SW firmware upgrade flourescent flicker [RE-wrenches]

[Jeffery Wolfe, Global Resource Options]

Except that I have had the same pulsing light problem on a pre-GTI inverter
for a couple of years. Only happens when the generator is running. We've
replaced the genny, replaced the inverter (temporarily, with newer firmware)
and given up. We believe it is caused by some weird load interaction between
a load with harmonics (hard-wired smoke detectors required by code?) and the
generator AVR (replaced that a couple of times). So at least in this case
it's definitely not a GTI problem. I don't even really believe it's an
inverter issue (Lights NEVER flicker with only inverter on.)

Any other ideas?

Jeff Wolfe 

-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Freitas --- OutBack Power
[mailto:cfreitas at outbackpower.com] 
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 7:34 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: SW firmware upgrade flourescent flicker [RE-wrenches]

Thought I would share what little knowledge I have on the Xantrex GTI and
this issue...  

My undestanding is that this occurs when the GTI software is used without a
GTI connected.  Internally the GTI includes a pass-thru relay which connects
the AC loads directly to the grid when AC power is available.  If the GTI is
not used or is connected incorrectly (or is not operating) than the loads
are still being powered from the inverter which is pulsing its output as you
describe as part of its islanding protection scheme.  

So does the customer have a GTI box on the system?

Christopher Freitas
OutBack Power Systems, Inc.
cfreitas @ outbackpower.com
www.outbackpower.com
Arlington WA USA
Tel 360 435 6030  


William Korthof wrote:
> 
> I'm here but I haven't paid close attention to the software versions. 
> The Brand X inverters definitely don't generate great interest, and I 
> always kind of expect to oversights and "gee wiz" features. The 
> inverters were originally put in around mid 2001 and just got the 
> upgrades.
> 
> /wk
> 
> At 01:17 PM 2/20/04 -0800, Jerry Caldwell wrote:
> >Are any of the Xantrex guys still on list?  Do you guys have any 
> >input regarding this issue?
> >
> >Jerry Caldwell
> >Light Energy Systems
> >510-205-2798
> >
> >--- William Korthof <wkorthof at earthlink.net> wrote:
> > > Yes, I've seen the same result. "upgrade" is definitely a 
> > > misnomer.
> > >
> > > /wk
> > >
> > > At 05:45 PM 2/19/04 -0800, Jerry Caldwell wrote:
> > > >Wrenches,
> > > >
> > > >I have a customer who had his pre-GTI Trace SW inverters 
> > > >retrofitted with the new anti-islanding software.  He claims that 
> > > >ever since the upgrade
> > > his
> > > >flourescent lights powered by the backed up loads panel have a 
> > > >flicker that pulses about once every second.  Sometimes the 
> > > >flicker is worse than other times.
> > > >
> > > >Since the anti-islanding software is supposed to disconnect and 
> > > >reconnect to the grid once per
> > > second,
> > > >I can't help but wonder if my customer isn't
> > > justified
> > > >by blaming the software upgrade.
> > > >
> > > >Has anyone had or heard of similar experiences?
> > > And
> > > >better yet, does anyone have ideas to solve this problem?  I want 
> > > >to keep this customer relationship
> > > in
> > > >good standing.
> > > >
> > > >Jerry Caldwell
> > > >Light Energy Systems
> > > >510-205-2798
> >
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