ARGHHH Ebay Inverter DOA

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Mon. Nov. 16, 2009 1:41 pm

I bought a 300 watt pure sign wave inverter from eBay. It arrived today. Fast shipping, packed well, but, it's DEAD! Grrrrrr. I sent a message to the seller. I just hope it's not one of these wait wait wait things.
I tested this 'n that....good connections, proper DC voltage, checked the fuse, it was OK, put the spare one in just in case. The green light comes on, but the fan does not, nor does it put out any AC power. Grrrrrrrr

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Mon. Nov. 16, 2009 1:53 pm

Wow! I sent the guy an eBay message....15 min later the phone rings! He gave me permission to open it & see if there's something obviously wrong.

WNY · Post by **WNY** » Mon. Nov. 16, 2009 2:10 pm

Cool. Maybe something came loose in shipping....?

good luck.

cabinover · Post by **cabinover** » Mon. Nov. 16, 2009 2:13 pm

Freddy, you want I should send you a BFH?

009to090 · Post by **009to090** » Mon. Nov. 16, 2009 2:16 pm

Freddy, same thing happened to mine. A major wire was not soldered in correctly. I was lucky enuf to be able to spot the problem and repair it. Makes you wonder if they are only selling rejects.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Mon. Nov. 16, 2009 2:32 pm

I opened it up. All wires seem soldered properly and tight. Me thinks it's something to do with the magic white smoke. I'm sure it wasn't damaged in shipping, It was packed as if it were nitro glycerin! It came in a HUGE box with $50 worth of bubble wrap. He said he'd call back when he got to his shop. I'm assuming a new one is the answer.

Odd that it doesn't say where it's made, but it's China I'm sure. On the other hand, the wires and internal parts seem like quality stuff.

009to090 · Post by **009to090** » Mon. Nov. 16, 2009 2:44 pm

Check the soldering connection for the Toroid Coil . Mine was only held on by one wire.

mozz · Post by **mozz** » Mon. Nov. 16, 2009 5:01 pm

This may seem like a stupid question but,did you put a lamp or a similar load on it? Some switching power supplies need to have a load of some sort on the output otherwise it is zero. If you just put a meter on it it could show zero unless there is a load attached.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Mon. Nov. 16, 2009 5:21 pm

I find no loose solders, no bad anything! To poke, prod, pull, and look, it's all OK.

mozz wrote:did you put a lamp or a similar load on it?

Yup. Good tip though. I used a lamp with a 75 watt incandescent light bulb. After a bit of this 'n that I tried a Makita drill, and then as last resort tried testing for voltage. Nada...nothing, zip, zero, zilch. I'm guessing they get tested at the factory, but for some reason, this one is dead. Not the end of the world, just one of life's little frustrations.

009to090 · Post by **009to090** » Mon. Nov. 16, 2009 5:28 pm

Does yours look like this?

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Mon. Nov. 16, 2009 6:43 pm

yup

My coil is held in with a plastic wire tie. The connections on it look good.

009to090 · Post by **009to090** » Mon. Nov. 16, 2009 6:56 pm

The guy I spoke with about mine was very helpfull. He was willing to send another one out to me, but after I soldered the Toroid Coil back in place, it worked, so I canceled the replacement. yep, bad or no quality control.

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Mon. Nov. 16, 2009 7:53 pm

I had a capacitor explode in a cloud of smoke inside one of those after I hooked it up to a battery charger for a 12V source to see if it worked. It "worked" alright!

That was 10 years ago.

I soldered in a new one & I still have it today. The capacitor's metal shell was sitting in there completely empty, & everything else was covered in shredded cardboard.

whistlenut · Post by **whistlenut** » Mon. Nov. 16, 2009 7:57 pm

Quality isn't what it used to be.......BOHICA!!! (Bend Over, Here It Comes Again!) Outsourcing....Yippee!!

k9 Bara · Post by **k9 Bara** » Mon. Nov. 16, 2009 8:15 pm

Freddy, I have been watching the same auctions. I hope you get a replacement. Seems like a good deal if they work that is. Please advise how your coal burner performs off it also. Good luck bro,

ARGHHH Ebay Inverter DOA

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