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<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri>I would be curious if the inverters are all similar
serial numbers and when they were manufactured.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>..................................................................................................<BR>Northern
Arizona Wind & Sun - Electricity From The Sun Since 1979<BR>Solar Discussion
Forum: <A
href="http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/">http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/</A><BR>..................................................................................................</DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=CVSOLAR@aol.com href="mailto:CVSOLAR@aol.com">CVSOLAR@aol.com</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, December 23, 2009 8:55
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [RE-wrenches] Magnum Energy
120/240 inverter problem.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT id=role_document color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>
<DIV>Wrenches,</DIV>
<DIV> 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. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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.</DIV>
<DIV> 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. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 size=2 face=Arial PTSIZE="10" FAMILY="SANSSERIF">John
Blittersdorf<BR>NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer <FONT
size=1>tm</FONT><BR>Central Vermont Solar & Wind, LLC.<BR>104 River
Street<BR>Rutland, VT 05701<BR><BR>802-747-0577<BR>802-773-0924
fax<BR>802-770-8625 cell<BR><A
href="http://www.cvsolar.com/">www.cvsolar.com</A><BR></DIV></FONT></FONT>
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