[RE-wrenches] Magnum MS4448AE Compatibility Question

[David Katz]

Hi Allan,
This is not an unusual problem.  i have seen it with conventional forced 
air heating systems.  The burner controls would not run on A Xantrex or 
Outback sine wave inverter.  There is something about waveforms from 
inverters designed by Trace legacy engineers.  I had to put in Exeltech 
or Studer inverters to operate the heating control system.  you can do 
this and still run larger pumps and fans on the Magnum.
David

David Katz

President

AEE Solar

1155 Redway Drive

P.O. Box 339

Redway, CA  95560

Tel (707) 825-1200

Fax (707) 825-1202

david at aeesolar.com <mailto:david at aeesolar.com>

www.aeesolar.com <http://www.aeesolar.com>

 

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Allan Sindelar 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 <mailto: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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