Selecting an inverter/battery system [RE-wrenches]

[Travis Creswell]

>From experience you'll want the inverter flat to change the boards.  I
"heard" it's pretty easy to damage the ribbon cable if you do it when they
are vertical. (I've never done that I just heard about a guy who did...)

But even taking an Outback down and fixing it in the field is still
preferable to the SW's being required to be sent to a service center for
pretty much any reason (did you ever try to get a schematic for an SW?)
SW's $100 minimum shipping each way combined with repairs that average over
$500 get old pretty fast.  Plus they always need sheet metal work when UPS
is done with them. (I'm shutting up now)

So I just keep spare SW's around.  I take them out to the site and swap them
out with the bad one then bill the customer for the repairs to their old one
which stays with me until someone else needs one.  It's like an expensive
game of musical chairs.

Travis Creswell
Ozark Energy Services


-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Welch [mailto:michael_welch at sbcglobal.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 4:33 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: Selecting an inverter/battery system [RE-wrenches]


Well actually, board replacement is not so easy either. My grid-tied OutBack
failed week before last. I was told that it is easiest to take the inverter
off the PS2 to replace the boards. (Since they gave me a choice between
boards or a replacement inverter, I opted for the latter.)

They did get it to me fairly quickly considering that I did not ask for
overnight (5 working days from my call).

(Anyone want to come to Arcata to install it for me?)

Todd Cory, Mt. Shasta Energy Services wrote at 11:31 AM 09/02/2007:
 

>Outback has most of this except for "Flawless generator interaction", 
>which is a pretty big issue for most of us and our customers. I am sad 
>they continue to stonewall everyone on this issue. It'd be nice if it 
>was addressed and resolved. I have lost alot of respect for the company 
>over the way they have (not) dealt with this.
>
>Todd
>
>
>
>Matt Tritt wrote:
>
>>
>> For off-grid inverters I look for:
>> Real technicians available in the technical assistance department who 
>> know what they're talking about
>> Reliability
>> Real warranty coverage
>> Surge capacity
>> Ability to function at high efficiency in high heat
>> Ease of field repair (board replacement, relay replacement, etc.)
>> Ease of installation and wiring (weight, size, mounting method)
>> Flawless generator interaction
>> Understandable programming and readout (including error causes)
>> Sinewave = to grid wave form
>> Expandability without major re-work
>> Happy customers who don't call you on weekends and holidays with some 
>> major problem that requires a site visit :>(
>> Good price point
>>
>
>
>- - - -
>Hosted by Home Power magazine
>
>To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>
>Archive of previous messages:
http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read
>
>List rules & how to change your email address:
www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php
>
>Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/
>
>Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com


- - - -
Hosted by Home Power magazine

To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & how to change your email address:
www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com




No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.5/988 - Release Date: 9/4/2007
9:14 AM
 

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.5/988 - Release Date: 9/4/2007
9:14 AM
 


- - - -
Hosted by Home Power magazine

To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & how to change your email address: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael_welch at sbcglobal.net

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit:
http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER
--^----------------------------------------------------------------