Video: Installing a Magnum Hybrid Inverter in our Airstream

[themoreweexplor]

We just got done installing a Magnum Hybrid Inverter in our Airstream. It was such a relief to find that chase under the floor, it made the install SOOOO much easier.

Install Video

[BoonHauler]

Sheetmetal is not going to work as a heat sink. If you plan on keeping the inverter in it's current location you'll need positive ventilation.

[themoreweexplor]

GordonThree wrote:
Might be worth it to replace that one solid panel next to the electrical box with a vent grate and possibly a fan on a temperature switch. Keep that expensive investment cool and happy.

That's a good idea!

Thanks for the input everyone! I may consider mounting it on a piece of sheetmetal as well to serve as a heat sink. A fan blowing air around when it gets hot is a great idea, i'll probably end up doing that.

[pianotuna]

My Magnum has clearance on all sides. It has shut down from overheating once. I'd be going to an open grill or even adding fan(s) to evacuate the heat.

[westend]

FWIW, I made cabinet doors and covered certain panel inserts in my trailer with outdoor furniture cloth. It has a coarse weave to allow for air movement and drainage. It was cheap from a local cloth outlet. These plastic materials are available in a variety of colors and styles. I know your Missus is a whiz with cloth (wheel covers) so cutting a new cabinet door panel would be easy.

I'm with the others on affording good ventilation in that space. You really can't have enough.

[GordonThree]

Might be worth it to replace that one solid panel next to the electrical box with a vent grate and possibly a fan on a temperature switch. Keep that expensive investment cool and happy.

[BoonHauler]

themoreweexplore wrote:

BoonHauler wrote:

How big of a bank are you planning (amp hour) on?

My only comment on your installation is that you're short on clearance for ventilation around the inverter, Mr. Magnum said that was okay? ...:h

Off the record, he said more clearance would be ideal, but he wasn't worried about it.

We are shooting for a 500-600Ah lithium battery bank.

For the record I'd disagree. If you're intending to charge your bank with the inverter you're going to build up a lot of heat in that little compartment.

I'd have to think at the very least you'll shorten the life of the inverter if not having some issues with performance.

Just my 2 cents, good luck.

[themoreweexplor]

BoonHauler wrote:

How big of a bank are you planning (amp hour) on?

My only comment on your installation is that you're short on clearance for ventilation around the inverter, Mr. Magnum said that was okay? ...:h

Off the record, he said more clearance would be ideal, but he wasn't worried about it.

We are shooting for a 500-600Ah lithium battery bank.

[BoonHauler]

themoreweexplore wrote:

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

Scott from magnum almost talked us into a 48v system, but we chickened out.

If I had it to do over again I'd go with a 24 VDC battery bank. That MSH 4024 looks like the way to roll.

How big of a bank are you planning (amp hour) on?

My only comment on your installation is that you're short on clearance for ventilation around the inverter, Mr. Magnum said that was okay? ...:h

[themoreweexplor]

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

Scott from magnum almost talked us into a 48v system, but we chickened out.

[GordonThree]

pianotuna wrote:
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.

I thought about 48v when I built my system, wiring my 4x G31's in series would have been easier than parallel... but some of my DC loads are pretty big, and the cash outlay for a DC-DC converter that handled the serious wattage ended up being too much, plus I didn't want to mess with balance in the bank by just tapping 12v off one of the batteries... So, 12v it is 🙂

[pianotuna]

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.

[themoreweexplor]

We just wanted as many transfer switches as possible. 😉

[GordonThree]

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.

[themoreweexplor]

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.