Portable generator and off-grid Inverter/Charger

Hill_Country · August 2014

I could use some advice/assistance with understanding how to limit the maximum load that a portable generator would "see" when you connect the generator to an off-grid Inverter/Charger. Specifically we have a Yamaha EF2000iS portable gas generator (1600 watts typical, w/ surge to 2000 watts) and would like to be able to connect it to our off-grid Magnum 4400 watt Inverter/Charger (MS4448PAE) that is attached to a MMP (Mini Magnum Panel) setup to help charge our batteries during cloudy weather and/or winter. I realize that this may seem like an undersized generator relative to the size of the inverter...the generator is not intended to supply full off-grid house power, nor is intended to quickly charge the batteries...rather it is a very limited backup.

The part I'm getting confused about is the following...how do you control what load the generator sees? In other words, I'd like it so that the generator runs either on Eco-mode, or runs near, or at, its stated power output of 1600 watts, and does NOT get pushed to its surge watt rating of 2000 watts? Is this a setting in the Magnum Inverter (MS4448PAE) that will control this (a current limit of some sorts)? And when I do design the branch generator input circuit, I will make sure that the wire/receptacle/breaker are all rated appropriately for the setup. My fear is that the Inverter will try to push the generator to its max while trying to charge the batteries.

Cariboocoot · August 2014

Re: Portable generator and off-grid Inverter/Charger

This is a matter of programming the inverter to the current limit of the generator. I'm not sure how Magnum does it, but there should be a setting for maximum AC IN Amps and another for maximum charge Amps (I think they do this as a % rather than an Amps setting).

Unfortunately Magnum, like Xantrex, whacks the generator with full current demand when starting charging rather than ramping up from zero the way the Outback does.

If the current demand (combined loads and charging) exceeds the programmed maximum value the inverter should drop the gen and go to invert mode. After a time it will try to pick up the gen again. If the total current still exceeds the maximum you will get a cycling of switching back and forth between invert and charge modes. If that happens you need to reduce either the charge current or reduce some loads.

vtmaps · August 2014

Re: Portable generator and off-grid Inverter/Charger

Cariboocoot wrote: »

This is a matter of programming the inverter to the current limit of the generator. I'm not sure how Magnum does it, but there should be a setting for maximum AC IN Amps and another for maximum charge Amps

I have a friend with a Magnum inverter/charger who purchased a honda eu2000. I helped her to get it set up. I wanted to draw no more than 12 amps from the Honda. I found that I had to set the Magnum's maximum AC in to 6 amps, but the magnum then drew 12 amps from the honda.

The Magnum can accept either 120 volts or 240 volts from a generator. I was feeding it 120 volts from the Honda... I suspect that has something to do with it drawing twice as many amps as I expected.

Cariboocoot wrote: »

Unfortunately Magnum, like Xantrex, whacks the generator with full current demand when starting charging rather than ramping up from zero the way the Outback does.

That's not the experience I had... once I figured out to set the AC in to 6 amps I was able to use the Honda with its eco-throttle on. Every system has its quirks, and I have only played with a Magnum once... I'm no authority on this matter... YMMV

--vtMaps

Hill_Country · August 2014

Re: Portable generator and off-grid Inverter/Charger

Cariboocoots and vtmaps...y'all are awesome, thanks!

With your suggestion of the "AC-in" setting I was able to find an explanation in the ME-ARC (i.e. the remote control) manual. The ME-ARC is the remote control for the Magnum Inverter (it's optional, but required...I couldn't imagine trying to operate the inverter without the ME-ARC product). Anyway, in the manual for the ME-ARC it describes the AC In amperage setting. I'm glad I asked too, because the default setting is 30amps...that would not be good for the lil' Yamaha EF2000is!!

And vtmaps...the issue with the current being half of the expected amount comes up in the ME-ARC manual on page 23; which says this regarding the AC In setting in that...

"This setting will control the input current differently depend-
ing on the inverter/charger model and AC input wiring configuration
selected for your particular model. ME, MS and RD models have 2 AC
inputs, HOT IN 1 and HOT IN 2. AC Input Amps is only monitored on
HOT IN 1 on these models when wired as dual-in/dual-out configura-
tion. On these models, if single-in/single-out configuration is selected
and HOT IN 1 and HOT IN 2 are jumped together, then you should set
the AC Input Amps to 1/2 the input breaker size, as 1/2 the current
will pass through HOT IN 1 and HOT IN 2 simultaneously.
If MS-AE or MS-PAE models are used, these models have HOT IN 1
and HOT IN 2 and the current on both inputs are monitored. Set the
AC Input Amps to match the input breaker size on these models.
" - Magnum Energy ME-ARC Remote Control Owner's Manual, Page 23, 2010. Magnum Energy Inc.

Cariboocoot · August 2014

Re: Portable generator and off-grid Inverter/Charger

There's lots of good information in manuals.
For some reason I find it hard to remember the details of every one of the several thousand different inverters/charge controllers/PV panels/batteries out there. Must be getting old or something.

Portable generator and off-grid Inverter/Charger

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