Video: Installing a Magnum Hybrid Inverter in our Airstream

I prefer manual control so that I can wire around the Magnum. Sometimes it does not "like" GFCI outlets and causes them to trip instantly.

I simply put a 30 male for feeding the Magnum, and a 30 amp female for feeding the RV from the Magnum.

If I were starting over I would go for a 48 volt battery bank. Magnum has a lovely 4000 watt 48 volt hybrid unit.

We just wanted as many transfer switches as possible. ;)

themoreweexplore wrote:

GordonThree wrote:
Why didn't the Dimension Energy engineer want to use the transfer switch built into the Magnum itself? Is using an external transfer switch going to interfere with the hybrid's load-support feature?

Fantastic question. It's fun hearing from people who know a thing or two about this technology!

So... we actualy didn't bypass the internal transfer switch. I was going to explain it in the video, but it felt long-winded. The factory Airstream transfer switch is for the two power inputs - one on the street side, and one on the front of the trailer (for a generator). The Airstream transfer switch lets either input work, so we kept that.

If you're plugged into both a pedestal and you're running your generator (who would do that?, the transfer switch will give one priority and block the other one. (I can't remember which one it gives priority to). We easily could have disabled one of the inputs and bypassed the Airstream transfer switch, but I wanted to keep it as close to stock as possible. If we ever sold it the poor new owners would have no clue what we did.

After the Airstream factory transfer swtich, the power goes into the inverter's internal transfer switch.

Thanks! That makes sense, didn't know there were two power inlets.

GordonThree wrote:
Why didn't the Dimension Energy engineer want to use the transfer switch built into the Magnum itself? Is using an external transfer switch going to interfere with the hybrid's load-support feature?

Fantastic question. It's fun hearing from people who know a thing or two about this technology!

So... we actualy didn't bypass the internal transfer switch. I was going to explain it in the video, but it felt long-winded. The factory Airstream transfer switch is for the two power inputs - one on the street side, and one on the front of the trailer (for a generator). The Airstream transfer switch allows you to plug into either one for power.

If you're plugged into both a pedestal and you're running your generator (who would do that?), the transfer switch will give one priority and block the other one. (I can't remember which one it gives priority to). We easily could have disabled one of the inputs and bypassed the Airstream transfer switch, but I wanted to keep it as close to stock as possible. If we ever sold it the poor new owners would have no clue what we did.

After the Airstream factory transfer swtich, the power goes into the inverter's internal transfer switch.

westend wrote:
If you haven't already found him, Mark Polk has a series of videos about RV care, repair, and maintenance. He also has a list of sponsors.

I LOVE Mark's videos, thanks.

Why didn't the Dimension Energy engineer want to use the transfer switch built into the Magnum itself? Is using an external transfer switch going to interfere with the hybrid's load-support feature?

If you haven't already found him, Mark Polk has a series of videos about RV care, repair, and maintenance. He also has a list of sponsors.

We used 4 ought welding cable. It's almost 1" thick. The #6 was from the transfer switch to the breaker box. The batteries will be Li. We're planning on 500-600Ah of 12v @20amps. Yeah, it's going to be a BIG bank.

Hi,

I'm surprized that you only used #6 wire from the battery bank to the inverter.

Will the battery bank be Li or AGM? How many amp-hours are planned for?