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Xantrex RV Series Inverter/Charger Owner’s Manual
14
Installation
Environment
Inverters are sophisticated electronic devices and should be treated accordingly. When selecting
the operating environment for the inverter, don’t think of it in the same terms as other equipment
that works with it, such as batteries, diesel generators, motor generators, washing machines, and
so on. It is a highly complex microprocessor-controlled device, similar in nature to stereo
equipment, television sets or computers. The use of conformal-coated circuit boards, plated
copper bus bars, powder coated metal components, and stainless steel fasteners improves
tolerance to hostile environments. However, in a condensing environment (one in which humidity
and/or temperature change causes water to form on components) all the ingredients for
electrolysis are present—water, electricity and metals. In a condensing environment the life
expectancy of the inverter is indeterminate and the warranty is voided.
Caution: It is in your best interests to install the inverter in a dry, protected location away
from sources of high temperature and moisture. Exposure to salt water is particularly
destructive and potentially hazardous.
Locate the inverter as close to the batteries as possible in order to keep the battery cables short.
However, do not locate the inverter in the same compartment as the batteries. Batteries generate
hydrogen sulfide gas, which is very corrosive to electronics equipment—and everything else. They
also generate hydrogen and oxygen. If allowed to accumulate, this mixture could be ignited by an
arc caused by the connecting of battery cables or the switching of a relay. Mounting the inverter in
a ventilated enclosure with sealed batteries is acceptable.
Do not mount the inverter in a closed container. To operate at high power for sustained periods of
time, unrestricted airflow is required. Without it, the protection circuitry will activate and reduce the
maximum power available, or cause complete shutdown of the inverter.
UL specification 458 (land vehicle installations) requires that the inverter be mounted on a
flat surface (on a shelf). The purpose of this requirement is to orient the inverter so that its
bottom cover has no holes that would allow burning material to be ejected in the event of an
internal fire.