I just installed my first MMP. I love that box! I agree that the charge controller bracket is whimpy. Make it from 0.125 or fold it to make it more rigid.
I did not have trouble with the Torx head screws. I had been using a Milwaukee M12 Impact Driver and have the big set of bits to go with it. I bought the Milwaukee specifically to drive 10-32 type F philips screws to hold ground lugs to PV modules. Faster than a regular screw driver and no stripped Philips heads. You don't HAVE to use Torx for the MMP. And, I don't mind u$ing Torx for ground lugs if I could find them. Thank you, Maverick Maverick Brown BSEET, NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer ® President & CEO Maverick Solar Enterprises, Inc. Office: 512-919-4493 Cell: 512-460-9825 Sent from an iPhone. On Dec 23, 2010, at 5:30 PM, "Brian Faley" <bfa...@magnumenergy.com> wrote: > Thanks Mick for the post we always welcome feedback from installers > after all you guys are the experts! A couple of notes to clarify Mick's > observations. > > Mick is correct, the version 2.1 of the ME-ARC release Feb 2010 did have > a software bug where the decimal point was in the wrong place in the > Amps IN/OUT meter. The calculation for the SOC meter was still correct > so the actual SOC displayed was correct but the individual meter was > wrong by a factor of 10. The bug was reported in May 2010 and the fix > (along with some new features) was released Nov 2010. We apologize for > the inconvenience this bug caused but we didn't recall the product as > the SOC was still correct, which is the most critical meter to determine > battery SOC. > > Again thanks for your insight on the MMP and MP panels. We use Torx > fasters not as a deterrent but because the sheet metal is "funnel > punched", which means when we receive it there are no threads for the > screws. We use a special thread forming screw (not to be confused with > self tapping screws, thread forming screws leave no metal shavings when > forming the threads) to drive into the sheet metal which takes some > force to achieve the threads. We use Torx instead of Phillips heads > because Phillips heads screws strip out to easily during the process of > using the thread forming screws. We have used Torx thread forming > fasteners in our products from the very inception of Magnum and you may > notice they hold the top covers and all the boards together in the > inverters. > > The original MMP units did not have a charge controller bracket. It was > added later as were the PEM nuts for the mounting to the MMP, so there > are no holes to drill on the current MMP. The charger controller bracket > fits the right or left hand side and fits: MidNite, Outback and > Morningstar controllers. The controller is mounted with the nipple at > the bottom and the bracket holds the top of the controller from > "pivoting". For the Outback controllers there is also a hole in the MMP > if you want to take one of the controller cover screws out you can > reinsert the screw through the MMP into the controller. > > The last item I will mention is the lack of a bracket to mount the > standard remote to the MP panels. The MP panels are designed for > multiple parallel inverter installations which a ME-RTR (we call it a > router, like a Hub and Mate in one unit) is required so you can parallel > two or more inverters. We do provide a router bracket since most likely > you would use an MMP for one inverter and the MP for multiple inverters. > > Hope this helps, and again thanks Mick your insight. > > > Brian Faley > Chief Engineer > Magnum Energy > 2111 W Casino Rd > Everett, WA 98204 > 425-353-8833 > bfa...@magnumenergy.com
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