Operating The Inverter; Search; Inverter Mode; Ac Shore Power Mode - Magnum Energy ME Series Operator's Manual

1. Operating the Inverter

T h e M E S e r i e s i n v e r t e r / c h a r g e r h a s t w o m o d e s o f o p e r a t i o n : I N V E R T E R ( p r o v i d i n g
power to your appliances from the batteries) and AC (running from shore power or a generator). Whenever
the inverter is in AC mode, it passes power directly to your appliances as well as recharges the batteries
using a 3-stage battery charger (Bulk, Absorption and Float). This approach to battery charging provides
rapid and complete charging cycles without placing undue stress on the batteries. Inverter operation is
f u l l y a u t o m a t i c .

Search

With search mode enabled, the inverter pulses the AC output looking for an e l e c t r i c a l a p p l i a n c e
( t y p i c a l l y 5 t o 1 0 0 w a t t s , d e p e n d i n g u p o n t h e s e t t i n g y o u ' v e selected). Whenever there is no
load detected, the inverter automatically goes into search mode (sleep) to minimize energy consumption.
During this time, the i n v e r t e r ' s g r e e n L E D f l a s h e s ( f a s t ) t o i n d i c a t e S E A R C H m o d e . W h e n
a n a p p l i a n c e i s switched on inside the coach, the inverter recognizes the need for power and auto-
m a t i c a l l y s t a r t s t h e i n v e r t e r

Inverter Mode

W h e n e v e r A C S h o r e P o w e r i s n o l o n g e r s e n s e d , t h e i n v e r t e r a u t o m a t i c a l l y t r a n s f e r s t o
b a t t e r y p o w e r w i t h n o i n t e r r u p t i o n t o y o u r a p p l i a n c e s . T h e i n v e r t e r ' s g r e e n L E D flashes
once every 2 seconds (medium flash) to indicate it is running on battery p o w e r a n d p r o v i d i n g A C t o
t h e c o a c h .

AC Shore Power Mode

W h e n e v e r A C S h o r e P o w e r i s s e n s e d , t h e i n v e r t e r a u t o m a t i c a l l y t r a n s f e r s t o t h e
s h o r e p o w e r w i t h m i n i m a l i n t e r r u p t i o n t o y o u r a p p l i a n c e s .

Bulk Charge Mode

W h e n e v e r t h e i n v e r t e r i s r u n n i n g o n n o m i n a l A C S h o r e P o w e r , i t c h a r g e s t h e
b a t t e r i e s . T h e i n v e r t e r ' s g r e e n L E D s t a y s O N ( s o l i d ) t o i n d i c a t e t h e f i r s t s t a g e o f
charging. During bulk charging, the charger supplies the maximum amount of constant current to the
batteries. As the battery voltage rises to a set value (typically 14.1 VDC for GEL, 14.3 VDC for
A G M , a n d 1 4 . 6 V D C f o r l i q u i d l e a d a c i d ) , t h e c h a r g e r will then switch to the next charging
mode.

Absorption Charge Mode

As the inverter continues to run on nominal AC Shore Power, and the batteries have been successfully
bulk charged, the charger enters its second stage of charging. T h e i n v e r t e r ' s g r e e n L E D f l a s h e s o n c e
e v e r y s e c o n d ( f a s t f l a s h ) t o i n d i c a t e a b s o r p t i o n charging for 1 - 3 hours depending upon battery
bank selection (refer to the ME Series Remote manual). The charger then switches to its final charging
mode.

Float Charge Mode

A s A C s h o r e p o w e r c o n t i n u e s , t h e i n v e r t e r ' s g r e e n L E D f l a s h e s o n c e e v e r y 8 seconds
(slow flash) to indicate the third and final stage of charging. The batteries a r e h e l d a t t h e f l o a t v o l t a g e
(typically 13.6 VDC for GEL, 13.1 VDC for AGM, and 13.4 VDC for liquid lead acid) as
l o n g a s A C i s p r e s e n t a t t h e i n v e r t e r ' s i n p u t . F l o a t c h a r g ing reduces battery g a s s i n g ,
m i n i m i z e s w a t e r i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s ( f o r f l o o d e d b a t t e r i e s ) and ensures the batteries are
maintained at optimum capacity.
TM
Battery Saver Mode
D e s i g n e d t o k e e p b a t t e r i e s f u l l y c h a r g e d o v e r l o n g p e r i o d s ( s t o r a g e ) w i t h o u t drying
them out. Whenever the charger is in float for 4 hours with no DC loads r u n n i n g , t h e c h a r g e r w i l l
t u r n O F F . I f t h e b a t t e r y v o l t a g e d r o p s b e l o w 1 2 . 5 V D C , t h e c h a r g e r w i l l a u t o m a t i c a l l y
i n i t i a t e f l o a t m o d e t o r e t u r n t h e m t o a f u l l c h a r g e .
Ó 2003 - Magnum Energy, Inc.
3. OPERATION
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