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

[Ray Walters]

<x-flowed>
Hi;

I would check for a loose battery side connection. It might pass low 
current, but at higher current the resistance would cause your voltage to 
drop just as you noted, and it probably wouldn't have time to put an error 
reading.
Just a thought,

Ray

At 05:19 PM 10/18/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>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: remotech at taosnm.com
>
>EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bApn44.cmVtb3Rl
>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
--^----------------------------------------------------------------




</x-flowed>