Magnum Energy Inverter Help - RV-Dreams Community Forum

tallan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Magnum Energy Inverter Help

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm confused by your post. "Shore power is powering the coach, but not showing passing thru the inverter"?

Questions:

1 - Are you sure shore power is good? Try switching to 30 amp plug as a test.
2 - What works or doesn't work in the coach? It's important to know if 12VDC items are working, and what (if any) 120VAC items are working.
3 - Check for breakers on the inverter itself. Mine has 2 pop type breakers that pop out when tripped.

tallan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks NorCal Dan, yes, I wrote the post and I am confused as well. I have tried everything you mentioned, even read how to reset an inverter and nothing. I know this sounds strange to have shore power/generator power coming into the coach and yet the inverter shows no AC in and yet all power works except the two TVs and one outlet under the passenger seat. If you engage the inverter, meaning if I invert power, the TV's and outlet work fine. We have never used the inverter because we are nearly always using shore/generator power. We do not use only battery power very often. The question then is why would the inverter suddenly stop showing AC power in and need to turn the inverter on to turn on the TVs, this has never been the case. I am very confused too. Thanks again, Troy

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Have you checked your GFI outlets? Usually one in or near the bathroom and sometimes near the outside water compartment. It sounds like a circuit breaker, but doesn't explain why they work on inverter power.

When my coach blew the fuse to my water pump it also killed my magnum power panel. I didn't notice it anything ac powered in the coach was working or not...I just replaced the fuse and was back in business. Unfortunately my coach is still at the dealers getting a new Norcold installed so I can't check it out.

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Likely the internal transfer switch failed in the inverter. It failed in the position that allows DC to be inverted and pass thru. Probably only the TVs and a few outlets are on the inverter, which is why you see the behaviour you describe.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Good point Jack. Does the microwave or refrigerator work on just shore power? I know those appliances work on inverter in our coach, so it might help narrow down the problem. I wonder how hard it would be to bypass the inverter. I know our Magnum is the heart of the entire system, but maybe they built in a way to bypass the inverter. Have you talked to the Magnum folks about your problem? I called them once for a problem I was having and they were extremely knowledgeable and were fantastic troubleshooting.

tallan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks everyone! These are all great points. I will digest these great ideas and report my findings. I will try and call magnum tomorrow as well. Thank you again everyone, your expertise is amazing and welcomed. - Troy

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

It is easy to bypass the inverter if required. But you MUST understand 120v power in order to do so. Simply remove the input and output AC lines from the inverter and place them in a junction box and splice black to black, white to white, and ground to ground with wire nuts. Put a cover on the box and you have bypassed the inverter. But DO NOT attempt this unless you know what you are doing. And make sure you do all three wires in the lines.