Outback MX problem [RE-wrenches]

[Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar]

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Ron,

If you are saying you measured the voltage at the MX terminals and had a 4 
volt difference between your meter and the MX display, I would send the MX 
back for replacement.

If you are saying the 4 volt drop was between the battery terminals (your 
meter) and the MX display while charging, there might be a bad connection 
somewhere from the MX to the battery. Is this a new installation or just a 
new problem?

A bad connection will cause the MX will reach the absorb set point quickly 
due to resistance and then switch to float unless you set the minimum absorb 
timer (advanced menu: Absorb Time Limits).

Matt,  after sitting through a couple Surrette training sessions, I was 
thinking he has the absorb voltage a little low. I'm a big fan of 
aggressive, temperature compensated, charge voltage for daily deep cycle 
applications. 2.47vpc is what I use for flooded cells. 29.4 is spot on 
according to Rolls Bulletin 605. What do you use for absorb voltage?

Larry Crutcher
Starlight Solar
powered by STARLIGHT(tm)


 ----- Original Message ----- 
From: Matt Tritt
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 12:42 PM
Subject: Re: Outback MX problem [RE-wrenches]

Ron,

Since the MX thinks that the batteries are virtually full all the time,
"force bulk" is simply overriding the controller programming to effect a
charge, I would take OutBack up on the offer and call it good. I'm
curious as to why you have the bulk point set so high?

Matt T

Ron Young wrote:

>
> I'm having a problem with an Outback MX going into sleep mode and  showing 
> incorrect voltage on the input. It's a single 3524 inverter  with a 4KS25 
> Surrette battery charged by a Whisper 100 and a 680 watt  array (Evergreen 
> 170's) wired in two strings for 48v. The only time  the MX will charge is 
> if a charge is initiated via FORCE BULK mode or  if the customer turns on 
> her vacuum cleaner and it draws down the  batt. voltage then the MX kicks 
> in. She says she sees the pv output  voltage drop from 70 (sunny day) to 
> as low as 24 then start building  up again. If it stays around 60 then the 
> MX keeps charging but once  it gets back up to 70 then MX cuts out. Bulk 
> set point is at 29.4.
>
> Actual battery voltage measured at the terminals is 25.1 today but  the MX 
> says 29.1.
>
> Outback wants to replace the unit but I'm not convinced yet that it's 
> defective, just wondering if maybe something else is going on that  I've 
> overlooked. The above behaviour is the same whether there is  wind or no 
> wind so I've ruled out a conflict with the Whisper  controller.
>
> Ron Young
>
>
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