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Trying to get a stored PJ inverter running

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(@ricky-holland)
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Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 7
Topic starter  

I have a older (date unknown) powerjack 6000 W LF. has been sitting for years hook it up and it asks a little on the 24 volt dc lugs but nothing comes on.  I disconnected the lid and made no difference.  Fuses are good and have 24 volts to the inside but nothing on the board..... any ideas


   
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(@sid-genetry-solar)
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Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2890
 

If it's been sitting around for awhile, you might want to dust it out...then unplug and replug in each of the connectors (careful not to mix them up).  Could be a bad connection in a connector.

If the inverter has been sitting around in a non-climate-controlled environment (i.e. unheated garage, shed, barn, etc.), there is an unfortunately high possibility of corrosion wrecking havoc on the boards, and the inverter might be junk.  This would be quite noticeable if you take a close look at the boards: dull solder, light "rust", etc.

Posted by: @ricky-holland
and it asks a little on the 24 volt dc lugs

Do you have an idea how much power it's pulling?  If it won't turn on, there should be <20mA (0.02A) draw.  If you've got an amp or 2, there's some serious issues with it (likely resulting from corrosion).


   
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(@ricky-holland)
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Joined: 3 years ago
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Topic starter  

Inverter will not come on long enough to check the amps,  can't find any corrosion.  Just dead...LOL


   
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(@sid-genetry-solar)
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It doesn't have to "come on"; when in off state, the little LEDs on the MOS boards will pull 5-20mA (depending on what resistors PJ chose to use in that inverter).

I guess that's a starting point: do you have any lit green LEDs on the FET boards when power is applied?


   
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(@sid-genetry-solar)
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Joined: 4 years ago
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And if you do have MOS board ("FET board", "MOS board", same thing--MOSFETs on them) LEDs lit with power connected...

...do any lights turn on on the control board when you flip the power switch?

A couple photos of the internals of your inverter will help considerably with troubleshooting.


   
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(@ricky-holland)
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Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 7
Topic starter  

No lights or fans


   
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(@sid-genetry-solar)
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OK, I need a lot more information in order to be able to figure out what's going on.  I really can't figure out what's wrong when I don't know what's going on. 

  • no photos of the inverter internals, so I have no idea what the hardware version of the inverter is.
  • I've only gotten generic answers to the specific questions I've asked--so I still have no idea where the problem is.

 

If you want diagnostic info, we can start with this:

  • I need overview photos of the inside of the inverter (i.e. lid off) WITH the proper DC battery voltage applied to the battery terminals.  Power switch on or off, it doesn't matter--as long as you specify whether it was on or off at the time the photo was taken.  Said diagnostic LEDs will be very obvious in photos.

   
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(@ricky-holland)
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Joined: 3 years ago
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Topic starter  

20220403_111841.thumb.jpg.2e89669b46dd1fd520af789b32f8552d.jpg

20220403_111912.jpg


   
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(@ricky-holland)
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Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 7
Topic starter  

Power switch on, 24 volts applied


   
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(@sid-genetry-solar)
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Joined: 4 years ago
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Whoa, that's an OLD one (v1.4)...I don't have any board sets that old (i.e. before they started using the Microchip MCU).

 

@dochubertcare to chime in on this one??


   
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(@ricky-holland)
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Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 7
Topic starter  

After sitting 2 hours hooked up to ac and dc the lid board came on but the alarm light is on, what should the battey voltage switch be on


   
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(@ricky-holland)
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Posts: 7
Topic starter  

Lcd not lid


   
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(@sid-genetry-solar)
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Posted by: @ricky-holland
what should the battey voltage switch be on

You mean the rotary 10-position switch?

If so, that only affects battery charge setpoints.  Doesn't apply to normal operation.

 

I really don't have answers for this inverter, as I don't have any inverters or board sets that old.


   
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