If your like me and you’re boondocking, your morning routine probably has you running the generator to charge your batteries. You may also put the coffee on or perhaps your toasting some bread.  All is good until the wife gets out of the shower and turns on her 1800 watt hair dryer and BOOM!, you exceed the rating of your 30 amp breaker and it trips. Your only remedy is to turn off some loads and reset the breaker.  Until now.

Xantrex has introduced the Freedom Sequence Intelligent Energy Management System (EMS). When used in conjunction with the Freedom SW series Inverter/Charger, System Control Panel, and Automatic Generator Starter; the Sequence provides a complete integrated power management system. What exactly does this mean to the electronically challenged RV Owner? In a nutshell it means no more tripped breakers! The Sequence monitors all AC and DC loads and when it senses a possible overload situation it sheds the lowest priority loads one at a time until the overload situation is alleviated. Loads are automatically reconnected when the Sequence senses that it is safe to do so. It can monitor up to 6 AC and 4 DC loads.

I had a chance to work with Don Wilson, Sales Application Engineer and Tech Doctor for Xantrex while doing my research and this is what he had to say about the Sequence:

“There are 2 main reasons to use the Sequence. 1. To allow the OEM to ignore regulatory codes on how many branch circuits are allowed in the 50A panel without jumping up to a 70A, or higher, panel-because we automatically calculate the ceiling for them. 2. To keep added loads (space heater, computer, etc.), or the combination of many of the heavy (installed) loads, from tripping the main breaker.

Think of when one first plugs in. The big box, we call a motorhome, wants to cool down (using ACs that cycle on and off), charge the battery (with the largest single 120V load in the box), and maybe make breakfast, heat water, etc. We allow the loads to all be used, in order of priority, without the user thinking about a thing.

We’re not the first energy manager in the market, but we are the first fully integrated Inverter, Charger, AGS, and load manager with as much installation latitude as we do (we don’t force the use of ‘our’ load center, or hijack the inverter’s communications to achieve the end goal). Our components speak the same language so when the charger needs to shed, instead of ‘fooling’ the charger and forcing it off, then slowly incrementing it back up until load ceiling is reached. The EMS simply gives the charger a number, in amps, it is allowed to use. If the charger determines the battery is too discharged to help, it rejects the command and the EMS moves on to shed the lowest priority load.

It’s really brilliant, as well as elegant in it’s operation.” Very well said.

Installation is fairly straightforward but unless you understand electrical wiring you should hire a professional. But I’ll give you a down and dirty summary in case you decide to do it yourself. Obviously you should consult the owners manual for detailed instructions.

First, find a suitable location on a solid surface to mount the Sequence, preferably near your transfer switch and your distribution panel. Next, Locate the main 4 wire bundle that connects the transfer switch and the main breaker on your distribution panel. Cut the wires and connect one end into the AC-in of the Sequence and the other end into the AC-out of the Sequence.  Next, identify the AC loads you wish to monitor. Ideal candidates are the refrigerator, air conditioner, washer & dryer, electric water heater, and 120 volt outlets. Locate the wires that feed each load from the back of the breaker distribution panel. Cut the wires at a suitable location as near to the Sequence as possible. Connect one end into either side of the AC relay terminal block and the other end into the terminal block directly across. Next, attach the Sequence network ports to the Xanbus system using the supplied Cat-5 cables. These connect the Sequence to the System Control Panel allowing it to be programmed. The final step is to connect the 12v power and ground leads to the battery.

Once installed, the Sequence can be programmed using the System Control Panel by giving each device a priority from 1 to 9. Now you can relax and not worry about blowing breakers anymore.

For a complete list of features and a spec sheet click Freedom Sequence Spec Sheet. For more information on other products, visit Xantrex.