Thor Forums

[TurnerFam]

as far as I know, unless the '16 models were changed, the Magnum ME-RC Panel should be where it all happens.

If you are using it, then you obviously already know this, and all the other 'controls' are right there within the same panel, though several that also have to do with the Generator power might not be under the 'AGS' button, such as the SHORE button, or Shore Maximum setting, which tells the Battery CHARGER how much amperage it can make use of, in BULK Charge mode.
The Shore Max setting is partly a way to preserve AMPS when you are not on full 50amp RV park shore power, but also the way to tell the system that you want to FULL output of the Charger to the batteries, when off-grid. The lower the number, the LESS the Charger will have use of, such as when you are plugged into a household 15amp outlet, or when you are running the generator and want not only BOTH air conditioners and almost everything else during a hot off-grid time, but not as worried about how 'fast' the batteries get charged.
When you are off-grid, and want the AGS to most effectively Charger the battery bank whenever the Generator is run, then the Shore Max setting should be on 50 or higher, which tells the Charger that it has full run of all the amps it needs, during the generator run time. You'll also want to trim back your usage of other appliances, though, such as using both air conditioners, while this is in play, otherwise you could trip the generator's Breaker.

The other setting is the LBCO, I believe found in the TECH button menu.
It is the Low Battery Cut Off for the Inverter, to keep the inverter from continuing to allow 120v devices to draw down the batteries should either the AGS not be able to start the generator, or simply because the AGS has been told not to by the 'Quiet Time' setting. If the Inverter continues, and the battery voltage drops below this setting, such as 11.5, then it cuts OFF the inverter, and a red indicator light will then show on the Magnum display.
If you lose inverter power due to this setting, it is preserving your batteries from further loss, which is a powerful and safety tool..otherwise they might drop so low that you wouldn't be able to start the generator at all, even after the 'Quiet Time' hours have passed, such as in the morning.
What we've found, with a residential fridge, is that the LBCO cutting off the inverter during the late early morning hours is not a big deal. The fridge is a big cooler, after all. A few hours without power is not going to change much.
Also, the Inverter will power back on, automatically, once the battery bank is back up to a 12.5 voltage. So if the LBCO cuts it off overnight, when the generator starts up in the morning by the AGS, or you start it manually, once the charger has given the battery bank an ample shot of voltage, it will come back on by itself.


In our travels, we've used the following AGS and related settings, when off-grid overnight:

- AGS Enabled, or with Quiet Time if in a park or campground that requires it
- AGS VOLTS at 12.0, which starts the generator once this setting is reached for at least two consecutive minutes
- AGS RUN TIME at 30 minutes, which we like because the generator runs for only a relative short time, especially at night while sleeping, and still give the battery bank enough charge to last several more hours
- SHORE button, Shore Max setting of 50, when off-grid and the AGS is employed to keep the battery bank charged - more power to the batteries.
- LBCO setting of 11.5, limiting the Inverter in case the AGS fails to start the generator

You can also use the AGS to start the generator when the inside TEMP is too high, and your AIR CONDITIONER(s) are ON and you want the generator to keep the coach cool, either while you are away(pets, etc), or even during the overnight when you don't want to have to get up and constantly turn the a/c units on or off.
If you employ this, and you can do both VOLTS and TEMPS at the same time, you set the AGS TEMP setting to the Temperature you wish for the a/c unit(s) to come on, and you set each Thermostat to 1 degree BELOW that AGS TEMP setting. This is because you want the Thermostat to already by in READY mode when the AGS starts the generator and 120v power becomes available to the air conditioners, causing them to cycle on. Otherwise, you could have the generator start, and run for the full time you set on the RUN TIME, and yet the a/c unit did not come on because the Thermostat's temperature never yet reached the point of putting the a/c unit in READY mode.
The TEMP setting will still use the RUN TIME you set for the AGS.....BUT, if the inside temp has still not fallen BELOW the AGS TEMP setting, the AGS will again crank the generator for another RUN TIME of power.


all good, all fun.... you don't know what you don't know, until....


you've experienced it yourself!