Outback MX60 question [RE-wrenches]

[Kelly Keilwitz]

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Hi Allen,
We've had an MX-60 in a 72V to 24V system go bad - twice - for this problem,
early this Spring. The system was a 6-hr RT from our office. The first
replacement took two of those trips - a full work day each way (one to
diagnose and remove and one to replace). The second time Outback sent the
controller directly to the customer and I talked them through the
replacement on the phone.
Outback was very responsive with the replacements and explained that the fix
on the second go-round . But, we had to cover the time and travel.
-Kelly
 Kelly Keilwitz, P.E.
Whidbey Sun & Wind
Renewable Energy Systems
NABCEP Certified PV Installer
987 Wanamaker Rd, Coupeville, WA 98239
Ph & Fax: 360.678.7131
sunwind at whidbeysunwind.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "Allan Sindelar" <allan at positiveenergysolar.com>
To: "New wrenches posting" <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 2:28 PM
Subject: Outback MX60 question [RE-wrenches]


>
> Wrenches,
> We recently had an in-warranty MX60 failure, and given the explanation
from
> Outback, I'm posting here to find out if this is a common enough failure
for
> us to plan some pre-emptive replacement of a few other MX60s.
>
> An MX60 in a PS2 offgrid application (1900W 72V array into 48V battery)
> failed and was reported by the customer. He saw blank screen and no
output;
> a reboot caused it to actually charge partially. We determined the
> MPPT/voltage conversion had failed, but the straight-through partial
> charging carried the customer along for 5 days until I could get out with
a
> replacement. Sent the unit in for repair and got the unit back repaired
and
> upgraded.
>
> A call afterwards requesting explanation of what happened taught me this:
> Outback found a "glitch in the silicone in the Atmel processor". The flaw
> would sometimes short the FETs momentarily when the unit turned on. It
also
> in the process welds the relay contacts closed (which is what allowed it
to
> charge some even though it had failed).
>
> I was told that Outback found a firmware reprogram that worked around the
> glitch, and applied it to all controllers after serial #7385 (I think
> they're somewhere around #11,000 now). They also recalled some distributor
> stock to do this repair before they went into the field.
>
> Who else has had a similar failure? Anyone had more than one? This was an
> expensive callback that was fully on our nickel. Anyone at Outback wish to
> clarify what I have written here? Anybody at Outback wish to offer a
recall
> program for MX60s in a certain range, with a reimbursement for the service
> call to do a replacement? (Dream on, solar bozo...)
>
> Thanks for any responses here.
> Allan at Positive Energy
>
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