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Not to happy with Magnum.

J

Jack Rabbit Off Grid

Solar Enthusiast
Joined
Sep 6, 2021
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478
Not very happy with Magnum right now. I purchased a brand new 2021 MS-4448-PAE from AWS as a prewired kit On a mini Magnum panel. After getting it installed I tested everything and it all worked perfectly. Several weeks later I plugged in my generator to use it to charge my batteries and the charger didn’t work. Went though all the settings all looked good. Called tech support and he basically walked me though all the settings again and he said your charger quit working and to send it in to be repaired.

I’ve been calling and emailing Magnum for weeks to find out how to resolve this issue. CRICKETS! Sales rep for my state won’t even answer his phone. I leave messages and get no response. I called NAWS and they basically told me I’m SOL and I’m not the only person to call and complain. He claimed they are dropping the Magnum line and will start pushing Victron.

Warning to anyone that wants to buy a Magnum steer clear!
 
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Did you have a chance to check the Hz on the generator? It should be pretty close set to 60 Hz or the Magnum will not use it (you set Hz via generator engine governor/rpm)... You can use a Kill-A-Watt tester or many of the amp clamp meters or DVOMs that can read Hz...

Or did the charger initially work when you first installed it (when you said it worked perfectly)? It's still possible that maybe the generator rpm has changed a little bit... Something to confirm and rule out at any rate before moving on to other troubleshooting...

I currently have a Magnum 2812 and I like it just fine (of course I've never had to deal with their support dept like you)...

If you confirm it's broke and Magnum won't fix it, do you want to sell it?
 
Samsonite801 said:
Did you have a chance to check the Hz on the generator? It should be pretty close set to 60 Hz or the Magnum will not use it (you set Hz via generator engine governor/rpm)... You can use a Kill-A-Watt tester or many of the amp clamp meters or DVOMs that can read Hz...

Or did the charger initially work when you first installed it (when you said it worked perfectly)? It's still possible that maybe the generator rpm has changed a little bit... Something to confirm and rule out at any rate before moving on to other troubleshooting...

I currently have a Magnum 2812 and I like it just fine (of course I've never had to deal with their support dept like you)...

If you confirm it's broke and Magnum won't fix it, do you want to sell it?
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It’s not the generator or should I say generators. As I have tried 2. 1 Honda eu2000 and a Champion 3100 tested both right at 60hz. Yes it did work one time when I tested after I got done installing it. The chargers definitely not working As per the tech support guy.

And no I can’t sell it I just paid 5k for it.

Im going to start calling every day maybe several times a day.
 
NAWS also doesn't bother to respond when I point out to them that Magnum doesn't even respond to support inquiries when your inverter breaks.

Dead MS2024 stopped inverting when it was less than 2 years old.

Time to also drop vendors and distributors who sell Magnum for me.

EDIT: Magnum is extra disgusting because they tout their domestic build quality and support as a selling point to support the higher price.
 
Jack Rabbit Off Grid said:
It’s not the generator or should I say generators. As I have tried 2. 1 Honda eu2000 and a Champion 3100 tested both right at 60hz. Yes it did work one time when I tested after I got done installing it. The chargers definitely not working As per the tech support guy.

And no I can’t sell it I just paid 5k for it.

Im going to start calling every day maybe several times a day.
Click to expand...

Ouch 5k... Yeah, well I hope you get something figured out soon, good luck to ya mate...
 
Even if they don't get it fixed for you, it seems like spare parts are available for these. Perhaps it's just a board or something that could be replaced, I know it would suck if you had to pay for one, but at worse case maybe can fix it and sell it to try and recover some of the financial loss or something. Just trying to make it sound more hopeful for now.
 
Lilikoi_Heavy_Industries said:
NAWS also doesn't bother to respond when I point out to them that Magnum doesn't even respond to support inquiries when your inverter breaks.

Dead MS2024 stopped inverting when it was less than 2 years old.

Time to also drop vendors and distributors who sell Magnum for me.

EDIT: Magnum is extra disgusting because they tout their domestic build quality and support as a selling point to support the higher price.
Click to expand...
Lilikoi_Heavy_Industries said:
NAWS also doesn't bother to respond when I point out to them that Magnum doesn't even respond to support inquiries when your inverter breaks.

Dead MS2024 stopped inverting when it was less than 2 years old.

Time to also drop vendors and distributors who sell Magnum for me.

EDIT: Magnum is extra disgusting because they tout their domestic build quality and support as a selling point to support the higher price.
Click to expand...
When I spoke with the guy at NAWS he said they have no better luck contacting Magnum ether.

I found a guy a few towns away that is an authorized Magnum repair tech. He said he won’t fix any of there stuff anymore because it’s hard to get payed.
 
Jack Rabbit Off Grid said:
When I spoke with the guy at NAWS he said they have no better luck contacting Magnum ether.

I found a guy a few towns away that is an authorized Magnum repair tech. He said he won’t fix any of there stuff anymore because it’s hard to get payed.
Click to expand...
Wow, this is incredibly disappointing about Magnum.
 
Jack Rabbit Off Grid said:
Called tech support and he basically walked me though all the settings again and he said your charger quit working and to send it in to be repaired.
Click to expand...
Inverter is charger. MS-PAE are 240v/120v split phase inverters. If inverter works, charger works.

Both the generators are 120vac only inverter-generators. They have to connect L1 to neutral, or L2 to neutral. 240vac generators connect L1 to L2.
I think earlier Magnum models only allowed 120vac input via L1-N.

Some 120vac inverter-generators do not like having their neutral connected to ground case of generator.
 
RCinFLA said:
Inverter is charger. MS-PAE are 240v/120v split phase inverters. If inverter works, charger works.

Both the generators are 120vac only inverter-generators. They have to connect L1 to neutral, or L2 to neutral. 240vac generators connect L1 to L2.
I think earlier Magnum models only allowed 120vac input via L1-N.

Some 120vac inverter-generators do not like having their neutral connected to ground case of generator.
Click to expand...
There is an electrical path for the Generator input into the unit, if that path is compromised in some way, I'm going to guess inverter is not charger as much as you want inverter to be charger. I also believe there are electronics and control circuitry involved, which is probably the failure as you're pointing out?

I have a Trace SW 2512 sitting under the house. Just because it has a low frequency transformer doesn't mean it still works.
 
I started another thread way back but forgot about it. Also for some reason the notification system quit telling me there were reply’s to the tread. I’ve noticed on other treads also.

Someone figured it out. It’s a voltage sensor transformer mounted on the ac in board. I’m going to call the guy a few towns away Monday and see if I can just pay him to fix it. Then since he is an authorized repair facility for them I’ll just send Magnum the bill.
 
Called all over the United States today looking for a spare inverter. Nothing! Can’t find a single one. Some websites say in stock but they really are not. So I ended up preordering one from a vendor thats in my state. He told me he has 26 on order since October of last year.

He also told me some of the reasons why Magnum sucks so bad. Short on staff, unable to locate parts to assemble said inverters, Incompetent staff. I told him I understood this. BUT! Call people back and explain this. Don’t just ignore them. When we the people that purchased what we thought was a tier 1 product with tier 1 service for a tier 1 price deserves better treatment. Here is the big kicker! He told me that they are also in the middle of moving production to Mexico!

I told him Magnum’s starting to get a bad reputation on the forums. He said he knows and reads them and has also forwarded this information to his regional sales rep. He also went on the explain that he receives at least one call a day for the same reason I called.

I he told me that whom ever I purchased from should call them and get this resolved. I told him they now have not returned my calls In days. so in the long run he said he’ll try to call His sales rep and see what they can do. I told him I still want the new one for a spare if he can get me one.
 
Jack Rabbit Off Grid said:
Called all over the United States today looking for a spare inverter. Nothing! Can’t find a single one. Some websites say in stock but they really are not. So I ended up preordering one from a vendor thats in my state. He told me he has 26 on order since October of last year.

He also told me some of the reasons why Magnum sucks so bad. Short on staff, unable to locate parts to assemble said inverters, Incompetent staff. I told him I understood this. BUT! Call people back and explain this. Don’t just ignore them. When we the people that purchased what we thought was a tier 1 product with tier 1 service for a tier 1 price deserves better treatment. Here is the big kicker! He told me that they are also in the middle of moving production to Mexico!

I told him Magnum’s starting to get a bad reputation on the forums. He said he knows and reads them and has also forwarded this information to his regional sales rep. He also went on the explain that he receives at least one call a day for the same reason I called.

I he told me that whom ever I purchased from should call them and get this resolved. I told him they now have not returned my calls In days. so in the long run he said he’ll try to call His sales rep and see what they can do. I told him I still want the new one for a spare if he can get me one.
Click to expand...

Yeah it sounds like you'd definitely want to keep a spare around.

I have my 2800w 12v Magnum in my motorhome now, and it already has a Magnum remote mounted in the kitchen, so I have often times wondered if it ever blew out, what would I do?

Replace with another Magnum since it already has the remote in the kitchen, or what? Then I look up some prices. Magnum MS2812 = $2064 vs a Victron Multiplus 3000 = $1388

I just can't see keeping the Magnum, I guess I could hang a picture over where the remote goes in the kitchen. It's a shame because I had kind of liked the Magnum thing there for awhile. Mine still works now, at any rate (knock on wood)...

Now, for on my 48v stuff I had decided to go with MPP Solar LV6548s (which I already purchased awhile ago, sitting in storage unit til I get the structures built on the property)...
 
ever since magnum got bought up by sensata they have been trending downhill. I have two of the 4448's and an MS2012 and until my first lightening strike had absolutely no issues, since then I have had the same charging board issue crop up twice.

one of the other forum members figured out that it was the small transformer on the charge board that let the inverter know if it had qualified power and that it basically burned up... he changed just the transformer coil for about 15 USD vice the entire card for 600ish. and got it to work properly.

diysolarforum.com

Magnum MS4448PAE charger quit working.

Don't have pict of board but is located in AC input section near connect relay. It is connected between AC input and connect relays so it can read AC input voltage and phase to provide info for inverter controller to synchronize to AC input before it closes connect relay putting inverter in...
diysolarforum.com diysolarforum.com

read the entire thread of course.
 
Jack Rabbit Off Grid said:
Called all over the United States today looking for a spare inverter. Nothing! Can’t find a single one. Some websites say in stock but they really are not. So I ended up preordering one from a vendor thats in my state. He told me he has 26 on order since October of last year.

He also told me some of the reasons why Magnum sucks so bad. Short on staff, unable to locate parts to assemble said inverters, Incompetent staff. I told him I understood this. BUT! Call people back and explain this. Don’t just ignore them. When we the people that purchased what we thought was a tier 1 product with tier 1 service for a tier 1 price deserves better treatment. Here is the big kicker! He told me that they are also in the middle of moving production to Mexico!

I told him Magnum’s starting to get a bad reputation on the forums. He said he knows and reads them and has also forwarded this information to his regional sales rep. He also went on the explain that he receives at least one call a day for the same reason I called.

I he told me that whom ever I purchased from should call them and get this resolved. I told him they now have not returned my calls In days. so in the long run he said he’ll try to call His sales rep and see what they can do. I told him I still want the new one for a spare if he can get me one.
Click to expand...
Please tell me your not spending money on another of the same brand?
 
73powerstroke said:
Please tell me your not spending money on another of the same brand?
Click to expand...
I’m already so deep in what I have and it all setup. The inverter is 2k and the rest of the panels and breakers controllers and what nots are 3k. If I buy another brand I would have to replace everything at another 5k. Everything I have now is only 6 months old. And who is going to buy my old stuff with a broken inverter for any decent money?
 
Last edited:
ken morgan said:
ever since magnum got bought up by sensata they have been trending downhill. I have two of the 4448's and an MS2012 and until my first lightening strike had absolutely no issues, since then I have had the same charging board issue crop up twice.

one of the other forum members figured out that it was the small transformer on the charge board that let the inverter know if it had qualified power and that it basically burned up... he changed just the transformer coil for about 15 USD vice the entire card for 600ish. and got it to work properly.

diysolarforum.com

Magnum MS4448PAE charger quit working.

Don't have pict of board but is located in AC input section near connect relay. It is connected between AC input and connect relays so it can read AC input voltage and phase to provide info for inverter controller to synchronize to AC input before it closes connect relay putting inverter in...
diysolarforum.com diysolarforum.com

read the entire thread of course.
Click to expand...
I actually started that tread. For some reason the notifications did not let me know. Yes I have read the whole thing. If it comes down to it I will end up doing that after I find a spare inverter.
 
Jack Rabbit Off Grid said:
I’m already so deep in what I have and it all setup. The inverter is 2k and the rest of the panels and breakers controllers and what nots are 3k. If I buy another brand I would have to replace everything at another 5k. Everything I have now is only 6 months old. And who is going to buy my old stuff with a broken inverter for any decent money?
Click to expand...
Why can't you just get a different company all in one and use what you have? Or do you have solar panel optimizers that only work with that one?
 
73powerstroke said:
Why can't you just get a different company all in one and use what you have? Or do you have solar panel optimizers that only work with that one?
Click to expand...
I’m pretty much out of wall space in my utility‘s shed. I have the inverter on a breaker panel and a sub panel along with one charge controller soon to be two. 800 lbs of batteries and rack along with pumps, plumbing and a 500 gallon cistern tank. All in a 8x8 insulated shed. One wall is completely taken up with a small double pain house window and a house entry door.

Plus I’m not really a fan of the all in ones. Look at where I’m at now. Inverter/charger and the charger don’t work. It’s just my luck I’m pretty use to it. Also I know the Magnum controls/programming like the back of my hand.

I should have thought this though a bit better in the planing stage. But if the inverter would just work like a tier 1 inverter should I’d be fine.

I use to own my neighbor’s house. It has a 12 year old MS-4024-PAE on a Midnight solar panel. Zero issues in 12 years. So when I purchased the 20 acres across the mountain side and setup my new home I thought. I had such great luck with that old 4024 I’m going 48v lithium with a 4448 and pulling out all the stops With big 250v Victron charge controllers And 5 x the panels.

During all this typing I just thought to my self. Once I find a spare and get this one repaired I might be able to squeeze the two together with the Magnum right hand expansion kit I’m headed to the shed with a tape measure once I hit post.
 
Jack Rabbit Off Grid said:
I’m pretty much out of wall space in my utility‘s shed. I have the inverter on a breaker panel and a sub panel along with one charge controller soon to be two. 800 lbs of batteries and rack along with pumps, plumbing and a 500 gallon cistern tank. All in a 8x8 insulated shed. One wall is completely taken up with a small double pain house window and a house entry door.

Plus I’m not really a fan of the all in ones. Look at where I’m at now. Inverter/charger and the charger don’t work. It’s just my luck I’m pretty use to it. Also I know the Magnum controls/programming like the back of my hand.

I should have thought this though a bit better in the planing stage. But if the inverter would just work like a tier 1 inverter should I’d be fine.

I use to own my neighbor’s house. It has a 12 year old MS-4024-PAE on a Midnight solar panel. Zero issues in 12 years. So when I purchased the 20 acres across the mountain side and setup my new home I thought. I had such great luck with that old 4024 I’m going 48v lithium with a 4448 and pulling out all the stops With big 250v Victron charge controllers And 5 x the panels.

During all this typing I just thought to my self. Once I find a spare and get this one repaired I might be able to squeeze the two together with the Magnum right hand expansion kit I’m headed to the shed with a tape measure once I hit post.
Click to expand...
I think its like everything else, they used to be amazing. Even midnite solar put out a diy series all in one that was rebadged mpp soalr or powmr type deal. Companies build a name and reputation and then they get lazy. They cut corners, and focus on $ and not the customers that put them on the map.
 
On a side note, one thing I don't like about my Magnum's internal charger function, is when I start the generator to charge, the inverter section automatically goes into bypass, so then the generator has to run all the normal output loads + the charger too (requires bigger generator which can meet both demands).

My most recent solution is to just use two standalone chargers to charge the batteries directly from generator, so the inverter will stay on like normal, and charge that way, alongside.

I will also be doing this with my final home 48v system too, since the MPP Solar LV6548 all-in-ones I have also must go into bypass mode in order to charge the batteries from AC input (is not able to charge while 'inverting'). So I bought 2 AIMS 120v 48v chargers to wire in, one on each leg of generator, so i can just add supplemental charging on my own circuit to the batteries.

Perhaps at worse case, you could just buy some 48v chargers and add them in and not use the AC input on the 4448 at all. Or so you can just buy some time and fix it later...
 
Samsonite801 said:
On a side note, one thing I don't like about my Magnum's internal charger function, is when I start the generator to charge, the inverter section automatically goes into bypass, so then the generator has to run all the normal output loads + the charger too (requires bigger generator which can meet both demands).

My most recent solution is to just use two standalone chargers to charge the batteries directly from generator, so the inverter will stay on like normal, and charge that way, alongside.

I will also be doing this with my final home 48v system too, since the MPP Solar LV6548 all-in-ones I have also must go into bypass mode in order to charge the batteries from AC input (is not able to charge while 'inverting'). So I bought 2 AIMS 120v 48v chargers to wire in, one on each leg of generator, so i can just add supplemental charging on my own circuit to the batteries.

Perhaps at worse case, you could just buy some 48v chargers and add them in and not use the AC input on the 4448 at all. Or so you can just buy some time and fix it later...
Click to expand...
Both my 4024 and 4448 have separate bypass breakers and will charge while inverting. I don’t think we ever bypassed the 4024 in 12 years. In fact I just showed my neighbor that function last night because he is charging with a 10k generator. We always used a Honda eu2000 with the charger settings at 30%.

I’m currently charging with my Eg4 18 amp stand alone charger and a Propane powered Honda Eu2000.
 
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Jack Rabbit Off Grid said:
Both my 4024 and 4448 have separate bypass breakers and will charge while inverting. I don’t think we ever bypassed the 4024 in 12 years. In fact I just showed my neighbor that function last night because he is charging with a 10k generator. We always used a Honda eu2000 with the charger settings at 30%.
Click to expand...
I dont trust the output of half the home owner generators out there. I've seen some pretty nasty stuff
Infact I would gamble to say your Gen fried the inverter.
 
Jack Rabbit Off Grid said:
Both my 4024 and 4448 have separate bypass breakers and will charge while inverting. I don’t think we ever bypassed the 4024 in 12 years. In fact I just showed my neighbor that function last night because he is charging with a 10k generator. We always used a Honda eu2000 with the charger settings at 30%.

I’m currently charging with my Eg4 18 amp stand alone charger and a Propane powered Honda Eu2000.
Click to expand...

I only can say that on my MS2812, the display shows 'inverting' and shows how many amps draw on the battery side (I can only run one of my roof air conditioner units while inverting, since it's a 2800w inverter), then when I start the generator and the AC power input kicks on, the 'inverting' on the display goes away, then says Absorption, or Float charge or something (while amps indicates amps charging on battery), and the reason I know it is in bypass, is because while in this mode I can run both roof air conditioner units at same time (since my genset is an Onan 6300w), and when I turn them on I can hear them bog down the generator for a second until they stabilize. I am not manually flipping any bypass switch or anything. The Magnum just acts like an ATS in that sense. It uses the same mosfets for inverting and battery charging (like so many inverters), that it cannot do both at the same time.
 
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