[RE-wrenches] Magnum MS4448AE Compatibility Question

[Starlight Solar]

Allan,

I have a recent power issue come up with a Magnum inverter. A customer  
tried to operate her Splindide washer/dryer but the motor would not  
start. I looked at the waveform with a scope and RMS voltage and  
frequency were fine. The waveform looked good until the motor tried to  
start. The washer was putting a jagged noise riding on the sine wave.  
The voltage and waveform still looked OK other than the noise. Mostly  
sure that this was the cause, I grabbed a 600 watt cheap import sine  
wave inverter and connected the washer. Same ripple was present on the  
waveform but the $400 inverter would run the washer motor fine. It  
also ran fine with a 1600 watt Honda inverter/generator. I have  
written to Magnum about this and had no response to date (about 4 days  
now).

Have you looked at the waveform while operating the igniter?  Perhaps  
this is a similar problem.


Kindest Regards,

Larry Crutcher
Starlight Solar
(928) 941-1660
Renewable Energy Products, Service and Installation

Mailing Address (NO SHIPPING):
Box 11114
11279 S. Glenwood Ave
Yuma, AZ 85367

Shipping and retail store (NO MAIL):
2998 Shari Ave
Yuma, AZ 85365

On Feb 9, 2009, at 11:16 AM, 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
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