atlantic and the only way to get ice in my scotch was to fix
the inverter it would be nice to have the available information right there!

Graham Pugh
Kando 11
New Bern