AGS problems with Outback system [RE-wrenches]

Wed Dec 5 00:04:09 PST 2007

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Hello Jonah,

When Switching from FX 1 to FX 2 did you also switch the AGS port?   
Switching the AGS port from 0 to 1  helped me on one Mate/gen problem.

Best,

Jason Lerner
Waldron Power and LIght Co.

On Dec 4, 2007, at 12:07 PM, Jonah Liebes wrote:

>
> You're onto something there Darryl. I thought the same thing except  
> for two
> problems with that theory: The mate/inverter sends the start signal  
> based on
> (in this situation) a minimum voltage threshold combined with a  
> time span.
> (If the voltage drops below the preset level for 24 hours, 2 hours,  
> or 2
> minutes the gen will start.) If the battery voltage is rising so  
> quickly
> during the charge cycle that the gen is signaled to shut down and  
> then just
> as quickly the voltage drops, what would signal the gen to restart?  
> If your
> answer is, "the gen re-started based on the low voltage set point" my
> response is that it should have to wait at least 2 min to reach the  
> 2 min
> volt start set point. Instead it waits only 15-60 seconds.
>
> Even with that knowledge I decided to change the battery bank a few  
> weeks
> ago and the problem persists. I replaced the old VRLA batteries  
> with brand
> new, 12V sealed bats wired at 24VDC.
>
> In answer to your other questions: the FX is making the call to the  
> gen to
> start. Just for kicks, I switched inverters (there are 2) that send  
> the
> signal and nothing changed. I'm not sure about the AC Gen support.  
> It is an
> AC gen. From memory I thought outback had a DC gen support. ?>?
>
> Thanks for the help.
>
>
> Jonah Liebes
> NABCEPT Cert.
> Regional Operations Director
> www.heliopower.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Darryl Thayer [mailto:daryl_solar at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 10:51 AM
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: Re: AGS problems with Outback system [RE-wrenches]
>
>
> Hi Jonah
>
> This is off the wall, but is it possible the batteries
> are too small or too old or have lost there capacity?,
>  Put a voltmeter on the battery set and look at what
> happens when a low voltage call is made.  You may need
> a Peak and Hold meter or a Max and Min meter to do
> this.  The phenomena of cycling would be caused by the
> bateries rizing in voltage at first, then after a
> couple of tries the batteries accept the charge and
> hold the voltage down.
>
> If you want another off the wall, What type of
> genertor hybrid system are you using?  Is the MX 60
> aux or the FX making the generator call?  Are you
> trying to do AC generator support?
>
> Good luck
> Darryl
> --- Jonah Liebes <jliebes at heliopower.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Hi All,
>>
>>
>>
>> I need help! I have an ongoing problem with the
>> Automatic Generator Start on
>> a (2) VFX 3624 system. The system is supplied by a
>> rather small 800 Wp solar
>> array and (6) 12V seal batteries.
>>
>>
>>
>> Here's the problem: the starting of the back-up
>> generator is not reliable.
>> It will load start when the well kicks on as it's
>> supposed to. It will
>> usually volt start when the timed, low voltage
>> threshold is reached, but not
>> always.
>>
>>
>>
>> Also, if and when it does come on, it will "cycle"
>> on and off every 15-60
>> seconds. The cycling could go on for hours: on for
>> up to a minute, then off
>> for 15 or so seconds, then back on for a minute,
>> then off again. One strange
>> thing is that the cycling will occur even when the
>> generator control is set
>> to 'manual'. I do hear the relay in the Outback
>> closing contacts which
>> signals the gen to start, so I don't think it's the
>> generator itself.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I've just replaced the battery bank, added 300 Wp of
>> PV and reset the Mate
>> to factory defaults and reprogrammed it with Outback
>> on the phone. Nothing
>> has affected the problem though.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Any help out there would be greatly appreciated.
>> I've spent hours
>> troubleshooting and head scratching with and without
>> Outback tech support
>> and nobody has figured it out yet.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Jonah Liebes
>>
>> NABCEPT Cert.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been
>> removed]
>>
>>
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>
>
>
>
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