New inverter running warm

[Compton_effect]

I got a new inverter last weekend.
A Mecer 2000VA unit. Big unit, decently priced. From Matrix, they were the only guys with stock.
Should run my modem and router during any load shedding.

Problem is - it seems to be running a bit warm. And if I walk into the room - it smells like warm electronics.
Any suggestions?

 

[StellenboschStudent]

Similar case (with a much older inverter) and it was the transformer. Return it while it is still under warranty.

 

[Enzo Matrix]

Yeah shouldnt be doing that, may have an issue, take it back

 

[Fudzy]

Mecer was your first mistake, has their quality improved at all in recent years?

 

[KinsZA]

Running warm would be natural but the fact you can smell it, is not.

 

[TheGrove]

The RCT-650VA that I bought from Takealot did that the first few times I had load shedding, still gets warm but the smell is gone completely.

 

[Gnome]

Inverter or UPS?

 

[Compton_effect]

Inverter or UPS?

Lol. That's what comes from typing while working, after disussing various inverter options with someone.
UPS. Not inverter.
A Mecer UPS. Its going back on Saturday.

 

[bekdik]

most likely caused by the varnish on the transformer, in which its not a problem. the software supplied with the ups should allow you to monitor the temperatre

 

[Gnome]

Lol. That's what comes from typing while working, after disussing various inverter options with someone.
UPS. Not inverter.
A Mecer UPS. Its going back on Saturday.

They aren't designed for extended running. The transformer in a UPS is the most expensive part and therefore the part they cheap out on.

A transformer's biggest loss is what is called the core loss. The core loss is constant, even if you have no load on the transformer. You can expect a core loss of 50+ watts on that UPS. That is a LOT of heat to deal with.

It is also the reason I warn people time and again that UPS aren't designed for extra batteries or running for hours unless they say they are.

 

[Compton_effect]

Ok I'm now getting pissed off.
I took the UPS back to Matrix Vereeniging, where I had bought it. The UPS had been plugged in, but we had not had any load shedding during the week, so it had not worked once. And I'd also discovered that the USB port was not working.

Its been exactly a week, so I requested that they swop it out for another unit as this one seemed to be a out of box failure. You could see the staff was not very happy with a return. At one time they told me that they could not accept it because some of the cables were not in the box, only to realize that the manager had put them on the other side of the counter.

They agreed that the USB was working, but then told me that the unit had to be sent in to Mecer to be inspected. The owner actually accused me of leaving it plugged in while using a generator, damaging it with a voltage surge. I also got the general impression that this is Mecer's normal reply to issues.

The whole attitude was that this was not their problem and that I would not get a refund or a exchange. I was even asked why I used it for an entire week before bringing it back. We have jobs too.

 

[BigEars]

^^^I expect lots of this now. They probably had chancer's lately that tried their luck with them...

So you are being punished too. Not fair.

 

[GazWrack]

My inverter also blew it's transformers recently - I was blamed for overloading it.
When I detailed exactly what was plugged in at the time (660W out of 1200W capacity) The owner told me he doesn't want to argue with me and that I must just accept the explanation...

Seems like we are getting a lot of cheap schit now that they are in high demand.

 

[BigEars]

I don't know how to explain this.....

There are many of us that are keen to learn. Most of us are not crazy about driving ourselves back to the 19th Century..
You know where I am coming from. I have a post going where I am attempting to explain things the way most can understand. Work in progress...

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/695330-Modifying-small-UPS

Not pretty yet..but has undergone testing of note. When ESKOM lets me down...I shed anyway.

Test, test, test. Walking the talk.