A mystery to me..... [RE-wrenches]

[Matt Tritt]

Daryl,

I'd bet that the problem is with the batteries, not the inverter. 

I would check for a bad inter-battery connection or a series-string
connection, possibly a bad crimp(s). Dropping to 27.2 volts would
indicate that the problem is at the end of a 4 battery string.

Matt T

-----Original Message-----
From: penobscotsolar at midmaine.com [mailto:penobscotsolar at midmaine.com] 
Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2003 2:19 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: A mystery to me..... [RE-wrenches]


Hello all,
   I'm having no success in troubleshooting a system we installed almost
two 
years ago that is three hours travel time each way. It has operated 
flawlessly since installation. We have had no lightning in the area for 
months.
   The system is an SW4048-PP with 24 Surrette KS-25 batteries. It was 
originally set up for generator only use (against my recommendations)
but 
they quickly added a 1.2 KW array within the year. We aded an Outback
MX-60 
to the system this last July.
   I arrived at the site with replacement inverter in hand. We started
up 
the original inverter with manual bypass breakers both off. It ran fine,

starting up and going into search after 20 seconds or so. Setting it to
ON, 
again, it ran fine. We turned off the main in the house and threw the 
inverter breaker in the bypass and it continued to run fine. We turned
off 
all the breakers in the main panel and turned the main on and it ran
fine. 
We threw the first breaker and it continued to run fine. We turned off
the 
first breaker and continued in this manner until we threw a breaker ( 
labeled track lighting) and I saw the battery voltage suddenly drop from

54.4 volts to 27.2. The inverter shut down with no error reading and
without 
any breaker tripping anywhere. We shut off this breaker and turned the 
inverter back on. It ran fine.
    We continued on and found 2 breakers which powered sub-panels both
had 
the same effect. One sub powered a Grundfos 1/3 hp SQ-O series 110 VAC 
submersible, among other things (mostly lights in the room where the sub

panel is). It seemed as though certain loads were dragging the inverter 
down.
    To shorten this story, we replaced the inverter and voila! the same 
problem!!!!!
    When they power the house with the generator through the manual
bypass 
switch everything runs fine. The system has separate structure ground
(for 
the array) and system ground (the electrical systems ground)
     WHAT AM I MISSING???
Daryl
Penobscot Solar Design

- - - -
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: solarone at charter.net

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.badqCj.c29sYXJv
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. FREE!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/create/index2.html
--^----------------------------------------------------------------

- - - -
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

TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. FREE!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/create/index2.html
--^----------------------------------------------------------------