Xantrex DR2412 won't start

Re: Xantrex DR2412 won't start

Are you saying the breaker to the Inverter appears to be tripping from Over Current?

Also, do you have a good meter you can measure battery voltage and voltage at the input to the inverter?

If you have some diagnosing to do--A DC Current Clamp meter (here is an inexpensive one that is "good enough" for basic use around a solar PV system) can help you measure DC current flow (clip on one wire) safely and quickly.

There are failure modes where an unloaded (no AC loads) inverter can draw excessive DC current--At that point, the inverter probably needs to be taken in for service or replaced.

-Bill

Re: Xantrex DR2412 won't start

Yes, you can charge a 12 volt battery with a 12 volt car charger on one battery at a time... Just make sure you watch the charger and turn if off when batteries are full--Some car chargers are not very good about that (don't leave connected for days/weeks at a time).

But--Other than trying to get enough energy in the battery bank to see if your inverter is functional--These batteries are more than likely toast.

Also, these are GEL type batteries and should not be charged at higher than ~19 amps (C/20), so keep charging voltage/current "low" or they will be further damaged (develop gas voids in GEL electrolyte from excessive charging current/gassing).

Your best bet (if you are trying to get started without too much money out of pocket), try a set of "golf cart" batteries. They will last a 3-5 years or so and are not insanely expensive.

-Bill

Re: Xantrex DR2412 won't start

At a minimum, assuming 4.8kW surge (2x rated inverter power) and C/2.5 for maximum surge current from a generic flooded cell battery bank:

• 4,800 watts * 1/24 volts * 1/0.85 inverter eff * 2.5 surge current rating = 588 AH

Any way you cut it--that is a good sized battery bank (roughly 2-3 parallel strings of 4x6 volt golf cart batteries for 8-12 total).

If your maximum surge is much less than 4.8 kW (no well pumps, etc.) and your average maximum power is much less than 2.4 kW, then you can size the battery bank down a to 1-2 parallel strings of batteries.

Some folks here have had good luck with Walmart golf cart batteries (less than $90 per battery)...

I will say, you should really work on your loads first (average watts, peak watts, hours per day * average watts, etc.)...

It is much better to have a known set of loads then design your system (battery bank, inverter, charger, panels, backup genset, etc.) to your needs than to just start laying out $$$ for something that may be way to small or way to large for your needs just because you have some old equipment already there.
I would suggest a Honda eu2000i (or similar Yamaha) "quiet" inverter/generator and a Kill-a-Watt meter (if your loads are all 120 VAC and 15 amps maximum)--Run for a few days or week on the genset and see what your loads look like (may cost you $5-10 a day in gasoline for the experiment). They will last for many years if well taken care of (around 2,000 to 6,000 hours of runtime if you are lucky).

Power usage is a highly personal set of choices. And while we suggest conservation, energy start appliances, and avoiding electrical use in the first place--The 1kWH per day on a 300 watt inverter for one person may not make any sense to somebody else needing 3.3 kWH per day on a 1,200-2,400 watt inverter running 24 or 48 volts...

Any guesses we make will probably not match your needs and desires.

Note--A good aim point for an off grid home is around 3.3 kWH per day (or ~100 kWH per month). For many people, the can have a "near normal" modern home on that (fridge, washer, water pump, etc.). If you use more than that amount of power, the Solar PV systems go up in size and costs.

-Bill