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Old 07-24-2016, 03:29 PM   #1
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Magnum Inverter Troubles?

Hello everyone, I am hoping that someone can give me some direction in finding an answer to my problem. I own a 2008 Kountry Star with a 2000 watt inverter.

Yesterday I went out to my motorhome that has been sitting in the yard for the past month or so plugged into 115 volt shore power. I ran some water through the sinks to replace what may have evaporated in the traps. While running the water pump I heard a series of beeps so I checked the main panel at the door and discovered a fault on the inverter panel and low battery power.

I thought that the shore power must have been unplugged and I had run the batteries low. Checked and found the plug was still connected but apparently no power going through the inverter. There was a fault light on the inverter but the chg light was not on. No indication that the inverter was doing anything to charge the batteries. I thought maybe something was wrong with the shore power so I started the generator and let that run for a while. It made no difference. Only way to get the fault light to go out was to start the MH engine and let it run for a few minutes. This seemed to charge the batteries and get the fault light to go out. The chg light still would not come on and I couldn't get ant charging readings on the remote.

Prior to starting the engine there was no power to the microwave our 110volt outlets. Once the fault light went off, I had power to those.

I thought maybe it was a glitch on my part and let it go at that. Went out again this morning and found the same problem. I checked power at the transfer switch, both in and out had 115 volts. Checked the main power panel, all was good. Checked the small panel coming from the inverter that controls the plug ins, microwave, etc., and there was no power. There is power coming from the main panel box going out to the inverter. Checked at the inverter, it has 115 volts coming in from shore the main panel but not going out. It seems that it is not recognizing the shore power and charging the batteries. Once the batteries lose charge I get the fault and lose power to tv,microwave, etc.

Even without the fault light, it does not show that it is charging the batteries. The only way to get the fault light to go out is to start the diesel engine and after couple of minutes it clears the fault.

Sorry for the long winded story but trying to include as much detail as possible. Thanks in advance for any replies.
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Old 07-24-2016, 03:42 PM   #2
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Ok, do your outlets that don't go thru the inverter work? Like Ac or water heater? I've had this problem, try a.hard reboot. Disconnect from shore power then disconnect batteries, wait a couple minutes then hookup batteries then.plug back in. And hope it works. You will get a big spark when.you hook up batteries, that's normal
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Old 07-24-2016, 03:49 PM   #3
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My guess is that the primary problem is that the inverter is not "seeing" applied shore power and, therefore, is not engaging its internal transfer switch so that power can be used to power outlets in the MH and to charge the batteries. Therefore, the inverter continues to run off of batteries until they are depleted and then it goes into an error state.

I think that the only thing you are doing when you start the diesel is to provide 12V power to charge the batteries a bit. It charges the batteries directly, in contrast to the fact that both shore power and generator power have to go through the converter part of the inverter in order to charge them. If the batteries have been totally drained I would be careful about using the diesel's alternator to charge them for long periods of time. That sort of continuous load on the alternator can be harmful.

I don't have personal experience with the transfer switches inside inverters. Maybe someone else can tell you if they can be replaced. You might want to post what kind and size inverter it is.
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Old 07-24-2016, 03:59 PM   #4
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Thanks for the responses. It is a Magnum Energy 2012 Inverter.

Yes Frutza, the other outlets that are connected directly to the shore power do work. It just seems that it's the inverter that's causing grief. I will try the reset and see what happens. Thanks for the tip.
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Old 07-24-2016, 04:01 PM   #5
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Call Magnum.
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Old 07-24-2016, 04:17 PM   #6
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Call Magnum.
Thanks TechWriter, that would be my go to for tomorrow. Had hoped to be able to figure it out before then but maybe not.

I just disconnected shore power and the batteries to do the reset. Gonna let it sit for a few minutes and see if it helps.
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Old 07-24-2016, 04:54 PM   #7
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Have you tried re-setting the inverter/charger? Look in your manual under 4.4 Performing an Inverter Reset.
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Old 07-24-2016, 05:09 PM   #8
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Have you tried re-setting the inverter/charger? Look in your manual under 4.4 Performing an Inverter Reset.
Hi, yes I have done the reset with no luck. I'm doing the hard reset as we speak but will take a while as I decided to put the battery charger on the batteries while I have the positive terminal disconnected.

Thanks for the suggestion
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Old 07-24-2016, 06:57 PM   #9
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Thanks TechWriter, that would be my go to for tomorrow. Had hoped to be able to figure it out before then but maybe not.

I just disconnected shore power and the batteries to do the reset. Gonna let it sit for a few minutes and see if it helps.
Be prepared for a dead inverter. When my 2012 went south, I was able to send it back to Magnum for warranty work.
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Old 07-24-2016, 07:41 PM   #10
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Be prepared for a dead inverter. When my 2012 went south, I was able to send it back to Magnum for warranty work.
Unfortunately it seems that is the case. Did the hard reset by unplugging and removing the battery cables. Left it off for about 2 hours while I charged the batteries. Connected everything again and still the same. The chg light doesnt come on and I dont get any charging info.

Unfortunately mine is not under warranty

I have noticed on photos of this inverter that most have two reset buttons on the output lines. Mine doesn't have those.

I should also mention that when I push the charger On/Off button, nothing happens.
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Old 08-01-2016, 06:29 PM   #11
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Update

Just an update on my Magnum Inverter trouble. It turns out that it was the AC circuit board causing the problem. The unit wouldn't recognize that there was power coming into the inverter. Replaced the circuit board and all is working fine
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Old 08-01-2016, 07:12 PM   #12
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Thanks for the update. We all learn from these experiences.
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