Lowering the voltage of a Honda 2000i inverter generator

So...I finally got a response from Magnum.  The first was that there must be something “wrong” with the Honda’s wave form”.   Followed by this, after I mentioned that the extension cord did the trick just fine.

”The resistance is causing some noise reduction because the voltage should not matter.  We accept from 80-145 vac on input sense transformer.  You may not be happy to know that some of those generators will connect just fine when others do not.  We had many customers with same issue so we rented that generator to test with our units.  The only problem was the one we rented worked just fine so nothing could be determined when testing.”

So, if this is the case, 1:  absent an Oscope, how do I test the wave form of an inverter genny? 2: how can I simulate what the cord is doing, absent a cord? 3: Is magnum tech support right, or are they blowing smoke?  I tend to think they are right, but I have no way of testing or modifying the genny that I know of.

T

Dave Angelini said:

I know you are remote. I have neighbor who will loan you a 2000i.
 Is there not a way to borrow one? The other way with winter coming (equinox is ticking) is to buy something else and sell the old one. Costco has yammies for $600 or so. Where did you get the 5% spec on the magnum?    Good luck

Dave..thanks for the offer.  This is, in fact a solution in search of a problem.  This genny/motor load config is only used in the summer, and only occasionally by people who use that cabin system only occasionally.  It has evolved since I electrified my Maytag wringer washing machine, which came with a B&S engine, that I had modified to run on a honda GX engine, and finally, converted it to OEM electric mount with a modern motor.  It runs just fine on 1 Eu1000i, but only when wired direct.  I went one step further, wired a dedicated outlet and switch for it form the main line, and it wouldn’t run through the inverter with the genny running.Hence the installation of the 2000i since I had it.  I am trying to create a seamless, one size fits all solution to this place when I am not here by KISS.  Using the 2000i allows the charger to charge at full amps, just right for the battery bank, all while powering any likely load.  I have guests run the genny once a week just to make sure the batteries get through bulk at least once a week.

So no, winter is not a problem,

Tony

PS.  The spec comes from the book, also on line, not just for this inverter, but for others as well, 120 VAC +-5%

T

The plot continues to thicken.  So I tired a pair of ferrite that I lying about.  I clamped then around a short feet cord to a outlet strip.  No charge.  I then wrapped 5’ of cord from the above outlet strip around an iron core.  No charge.  

Then things get interesting...again!  I plugged 50’ cord back into the genny and the line, with it coiled up in ~16” loose coil, and...it didn’t charge.  When I released the coil, and ran the cord out on the ground, it began to charge once again.  Then I hung it up in a 24” coil on the back wall of the lean to shed and once again it charged.

I’m guessing that as Magnum suggests it is a “noise issue”.  Keep those suggestions coming, I’ll try all of them to see if I can come up with a KISS solution that is “better” than my cord.

Thanks once again,

Tony

Looks like a pretty clean wave form to me...T

BB. said:

If you can find an old large computer system, ups, rack power supply, etc. And her an input line filter to clean up voltage spikes (high frequency spikes).

https://www.amazon.com/ac-power-line-filter/s?k=ac+power+line+filter

Not sure it would do anything, but if you can find a few cheap to try... Why not.

Bill

You know, I’ve turned up all manner of things searching around in the bush, from washing machines, (that find profiled here a number of years ago), to old Outboard motors (including one signed by Ole Evenrude!).to tractors, dump trucks, saw mill parts, steam driven pumps and winches.  I have always said that if you really needed it you could find it on this lake, but I am pretty confident that an old large computer system, or rack power supply is likely not to be had!


A bit of background might be in order.  This lake was logged in that 1880’s when the Canadian Pacific Railway touched the adjacent lake.  There was a steam donkey built on the portage between the two lakes to drag logs from our side, down to the other lake, then steam tugged them to the railhead. After the loggers left, the place was virtually abandoned until the 1920’s when a selection of fur trappers, hunting and fishing guides occupied outpost cabins on the lake, now accessible by the Canadian National Railway over a short portage on the opposite end.  A number of smaller logging and sawmill operations ran int he 1930’s and 40’s on a single track bush road that ran from the track about 20 km into the bush.

The only other private property of on the lake was a canoe tripping outpost camp that ran from ~1920-1975.  The RR stopped running so access was nearly impossible.  It wasn’t until ~1985 that a bush road connect our shore to the Hwy.  That property has been through a number of incarnations, and has gone back to being an outpost canoe tripping not for profit.  I have worked for most of those operations over the years.

Because non of these operations (camps/guides/loggers/sawmillers etc) ever had a road out, everything that ever came in, stayed!  Nothing ever left. This has been an on gong blessing and a curse.  I rarely lack for something to make something out of, but paring down the collection of junk has been a 30 year process...a bit at a time.

All that said, it wouldn’t REALLY surprise me to find an old computer or UPS system around here some where.

Tony