If this is not a lack of
battery charge, then what is the cause of this incessant alarm?
An inverter's internal
microcontroller will emit various sounds and tone patterns in order
to identify what sort of electrical problem is plaguing the unit.
Typically, a slow repeating beep pattern (occur every few seconds)
indicates critically low battery power and a constant tone signifies
a dangerous problem the inverter's safety sensors has noticed,
initiating a hard shutdown to prevent the possibility of melting or
igniting the inverter's motherboard.
Here are three electrical
problems that will cause a constant beep in your inverter, and how to
fix them:
1.
Phantom Overload(Inductive Loads)
This is probably the most
likely problem. It's likely you think that running three fans and a
television isn't going to overload your 1000VA inverter but you need
to consider inductive loads. Inductive loads such as a water pump,
refrigerator, laser printer or washing machine require immense
current just at start up even though running consumption will be much
less. This surge in current will rapidly exceed your inverter's
maximum VA output. Your inverter's sensors will immediately perceive
this as a short circuit and shut down while producing a constant
beep.
To fix: Simply switch
the inverter off, then unplug all appliances hooked up to the unit,
then unplug the household items until the constant beeping noise
stops. Plug them in one at a time until the beep comes back, then
remove the problematic appliance, unplug and avoid using it.
2.
Thermal Shutdown (dead Cooling Fan)
It is normal for heat to be
generated due to the conversion process of 12v to 240v AC. To prevent
a total melt down aluminum heat sinks will be mounted on various
components. To manage the heat a fan will typically be mounted at the
rear of the inverter; however, dust and fluff tend to collect inside
a utility closet, making dust an ideal material to clog up the fan's
blades and preventing adequate air circulation around the heat sinks.
Thermistor (temperature sensor) detects an excess amount of heat
inside the inverter unit causing it to shut down to protect its
electronics from permanent damage.
To fix: Shine a
flashlight inside and around the rear area of your inverter. Dust
build up in the fan will result in a continuous alarm tone. Unplug
the unit and allow it to cool for sufficient time before removing the
dust with a brush or compressed air.
3.
Tripped Thermal Circuit breaker or blown DC fuse
Many of the latest inverters
have a round reset button located on the rear of the unit that acts
as a thermal circuit breaker. In the event that the grid power was
briefly disturbed before it was lost with a voltage spike or drop
this thermal circuit breaker can be activated, this shuts down the
power supply for the inverter. With grid power off and an open
circuit the unit tries to turn on using power from the batteries but
this doesn't provide a complete circuit to the necessary internal
components so you have a continuous alarm tone from your inverter.
To fix: Look on the
rear of the inverter for a small round button, and attempt to depress
this as far as it will go. Older units have a glass DC fuse that
should be visible when you remove the outer plastic case. Look for
the filament of this fuse, and when it has broken replace the DC fuse
with one that matches its ampere rating.
In summary, the
sustained beep coming from your inverter which you did not expect
from a fully charged battery must surely indicate a significant
electrical hardware problem. Your inverter's built-in safety
mechanisms are working to preserve its components, so make certain
that you are able to discover what is causing the fault as soon as
possible, and get the consistent source of electricity back to your
home.
