[RE-wrenches] Magnum Energy 120/240 inverter problem.

[CVSOLAR at aol.com]

Wrenches,
    We recently decided to try the relatively new 120/240  VAC inverter 
from Magnum for an off-grid customer.  The inverter is located  in a power shed 
which shares space with a wood gasifier hot water furnace to  heat their 
house.  Upon completing the hookup using an E-panel, we found  that the 
inverter appeared to be dead on arrival.  No activity when the DC  breaker was 
turned on and the little "on" button pushed.  We requested a  replacement from 
our distributor and when returning to the job site a few days  later with 
the new unit, decided to try the defective inverter one more time....  it 
turned on.  Then we added another string of batteries and turned it back  on 
again with no luck.. seemed to be intermittent.  We then installed the  new one 
and same result.. would not turn on.  Seemed very unusual and the  Magnum 
technician we talked to agreed.  
 
Our distributor then allowed us to send a person to pick up another  
inverter and get it to the job site. Same result, would not turn on.  Now  we have 
three inverters.  Magnum suggested we hook one up and call them to  
troubleshoot over the phone.  We hooked up each one in our shop first to  see what 
would happen.  One begrudgingly started to work after numerous  attempts to 
get it to turn on, one would not turn on at all.  We warmed  that one with a 
heat gun (carefully, of course as to not damage it in  any way) and it then 
fired up.  Number three the same.  Looks like it  does not come close to 
the -4 F low end operating temperature.  Our shop is  55 degrees F and the 
customers shed was at least 32F or higher with the furnace  on.  Outside 
temperature was near about 10 F. HAS ANYONE HAD GOOD LUCK WITH  THIS MODEL IN A 
COLD ENVIRONMENT OR STARTING PROBLEMS AT ANY TEMPERATURE?   I need some 
feedback to see if we can make this work.  I like the idea of  an off-grid only 
120/240 inverter that is reasonably priced but we have COLD  weather here.  
Our Outback systems routinely work in unheated power  sheds.
   I am guessing that once they are turned on, they may have  enough self 
generated heat to stay on.  We reinstalled one late this  afternoon and 
coaxed it alive with some external heat.  We are trusting it  to stay on and keep 
their heat on. 
 
John  Blittersdorf
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer tm
Central Vermont Solar & Wind, LLC.
104 River  Street
Rutland, VT 05701

802-747-0577
802-773-0924  fax
802-770-8625 cell
_www.cvsolar.com_ (http://www.cvsolar.com/) 

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