SW4024 arcing [RE-wrenches]

[Tom Elliot]

Chuck,

"Heatsink overtemp" is the error message I got last year when my older Trace
fried some fets due to generator overvoltage.  Is it possible that one of
the 4024's is a Series 1 chassis?  That was the source of my problem and may
explain why one failed and the other didn't.  When Trace rebuilt mine they
swore up and down that the problem could not happen again as the new
firmware and fet boards were built to prevent it.

Tom

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Heath, SunPower" <sunpwr at jps.net>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2001 1:24 PM
Subject: SW4024 arcing [RE-wrenches]


> Fellow Wrenches - We installed this off-grid system almost a year ago.
> Two stacked SW4024's, 2 - C40/DVM's, DC250, 85-33 HUP battery, Trace
> battery monitor and 2 - 60A AC bypass boxes with mechanical lockouts (one
> for each Trace). PV is 12 - SR100's, soon to be doubled in size.
>
> Client ran generator last evening to charge battery. Everything normal
> until he used house R/C to shutdown generator. Then, some lights went out
> while others stayed on. Walked out to Power House to find DC breaker for
> Lower Trace tripped. He reset that breaker and immediately noted:
>      -arcing near the DC end of the Lower Trace
>      -the fan running on high
>      -a red error light
>      -the display of the Upper Trace went blank, but continues to operate
> normally.
>
> He quickly shut down the Lower Trace using the DC breaker, then called
> me. The Upper Trace display returned to normal after shutting down the
> Lower Trace.
>
> Today I advised him by 'phone to leave both AC bypass breakers on
> Generator so there are no AC loads on either Trace. Asked him to again
> energize Lower Trace by turning on DC breaker for same. He did. This time
> there was no fan noise, no arcing, no dimming of Upper Trace display. He
> now reports scrolling the Error Menu (#5) shows a "Heatsink Overtemp"
> error. He said when the failure occurred last night he did not notice any
> warmth or heat on the Lower Trace case. No odor of fried electronics
> either.
>
> He's opened some J-boxes and reports no sign of water in conduit or roof
> leaks in the Power House. Upper Trace continues to operate normally. He
> also reports there were no heavy AC house loads when he switched from Gen
> back to Trace, except the Trace chargers while using the generator. I
> purposely did not ask him to clear the error or try to reboot the Lower
> Trace (I wanted to know what the Error menu said first).
>
> Besides Trace tech support on Monday, what ideas might you have? The
> client is 220 miles away.
>
> Chuck Heath "Plugging into Sunshine since 1989"
>
>
>
>
>
> - - - -
> To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>
> Archive of previous messages: http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/
>
> List rules & etiquette: http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm
>
> Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html
>
> Hosted by Home Power magazine
>
> Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
>
>
>

- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/

List rules & etiquette: http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com

==^================================================================
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register
==^================================================================