[RE-wrenches] Magnum MS4448AE Compatibility Question

[robert ellison]

I wonder if a work around might be to run the igniter off a relay activated
by the original board and fed by the inverter direct?

I have seen things not start when the charger was drawing off the generator,
not Magnums but old Hearts.

Bob

On Mon, Feb 9, 2009 at 1:16 PM, Allan Sindelar <
allan at positiveenergysolar.com> wrote:

>  Wrenches,
> We have an unusual problem, and I need to know if anyone else has had this
> or a related problem, and what to do about it.
>
> This concerns a new off-grid residential system, very conventional: 1,800W
> PV, Midnite E-Panel with Magnum MS4448-AE inverter, MX60, 16 S-460s,
> installed summer 2008. This existing home is being extensively remodeled,
> and the home is not yet occupied. A local mechanical contractor installed a
> new infloor radiant (gypcrete) hydronic heating system using a
> Netherlands-made (German company) Buderus GB142 high-efficiency boiler. The
> problem is that the boiler won't start reliably on the inverter. It appears
> that the hot-surface igniter does not get full AC voltage (it runs on
> straight 120V AC, but is supplied through the boiler's control circuitry).
> We tested the igniter by disconnecting it and plugging it straight into
> inverter AC and it lit right up.
>
> The mechanical contractor has tried a replacement Buderus GB142 boiler with
> the same result. I was told that they brought out a generator and it also
> failed to ignite on generator AC, but not knowing the generator used or the
> way it was wired (I believe an extension cord to a portable) I don't put
> much weight on this data. They also took a Lochinvar Boiler to the site to
> test the theory that a different manufacturer's boiler might work. The
> Lochinvar boiler, which uses a different control and a spark ignition rather
> than a hot surface igniter, worked on site without any problems.
>
> I'm looking for solutions. Magnum tech support had not heard of this. Have
> you?
> Also, if indeed we have an inverter that is incapable of running this load,
> how do we make it right to the homeowner and the mechanical contractor? What
> should be Magnum's obligation? What should be ours? This issue hasn't come
> up here since the days when the Trace SW mod-sine series was the waveform
> standard.
>
> Thanks,
> Allan Sindelar
> ***allan_(at)_positiveenergysolar.com* <allan at positiveenergysolar.com>
> NABCEP certified solar PV installer
> Positive Energy, Inc.
> 3225A Richards Lane
> Santa Fe NM 87507
> 505 424-1112
>
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