Trace Tech won't return my calls [RE-wrenches]

[Kent Sheldon]

Sorry William, I'm traveling again. I tried paging you last Friday.
I'm not trying to make you look like a fool in front of your customer. 
Unfortunately, I am one person trying to assist this entire industry.

This is in response to your last Wrenches posting.

The transformer is required if NEC is a requirement for your 
installation, which requires the array be grounded. If you tie a 
grounded array through to a grounded utility, you will have a direct 
short across phases when the inverter closes the AC contactor. Then 
BOOM. That's the short of it. We decided when designing the PV series 
that we would rather lose some efficiency in the transformer, rather 
than have another DC-DC conversion stage, which would burn about the 
same amount of power. Also, because there are a number of utility 
voltages to match to, you may require a transformer to step the 
inverter output voltage anyway (which happens to be your case here).

Furthermore, you may purchase isolation transformers (and breaker) from 
just about anywhere. The ones we provide are custom built at the power 
level of the inverter and 98% efficient. Most standard transformers 
available at electrical supply shops are in the 95% range. Breakers are 
breakers, just make sure you don't buy a really cheap one, that will 
nuisance trip due to inrush upon transformer turn on. I've seen a lot 
of problems with this. NEC seldom allows enough clearance on the 
primary protection to keep the devices from clearing during inrush.

As to the combiner box, I have never seen one of these designs 'flame 
out'. We UL1741 listed this design well over a year ago, and have 
installed quite a few over that time. I have not had one failure 
(that's not true, there was a failure when someone totally miswired the 
array, 2X OC voltage with ground faults). The design may look similar 
to the TCB-10, but that is only because of the circuit board/laminated 
power bus design, which is quite common in power 
conversion/distribution equipment. This is the most effective design 
approach when size and cost are an issue.

As to the pool thing, sounds pretty shaky to me,  but I'd check the 
NEC. There are pretty strict rules about power equipment around pools.

Perhaps you could send me your voice phone number and I will call you 
from the road.

Regards,

Kent Sheldon
Product Manager, Photovoltaic Systems
Xantrex Technologies, Distributed Industrial & Utility Markets
Direct 925 245 5463  Fax 925 245 1022

-----Original Message-----
From: William Miller <wrmiller at slonet.org>
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001 18:01:38 -0700
Subject: Trace Tech won't return my calls [RE-wrenches]

> Wrenches:
> 
> I'm bidding on an installation using the Trace Technology 3 phase
> unit.  I
> have some questions about the outboard equipment.  I have called Kent
> Sheldon 4 times in the last week and I have no indication he has
> lifted a
> finger to return my calls.  One of these days someone will compete
> with
> Trace in these product lines and if they have any concept whatsoever
> of how
> to treat a customer, I will be abandoning Trace like a hot potato. 
> Is it
> just me or have the rest of you been treated like this?
> 
> Pagan, where are you?  What is with Kent that he can't return my
> calls?
> Don't you folks give a @@%$@#%@#%#$ about your customers?  Kent is
> making
> me look like a fool because I am keeping my and Trace's potential
> customer
> dangling in the wind.  Please have Kent call me (or anyone who can
> answer
> questions intelligently).
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> 
> 
> William Miller
> 
> __________________________________________________________________
> William Miller
> SLO Communications: Communications and Power Systems Consulting
> PO Box 50, Santa Margarita, CA 93453
> Voice :805-438-5600		Fax: 805-438-4607	VMail: 805-546-
4875
> email: wrmiller at slonet.org
> License No. C-10-773985
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