[RE-wrenches] Outback VFX input voltage cycling

[Drake Chamberlin]

I would also look at the loads.  From an earlier post of yours it 
appeared that the system ran more normally when not connected to the 
house loads, but still cycled.

Could something on the load side be shorting, or could there be a 
huge load trying to kick on that doesn't really start?  It may well 
be a situation where two (or more) things are going on 
simultaneously.  My approach would be to continue to isolate 
components and run several different tests on all components.

Good luck

Drake


At 08:51 PM 12/28/2008, you wrote:
>This thread seems to have died ... somehow it got mixed in with the 
>"strings of different orientation" thread. If anyone has further 
>input I would very much appreciate it as I have to schedule a long 
>trip to remedy this and want to have as much ammunition as possible. 
>Again, to restate the problem:
>
>>an Outback VFX3524 inverter installed on an E-panel in a remote 
>>off-grid location. Voltage at the inverter input terminals is 
>>fluctuating between 110 & 140+ volts continuously. AC in will not 
>>connect so batteries can't charge. Output voltage measured at the 
>>inverter output terminals is steady at 122v.  When all household 
>>loads are turned off the input terminal voltage stabilizes but AC 
>>In still does not connect.
>>
>>Generator does not seem to be at fault as output measured at the 
>>gen. is stable even under load. System was working for about 1 1/2 
>>years but under new ownership has been badly monitored and 
>>batteries have become totally discharged.
>>
>>I'm trying to determine if this is a circuit board problem so I can 
>>perform a rescue mission by pulling some boards from an in-stock 
>>inverter, Outback tech support are on holidays. Anyone had a similar problem?
>
>
>Mick,
>
>referring to
>
>>there's not an auto-idle switch on that genset which may have 
>>accidentally been set for auto, is there?
>
>His generator was actually running in idle mode, operating the 
>household loads when I got there and the first thing I discovered 
>was that the voltage was ~90 volts coming in to the inverter. I 
>manually switched the generator to full speed and then checked the 
>voltage again, that is where I found the rapid fluctuations 
>occurring at the inverter.
>
>Ron
>
>On 27-Dec-08, at 1:23 PM, mick abraham wrote:
>
>
>>Ron wrote: "The owner told me...that someone had wired a switch incorrectly
>>and when he turned it on the system "shut down". He then re-wired it and
>>everything appeared ok but I'm wondering if this fried a board."
>>
>>Mick replies: I've seen several times with Outback and other brands (going as
>>far back as the Trace SW) where the inverter responds to an accidental short
>>circuit in the household wiring by shutting itself off quicker than a circuit
>>breaker can open. I'll bet that is what your customer experienced...possibly
>>due to a nicked hot wire in that new switch box shorting out to ground.
>>
>>I suspect that (part of your customer's report) is completely unrelated to
>>your present problem scenario. If it was my headache I would beg, borrow,
>>or...rent a second generator to insert temporarily instead of the Honda 3800.
>>That's the most conclusive way to determine fault or no-fault on 
>>the generator.
>>
>>Sometimes a genset will operate non-inverter loads OK and will exhibit normal
>>looking voltage etc. but there still could be transients or spikes which
>>render this input AC power unacceptable to the inverter/charger.
>>
>>Thinking...there's not an auto-idle switch on that genset which may have
>>accidentally been set for auto, is there?
>>
>>Mick Abraham, Proprietor
>>www.abrahamsolar.com
>>Voice: 970-731-4675
>
>>>Hi Mick & Jay,
>>>I disconnected the gen. line to the inverter and tested the output 
>>>and got steady voltage. I then re-connected the inverter and 
>>>tested the gen. output from a different outlet and got steady 
>>>voltage, both around 122v. So I've ruled out the generator. It was 
>>>my first suspicion.
>>>
>>>I have also noticed that when the household loads are off the 
>>>inverter output appears stable, doesn't fluctuate except about 
>>>every 20 seconds inverter audibly, the voltage drops from around 
>>>120 to 110 then resumes - as if the input was momentarily dropped.
>>>
>>>Darryl,
>>>I did play with the AC charge current lowering it to around 5 aac 
>>>but it didn't seem to make a difference. The owner told me, as an 
>>>afterthought that someone had wired a switch incorrectly and when 
>>>he turned it on the system "shut down". He then re-wired it and 
>>>everything appeared ok but I'm wondering if this fried a board. I 
>>>know there is an ac control board in there ... could this be it?
>>>
>>>BTW, it's a very small generator, Honda 3800.
>
>Ron
>
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Drake Chamberlin
Athens Electric
OH License 44810
CO License 3773
740-448-7328
740-856-9648  
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