I bought a Magnum MS2012 pure sine inverter and had Camping World install it. Their service was predictably bad, but it looks like the tech did a good job. This is beyond my DIY skills, so I needed to get professional help.Here's my question. I have a big fat extension cord that I use to plug in my fiver when I bring it home from storage. The 50A cord doesn't reach all the way to the garage, so I use this heavy duty extension cord. I've never had trouble with it before, but now with four 6V batteries instead of one 12V and with this new inverter/charger, the extension cord got really hot. I don't know what settings the tech configured, but is there a way to configure the charge settings? Is it possible that the charger is trying to charge too fast and the combination of the high draw and the coiled extension cord are causing the heat? I never had a problem keeping the cord coiled up with the old charger.Only the part of the cord coiled in the bucket is getting hot. I removed it from the bucket and spread it out a bit.Thoughts?

I would leave the 50a cord coiled up and use that extension fully extended.Possibly that extension has been damaged so still check for heat.Otherwise the manual should explain options to reduce charging power.

smkettner wrote:Otherwise the manual should explain options to reduce charging power.The manual is a tough read. I read the inverter manual and the remote panel manual from cover to cover. They fully explain the "how", but not the "what" or the "why". I'm hoping to hear from others who use this inverter before I start tweaking the dials.

Did the cord get hot or just the ends? Unless you had the A/C on as well that cord shouldn't have gotten hot at all. I'm gone for the week but if you're still over at the lot I can meet you there this weekend look at the cord, re-terminate if necessary, and look at the 2012 config. You CAN back off its charging but shouldn't have to for the sake of that extension.

SCVJeff wrote:Did the cord get hot or just the ends? Unless you had the A/C on as well that cord shouldn't have gotten hot at all. I'm gone for the week but if you're still over at the lot I can meet you there this weekend look at the cord, re-terminate if necessary, and look at the 2012 config. You CAN back off its charging but shouldn't have to for the sake of that extension.The ends are good. It was just the center of the cord that was coiled up in the bucket.

Is it possible, that the inverter AND converter are both still drawing and connected to the batteries?

Magnum MS Inverter Question | Good Sam Community

Ivylog
Explorer III
Sep 20, 2016
Your previous charger was not a 100amp charger like the 2012. More amps... more heat.
dougrainer
Nomad
Sep 20, 2016
NEVER coil up any small gauge extension cord. THAT is what causes the heat build up. You can coil a 30 or 50 amp cord but not those smaller gauge cords. Snake your cord along the ground and you will probably find it does not heat up. But, yes, you can change the BULK charge amp draw on the Inverter/Charger. Doug
hbski
Explorer
Sep 20, 2016
Is it possible, that the inverter AND converter are both still drawing and connected to the batteries?
dedmiston
Moderator
Sep 20, 2016
SCVJeff wrote:
Did the cord get hot or just the ends? Unless you had the A/C on as well that cord shouldn't have gotten hot at all. I'm gone for the week but if you're still over at the lot I can meet you there this weekend look at the cord, re-terminate if necessary, and look at the 2012 config. You CAN back off its charging but shouldn't have to for the sake of that extension.

The ends are good. It was just the center of the cord that was coiled up in the bucket.
SCVJeff
Explorer
Sep 20, 2016
Did the cord get hot or just the ends? Unless you had the A/C on as well that cord shouldn't have gotten hot at all. I'm gone for the week but if you're still over at the lot I can meet you there this weekend look at the cord, re-terminate if necessary, and look at the 2012 config. You CAN back off its charging but shouldn't have to for the sake of that extension.
dedmiston
Moderator
Sep 20, 2016
smkettner wrote:
Otherwise the manual should explain options to reduce charging power.

The manual is a tough read. I read the inverter manual and the remote panel manual from cover to cover. They fully explain the "how", but not the "what" or the "why". I'm hoping to hear from others who use this inverter before I start tweaking the dials.
time2roll
Nomad
Sep 20, 2016
I would leave the 50a cord coiled up and use that extension fully extended.
Possibly that extension has been damaged so still check for heat.
Otherwise the manual should explain options to reduce charging power.

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