Losing time with Magnum 4448

Dapdan

Hello all,

I have a magnum installed at my residence and another at a client and they both loose about 1 min per day. Has anyone else experience this and is there some thing else that can be done about it. It is not the digital clock because I had a different PSW installed at both locations and the clock keep perfect time previously. One was an Apollo 4048 and the other was an Schneider SW4048.

Cheers...
Damani

BB.

Re: Losing time with Magnum 4448

1 minute per day / (60 min per hour * 24 hours per day) = 0.0007 = 0.07% error

That is probably is to be expected accuracy of 60 Hz for the inverter.

If that, for example was an old Xantrex SW inverter, the spec. was +/- 0.04% (crystal regulated)

For an MA4448PAW, the specification is 60 Hz ± 0.1 Hz. Or:

0.1 Hz/ 60 Hz = 0.00167 = 0.2 %

So--Well within the specifications for the inverter.

Usually, better off with a simple clock that uses its own crystal. Or get one of the "atomic clocks" that sync with:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_signal

You are just not going to get the long term accuracy that you would from 60 Hz line frequency (line frequency can drift during the day as utility load vary, but the utility usually tries to bring it back to "zero" at the end of the day).

-Bill

waynefromnscanada

Re: Losing time with Magnum 4448

I agree with BB. To take that further, I never expect an affordable consumer inverter to provide the accuracy required to keep perfect time on an electric clock. Knowing it's not going to happen, I don't use such clocks. If I were ever to get an inverter that had such accuracy, I'd consider it a total fluke, an accident.

Cariboocoot

Re: Losing time with Magnum 4448

Utility power often isn't that accurate either. Usually they keep track of the frequency shifts and adjust so that it averages out.

But not all the companies bother.

Dapdan

Re: Losing time with Magnum 4448

In other words...take what you get with high quality consumer grade inverters with respect to time drift on hz dependent clocks. I have found that with all of the inverters that I have used including the cheaper go power and xantrex rv type inverters digital clocks kept the right time. The magnum seems to be the exception as oppose to the norm for PSW. My limited experience with different PSW inverters seem not to be pointing towards "luck" or "accident" when it comes to keeping the right time and I can't change the crystal in my microwave or stove. I have been living with it but I asked the question because my client did and I could not give her an answer.

Cheer...
Damani

Vic

Re: Losing time with Magnum 4448

None of the off-grid inverters keep reasonably accurate time, it is NOT their primary job.

AND, keep in mind that the good quality Inverter/Chargers will need to sync their AC waveforms to Gensets, on occasion. This means that that could introduce some additional errors, especially if the genset is used frequently.

We use a number of battery-operated Quartz clocks, and "Atomic" (WWVB-synced) clocks most places. FWIW, Opinions, Vic