Midnite (Was Grid sell with Outback, solar,and generator) [RE-wrenches]

[Allan Sindelar]

Geoff,
We have installed three of Midnite's MNE175 all-in-one enclosure, each with
one FX inverter and one MX60, 8 L16s and about a kilowatt of PV. It makes a
neat, extremely compact system that can fit on a 30" wall (batteries to the
side or through the wall). I think of it as the best unit I have used yet
for a standard single-inverter offgrid system package, but I'm not sure we'd
use it on a dual-inverter setup, or where there was a high likelihood of
adding a second inverter in the future.

Robin Gudgel is so accessible that I wonder how he gets anything else done.
I find I am careful to make my occasional calls short, as he'll give me as
much time as I request. He also occasionally sends us a new product to try
out and give feedback on. And he listens, too: the current production MNE
for Outback has changes from feedback we gave after a beta-unit installation
we did in 12/05 (that is on Midnite's website at
http://www.midnitesolar.com/Sindelar.html).

We will now use his combiner boxes for smaller systems as a result of trying
new products. His MNPV6 is a jewel of simplicity and good design, and his
MNPV3 will be as soon as it gets a dead-front cover under the 3R cover -
which I understand is to happen soon if not already. Note that the MNPV3
also makes a good DC supplemental load center, such as for a DC pressure
pump in a well pit.

A note of caution on the MNE175. Yesterday I finished my third system with
one. All three went well, but it took until this one to really get it dialed
in. It's well designed but very compact; with AC out, gennie AC in, DC load
circuits, vent fan, TriMetric cable, PV in, battery cables, grounding, etc.
it's lotsa stuff to fit in the box, and it takes some real planning and
attention to achieve a clean installation. I make sure to address signal
circuits first (shunt kelvin terminals especially), then all grounds, then
lightning arrestors, then AC, then DC-, then DC+, then battery cables. I use
lots of wire ties, sometimes replacing them as I add more conductors. So
while it's partially preassembled (AC mainly), it's not for the beginner or
the do-it-yourselfer.

We have no experience with the Magnum line. It's a chicken-or-egg problem: I
prefer leading edge to bleeding edge, so I keep waiting to read reviews by
other Wrenches on this list. Maybe we're all waiting for each other, or for
the first review. Also, I'd like to see a sine wave model available in 48V.
It's taken me four years to learn how to navigate through Outback's Mate, so
nobody has yet explained why I should start over with a new line.  ;^)}

Allan at Positive Energy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Geoff Greenfield" <Geoff at Third-Sun.Com>
>
> Along with brand X - Have any listers had experience with the Magnum line?
> How about Midnite Solar's sheet-metal and electronics?
>


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