Inverter ON while connected to the grid - Lesson learned
We recently camped for 9 days with water and electric services. Our Escape has solar and inverter with the transfer switch. I also installed a Victron battery monitor to learn about our power usage.
During our stay we used the microwave twice, and when we did, the Victron would beep indicating I hit my pre-established battery level alarm of 60%. I could watch the battery level drop on the monitor while the microwave was running and then it would jump back up once the microwave stopped.
This was our first trip since installing the battery monitor, so I was puzzled as to why the microwave was causing the alarm to sound when I was hooked up to the grid. I remember checking the inverter before we left and thought it was turned off (no lights).
I’m now realizing I accidentally turned the three-way switch (On-Off-Remote) to “Remote” instead of "off" and we somehow hit the button on the solar monitor (remote) to turn on the inverter and power the outlets. The inverter was on (lights) when I opened the bench to put tools away after returning home.
I'm not sure if this caused any problems, but be aware the inverter has a three-way switch and not a two-way. It seems obvious in hindsight, but then again, that's how you learn sometimes. The "hard way" as my father would say.
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