[RE-wrenches] Magnum inverters (not really a power factor issue)

[Matt Tritt]

The next time I'm up there I'll take another tech with me, plenty of 
meters and go through every DC and AC connection (they all looked good 
first time around) to try and get to the bottom of the problem prior to 
taking a harder look at Magnum. I have to say, though, that I have heard 
a couple of comments that tend to suggest that the inverter might turn 
out to be one logical place to look. I like these inverters a lot, and I 
really hope that we find some other issue.

To replay the symptoms, there is no audible or visual (as in motor 
starter noises or dimming light) indication that the pump is attempting 
to do anything other than sit there when inverter voltage is connected 
to it. When the genny power is applied, there is a discernable working 
under a load sound from the engine, and the pump works. I only had the 
homeowner's lousy dime store anaglog meter to work with, but the voltage 
from the inverter was right on 120 volts per leg. When I checked phase 
to phase I also only got 120 - that's kind of weird, but it might simply 
be the meter. All the household loads run flawlessly (but this is a 
pretty fundamental cabin, so the TV and DVD player are the most exotic 
things plugged in. The run to the pump is adequately sized - - - - - in 
other words, it all seems run of the mill, except that the pump only ran 
successfully one time and not on any further attempts. Golly..

Matt

boB Gudgel wrote:

> Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar wrote:
>
>> Hey Matt,
>> I sure wish their techie's would get to the bottom of it. I am 
>> getting gun-shy about selling Magnum and they are about the best 
>> available for small 12 volt systems. I have spend hours trying to 
>> solve the problem. My customer is still not a happy camper.
>>
>> Larry Crutcher
>> Starlight Solar
>> (928) 941-1660
>> Renewable Energy Products, Service and Installation
>
>
> Can you get someone to look at the voltage and/or current going into 
> that pump ??   Scope ?   Meter ?  Even a
> power factor meter would have both voltage and current measurements.  
> Some even have a mediocre scope built in.
> A scope AND a meter is best of course.
>
> Need  stats.  AC an DC side.  AC voltage at the pump and at the inverter.
>
> Must have more information.    Yes, it ~could~ be a Magnum inverter 
> issue, but need more information other than "it doesn't work"
>
> Does the voltage dip when the pump tries to start ?  What is the 
> maximum Ac and DC current ?  Most basic info for troubleshooting.
>
> The inverter manufacturer can probably help somewhat if they have this 
> info.
>
> Just a suggestion here.
>
> boB
>
>
>
>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Aug 1, 2009, at 4:28 PM, Matt Tritt wrote:
>>
>>> I took boB's advice and talked to Magnum about the problem. Their 
>>> take on it? "Hmmm, beats me!" I might be paraphrasing, but that's 
>>> the drift. All in all, I'd say that the suggestions from the group 
>>> are at least as good as the one's from the manufacturer.
>>>
>>> Matt T
>>>
>>> Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar wrote:
>>>
>>>> Don't forget, this is a Magnum inverter and Magnum has issues. I 
>>>> have  two customers with Magnum problems. One is a washer that will 
>>>> work  perfectly on a cheap import inverter; the other has a Vizio 
>>>> TV that  works fine on shore power and generator. Soooo...maybe 
>>>> there are pumps  and other items that are anti-Magnum.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Larry Crutcher
>>>> Starlight Solar
>>>> (928) 941-1660
>>>> Renewable Energy Products, Service and Installation
>>>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
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