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Inverter failure, heat in enclosure

Yahoo Message Number: 91051
My 2 year old ME 2800 psw inverter has failed. After some over-the-phone diagnostics with Magnum Energy, they say failure of the FET board, most likely due to heat. So now I need to find someone who will R&R the thing in the very tight space it is installed and will work with my extended warranty company, Cornerstone.
I am concerned about heat in that compartment (seems a pretty dumb place to locate the inverter...engine nearby, muffler below it). The compartment does have two fans but even with those running full blast, on a 74 degree day, I measured 125 F in the compartment and that was after I opened the door.
I am curious if anyone here with the same or similar set up has done anything extra to provide more cooling/air flow to that space. I have considered cutting a hole in the bottom of the area which would allow air to flow from the open (and in my case, empty) battery space below. I am not sure if water spray would enter since that area is near the rear wheel. I have also considered cutting an opening in the compartment door and installing a fan on the inside with some stainless louvers on the exterior. Again, would not want water to enter the compartment when running in the rain.
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/photos/albums/589515332/lightbox/87125283

Re: Inverter failure, heat in enclosure

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 91325
Gary,

Have you done anything to alleviate the heat issue?
I replaced my Xantrex with a Magnum MS2812 (same as yours I believe). I looked at your pictures and while my unit is sitting on the bottom of the enclosure, it looks pretty much like yours - stuffed full! The layout of my enclosure looks the same as yours.
We just did our first full trip with the new Samsung refer and MS2812 inverter. I checked the compartment a few times and found it very hot. The temp readout on the Magnum control panel showed 136°, which it too hot I think. I really don't want to have an early failure on the Magnum, so I am going to have to do something to move the heat out. I'm thinking of a 12v fan pushing out to the left to the battery side, with some sort of a baffle to prevent any water from getting in. Hopefully there would be enough holes and leakage to provide makeup air to the space and keep the static pressure low.
I am not sure how to control it though. I wonder if the MS2812 has any contacts that could control the fan when it is charging or inverting? I also thought about a simple temperature control that would run the fan above a certain temp. I would probably hook it up to the house batteries.
The ideal scenario would be to move the inverter to a more suitable location, but keeping the cables to the batteries short. Not sure where this would be.

Thoughts? Has anyone done this?
Dan

2006 Allure 430 with tag
#31344

Re: Inverter failure, heat in enclosure

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 91328
Dan, I left my coach at a local RV shop this AM for R&R of the inverter. They have worked on CC's before and have replaced several inverters. Their comment was why would a coach costing so much and with so much available space have an inverter jammed in that little space with so little ventilation. I agree with them.
My observation is that the Magnum is mounted differently than the original Xantrex and the exhaust fan is working against the Magnum. Mounted like it is now, the inverter intake fan needs to pull air into the side where the battery cables connect. That is near the CC-installed fan which is pulling air away from the inverter intake and sucking it out of the compartment. I believe the exhaust fan prevents air intake to the inverter. The inverter exhaust fan is blowing out the opposite side and there is no exit there for the hot exhausted air. I have now drilled two large holes in the panel opposite the inverter exhaust and plan to install a 120 CFM fan just outside those holes to help exhaust the hot air coming off the inverter. I have also asked the shop who will R&R the inverter to rotate the existing exhaust fan, reversing it so it will bring air into the enclosure. That cooler air should feed the inverter intake fan.
I am hoping this will work. Currently, temps in the inverter enclosure run 125F.

Gary

Re: Inverter failure, heat in enclosure

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 91352
I have had the Magnum 2800 installed now for about 5 years and have been in some pretty extreme temps with no issues. Have any other Magnum owners had a heat issue?

Dan 2006 Allure 31348 C-9

Re: Inverter failure, heat in enclosure

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 91354
Gary

My Magnum was a direct replacement for the Xantex ie exact same location. Insetalled by OMC so the tech's are all extremely qualified and knowledgeable with CC rigs.

Dan 2006 Allure 31348 C-9
 

Re: Inverter failure, heat in enclosure

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 91360
Dan, while my compartment gets hot, I also wonder if I just got unlucky and have a bad inverter (at least bad FET board as Magnum has suggested). Their install instructions are confusing. In one section entitled 'cooling' the manual states the inverter should be installed in a space where ambient temps will not exceed 77F. That seems entirely unrealistic considering most RV inverters I have seen are installed in exterior compartments that will never be cooler than ambient temps and will like be hotter.
In another section entitled 'ventilation,' the manual says if the inverter is installed in an enclosed area, there must be ventilation of at least 100CFM so temps will not rise more than 68F. I asked Magnum Energy if that meant 68F more than ambient temps? They never gave me a definitive answer. If that means 68F over ambient temps and you are traveling in 90F weather, that would suggest the inverter should tolerate temps of up 158F.

Gary

From: Dan Fahrion

To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 11:46 AM Subject: RE: [Country-Coach-Owners] RE: Inverter failure, heat in enclosure

I have had the Magnum 2800 installed now for about 5 years and have been in some pretty extreme temps with no issues. Have any other Magnum owners had a heat issue?

Dan 2006 Allure 31348 C-9