[RE-wrenches] FW: Mates Losing time & dates

Wed Dec 17 12:04:20 PST 2008

Wrenches,
On the issue of Outback Mates failing to control the AGS function properly,
I forwarded a few of the recent posts to one of our off-grid clients who has
a two-year-old quad-stack with 4.4kW PV and a 20kW Onan generator with
two-wire start. This client is very sharp. He sent a description of the
solution that worked for him. He has not swapped his Mate for a newer one.
Allan at PosE

-----Original Message-----
From:  

I assumed that it was a software bug, so I did my best to force the software
to "rethink."  First, I tried unplugging the Mate and plugging it back in.
That did not work.  Then I did this, and it has been working fine since:

1. put generator AGS in manual-off;

2. reset the setpoints away from where they were, including setting the 2
minute point above where the batteries were currently sitting so I could
monitor whether the auto-start was working;

3. put AGS to "auto" - exit with "okay";

4. found that the generator started properly;

5. let the generator run till it turned off by itself;

6. reset the setpoints back to the settings I actually wanted them at;

7. turn off AGS and turn AGS back on.

Also, on the various AGS pages, even if a setting is what I want it to be, I
always hit "okay" instead of just moving past it.

Seems that Outback ought to test my simple fix and if it works consistently,
put out at least a bulletin on it.  But of course, we still don't know how
it got stuck in that bug.

-fred

-----Original Message-----
From: Allan Sindelar [mailto:allan at positiveenergysolar.com] 

Fred,

You may find this recent RE-Wrenches thread interesting. It supports your
"software glitch theory".

Allan

Hi Jeff, 

Yep had this problem a many times.  

The only "fix" I came up with was a new mate.  Every time a new mate went
in, problem went away.

On the same note, I've got a Flexnet on a system and it seems less reliable
than the mate.  

For example it was currently set to start at 55%, customer has seen it at
45% without genny being on.

Seems to be some room for improvement.

jay

peltz power

Hello Jay and Tump,

I set up a mate for autostart six weeks ago.  Before leaving the remote job
site I started the genny from the mate by raising the two minute start
voltage above the current battery voltage and waited two minutes.  The genny
started confirming that the AGS was functioning properly.  

I recently talked with the mostly savvy client and he claims that the
generator has never autostarted and that the battery voltage remains below
the ags 2h and 24h settings for extended periods of time without the genny
starting.  He has been starting the genny manually from the power center to
get the batteries charged.  

Is this the problem that you have seen?  It was only a two hour drive each
way in October when the short cut through the mountains was open.  Now I am
looking at a 3-4 hour drive each way over icey roads otherwise I would visit
the site with a spare mate without hesitation.

Is the time and date loss a problem in conjunction with the ags issue?

Jeff

Thirsty Lake Solar

PO Box 538

Eureka, MT 59917

Jeff Wongstrom

NABCEP Certified Solar Installer

406-889-5324

thirstylakesolar <http://www.thirstylakesolar.com/> .com

-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Tump
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 6:37 AM
To: 'RE-wrenches'
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Mates Losing time & dates

OUTBACK/CHRIS you out there??????

Jay this sucks! I too have seen this way too often. It has gotten to the
point despite changing out the mate I now suggest to my clients, that every
month they "repole" their mate. I also mark the port that the mate plugs
into & tape the dead front mate 2 port just to be on the safe side had that
happen before plugged into the wrong port.

This problem & it is a PROBLEM! seems to be going on for a long time! How
about addressing this problems Chris F?

-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of jay peltz
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 11:33 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Mates Losing time & dates

Hi Mark, 

No this issue I've had is that the mate just won't start the generator with
usual symptoms  of system shut down.

But when I go to the mate and press start, generator starts right up.  All
setpoints are correct.  Replace the mate, and all is good, again same
setpoints.

So I can only surmise the problem is a mate issue that I've yet to track
down, but have a fix. 

jay

peltz power

On Dec 15, 2008, at 8:38 AM, Mark Dickson wrote:

Jay,

Funny you should mention this.  A customer just called today to say that his
Mate has been failing to shut down his generator and they have been walking
into a smelly room full of boiling batteries each time.  Is this what you
are referring to when the AGS's are going bad?

I recently replaced an older Mate with this one that has the updated
firmware.

Mark Dickson

Oasis Montana Inc.

877-627-4778 toll-free

406-777-4321 (0830 fax)

 <http://www.oasismontana.com/>  <http://www.oasismontana.com/>
www.oasismontana.com

www.grid-tie.com <http://www.grid-tie.com/> 

 <http://www.pvsolarpumps.com/>  <http://www.pvsolarpumps.com/>
www.PVsolarpumps.com

  _____  

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