Samlex 1500 Stopped Working

[pkgman51]

My Samlex 1500, circa 2014, stopped working. It came on like it usually did, but then stopped putting out power when we hit "start" on the 800 watt microwave. The Samlex still power's up, the fan is running, but it's not putting out 110 volt power.
I've tried most of the usual fix's; powering it down, disconnecting it from input power, using the switch instead of the remote (and vice versa)... The reset on the outlet seems a but suspect to me, I may try to replace it, but I doubt power is getting to it in the first place (the little green light indicating the outlet has power isn't on).
I tried contacting Escape. They passed on to me the phone number for Samlex.
I've only used this thing a few times over the last five years. This is our second unit as the first on failed the first week of owning the unit. I've read about the time we picked up our trailer Samlex had produced and supplied some "bad". units. So? I'm really bummed this thing has failed after so few uses.
Should I just eat the money and replace it with a new one? Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Gary

[Mike Lewis]

Are your batteries fully charged, or close to it? My Samlex will stop working if the battery voltage is too low, indicating discharge. If the batteries are less than about 80% according to the battery monitor, I can forget about using the microwave. Above 90% it's a sure thing, between 80%-90% the inverter will work but it will fuss, making a whining alarm noise. Percentages are approximate, from my memory.

[fudge_brownie]

I just replaced the batteries on my 2014 Escape. Yours may have reached end of life? On mine there was not the dramatic failure, little things like not able to get to a full charge while on solar, inability to use the microwave, quick discharge when boondocking.

I replaced with AGM. Too early to make any judgments but I think the propane alarm will finally stop.

[jamman]

The most common problem with these symptoms is a tripped GFI/GFCI receptacle. The "power" light (not all GFIs have them and some work backwards) at the socket goes out when the GFI has tripped. You need to press firmly on the reset button, sometimes very firmly. You should feel it click in.

If it won't reset I would remove it and check for power at its feeds (or have an electrician do it - 120V can be fatal.)

[pkgman51]

The Samlex is drawing 13.3 vdc, so it appears it has enough input power.
I'm trying to evaluate/replace the outlet in the back. It has a bit of odd wiring to it. It looks like the green ground ground wire is connected to one side of one of the "power" wires, and there is a yellow thing (capacitor?) connected across the "power" wires. Don't know why it's there?
I'm thinking just replace it with a new outlet and leave the wires the way they are
Gary

[pkgman51]

Here is a pic of the wiring to the outlet.....

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by pkgman51

The Samlex is drawing 13.3 vdc, so it appears it has enough input power.
I'm trying to evaluate/replace the outlet in the back. It has a bit of odd wiring to it. It looks like the green ground ground wire is connected to one side of one of the "power" wires, and there is a yellow thing (capacitor?) connected across the "power" wires. Don't know why it's there?
I'm thinking just replace it with a new outlet and leave the wires the way they are
Gary

The green ground wire is connected to the neutral wire (should be white wire) bonding the neutral to ground. If you look at the breaker box for your house, the ground and neutral are connected there as well - it's an electrical code requirement.

I can't read the print on the "yellow thing" but there is a good likelihood that it is a metal oxide varistor.

[GeorgiaBill]

Originally Posted by fudge_brownie

I just replaced the batteries on my 2014 Escape. Yours may have reached end of life? On mine there was not the dramatic failure, little things like not able to get to a full charge while on solar, inability to use the microwave, quick discharge when boondocking.

I replaced with AGM. Too early to make any judgments but I think the propane alarm will finally stop.

We just got a 2014 21' this month. The Interstate batteries will be 5 years old in July, and we're not sure how long they last. 5 years seems close to end-of-life.


Could you share the AGMs you selected and where you got them.



Thanks

[Mike Lewis]

I just remembered that I also had a problem with the inverter that was due to its GFCI tripping. You do have to push the button in really hard to get it to reset. Try this.

[pkgman51]

Thanks for the great advice.
Today, I got out of my own way, and finally took the voltmeter to the wires supplying the GFIC outlet only to find that the Samlex was putting out AC.
Hmmmmmm, has to be the GFIC. So, I bought a new on from the big orange box store. That one didn't work, either. I tested it by hooking it up to an AC outlet and...no power. I couldn't seem to reset it, either.
Then, I put a simple duplex outlet in the Samlex and it worked fine. I searched through my hardware stuff and found an old GFIC. I tested it using a house outlet. It worked! I scrapped paint off the mounting holes and put it in the Samlex.
I'm back in business. I'm glad I didn't give up.
And, yes, those Reset buttons are darn hard to press....
Gary

[fudge_brownie]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaBill

We just got a 2014 21' this month. The Interstate batteries will be 5 years old in July, and we're not sure how long they last. 5 years seems close to end-of-life.


Could you share the AGMs you selected and where you got them.



Thanks

I did a bit of research for the "proper" AGM prior to purchase. It very quickly became apparent that not all AGM's are equal and they all like to use the term Deep Cycle. Unfortunately that term is a bit like filtered, improved or superior, there is not an agreed upon definition. It seems that the important item to look for on an AGM is the number of cycles they are rated at. I considered Trojan, Interstate, Duracel and Deka. Perhaps other brands as well. Most of the GC2 models from the names above were rated at 300 cycles during the battery lifetime. It appears to me based on my use of the battery, lots of boondocking, a battery with a 1000 cycle rating would be better. I settled on the Crown 6CRV220, They were delivered and I installed them this week, other than testing and charging via solar their real test will start tomorrow with a two week stint off the grid. They are US made, appear to be an industrial battery rather than an RV only battery, and were a easy swap for the dual Interstate 6 volt. The big issues for any battery purchase is shipping. Unless you can find a sweet shipping option or a local supplier the cost of $100 for shipping is common.

Being close to Chicago I managed a free shipping option as trucks cover routes around the midwest on a regular basis. My fellow Escape owner, Perry in Minnesota, recommended this company. Crown is a national company manufacturing based in Ohio but distribution centers around the US. I would call them and ask for a local reseller or distributor,

[pkgman51]

Thanks fudge-brownie for your battery research. Looks like a good recommendation.
Next year might be an expensive trailer "refurbishing", year. I was planning on wheels, tires, and brakes. Perhaps I should add batteries to the list? Or, do one of those things, this year to spread out the expenses....
Gary

[GeorgiaBill]

My thanks also fudge brownie. I'll add those to my list.I'm always indecisive as to when to replace batteries.

[viator36]

Fudge-Brownie, thanks for sharing. I saved the battery model # in my parts list.