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

[Warren Lauzon]

That is a problem we have not seen before with those inverters, though not unheard of with electronics in general. From my experience it is usually due to an electrolytic capacitor being out of spec (or wrong one)., but can also be from some solid state component, or even the main processor or ROM being out of spec for temperature.

I would be curious if the inverters are all similar serial numbers and when they were manufactured.


..................................................................................................
Northern Arizona Wind & Sun - Electricity From The Sun Since 1979
Solar Discussion Forum: http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/
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  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: CVSOLAR at aol.com 
  To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2009 8:55 PM
  Subject: [RE-wrenches] Magnum Energy 120/240 inverter problem.


  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



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