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Topic: Advice on swapping Magnum for old Heart Freedom 25 (Read 1339 times) previous topic - next topic
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Advice on swapping Magnum for old Heart Freedom 25

Yahoo Message Number: 101508
I know several people have upgraded to the Magnum inverter.  I'd like to do that too.  However, most of the posts seem to be about swapping the Magnum for recent Xantrex devices rather than the older Heart Freedom 25's.  If one has the Xantrex, it is a relatively simple swap since the form factor and wiring are nearly the same.  However the older Freedom 25 is a different shape, and the wire connections appear to be on different sides from the connections on the new box.

Does anyone have any experience swapping out the Freedom 25 for the Magnum?  I'd like to hear advice if someone has experience doing it.

Thanks

-Skip Saunders-
2000 Magnum 9778

Re: Advice on swapping Magnum for old Heart Freedom 25

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 101518
Skip,

I swapped my Heart 25 for a Magnum 2812. I had a shop do the actual work so I can't be a lot of help with technical questions. I don't believe there were any big issues making the change out. The rack had to be extended a couple of inches to accommodate the Magnum. As I recall all they did was add a piece of angle which allowed them to bolt the angle to the old rack and gave them the additional width of the angle to bolt down the right side of the Magnum. I had a automatic generator start unit added also and that appears to have been the biggest time kill in running the wires for that up into the bedroom. The necessary wires were already in the bedroom on the generator start panel by the bed. I had all the extra accessories added with the exception of the Echo Charger equivalent as I had recently replaced the Echo Charger. No new wire needed to run to the front remote as the old telephone wire worked fine after putting a new connector on the front end after reversing 2 wires. The Magnum has worked flawlessly.

Dan

2000 Magna #5788
Dan Siedschlag
2000 Magna #5788

Re: Advice on swapping Magnum for old Heart Freedom 25

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 101522
I just switched to a Magnum 2812 and it wasn't too bad of a job.

One thing is the Heart Freedom battery cables were longer then needed and connected inside the unit so I had new cables made that were the correct length. I added the battery monitor at the same time so needed to add a shunt into the system so that needed a new cable made. I found a local truck service company that could make the new battery cables I needed. The only mistake I made was the telephone cable going to the inverter switch on the Heart was the same polarity as the Magnum needed, I thought they needed to be changes so I did that before trying it. I ended up putting it back the way it was and worked fine. The other issue was the Heart had a line 1 and line 2 going out to the AC circuits, on the 2812 I ended up putting both on the some output. It has (2) outputs but it looks like it needs to be a higher amperage circuit going in that I did not have time to change. We were in the middle of getting ready to move out of the house and go full-time and of course I was outside working and it decided to pour down rain for a few days straight on me. All in all not a bad job and if it didn't rain it would have been a lot better.

Bob Stockholm

2000 Intrigue 11075

Re: Advice on swapping Magnum for old Heart Freedom 25

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 101525
Skip,

The swap out should go fairly smooth, the cable ends for the direct connection to the battery's may need to be changed and that would be to a 4OT connector with a 3/8" opening to better fit on the Magnum inverter. make sure you have the earth ground connected to the inverter case.
The 110AC in put and out put wires will need rerouted to better fit in the Magnum, also remember to mount the inverter so you can be able to get to the breakers along the side of the inverter. the remote cable that you have in there now will have to be changed the wires there i think go to a Link 2000 and thats a different form of communication than the magnum Remote also suggest installing the Battery monitor Kit (BMK) to see State of charge (SOC) and possibly the Auto Gen start (AGS) if you do a lot of boon docking. feel free to contact me if you need any advice.
Good Luck
Bob Vinson

2002 Allure 30734

Owner of RCV Custom Coach Service

Re: Advice on swapping Magnum for old Heart Freedom 25

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 101526
Thanks Dan,

On the Freedom 25, the circuit breaker buttons were on the front, but on the Magnum the circuit breaker buttons are on the side.  In the new configuration, is it easy for you to see the circuit breaker buttons on the Magnum box?  ... (I know that those circuit breaker buttons have never in 15 yrs popped on my Freedom 25, so perhaps access to the circuit breakers are not important... )

Thanks for the reply,
Skip Saunders
2000 Magnum 5778

Re: Advice on swapping Magnum for old Heart Freedom 25

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 101527
Thanks for the reply Bob, that was very helpful information.  I am going to add shunts for the monitoring the different battery packs too.  So, I'll have to modify the battery cable configurations a bit ... but it was interesting to hear about the telephone cable compatibility.

Thanks
-Skip-

2000 Magna 5778

(one of these days I'll learn to type)

Re: Advice on swapping Magnum for old Heart Freedom 25

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 101528
Thanks, Bob

You comment about access to the circuit breakers.  That worries me a bit too.  Any advice on how to make them accessible?.... (Do I need to make a custom mounting plate so the Magnum is installed at an angle in the bay, or should I try to mount the Magnum at 90 degrees from the way the Freedom was mounted?)

Thanks
-skip-

2000 Magna 5778

Re: Advice on swapping Magnum for old Heart Freedom 25

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 101535
On my Intrigue the only way the inverter would fit was like the Heart was, I have the reset button facing out but I couldn't get it real close to the access panel opening but I can still reach it from there. It would not fit in at 90* in the space I have.

Bob Stockholm

2000 Intrigue 11075

Re: Advice on swapping Magnum for old Heart Freedom 25

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 101537
I've begun the process of extracting the Freedom 25.  BIG SHOCK!!! (emotional, not electrical ....)  Upon opening the access panel to the wires, I discovered the output AC wire from the Freedom 25 was toast (LITERALLY TOAST!!!)... the plastic wire nut on the black wires had melted and was fused to the ground wire.... the only thing keeping the black wires together was the little springee thing inside the wire nut... and it was not holding the wire very well.  The white wire insulation was melted, and there was soot everywhere inside the shielded box where the Freedom 25 segregates the outgoing AC from the other AC wires..... that is probably what prevented a full blown fire.

At this point, I'm quite pleased that I decided to replace the whole thing rather than attempt some sort of "fix".

Also, while releasing the excess high current (battery) cables from behind the bay where the inverter is located, I noticed chafing was taking place on my engine coolant lines that supply/return from the engine coolant additive canister.  For any of you Magna (or perhaps other model) owners out there.... be sure to take a look at the metal braided hoses that connect the additive canister to the engine.  Where they go through the bay wall, there should be a grommet... but if it isn't there, you might be on the verge of having a very bad day with engine cooling loss....  JUST A WORD TO THE WISE...

THanks for all the advice/help on this project.

Re: Advice on swapping Magnum for old Heart Freedom 25

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 101549
I had  the freedom 25 swaped out for new 2800 Magnum. I had Kevin Waite do this. Had to swap out the old control  cable for a new control cable. I have not regreted doing this. As is repeated again and again Kevin Waite came through with a great job.

Bo & Kathy Lee

2000 Magna #5896 40 FT

2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Rubicon

Re: Advice on swapping Magnum for old Heart Freedom 25

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 101563
Quote
>> On the Freedom 25, the circuit breaker buttons were on the front, but on the Magnum the circuit breaker buttons are on the side.  In the new  configuration, is it easy for you to see the circuit breaker buttons on  the Magnum box? 

 Skip - There is only one circuit breaker on the 2812. Mine is installed such that I can't get my hand in there far enough to reset that breaker but I can easily see if it is popped. It appears that it could easily be reset with a flathead screwdriver. If the inverter were installed another half inch to the right it would probably be sufficient room to get my hand back there to reach the breaker to reset it. I'm with you - I never had to reset the breakers on the Freedom 25 and haven't had any reason to need to reset the 2812 either. By the way they added 1" angle to extend the rack to accommodate the 2812.

Dan

2000 Magna #5788
Dan Siedschlag
2000 Magna #5788