Is anyone using a Xantrex Pathmaker? I'd like to swap experiences after
one season's use

(Ayesha) wrote in news:1gj38e0.19ehvjqvs1lvsN%
:

Is anyone using a Xantrex Pathmaker? I'd like to swap experiences after
one season's use

I installed a 2 bank unit last year and the LEDS on the initial unit didn't
all light.

Replaced with another unit which failed within a month. Symptom: didn't
disconnect when voltage dropped below disconnect voltage setting.

Replaced with 3 bank unit (free upgrade) which occasionally fails to
connect when charging from alternator.

While I like the theory, I find that it doesn't always do what it's
supposed to in practice, and it doesn't seem that it should be that
complex.

-- Geoff

On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 18:52:16 +0100, (Ayesha)
wrote:

Is anyone using a Xantrex Pathmaker? I'd like to swap experiences after
one season's use

A friend had one in which the relay failed - we could hear it
clicking, but it didn't connect the two batteries together. I haven't
heard if Xantrex replaced it, or what he's done since we found the
problem.




--
Peter Bennett VE7CEI
email: peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
GPS and NMEA info and programs: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter/index.html
Newsgroup new user info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq

Geoffrey W. Schultz wrote:

(Ayesha) wrote in news:1gj38e0.19ehvjqvs1lvsN%
:

Is anyone using a Xantrex Pathmaker? I'd like to swap experiences after
one season's use

I installed a 2 bank unit last year and the LEDS on the initial unit didn't
all light.



-- Geoff

I've got a 2 bank model between a starter battery and a 300AH domestic
bank. Mine connects and disconnects as it should - at least, I hear the
relay go in and out - but I've noticed that when the batteries connect,
it takes time for the voltage on the domestic bank to rise.
For example, I start the engine, I hear the relay go in almost
immediately, but if I measure the volts across the starter battery it
will show about 14.3, but the domestic will still be down at 12.4 even
though the relay has kicked in.
After about 5/10 minutes, I hear the engine drop a rev or two and then
the volts across the domestic bank rise to about 13 and the battery
starts to charge.
I wonder if this delay is part of the design? I thought it might be to
do withe alternator booster, but I get the same effect when the sun
shine and solar panel causes the relay to kick in.

Peter Bennett wrote:

On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 18:52:16 +0100, (Ayesha)
wrote:

Is anyone using a Xantrex Pathmaker? I'd like to swap experiences after
one season's use

A friend had one in which the relay failed - we could hear it
clicking, but it didn't connect the two batteries together. I haven't
heard if Xantrex replaced it, or what he's done since we found the
problem.


thanks. That's helpful. See my other post - I may be experiencing a
similar problem