We just bought 2 new batteries and inverter in basement is running hot and has an electrical odor coming from it. It's a Magnum inverter and we are not sure what the problem is. Tried to Google info but no luck. Does anyone have any ideas. We unhooked the batteries. We are afraid to leave it run.

x

If you are running the inverter as a whole house inverter and not just for the the residential fridge you could basically be using the built in converter in your panel to attempt to charge the batteries which actually is a kind of feed back. If you are just running the inverter for the fridge or a couple of things this wouldn't be a problem.

I'd be curious to know if it is the inverter that is heating up or the cables. Cables too small or more likely loose will cause heat, the smell you are talking about and perhaps a humming noise.

So I'm with GipC need some more details please. What are you running? Also the Magnum control panel should tell you what the draw it. How many amps are you pulling, on the load (120v) side and the battery side?

All we did was replace the 12v batteries. Wires and inverter came in our 2014 38gk redwood. Unfortunately we did not get all the books when we bought our rig in 2014.

If you are looking for some documentation you may find some here: http://www.magnum-dimensions.com

Does the inverter get hot with the batteries disconnected? Verify that the inverter display shows 0 Amps for the battery with them disconnected.

Make sure that all the connections between the inverter and the batteries are clean and in good condition (including the crimp connections to the cables). The factory often poorly crimps the cables and one may have come loose while you were handling them. Verify that all the connections are correct and that you didn't wire one of the batteries backwards.

Reconnect the batteries one at a time and monitor the inverter and current draw. You could have a bad battery.

If you changed battery types lead acid vs AGM you need to reprogram the inverter, but I wouldn't expect that to make the inverter run hot.

You could have a fault in the inverter, but it’s most likely the wiring. This is a potential fire hazard, so be sure you figure it out before leaving the system powered for any extended time. The manual for the Magnum inverter is attached to this post for your reference.

I hope you took pictures of your batteries and the wiring pattern before you changed them, I would bet the farm that a wire is either not connected or connected improperly. I caught myself doing that.

The Magnum also gives an error code that you can look up in the manual already provided.

2 6 volts need to be in series(positive to negative) and two 12 volts need to be in parallel (positive to positive).

Here are a couple of diagrams . . .

While connected to my shore power. I disconnected both my batteries and tested them as I felt maybe my batteries were going bad. My front battery showed full power, but my battery behind it showed weak power. So I recharged my rear battery for about 4 hours while they were disconnected. After the four hours it showed full power. So I re-connected them like the diagram above and as they were before. I am hoping things are well. A short time later while in the rig I heard a faint high pitched noise like my norCold refrigerator makes if I left the door open, only it was not coming from there. It only lasted for about 10 seconds. So I did not think anything about it. But now I noticed no fan sound coming from my inverter under my entry closet as I always have before. Late at night like 4:00AM I would hear the fan turning off and on from my inverter. I have for a few years. This night I am not hearing this noise. My question is this. Im I supposed to hear that inverter noise? It seems like used to see a small green light behind a screen wire screen under my entry closet which I am not seeing now. My whole RW seems fine, lights and all. So do I have a problem? Am I supposed to hear that inverter sound like I used to hear? How do I get to my inverter if I need to? Is there a fuse for this that may have thrown?

x

I do not have a generator. It maybe electrical panel battery charger that could be it. Maybe it is not kicking on as my batteries are now charged. I can just remember the slight sound that would come from under my entry closet so I am guessing it was in the basement behind the wall .

x

The picture on the electrical box looks like the one I am referring too. My question is how often do the fans move? I used to hear them very quietly, lately they have not been running. Maybe because it is cool outside.

If I test my batteries 12 volt deep cycle. What should the meter read for a good battery?