Xantrex Inverter 3000. 20 error code

[John Dorrer]

I brought the trailer home to prep for our trip. I decided to run the Dometic AC off the inverter to draw the batteries down to 45-50% per Lithonics, and I wanted to see how long I could run the AC

 

 

With the batteries around 45%, I shut the AC off, turned off the remote inverter 

 

I plugged into 30amp and when I went back into the trailer 5 minutes later I noticed the green light at the top right of the remote wasn't on. The microwave light is on. 

 

The inverter fan has been cycling on and off and I noticed the screen on the inverter under the street side was on, which it shouldn't be on. 

 

The remote was flashing a 20 error code.

 

Need help. Thanks

[rich.dev]

John, hoping this will help, error code 20 is covered here.

[John Dorrer]

28 minutes ago, rich.dev said:

John, hoping this will help, error code 20 is covered here.

Thank you

[John Dorrer]

Is there an advantage to lowering the Xantrex Freedom 3000 charge current from 150 down to 100?

[John Dorrer]

I think I hit the perfect storm. Drawing the batteries down by running the AC off the inverter and then plugging the trailer onto 30amp to recharge the batteries, all in 85°+ heat. The inverter was hot and the fan was constantly running, tripped the breaker.

 

All seems to be back to normal.

[Rolind]

I think I have finally banished the error 20 code from my Xantrex remote. In the past I thought it was from poor quality shore power and I thought I had updated the firmware but I again got an error 20 code on my xantrex remote. I was wrong on both counts. I finally went all in, and updated the firmware on the inverter/charger, the remote and the communications firmware. I didn’t get an error 20 code on my most recent trip. In case it helps, I downloaded the firmware on a PC not an apple.  My previous attempts with downloading the firmware to an apple did not successfully update the firmware. I also downloaded and updated each of the three firmwares to the usb drive separately, deleting each one after each was installed. Attempting to download and install all of them together didn’t work for me. 
To answer your question above, I have never decreased the charge current directly, but have decreased the breaker rating from 25 to 20 or 15 amps depending on my shore power source.  This indirectly lowers the charge current.

[jd1923]

4 hours ago, John Dorrer said:

Is there an advantage to lowering the Xantrex Freedom 3000 charge current from 150 down to 100?

The charger should be set to the battery manufacturer spec “Recommended Charge Rate.”

On my Epoch 300AH recommended is 50A. I have two batteries in parallel. I set our Victron MP2 to 50A and it does just that. When rooftop solar is adding 12A, I see 62A total on the SmartShunt readout.

I have a message into Epoch tech support asking, can I double the charge rate for the two batteries? Max charge rate is listed at 200A. I also asked them, what is the harm in going over recommended when less than Max charge amperage is applied?

I will post their answer. You should check the user manual for your batteries to determine recommended and maximum charge rates. We all want our expensive LiFePo4 investment to live the 11 year warranty period!

[Cameron]

I have been able to clear the code 20 this way:

Disconnect shore power

Turn off the inverter remote (button out)

Turn off my three Lithionic batteries, and wait a couple minutes

Turn on batteries

Turn on inverter (push button in)

Wait for remote to connect (60 seconds)

If all is good, then connect shore power.

 

Just because this was worked for me a few times doesn't mean it will continue, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The inverter spirits are unpredictable.

[jd1923]

On 9/17/2024 at 2:51 PM, John Dorrer said:

Is there an advantage to lowering the Xantrex Freedom 3000 charge current from 150 down to 100?

Epoch Supp just replied to my request, "You can safely run up to 200A continuous."

"Recommended" charging spec for these batteries is 50A and "Maximum" is 200A. Your Xantrex max charge rate is 150A and our Victron MP2 is 120A, so either full charge rate is fine for these Epoch batteries.

What is the advantage? I do not like to run any motor or other equipment at the max rate unless required. A 50A charge rate (which will be our default), will cause less heat, less charger and fan noise and simply be safer. If we are going to plug into shore power overnight there is no reason to rush the charge at 150A, adding 150AH per hour. If we are making a short stop and we need to charge more quickly, I can connect laptop to the Victron ethernet/USB-C interface and quickly change the charge rate, if/when needed. You can choose any charge rate you prefer.