SW Absorbtion Timers Awry [RE-wrenches]

Dan Rice danrice at scinternet.net
Wed May 3 22:58:49 PDT 2006


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Robert,

I've never experienced the problem you're describing, and I'm sure you and
the Xantrex engineers have tried almost everything. Do the inverters exhibit
this behavior after a powerdown-reset, prior to any programming (running
factory default settings)? Do they exhibit this problem with both AC input
and AC output disconnected? Given that the new inverters exhibit the same
problem, it seems like either a programming issue or perhaps an unusual
wiring or load issue on the AC end. This is a long shot, but since this is
such a mystery, why not speculate. Have you changed the Bulk Charge Trigger
Timer from its default settings? If you've changed menu heading 15 from the
default setting of 00:00, this could affect when the absorbtion timer begins
counting, depending on AC input availability and on battery voltage. If the
bulk charge trigger timer (or some other programmed charge cycle trigger)
has activated a bulk charge cycle with no AC source present, it seems that
the absorbtion timer might begin to count if the battery voltage is up to
the absorbtion voltage set point (from PV charging), sort of like you
describe. I would expect that Xantrex engineers (have you spoken to Ken
Ripley?) should be able to tell you under which circumstances the absorbtion
timer should count up (down?). Have a look at the note about "USING SLT MODE
(SILENT MODE)" on page 82 of the old SW manual (Rev. B: Sept 1, 1999), and
also have a look at the diagram on page 85 (though it refers to SELL mode,
it may hold a clue, especially with respect to operation of the absorbtion
timer based on battery voltage). If you're able to watch the absorbtion
timer counting, have you tried disconnecting the AC load while this is
occurring? Perhaps the inverter is powering a reactive load that somehow
fools the inverter into acting like there's an AC input (like the old SW
islanding issue) -which, with battery voltage above absorbtion voltage,
might cause the absorbtion timer to count down.

Crazy inverters -they can do so many things -surely you've discovered yet
something else they can "do." Please let us know what you find.

Dan Rice
Abundant Sun, LLC.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Nuese" <r.nuese at comcast.net>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 2:59 PM
Subject: SW Absorbtion Timers Awry [RE-wrenches]


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