EZ-fire alternatives? [RE-wrenches]

[Jeff Clearwater]

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Hi Geoff,

It was I that started a thread about a month ago - being in a similar 
position.   I eventually gave up my search in the interest of 
expediency.  It was easy to find diversion control and load options 
but getting someone to design and build the right rectifier or doing 
it myself  (although that would seem easy) turned out to not 
materialize in time.   I didn't want the inspector to see my custom 
work and question it - even though the irony is that Ezwire is not UL 
anyway.

I hated putting in the EZwire center but as a consolation SWW was 
really quick in getting it to me and the $1150 price did include the 
4800 Watt Air Dump Load.  It's up and running and the customer happy 
- for now.

After I installed it  - sure enough the gauges are all off as is 
often the case with them but the basic diversion circuit works and of 
course the rectifier does it's job.  I would recommend a piece of 
sheet metal behind it when you mount in case it melts down.  I also 
would NOT recommend relying on their diversion control - It's great 
for acting as the second diversion control required by 690 but not as 
your primary.  I used the diversion relay option of the Outback 
inverter in the system to an AC dump load.  Mine was grid intertie so 
actually grid sell back is the first diversion priority, then if the 
grid fails the AC hot water diversion followed by the EZwire center 
last in case the hot water reaches it's max temp.

And yes if you can go with another unit.  That would save you a lot 
of headache in the long run!

Hope that helps.

Jeff C.

>
>
>I apologize as this may be in the archives...
>
>A competitor's customer called me after discovering the hard way some of the
>shortcomings of the South West EZ-wire controller.  No major damage, but
>they want something different.  They already have an APT tapering diversion
>regulator on the system, so I am thinking I just need a rectifier scheme.
>Perhaps this may be time to go up to 24 volts (and a Bergey), we shall see -
>the bird is a whisper H-90 and seems to do alright up there... shame its a
>12 volt system - they really have outgrown it.  They also complained about
>frequent tripping of the 40 amp solar breaker in the EZ-fire (they have 80
>amps of solar going through it).  I think I am going to tell them to start
>over.... but in the meanwhile... has anyone cobbed together diodes for this
>sort of application?
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Geoff Greenfield
>NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer TM
>GLREA Certified Photovoltaic Systems Integrator/Installer License Number
>0211-01
>
>THIRD SUN SOLAR AND WIND POWER Ltd.
>340 West State Street, Unit 25
>Athens, OH 45701
>
>Phone (740) 597-3111
>Fax   (740) 597-1548
>
>www.third-sun.com
>
>End of RE-wrenches at topica.com digest, issue 1554
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-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jeff Clearwater
Village Power Design Associates
Sustainable Energy & Water Solutions for Home & Village
http://www.villagepower.com
gosolar at villagepower.com

877-SOLARVillage
425 Nimrod St.
Nevada City, CA 95959
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