Inverter Keeps Shutting Off

[Mackey]

Inverter Shuts Off After A Few Hours
My goal is to charge Ryobi 18V li-on tool batteries, but the inverters' breaker always flips after a few hours operation--no matter what I try.

This month's setup includes two 100W Monocrystalline solar panels, one NAPA 73 a/h deep cycle battery, and a Model Z20 charge/controller.
I've tried 6 inverters, including two Schumacher 410W, two CAT 1000W, and two DeWalt 1000W. I've also tried 4 charge controllers.

I'm using the proper gauge wires and the battery is fully charged and still the inverter always shuts off. I'm only trying to charge one battery--a 60W load. The setup is well ventilated and out of the weather. What am I doing wrong? Solar power can't be this difficult!

[ButchDeal]

Is the inverter wired directly to the battery? what gauge wire is it using to connect to the battery?

[Mackey]

Hi Butch,
Yes, it is directly wired to the battery with "Hy 16mm2 105 oC" wire that came with the Dewalt 1000W inverter. It looks to be 10ga. Also my latest charge/controller uses PWM battery charging. I had the same problem with PPT controllers (I think that's what they y were called).

[Mike90250]

I would expect a pure sine wave inverter to function fine charging battery packs. If the inverter is a mod sine, I can imagine the pack charger getting hot and faulting, but still the inverter should be OK. The only thing that happens after a couple hours is the 12V battery runs down a bit. Does the inverter give a undervoltage error ? 10Ga wire is only rated 30A, from a 12V battery, pulling 500w would be 41 amps !

[Mike90250]

is the inverter and it's fuse wired to the battery terminals, or to a Load terminal on the charge controller ?

[ButchDeal]

Hi Butch,
Yes, it is directly wired to the battery with "Hy 16mm2 105 oC" wire that came with the Dewalt 1000W inverter. It looks to be 10ga. Also my latest charge/controller uses PWM battery charging. I had the same problem with PPT controllers (I think that's what they y were called).

I think that DXAEPI1000 is modified sine wave
I have heard that many too battery chargers will not work with modified sine wave inverters.

The charge controller should have nothing to do with it.

[Mackey]

"The AC output waveform of this inverter is known as a modified sine wave. It is a stepped waveform that has characteristics similar to the sine wave shape of utility power. This type of waveform is suitable for most AC loads, including linear and switching power supplies used in electronic equipment, transformers, and small motors."

Damn, now I have to buy a pure sine wave inverter. I didn't even know there was a difference. I've spent close to a thousand dollars so far on my setup that doesn't work. All the reading I've done, no one suggested that a mod sine wave was no good for charging battery packs. Boy, am I dumb. Anyone want to buy 4 mod sine wave inverters? ha

Do you folks have any suggestions of just what to buy? I need to charge 5 18V Ryobi batteries, about 300 Watts. This has been financially draining.

UPDATE
I found two of my inverters are modified sine wave 410W inverters and they don't work either. I tried it using a Ryobi 18V rapid charger and when that didn't work I tried the Ryobi regular 18V charger. The inverter beeped-beeped even when I tried the different chargers.

[ButchDeal]

There are some 12v battery chargers form some tool manufacturers that would work well.

[Mike90250]

As a test, look at the Morningstar Suresine 300/600w inverter. It's a SOLID inverter and while it won't run a washing machine, it can crank 300w all day long if it's not too hot.

[Xplode]

Just a side thought, but if the setup's sole purpose is to charge Ryobi batteries, why not pickup a car plug version of the battery charger. I just checked and the Home Depot here in Canada has them for $59, so I'm assuming they're widely available.

Should be cheaper than a pure sine inverter.

Edit: I think this might be what Butch was referring to a couple posts up

[ButchDeal]

Just a side thought, but if the setup's sole purpose is to charge Ryobi batteries, why not pickup a car plug version of the battery charger. I just checked and the Home Depot here in Canada has them for $59, so I'm assuming they're widely available.

Should be cheaper than a pure sine inverter.

Edit: I think this might be what Butch was referring to a couple posts up

Yes. Simpler is almost always better...

[neweclipse]

OP, He may be Amish and his horse may not take 'kindly' to that plug getting inserted...

[Mackey]

[One purpose solar system only to charge Ryobi batteries] I'm doing this for hurricane survival. Car power wont work after a hurricane because we lose our vehicles too. I'm now thinking my battery may be the problem. In the wee morning hours the chargecontroller's screen is blank--no readout at all. At first light the screen shows solar power charging an empty battery. A battery tester shows "weak". The battery is 2 years old and has only been used to try and charge the Ryobi 18v batteries. (NAPA No. 8301 Premium Marine/RV Deep Cycle DC). I don't know why it died. I need a new battery.
What battery should I use?

[ButchDeal]

[One purpose solar system only to charge Ryobi batteries] I'm doing this for hurricane survival. Car power wont work after a hurricane because we lose our vehicles too. I'm now thinking my battery may be the problem. In the wee morning hours the chargecontroller's screen is blank--no readout at all. At first light the screen shows solar power charging an empty battery. A battery tester shows "weak". The battery is 2 years old and has only been used to try and charge the Ryobi 18v batteries. (NAPA No. 8301 Premium Marine/RV Deep Cycle DC). I don't know why it died. I need a new battery.
What battery should I use?

We are suggesting you use the 12v car charger with the battery on your pv system not on the car. This would let you skip the inverter.

if your battery is dead were you leaving a load on it at night?

[Mike90250]

Inverters, even when idle, still present a sizeable load on a battery. And if the battery was "soft" to begin with, who knows what shape it was in.