[RE-wrenches] Magnum 4024PAE Won't Charge

[drake.chamberlin at redwoodalliance.org]

Hello Wrenches,

A Magnum 4024 won't charge batteries or transfer loads. The owner of the 
system, now well out of warranty, has spent hours on the phone with tech 
support and even took the unit into a Magnum authorized repair shop. The 
technician declared that it was working perfectly.

On connection to the utility grid, the ME-ARC shows no sign of seeing 
the power. Once in a great while, it will connect and start charging 
batteries. Then it will quit.

This seems to me like a matter of a relay not operating. The technician, 
who checked it out, believes that the problem is with the AC coming in. 
One tech support agent thought the same.

The inverter is 1000' plus from the transformer. The incoming voltage, 
with light loads, is 248 VAC. Shouldn't the ME-ARC at least show that it 
sees the grid, even if the voltage dropped upon connection to the point 
it couldn't hold it?

Isn't the Magnum charger pretty forgiving about voltage input? I've 
heard they can have issues with inverter-generators, but this is 60 Hz 
grid power.

Thank you,

Drake

Drake Chamberlin
Athens Electric LLC
Ohio Electrical Contractor’s License 44810
CO Master Electrician’s License 4526
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional

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