Roadtrek

Roadtrek

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

In Search of the Elusive Roadtrek Inverter

I am going to take you with Meryl and me on an journey. Not one that we took with our Roadtrek but one we took inside our Roadtrek. One in search of the elusive Roadtrek inverter!

You just read an article here last week all about the Roadtrek inverter but I never told you where to find it inside the Roadtrek. That is because I did not know where it is. I had an idea of where it is but I have never seen it. Meryl thought that she saw it but it as it turns out from discussion the night before we took this journey, that she had never seen it either.

When I first got the Roadtrek, someone told me - and I really cannot recall who - that the inverter was located on the inside of the first bottom cabinet on the passenger side below the bed area of the Roadtrek. When we were first setting up the Roadtrek for traveling, Meryl was inside placing things to be stored in various cabinets. She opened that cabinet and was about to place several things - some heavy things - in there and I stopped her. I told her that inside that cabinet is the inverter and it would not be a good idea to put anything inside there that could be bounced around and damage such a vital piece of the Roadtrek like the inverter. She looked inside and told me she saw a plastic box inside and we both assumed - since I have been told that this is where the inverter is - that this was the inverter. Enough for us to leave storage out of that cabinet.

Recently one of our readers had been asking about the inverter and I had been reading forum posts about the potential needs to get to the actual inverter to make adjustments or turn it on and off with its own switch rather than the remote switch on the wall. Meryl and I got to talking about the inverter. She asked me, "What does the inverter look like?"  I got out the inverter manual and showed her the picture. She looked at me and said, "There is nothing at all that looks like that inside that bottom cabinet." OK, then what is inside there? I have not been able to look inside that cabinet for myself and I asked her to describe what she sees when she looks there. She described a large plastic box type of thing that goes beyond the cabinet. What she was seeing is the rear interior water tank that is a feature of Roadtrek 190s and Roadtrek 210s.  So where is the inverter?

We got out the Roadtrek manual. Let me tell you right away that for somethings the Roadtrek manual are very useful but for many things they are useless BECAUSE they have not been updated with the change in models. There is a diagram inside our manual that shows the locations of all of the "appliances" which includes equipment that has been installed inside the Roadtrek. This diagram is for a Roadtrek that is much older than our 2011 and even in the 2007 manual that we were given with our 2011 Roadtrek (don't ask), the diagram is the same as the manual that Roadtrek emailed me for a 2010 190 and as the so-called revised and updated manual that I downloaded from Roadtrek that includes the 2011 190. There is a symbol shown on the key of the diagram for the inverter. We found that symbol on the driver's side of the Roadtrek in the first cabinet on the floor under the bed area. This is the cabinet that contains the hot water heater tank and the water pump.  Could the inverter be there too? Well, the manual diagram did not show the water pump or the hot water heater as being there at all. These were in a different location. In fact a number of things were in a different location from where they actually are in our Roadtrek. The furnace is not across that aisle as shown on the diagram. The propane detector is on the opposite side. I started to wonder if the whole thing was just reversed but no - the sink was where it belongs and the toilet was where it belongs. This was a diagram for some long past Roadtrek. (By the way - I plan to create my own correct diagram and share it with you all in the future.) We started speculating where could the inverter be? OK. The next day we would go out and search.

As it turned out, Meryl lost sleep over this wondering where was the inverter. She went out before I did the next morning and came back still baffled. She even opened the cabinet where the water pump is and said there was some electric box on the wall in there but it did not look anything at all like the picture of the inverter that I had showed her. We both, then, went out together - and I took my camera along - as any journey should be well documented.

She went back to that front cabinet that we "thought" the inverter was. She confirmed that it had to be the interior water tank that she was seeing. She could see the sensor wires attached to the tank if she looked deeper in toward the rear. She looked around as we saw in the inverter manual that it can be attached to a wall. Nope. Nothing like it. Someone had described being able to see it deep in from the back of the Roadtrek under the bed behind the rear passenger door inside a small cabinet that is in there. I knew that cabinet but never looked inside. This whole section is actually one long continuation on the passenger side of the Roadtrek from the front cabinet that we had been looking at and thinking all along that it was in. Perhaps we could just not see in deep enough. But this inverter has got to be accessible. There are things that one must be able to see and reach the inverter to do. It could not be buried someplace.

I went to the rear cargo doors and opened the passenger side and looked in. Here is what I saw.



Let me explain first that MY Roadtrek 190 Popular has the non-power bed in the rear. If you have the power bed which is more common than what I have you will most likely see a different view in general than what you see above in the photo of the back of my Roadtrek. When you look in yours you will see the bottom of the power sofa - but you will also see this cabinet or something very similar.

 So, forgive the mess and look off the the right. See what looks like a door with a hole in it.I reached in and put my finger in that hole. I gave a gentle pull and nothing moved. I looked for a hinge. At the back of the door was an aluminum frame but no hinge. this door was not going to swing out as far as I could see and started to wonder if it was a really a door at all. I was not going to pull hard. I do not want to break anything that I will regret. Meryl tried to see in that direction from inside that front cabinet but could not see anything there. We got a flashlight and tried to look into the hole. Something was inside. Meryl got down closer - as I have said in the past, I cannot really bend down in ways that I would like to without starting to feel dizzy. (Readers who are medical professionals please refrain from offering a diagnosis.) She took the light and looked into the hole. "I found it!", she exclaimed. "It is in there!"  Great, but how do we get to it. I tried another little tug on the hole. I tried feeling for a catch. Nope, this was tight. It slightly moved toward the back of the van like it would slide. I tried sliding it. Nope. that was not it either.


I asked Meryl who makes the bed on the platform right above the point we were at if there is an access door or panel above here under the bed cushion. She did not think so. I said, well let's look to make sure. We went inside and took off the long mattress cushion off the wooden platform - remember this is the non-powered rear bed. Here is what we saw - 


Close up, please...


An access panel! At last, we found a way to get to the inverter! I got out my small, rechargeable, lithium battery screw driver that I keep on the Roadtrek for minor repairs and getting into trouble. Put on the square drive bit for the square drive screws that are used throughout the Roadtrek and apparently all RVs and started removing screws, hoping that I would not find out later that they would not go back. The screws backed out easily. It seemed almost too easily. I opened the panel...


And this is what I saw! Two household metal electric boxes on the outside wall and below...




THE INVERTER!

The inverter is the white box off to the back. The junction wiring is what is close up here with the red and yellow connections. All things that you do not want to touch! I stuck the camera in the confirm what I thought I was seeing. 



 And while here was the inverter. This access is not very practical.There had to be a way through that door in the rear! I took the camera and explored the back of the door...



I had to get a close up of the other corner. I reached inside with the camera and got as close as I could and snapped the photo and looked at the camera's screen...

A catch!

OK! Then I knew that I would do no damage if I really gave this door a yank. I went back outside the van and to the under bed storage area to the door. I reached my finger into the hole and really gave a pull and at the same time slid the door forward out from behind the aluminum frame at the other side-


Here is the elusive inverter and in a position where you actually can lean in and see the indicator LEDs and get to the dip switches and the setting switch.


Here is what the inverter looks like overall -



And here is the part up close that you may need to get to...


There to the left are the dip switches that need to be set if you change the type of battery you have. There in the middle on each side of that blue plug are the Green, Yellow, and Red banks of LED indicator lights, and to the right of that is the Switch - Auto/Remote - DC Off - Charge Only.

The two electric outlets in the metal boxes above - the one nearer to the rear of the van is labeled "Inverter INPUT" and the one near to the front of the van is labeled "Inverter OUTPUT". 

There it is in all of its glory! Elusive no more! And most important - no need to remove any screws in the panel above to get to it. Just give the hole in that door a tug and pull forward and slide out - it has to come out from behind that metal frame on the other end!

The inverter in your Roadtrek if it is another model or an older model may not be here at all - then yo will need to take your own journey! But I am pretty sure that that all recent year 190s and 210s with or without the power sofa/seat will have the inverter right where I have showed you!

Now that all is said and done - I could have just written "The inverter is located in..." but taking you on the journey seemed like so much more fun! It was an exciting journey and we did not have to leave our driveway for it! I thank you all for coming along for the excitement!  Now, if it only would get warm outside again, we could take the Roadtrek on a real journey! When it is 95 degrees outside in July, I will think back to the cold and wonder which is better - sweating in the heat or being able to get warm by putting on coat and gloves? Well, since you can travel easier in the Roadtrek when it is 95 degrees I guess the answer is sweating in the heat and in the Roadtrek you always have the A/C.



















23 comments:

  1. Just a quick observation. That red wire that runs from under the plywood floor up and to the outside toward the van sidewall? You might make sure that's not rubbing on anything metal back there, (plus any other hot wires). If it/they are, get some of that plastic automotive conduit covering and slide it over those wires where they touch

    ReplyDelete
  2. Robert, this is another incredibly informative article. Thank you so much for doing this.

    ReplyDelete
  3. wow! that inverter didn't want to be found! Good job, and thanks for the infos, you just saved us a full day of work!

    ReplyDelete
  4. In my "new" 2004 190 popular, the inverter is accessed from the drivers side bench top. A pull up panel gives easy access to the reset button.(Of course it took me forever to discover this, buta welcome discovery it was!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Older years and different models have the inverter in various places. And it is usually and adventurediscovering where.

      Delete
  5. Jerry Park, do you mean the drivers side kitchen bench top?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jerry is referring to where the manual shows the inverter to be - the cabinet on the floor on the drivers side used to make up the driver's side of the front (or side corner) of the bed. This is apparently the location in older 190's. Newer years have the inverter moved to where I show it in this article.

      Delete
  6. Robert, I Googled Inverter switch and there you were! As you have been told many times (I'm sure), your articles are MOST helpful! I solved a major problem, and regained confidence in my recent purchase of a 2005 Popular 210 and the world looks rosy again! And I've only read two posts! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim - keep reading and you will uncover the solutions to a lot of Roadtrek mysteries that should not have been mysteries in the first place!

      Delete
  7. First time owner of 1997 Roadtrek. I probably would have resold it if not for your articles. THANK YOU for writing for the novices. As to the inverter--my manual only talks about the converter/charger located under the driver side bed. In aviation we call a/c to d/c a transformer rectifier and d/c into a/c a static inverter. What is the inverter on the RT? Do I need to know where mine is located?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your 1997 Roadtrek has a very different set up. You have a single converter/charger unit to change 110 volts to 12 volts when needed and also charge the batteries. I do not know if you have an inverter at all - it is very possible that you don't. The inverter on the RT for years that have one, converts your battery 12 volt power to 110 volts AC - with limited capability. There are 12 volt appliances made for RVs and boats that will run just off of your batteries - TVs, lamps, fans, etc. that compare to those that require an inverter - and only when you don't have the ability to plug in or run a generator to run all of your 110 volt appliances.

      Delete
  8. Great info, but I'm in my 2006 Roadtrek 210 in Florida. Just replaced new coach batteries and need to reset button on inverter....but, I can't locate it. Need ac fast...please help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If your 2006 has the TrippLite 750 inverter/converter/charger - I am learning that not all 2006 RTs came with this model- there are two circuit breakers on the front - two buttons on the right side under the slide switch. PLUS this from the manual to reset the inverter - Resetting Your Inverter/Charger to Restore AC Power
      Your Inverter/Charger may cease supplying AC power or DC charging power in order to protect itself from overload or to protect your elec-
      trical system. To restore normal functioning:
      Overload Reset: Switch operating mode switch to “OFF” and remove some of the connected electrical load (ie: turn off some of the AC
      devices drawing power which may have caused the overload of the unit). Wait one minute, then switch operating mode switch back to either
      “AUTO/REMOTE” or “CHARGE ONLY.”

      Delete
  9. Hello, I have 2012 190 and it has the power bed. Recent trip and few others in the past have tripped the circuit breaker and had success in resetting by pressing the two round reset button on the inverter. Now, last trip the reset would not work. Am wondering if this device has finally belly flipped for good. Before I go out and buy a replacement(possible upgrade from 750watt version). Any more ideas to bring this back to life? Currently, the whole rear is dissembled to gain access to the inverter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If using the inverter function of the TrippLite, if what is plugged in exceeds 750 watts (which is not much) it will trip the breaker on the TrippLite. If not using the inverter function (inverter wall switch is OFF) and plugged into shore power the only reason the TrippLite should trip is if a power demand of over 30 amps occurred, if there was a power surge or a voltage excess (the unit has a built in surge protector and also a voltage monitor - though not very much coverage is provided by them and an independent Electrical Management System unit should be added between the power cord and the outlet outside the Roadtrek such as those by Progressive or Surge Guard. If the Roadtrek is plugged into a GFI outlet there will be problems and the GFI will trip. The TrippLite and GFI do not work well together. It is rare to find a GFI outlet in a campground but plugging in at home,outdoor outlets are often GFI. I have not heard from anyone that their TrippLite has gone bad. It is possible. Powering down - unplugging from shore power - and then plugging in again is a way TrippLite recommends to reset the unit. Also try moving the slide switch to OFF from Auto/Remote or Charge Only. Then unplug from shore power. Plug back in and slide it to Auto/Remote of Charge Only. Dis you have new batteries installed? Did any dip switch need to be changed for the new batteries? Do you have a manual for your TripLite - their website has the manual for download. If you contact us by email with the Contact link at the side of the page, I can email the manual to you. And I have had good response when I have contacted TrippLite with questions.

      Delete
  10. I have a 2005 Roadtrek 21 popular. Have a problem not getting shore power. I did find the inverter, but cannot find a reset button. No button on the wall panel. Shore power did work. Then stopped working. Is the inverter problem?
    Thank you..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 2005 is the year Roadtrek first starts to use a three way inverter/converter/charger. It is not the same TrippLite that we show here in this article. It is a smaller wattage TrippLite and it lacks a remote wall switch and some other features. On the 750 there is a circuit breaker button - and also an auto-reset by turning everything off in the Roadtrek, unplugging, and then waiting a couple of minutes and then turning it all back on again - inside the Roadtrek one appliance at a time to see if any one trips the system again. For no shore power - check in the fuse/circuit breaker panel on the wall inside. Make sure the 50 amp main breaker is not tripped. Check all breakers in that box to see if any one is tripped. All 110/120 volt power in the Roadtrek is on a circuit breaker. All 12 volt systems are in fuses. If you have a generator - with the generator running do you have 110/120 volt power inside? Beyond that it is possible that the inverter/converter/charger has a problem. Looking in the area of the inverter/converter/charger - do you see on the Roadtrek inside wall - above the i/c/c - one or two electrical box outlets. These are in my 2011 190 connected from the TrippLite to these by a thick cord and plug - two cords - one outlet box is input and the other is output. If you see these make sure the plugs are solidly in the sockets. It is an unusual outlet - as the outlet has the male prongs set in - and the plug is female - pushed into the prongs on the outlet in the box. If one of these cords falls out - that would stop Shore Power from coming into the Roadtrek outlets - I discovered these by chance when I saw one of these cords lying on the floor in front of the TrippLite and looking around found it fell out of the outlet. With all the vibrations inside the RT when driving things do come loose. One more thing - are you plugged into an outlet outside that is GFI protected? The Roadtrek does not play nice with GFI shore power outlets - they will trip and you will have no power coming int the RT. Resetting them just trips them again. If none of this helps - it is time for an RV service tech to take a look.

      Delete
  11. Just bought a 2005 roadtrek 210 popular. As soon as I turn on battery disconnect switch, the fan in the inverter/converter comes on and runs continuously. Is this normal. When hooked up to shore power, the fan also runs continuously. Also, the battery seems to charge when driving, but not when hooked up to shore power even with battery disconnect on. Previous owner said battery is only 2 years old. Also, if disconnect button is off, lights don't work on shore power. Is that normal? Any help for any of the above would be appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The fan on the TrippLite is a cooling fan. The 2005 has an earlier model TrippLite with some differences. This was the first year that Roadtrek installed a three way inverter/converter/charger. The fan should come on when you turn the battery switch on the wall on. It may or may not continue running - if temperature is hot it runs, if you are using the inverter function it will run. When plugged in it will come on and keep running until it cools the unit down, shut off, and then likely will start again if needed. The system charging the battery when driving is independent of the TrippLite - the battery isolator in the engine compartment installed by Roadtrek is controlling charging the battery when the engine is running and driving (or idling). This connects the engine battery/alternator to the RT house batteries and charges them if needed. It disconnects and connects based on the voltage of each side - engine/house. The alternator is what is doing the actually charging for this. When plugged in or running the generator the TrippLite does the charging. Before plugging in or running the generator turn on the battery disconnect switch. If the TrippLite is not charging when plugged in or running the generator, go to the TrippLite - on the front of it on the upper right corner there is a slide switch - it will have three settings. AUTO/REMOTE (the 2005 may not have this if you do not have a wall inverter switch inside to turn on the inverter function -this is a major difference from the earlier TrippLite from the 750) then DC OFF and next CHARGE ONLY. If the TrippLite is set to DC off the TrippLite whether plugged in or running the generator will NOT charge the batteries. This switch position disconnects the battery from the TrippLite. Set the TrippLite to Charge Only - or AUTO REMOTE - and the batteries are connected to the TrippLite and the batteries will charge when plugged in or running the genny. If it does not there is something wrong. As to the lights and shore power - put the battery switch ON. The lights are 12 volts and while the converter in the TrippLite changes AC to 12 volt DC - the battery disconnect switch must still be ON. If you want to discuss further - use the contact/email us link on the right column and we can interact and troubleshoot.

      Delete
    2. Hello. Thanks for all the great info. I just followed your instructions and no results. I have a '14 Roadtrek Popular that I just bought. Everything worked fine when I picked it up in Pheonix and drove it back to L.A., CA. The temp during most of the trip was 115* and halfway through the house power shut down . I am home now and still can't get the power to come on, even though its plugged into my 110 at home. Time to call the RV repair man?

      Delete
    3. REPLY TO STEVE - One last thing to try. Look at the second photo from the bottom in this article. The two metal outlet boxes - one is the input from the shore power cord and the other is the output from the TrippLite into the AC wiring of the Roadtrek. It is a long shot but I once found one of these plugs on the floor. I assume it shook out from vibrations from driving. Take a look and make sure both are securely inserted. These are not standard plugs and sockets - the plug has the socket - the socket inside has plug blades. IF this is not it, the yeah, it is time to bring it to a pro to trace the system and see what is not working. When you are plugged in - are the LEDs on the TrippLite lit up. If not no power is going into the TrippLite. The slide switch on the TrippLite needs to be either in Charge Only (left setting) or Auto/Remote - right setting. Not in the middle position - DC OFF. In either of those two settings, once power goes in from the power cord, the LEDs light and a fan will start, run briefly and then shut off. That may or may not rule out the TrippLite. I assume that you have DC power? If not - email me with the link on the right column of the site. As long as the batteries are charged and they should have charged while you were driving through the battery separator in the engine compartment which is an independent charging system from the TrippLite - then you should have cabin lights, the water pump should work, the hot water heater should work, etc.

      Delete
  12. I have a 2014-190 with the 750 inverter, is it possible to upgrade that inverter to the larger model without too much trouble? Please respond. kwiqslvr@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There have been some who have spoke in the forums and Facebook about removing the TrippLite and installing a larger watt unit. Keep in mind that the inverter function is just one function of the TrippLite inverter/converter/charger and any unit that replaces it has to have converter/charger functions in addition to an inverter function. This unit is what charges your batteries when plugged in or running the generator. The other thing to be aware of is that Roadtrek only connected the inverter function to three or four outlets. Generally these are the outlet the TV is plugged into, an outlet over the kitchen counter, and two other outlets. It is not connected to the A/C or the microwave, or the fridge. To take advantage of any increased wattage from the inverter function you would have to rewire additional outlets which means pulling apart the walls to get to the wiring. It is not just put in a new unit and suddenly everything will work with it.

      Delete