Trace Wish List Final [RE-wrenches]

Tue Jan 30 09:52:14 PST 2001

Here is how the final Trace Wish List looked.

Trace Inverter requests from Wrenches list (SW series unless otherwise noted)

1. Silent sell.

2. EPROM back up battery or some form of non-volatile memory.

3. Be able to save a custom setups to allow an easy transfer between modes of operation, including allowing a return to a previous setup if someone hits the factory default.

4. More wiring space both DC & AC.

5. Better reliability. When it fails with some simple problem that requires a long drive to repair, it's really expensive.

6. 5 year warranty on all Trace products installed by a servicing dealer, with call-back cost reimbursement program.

7. Hold one of these input sessions at the MREA fair at Amherst.

8. Along with Silent Sell, a switching controller that is smart enough to send needed power to batteries for float, and the rest to inverter for sell.

9. The option of getting a bigger transfer switch built in. That 60 amp switch feels obsolete when so many houses are 100 amp service. If so, include #2 wire terminals on AC in/out terminals. (It should not be added as an option if it will drive up the price of the standard units.)

10. DC Disconnect box redesign with three 2" or 2 1/2" KOs in the bottom, or failing that, stay with the same box if they gotta, but move the KO from the right side to the middle.

11. 2" knockouts are too tight to easily accept a standard 2" PVC male adapter.

12. Replaceable internal relays.

13. Trace DC disconnect should have room comparable to (or bigger than) any standard 200 amp disconnect switch.

14. DC disconnect is too expensive, requires so much assembly and has a yoke (to hold the breaker) with razor sharp edges.

15. 120/240 volt AC output.

16. A better procedure for accessing inverter setup mode. It is too easy to hit the red or the green buttons not quite together, then you turn the inverter off, or start the generator, or some such bogus result, rather than entering setup mode. 

17. The inverter should be set up so that if it dies (or is shut off) the AC input is passed through to the AC output.  In other words, if there is no inverter by-pass switch installed the AC loads could still be energized.

18. Make corrections to the manual that accurately reflect what the unit actually does.

19. A field installation informational kit, including current copies of all installation manuals and service notes for product we expect to promote, sell and install. The idea would be to request (or purchase) such a thing and be added to a list to receive updates as they become available.

20. The DR control functions stenciling sometimes do not match what is shown in the manual.

21. Adjustable time delay on the AUX relays and their hysteresis.

22. A 30 day rolling history of hours of production and power sold back and an accumulating total of all production since installation (all intertie models).

23. A MPPT option for solar installations.

24. Buttons point/scroll in the correct direction.

25. Make the DC volt meters higher resolution so that we can set the SW setpoints closer to the C-40 setpoints. (More power in grid tie with higher voltage setpoints.)

26. Make ALL AC, relay, and plug in (except temp sensor) locations front accessible.

27. Put temp sensor plug in on DC side where DC conduit to batteries ends up.

28. More accurate/finer resolution metering on AC amps.

29. Finer resolution/lower available value for search watts. (16 watts? Gimmie a break!)

30. Equalize battery feature that works, and at the touch of a button on the faceplate.

31. Display of battery temp compensation/actual battery temperature via temp comp probe.

32. A user programmable timer to allow the SW to return to float mode after an AC 1 (and/or 2) input power interruption. There are frequent power fluctuations in my system (mostly from switching transients in the 130 VDC PV array) that knock the SW out of tolerance, and it drops off the grid, only to return after 90 seconds ***and begins another BULK charge cycle***. This feature would allow the user to force the inverter to ignore power interruptions of a pre-set maximum duration in ?? minute increments, allowing the inverter to return directly to a FLOAT mode.

33. User programmable override of the 90 second time-out on "AC 1 (and/or2) in Good". (Actually, this is already available for AC 2. But could be refined to include times when the inverter disconnects the generator momentarily because of out of spec volts and/or Hz.)

34. Better generator start options, including ability to start/stop generator by internal clock, and/or another relay for the glow plugs

35. Repair generator exercise bug. If you set the exercise period for 7 days, the generator starts acting wacky, like starting and then running until manually shut off.

36. Make cursor more visible. (A black square with the letter/selection printed in reverse/background gray?)

37. A spare hardware kit, including 20 - Trace C40 Face Plate Screws, 20 - SWCB Screws, 4 - DC Terminal nuts and star locks, 2 - RED DC Terminal Covers (are DR and SW's the same?- I rarely install them, inside SWCB or DRCB), 2 - Black DC Terminal Covers, & 1 - "Testor" sized bottle of Trace white touch up paint.

38. Lower default charge settings to protect gel cell batteries if power goes off and the inverter reverts to default. (Moot with non-volatile memory.) Or, an installer-accessible micro-switch that sets the default to either gel or flooded.

39. Slightly larger lugs for ease of inserting finely stranded battery cables (all inverters).

40. More frequent data sampling for the Sun Tie.

41. All AC & DC disconnects should be included on the unit. (Like the ST series). By having to buy these as "extras", Xantrex invites short cut installations by DYI types. Responsible dealer installers must spec them in and then it looks like we might be pumping up the sale with "extra stuff." If the product can be installed to NEC standard out of the box- everyone benefits.

42. Heavier-duty FET modules for running on the grid in LBX mode, and easily swappable FET modules.

43. PS Inverter: Include the $300 remote.

44. PS Inverter: No volatile memory, DC breaker. Service call to reset.

45. PS Inverter: Multicolor LED to indicate inverter mode needs to be located where it's easy to see.

46. PS Inverter: Too noisy, even noisier than the SW, which isn't known for being quiet.

47. For inverters usable in a fuel cell system, a 22 to 36 V range would be much better than what is currently available.

Michael Welch

------------------------
"Society is like a stew. If you don't keep it stirred up, you get a lot of scum on top."

			Edward Abbey

Michael Welch, michael.welch at homepower.com www.homepower.com
      Associate Editor, Home Power magazine
      Office Coordinator, Redwood Alliance
      (Not HP mag's #s) 707-822-7884 fax: 707-822-3481

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