<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div>I just installed my first MMP. I love that box!</div><div><br></div><div>I agree that the charge controller bracket is whimpy. Make it from 0.125 or fold it to make it more rigid. </div><div><br></div><div>I did not have trouble with the Torx head screws. I had been using a Milwaukee M12 Impact Driver and have the big set of bits to go with it. </div><div><br></div><div>I bought the Milwaukee specifically to drive 10-32 type F philips screws to hold ground lugs to PV modules. Faster than a regular screw driver and no stripped Philips heads. </div><div><br></div><div>You don't HAVE to use Torx for the MMP. And, I don't mind u$ing Torx for ground lugs if I could find them.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); font-size: 22px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 18px; "> </span><br></div><div><br>Thank you,<div><br></div><div>Maverick</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Maverick Brown</div><div>BSEET, NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer ®</div><div>President & CEO</div><div>Maverick Solar Enterprises, Inc.</div><div>Office: 512-919-4493</div><div>Cell: 512-460-9825</div><div><br></div>Sent from an iPhone. </div><div><br>On Dec 23, 2010, at 5:30 PM, "Brian Faley" <<a href="mailto:BFaley@magnumenergy.com">BFaley@magnumenergy.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><div></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>Thanks Mick for the post we always welcome feedback from installers</span><br><span>after all you guys are the experts! A couple of notes to clarify Mick's</span><br><span>observations.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Mick is correct, the version 2.1 of the ME-ARC release Feb 2010 did have</span><br><span>a software bug where the decimal point was in the wrong place in the</span><br><span>Amps IN/OUT meter. The calculation for the SOC meter was still correct</span><br><span>so the actual SOC displayed was correct but the individual meter was</span><br><span>wrong by a factor of 10. The bug was reported in May 2010 and the fix</span><br><span>(along with some new features) was released Nov 2010. We apologize for</span><br><span>the inconvenience this bug caused but we didn't recall the product as</span><br><span>the SOC was still correct, which is the most critical meter to determine</span><br><span>battery SOC. </span><br><span></span><br><span>Again thanks for your insight on the MMP and MP panels. We use Torx</span><br><span>fasters not as a deterrent but because the sheet metal is "funnel</span><br><span>punched", which means when we receive it there are no threads for the</span><br><span>screws. We use a special thread forming screw (not to be confused with</span><br><span>self tapping screws, thread forming screws leave no metal shavings when</span><br><span>forming the threads) to drive into the sheet metal which takes some</span><br><span>force to achieve the threads. We use Torx instead of Phillips heads</span><br><span>because Phillips heads screws strip out to easily during the process of</span><br><span>using the thread forming screws. We have used Torx thread forming</span><br><span>fasteners in our products from the very inception of Magnum and you may</span><br><span>notice they hold the top covers and all the boards together in the</span><br><span>inverters.</span><br><span></span><br><span>The original MMP units did not have a charge controller bracket. It was</span><br><span>added later as were the PEM nuts for the mounting to the MMP, so there</span><br><span>are no holes to drill on the current MMP. The charger controller bracket</span><br><span>fits the right or left hand side and fits: MidNite, Outback and</span><br><span>Morningstar controllers. The controller is mounted with the nipple at</span><br><span>the bottom and the bracket holds the top of the controller from</span><br><span>"pivoting". For the Outback controllers there is also a hole in the MMP</span><br><span>if you want to take one of the controller cover screws out you can</span><br><span>reinsert the screw through the MMP into the controller.</span><br><span></span><br><span>The last item I will mention is the lack of a bracket to mount the</span><br><span>standard remote to the MP panels. The MP panels are designed for</span><br><span>multiple parallel inverter installations which a ME-RTR (we call it a</span><br><span>router, like a Hub and Mate in one unit) is required so you can parallel</span><br><span>two or more inverters. We do provide a router bracket since most likely</span><br><span>you would use an MMP for one inverter and the MP for multiple inverters.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Hope this helps, and again thanks Mick your insight.</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>Brian Faley</span><br><span>Chief Engineer</span><br><span>Magnum Energy</span><br><span>2111 W Casino Rd</span><br><span>Everett, WA 98204</span><br><span>425-353-8833</span><br><span><a href="mailto:bfaley@magnumenergy.com">bfaley@magnumenergy.com</a></span><br></div></blockquote><div><br></div></body></html>