I posted a few weeks ago about trying to run my AC with a Yamaha 2k genny and Magnum 3000W boost inverter. Sort summary - the Yamaha just wasn’t strong enough with surges to work. So now I’ve purchased a Westinghouse i4500 which we just picked up today in Salt Lake. It’s 100deg out so I expected I could run my AC, maybe both ACs with the boost inverter…no joy :(Altitude here is 4200ft so I don’t expect the full 3.7kW static performance but still it should start and run an AC!??!!By playing around with Magnum control settings I can nurse the genny (with Magnum boost support) to start one AC once in a while (Magnum VAC dropout=60v, AC input limit=20A; manually start AC fan on low early; etc). Still have to futz with it a dozen times or so to get success. When running the Westinghouse shows it’s providing 2.3k power (AC, fan, converter). But even when I nurse it up on one AC it only ran an hour then kicked out, a half hour the second time. Just spent 10min getting things going again, hopefully longer this time but we’ll see. When it kicks out the boost inverter takes over and keeps the AC and fan running by drawing about 170A from my batteries. Not sure why genny kicks out as it doesn’t show overload, just reduces to 0power and the Magnum timer to kick it in starts dancing with the genny but it doesn’t ever come back in. As I’m typing, the genny just kicked down to 1.3k power and my Magnum is supplying load support of 50A from batteries for a couple minutes; then genny went back up to 1.7k and is running the AC on it’s own again. Anyone have a clue what’s going on, and why the Westinghouse can’t start and run an AC on it’s own?

Don't have your answer but I would like to learn more. Can you explain why you have both genny and inverter going at the same time. I would think even at altitude that the 4500w genny would be all you need. How does the inverter know when to come online? Thank you for any answers.

Bob213 - my Magnum inverter is feed from the shore umbilical and then feeds my whole RV through the panel. I tried starting with the inverter off, but no go there too. When the inverter is ‘off’ it passes through 60A per leg, but it still has the voltage integrity checks etc. I’ve mess around some more and now am starting to think that I might have been too cute trying to limit the input current and have the boost take over. I’m thinking that it may be the input current limit was kicking in and not letting the genny do it’s job. And for some reason the boost function isn’t just additive to what’s coming in but instead might somehow be kicking out the source for another integrity check and then getting in a loop. I’ve now upped the input limit to 27A (altitude based output of the genny) and it’s been running fine for quite a while. Given I’m getting cooling I’m done messing around tonight. Tomorrow I’ll try restarting with these settings, maybe even take input limit up to 33A (generator boost capability) or higher and let genny take itself out of the loop instead of Magnum dumping it out. I’m hopeful that that will resolve my issue. Still don’t understand why Magnum boost doesn’t just add to incoming without forcing integrity check if that’s what it’s doing. I’ll mess around some more tomorrow and maybe call Magnum support on Monday. Thanks for letting me think this through on-line…and for any suggestions still to comeRon

MNRon I have the Magnum hybrid 3000w inverter/ charger for over 5 years now using everyday (fulltime 99% boondocking). I can use either my eu2000i or eu2200i to run the Carrier Air V 15k air conditioner at elevation as high as 6,000' with outside air temps in the 90's range. I did add a micro-air 365 to the A/C unit which made all the difference, before the micro-air it was hit and miss. I set the "loadshare" to 16a when above 5,000' this keeps the Magnum from faulting, but with your larger generator you shouldn't have a problem getting one going.I also run my A/C off just batteries/ solar assisting for a few hours at times. I'm using LiFePO4 batteries which helps.Here are the setting I've used since day 1 on the Me-Arc50 for the Inverter.Favorites (can be changed to personal taste)F1_ Bat amps - PT ADC (present be produced)F2_ AC output - 121 VAC/ 60.0 HZF3_ AC input - Amps= 15a (adjustable with incoming power)F4_ Load amps - 0 amps AC F5_ AC Amps - -2 amps CRTL01_ AC in Control - Auto Connect02_ CHG Control - Multi Stage03_ Gen Control - Off04_ PT Control• a_ PT Chg CTRL 1 - Multi Stage• b_ PT Aux Relay - Control= Disengage• c_ PT Alarm - Control= Off• d_ PT Mppt Ctrl - 15 min sweep METERInverting_ DC (present time reading) 01 DC Meters• a_ DC volts (present time reading)• b_ DC amps (present time reading)02 AC Meters• a_ AC output (present time reading)• b_ Load amps (present time reading)• c_ Input AC (present time reading)• d_ Inv/ Chg amps (present time reading)• e_ Input AC1 (present time reading) SET UP 01 System Set up • a_ Set Clock• b_ Screen set up (press select) _ Brightness (50%), Contrast (100%), Power save (1 min)• c_ Temp select - Fahrenheit • d_ Max charge- Amps 200 adc• e _ Link PT Chg - setting - yes 02 Inverting/ Inverter set up• a_ Search watts - Off• b_ LBCO setting - 12.0 vdc• c_ AC In time - 6:00am-6:00pm• d_ AC In VDC - 11.O-14.1 vdc• e_ AC In SOC - 80%-100% SOC• f_ Power up - Always off SET UP INVERTING03 Charger Set up• a_ AC Input - Amp= (can be set to available shore power/ generator incoming power)• b_ VAC Drop out - 80 VAC• c_ Battery type - Custom (with in here absorb voltage can be adjusted) • d_ Absorb done - Time= 0.1 hrs (minimum, can't be turned off) • e_ Max charge - Rate= 100%• f_ Max charge - Time= 12.0 hrs• g_ Final charge - Stage= Multi• h_ EQ Reminder - Days= Off 04 AGS SET UP - No AGS Present 05 BMK SET UP - No BMK Present 06 PT SET UP (Magnum pt controller follows Magnum inverter settings)• a_ Battery Type - Linked• b_ Absorb Done - Linked• c_ Maxed Charge - Rate= 100%• d_ Max Charge - Time= 12.0 hrs• e_ Bulk Start (press select) - select Bulk Start, Daily / sun up= yes- set Bulk Start, Volts= 12.0- set Bulk Start, SOC= 80%• f _ PT Aux Relay - 10.0 to 14.0• g_ PT Alarm - 10.0 to 14.0• h_ Power Save PT - Display= 15 min TECH01 Temperatures (press select_ scroll)- Inv BTS (present time reading)- Inv TFMER (present time reading)- Inv FET'S (present time reading)- AGS Sensor 0ff- ACLD Temp 32f- PT BTS (present time reading)- PT Inductor (present time reading) 02 Versions (press select_ scroll)- Inverter: 1.2- Remote: 4.0- AGS: 0.0- Router: 0.0- ACLD: 0.0- PT: 1.1 03 Inv Model - MSH3012H (3000w hybrid)04 Fault History 05 Set up pin06 Ext Control - No ext control07 Show all - Menus= No08 Load Defaults The following parameters are for programming the ME-ARC Version 4 advanced control. Setup 02B LBCO Setting: Volts = 12.0Setup 03C Battery Type: = CustomSet Absorb Volts: = 14.1v or 14.2v (depending on season)Set Float Volts: = 13.6Set EQ Volts: = 14.1Set EQ Done Time: = 0.1Setup 03D Absorb Done Time: = 0.1 (minimum) Setup 03E Max Charge Rate: = 100%Setup 03G Final Charge Stage: = Float

Itinerant1 - THANKS, I’ll compare with mine

I noticed you said that your VAC Drop out is set at 60 VAC, mine is 80.

Westinghouse i4500 Generator | Good Sam Community

MNRon
Explorer
Jul 23, 2021
Itinerant1- thanks again for all of your help in understanding this (and 3 tons too). I spent more time on the phone again yesterday with another Magnum tech. He didn’t seem surprised, and pushed that the problem is I’m not using a generator that’s 2x the kW of the inverter!?!

It’s clear to me that the Magnum algorithm to accept incoming power integrity is not tolerant of the momentary slump that generators have under high current impulses. It also sounds like this design flaw is not limited to just Magnum. I’m a little surprised that they don’t seem to care, and don’t expect that people buy generators snd hybrid inverters assuming they play together better and load support is as simple as addition.

With your help I’ve purchased a larger genny, and turned my Magnum to optimize it’s performance in this respect. I’ll be adding soft starts and then expect I can improve the odds of running AC on the genny (through the Magnum; pass thru, or load support) to where it’s no longer an issue.

This forum is great, thanks again.
3_tons
Explorer III
Jul 23, 2021
With advice like “two times yada, yada” Sounds to me like the phone answering guy at the Maagnum is passing the buck…

My ProSine inverter is 2000w (4500 surge for 5 sec), and my genny is 2200w, but either on their own (including genny in Eco mode) will start and run an 11kbtu Coleman Mach1 p.s.without a hitch…

Note, the problem I WAS having only occurred when genny was in Eco mode while passing thru the smart inverter (whether inverter was in standby mode or off)…Regardless of programming the inverter was not happy…Thus the added ATS solution that ends all nuances and provides even greater operating latitude - the simultaneous use of air conditioner, microwave, etc…..

Either way (regardless how one might look at it…), the generator is on-line and assigned the same tasking (or LESS if operable in Eco), but with the added ATS, neutered of unnecessary proprietary software glitches…

At least from an experienced process point of view, that’s how I see it…

3 tons
pianotuna
Nomad III
Oct 10, 2021
MNRon wrote:

By playing around with Magnum control settings I can nurse the genny (with Magnum boost support) to start one AC once in a while (Magnum VAC dropout=60v, AC input limit=20A; manually start AC fan on low early; etc). Still have to futz with it a dozen times or so to get success. When running the Westinghouse shows it’s providing 2.3k power (AC, fan, converter).

Set the Magnum up to 37 amps input.

My Yamaha Iseb starts my single air conditioner reliably after it has warmed up and will do so in eco mode. The range of wattage starts at 1200 watts and goes up to 1900 watts. I have the Magnum set at 27 amps to allow the boost from the generator to work.

MNron I always see the red over load light on the Magnum remote--and that happened both before and after the microaire was added. In hind sight I would not buy the microaire.

I found out well after I purchased the Magnum that they don't recommend running an air conditioner from it. If my inverter/charger fails again (it caught on fire), I will move to Victron or Outback.

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