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

Sat Aug 1 20:52:51 PDT 2009

Yeah, boB - I think this sounds like a good trail to follow.

Matt

boB Gudgel wrote:

> Darryl Thayer wrote:
>
>> Don't know if this will help, but an experiance of mine on starting a 
>> large motor, using a battery and inverter.  The motor would not 
>> start, or if it did if would quit in 10, or 20 min.  The battery had 
>> capacity to run the motor for 5 or 6 hrs to 50% DoD yet the inverter 
>> would kick out.  I had reason to beleive the output wave form was bad 
>> also.  I solved the problem by greatly increasing the battery size 
>> and the cables.  I did not change the inverter at all. 
>> What I think was happening is the high current draw of the inverter 
>> to serve the load reduced the battery voltage, but not just the 
>> average battery voltage but the 60 cycle peak voltage drop/ of the 
>> battery.  The load of the inverter on the battery is like pulses, my 
>> amp clamp shows an AC current on the battery leads.  If I had a 
>> scope, I would guess the inverter is seeing a fluxuating voltage on 
>> the battery.  My grandson has a 1 Farad Capacitor in his sterio 
>> system, perhaps this would fix the problem.  BoB what do you think?
>> Darryl
>>   
>
> Try it.  Put it right across the inverter DC terminals if you do try 
> it.   Sometimes, higher capacitance can actually make things worse, 
> like, raising the peak
> DC voltage seen at the inverter terminals due to L-C resonance.
>
> boB
>
>
>
>
>> --- On Sat, 8/1/09, boB Gudgel <boB at midnitesolar.com> wrote:
>>
>>  
>>
>>> From: boB Gudgel <boB at midnitesolar.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Magnum inverters (not really a power 
>>> factor issue)
>>> To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
>>> Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009, 6:22 PM
>>> 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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