more random failure: now SB2500w/display (was LED Christmas lights (and stil

[asap at podnine.com]

Wrenches,
We received an SMA SB2500 with display that was apparently dead before it
got out of the box.  Nothing happened as we attempted to commence system.  A
second SB mounted left of it worked fine and had begun its countdown.  We
shut it all down and thought about what to do.  Checked all our stuff and
started looking at the inverters (covers still off).  We happened to notice
that the display on the "dead" unit was not mounted properly.  The display
panel had been installed one row of pins lower than it should have been.  We
remounted the display panel circuit board on to the correct rows of pins
engaging them all--and no problems commencing system normally.  My question:
Was the inverter "on" when the display wasn't?  So if anyone runs into
similar sitch you might check the display panel alignment before crying foul
inverter.

That's what I like about solar PV and (solar thermal systems that don't
freeze up) there's always that edge of adrenalin to it--and when it all
works like it's supposed to...that's just heaven.

One heck of a star we have shining for us all too.  Thank God.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Peter
ASAP POWER!

-----Original Message-----
From: Allan Sindelar [mailto:allan at positiveenergysolar.com]
Sent: Monday, December 23, 2002 11:05 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Re: LED Christmas lights (was ac/DC cheer) [RE-wrenches]


I brought home a set of the red/green ForeverBrights to try. I plugged them
into an AC receptacle next to our Tri-Met (set on amps display) and nothing
changed. The draw is smaller than will register on a .1A increment. My wife
(not technical, but lives well offgrid with a TM2020 on the kitchen wall)
got a kick out of that.
The first set failed shortly after startup, so I suspected an
incompatibility with mod-square (1991 Heart) inverter power. Being a good
American, I exchanged them for a second set at Albertson's supermarket. The
replacement set has worked fine since, so apparently a random failure; they
seem to be fine on inverter power. Great product at ten bucks a set!
Allan at +E

----- Original Message -----
From: "sunwise" <sunwise at cheqnet.net>
The ForeverBright LED Christmas lights that we were discussing some time
> back are wonderful and it turns out they are easily converted over to
> DC.  Anyone wanting some tips that makes it easy, contact me off-list.
>
> For your off-grid customers, another cool feature is that depending on
> the inverter sleep sensitivity, at least a couple strings of lights will
> allow your Trace to drop into search mode and the lights blink as the
> inverter sends out the search pulse.  They then come on steady when
> something fires the inverter.
>
> My Fluke 87 measured a string of 70 red lights at 25mA at 12.5 VDC (.31
> watts).  I didn't have a second set of reds, but a 75 bulb string of
> white (yellow) draws about 19mA at 120vac (2.28 watts).  My Brand meter
> also showed it to be around 2 watts but it jumps around of the Brand
> sometimes reading 4 watts.  A string of 35 blues runs at about 1.8 watts
> at 120ac.

- - - -
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.bWljaGFl
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
==^================================================================