2.4kw generator not working when travel trailer plugged in

[HammaMan]

Right now, I do not have the Cerbo GX. I use the MK3 to program in the options via VE Config. I also followed the video and tried multiple scenarios. Right now, I believe this is a hardware compatibility issue and not something that can be configured.

Put a voltmeter into the other socket of the PPOB outlet, first check voltage at the trip and then check frequency on the trip.

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[brigsby]

Put a voltmeter into the other socket of the PPOB outlet, first check voltage at the trip and then check frequency on the trip.

Previously, I used my old (1996) but handy oscilloscope to measure voltage waveforms at the MP AC input between N and L.

The first picture is before turning on the MP and the second is about two seconds after the MP transfer relay kicked in. Frequencies and voltages looked good to me. Edit: I have that backwards... first picture is about two seconds after and second is before turning on the MP.

 

[HammaMan]

Have you load tested the truck? Hair dryers and heat guns on low can do ~750w and a lot of kitchen appliances can do ~1.4kw.

 

[brigsby]

Have you load tested the truck? Hair dryers and heat guns on low can do ~750w and a lot of kitchen appliances can do ~1.4kw.

Yes, tested with a heat gun.

 

[Davexxxx]

Right now, I do not have the Cerbo GX. I use the MK3 to program in the options via VE Config. I also followed the video and tried multiple scenarios. Right now, I believe this is a hardware compatibility issue and not something that can be configured.

Anything else you want to see from my set up?

Inside the camper is no big deal but rain is in the forecast and if you're done with the truck, I want to put it away.

 

[Davexxxx]

The stock converter has to be off.

Otherwise, it would introduce a parasitic loop.

 

[HammaMan]

Yes, tested with a heat gun.

You need 2 devices to load test it. It should be able to do 2.4kW sustained, a heat gun PLUS another device (hence the 750w low setting to get you to 2.2-2.3kW). Bonus points for being able to get that scope back on it.

Large draw on one socket, power strip on the other. Even better if you've got 60-100w loads to find its trip point.
Where does it trip
What does the waveform and voltage look like at the moment before it trips.

 

[brigsby]

Anything else you want to see from my set up?

Inside the camper is no big deal but rain is in the forecast and if you're done with the truck, I want to put it away.

I do not, I appreciate you taking the time to look at that! Since you have the 7.2KW PPOB, it works great. The 2.4KW PPOB has a different inverter and doesn't like being connected to the MP.

 

[Davexxxx]

I do not, I appreciate you taking the time to look at that! Since you have the 7.2KW PPOB, it works great. The 2.4KW PPOB has a different inverter and doesn't like being connected to the MP.

That is such a shame, if it is in fact, the end of it.

 

[brigsby]

You need 2 devices to load test it. It should be able to do 2.4kW sustained, a heat gun PLUS another device (hence the 750w low setting to get you to 2.2-2.3kW). Bonus points for being able to get that scope back on it.

Large draw on one socket, power strip on the other. Even better if you've got 60-100w loads to find its trip point.
Where does it trip
What does the waveform and voltage look like at the moment before it trips.

Thanks for your input. I love testing but first I rather figure out what is causing the ramp up current draw from the MP when the MP transfer switch relay is activated. The waveforms that I sent show that voltage and frequency look good right before overload is shown on the truck display.

First goal is determine the root cause of the MP power ramp up to overload. I will try to measure peak currents when I can get back out to the travel trailer to set it up. I want to limit overloading the PPOB over and over.

 

[HammaMan]

You must first find the point of "overload". What may be reported as "overload" could in-fact be GFI issues. Don't assume. What is the overload point? What does the waveform and voltage look like? It's a process of elimination.

First determine that the PPOB is in-fact operating as is being assumed. If it is able to hold voltage and frequency at 2.4kW output, it's not an overload. As dave has shown it will work both w/ victron parallel and down to ~8a.

It's sounding like a GFI issue. If that scope can record and PPOB power output is good, measure between ground and neutral w/ the scope to record the moment of trip (at the truck). A phone watching the scope w/ sufficient framerate might capture it if the scope can't record.

 

[brigsby]

You must first find the point of "overload". What may be reported as "overload" could in-fact be GFI issues. Don't assume. What is the overload point? What does the waveform and voltage look like? It's a process of elimination.

First determine that the PPOB is in-fact operating as is being assumed. If it is able to hold voltage and frequency at 2.4kW output, it's not an overload. As dave has shown it will work both w/ victron parallel and down to ~8a.

It's sounding like a GFI issue. If that scope can record and PPOB power output is good, measure between ground and neutral w/ the scope to record the moment of trip (at the truck). A phone watching the scope w/ sufficient framerate might capture it if the scope can't record.

Okay, so what you are proposing is that there could be a GFI issue at the truck drawing power? I can also measure current draw at the MP to see if it is drawing the power shown at the truck.

 

[HammaMan]

I'd also check to make sure your N/G relay is opening (it can be disabled entirely some how). I'd try wiring the truck's L1 and N directly to the inverter bypassing everything ahead of it and floating the ground. If you're not competent w/ electrical then don't. Given you own a scope shows you're outside of the norm. Just be sure to safe the system while playing w/ 120v terminations.

If you've got the victron limited down to 8a or so, and you've wired L1 and N directly to the truck via a cord or suitable wire and it trips (no ground connected -- however jump ground and N at victron as an additional test), then experiment over -- just won't work. Do you have an inverter update pending? Send me your VIN.

If the victron is limited and you've wired it up directly the inverter/victron just refuse to work together and victron needs to look into it (ford won't). If you have an inverter update available ford may have already solved it. (just saw retired EE so you should see what's trying to be ascertained here -- does the inverter work as it should up to 2.4kW w/ clean waveform and stable voltage, does it work connected directly to the inverter w/out ground? W/ NG bonded at shore connection point, etc... basic process of elimination)

In the 2.0 thread on the RV forum, a GFI device located in the breaker box was tripping the 2.0s system. All of the TTs GFI circuits ran off of that GFI device. They bypassed it and used a slim home GFI breaker at the first of the paralleled GFI circuits and that worked.

 

[brigsby]

I'd also check to make sure your N/G relay is opening (it can be disabled entirely some how). I'd try wiring the truck's L1 and N directly to the inverter bypassing everything ahead of it and floating the ground. If you're not competent w/ electrical then don't. Given you own a scope shows you're outside of the norm. Just be sure to safe the system while playing w/ 120v terminations.

If you've got the victron limited down to 8a or so, and you've wired L1 and N directly to the truck via a cord or suitable wire and it trips (no ground connected -- however jump ground and N at victron as an additional test), then experiment over -- just won't work. Do you have an inverter update pending? Send me your VIN.

If the victron is limited and you've wired it up directly the inverter/victron just refuse to work together and victron needs to look into it (ford won't). If you have an inverter update available ford may have already solved it. (just saw retired EE so you should see what's trying to be ascertained here -- does the inverter work as it should up to 2.4kW w/ clean waveform and stable voltage, does it work connected directly to the inverter w/out ground? W/ NG bonded at shore connection point, etc... basic process of elimination)

In the 2.0 thread on the RV forum, a GFI device located in the breaker box was tripping the 2.0s system. All of the TTs GFI circuits ran off of that GFI device. They bypassed it and used a slim home GFI breaker at the first of the paralleled GFI circuits and that worked.

I already connected directly to the truck from the Victron MP. Also, disconnected ground from that direct connection. De-activated the ground to neutral relay via configuration. Same issue occurred. No GFI circuits connected.

VIN Number: 1FTFW3LD4RFB03375

 

[HammaMan]

No inverter updates, seems victron and 2.4 are just incompatible. While the 2.4 only makes up 24% of the PB's chosen inverter, that still leaves ~150k+ trucks that aren't compatible with this inverter. On the upside you can upgrade to the 7.2 system.

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