experience with XW inverters [RE-wrenches]

[Ken Schaal]

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As for our experience with the XW 6048 inverter/charger, MPPT60 charge 
control, SCM --system control module--, and the AGS---automatic Gen start 
control :  see our post from 11/5/07 for background.

As we have tested the equipment for simulated grid outage, we have generally 
found operation to be flawless, with one exception, which Xantrex tech 
support has resolved, I trust, with upgrades due to be installed next week.
The glitch involved the moment of reconnection to the grid with a gen backup 
running and charging. We discovered it while demonstrating system operation 
to the electrical inspector for our County, where PV net-metered systems are 
rare. We turned off the 60 A supply breaker to the inverter as he watched, 
and of course, the lights barely flickered , and everything operating in the 
house continued to operate flawlessly, including a small ground source heat 
pump for the master bedroom of the 83 y.o. owner. ( about a 1500 W load). As 
the voltage in the small 245 AHr newly installed battery bank ( Deka 8G8D, 
replacing 24 ,8 yr old Deka L16's , thoroughly used ),declined, the Kohler 
6.5 gen., which only had about 135 operating hours despite several week long 
storm caused grid outages since '99, started, charged batteries, and powered 
the house as expected. All observers duly impressed . So, now the simulation 
gets to the stage where the grid is restored, so I turn the 60A breaker 
feeding the inverter, back on.  The lights--in a dark basement-- go off ! 
DAMN ! I find the flashlight the owner keeps on the stairs, flip the 
breakers for the bypass switchs, and the lights are on. Then restart the XW, 
put the bypass back to normal, inverter mode,and we are ready for backup, 
sell to grid, and AC pass thru operation. There was no smoke, just the 
inverter needing a tweek in the firmware, apparently, as the Xantrex 
engineers duplicated the problem and developed the upgrade which is enroute 
to us as you read this. We will be able to install early next week, run 
another test, and report back to you all.

Charles Miller was the tech I worked with, and his service was excellent. 
Thank you, Charles !

As we got the info he needed, we discovered another minor anomally re; 
serial numbers. The # on the actual equipment, on the barcode sticker, is 
different than the serial # that comes up on the SCM ( Xantrex name for 
Mate) which is where you need to get the firmware rev.#. Both seem to work 
for tech support.

For those of you wondering about the small battery bank, my theory, still 
being tested, is that since this system is being expanded from 2.4 KW fixed 
mount ,by the addition of a 2KW array on a AZ225 Wattsun tracker, combined 
with net-metering,and an existing low run-time generator ,the need for a 
large battery is greatly reduced. We ran a one day test under heating 
conditions, ave 24 hr temp about 30*and sunny day , and got a gen run-time 
of 8 hrs., and this did not include the new array, which will hopefully be 
operational in the next day or two. Since our major grid disruptions are 
rare--ice storms or hurricanes, we are in central Va.--but can easily be a 
week or more for this rural location, it seems to me the smaller, and 
sealed, battery makes sense. Maintenance on those 24 L-16's was a real pain 
for us, and expense for the owner. The old SW's seemed to be hard on these 
batteries, with a lot of bulk charges everytime the grid flicked off, 
resulting in gassing and mist build up in the battery box. Also, never could 
get the generator to exercise , although it ran when needed for backup. 
That's why the low run time hrs.

The  new AGS module has been flawless, although it was not obvious which 
setting needed to be used for this older Kohler 6.5 RMY (?) We used [ 8 ] 
with a little help from tech support.

We will run a more extended test with the new array soon, and report back.
In general, we are very pleased with this equipment, and have several other 
Y2K conversions, and replacements, in the works. In Va, we have excellent 
net-metering, but ave. electric rates, a moderate solar resource, no state 
incentives, an increasing demand from the public as rates go up and Climate 
Change motivates some to be responsible energy users. Many have installed 
generators, so this seems a ready market to add instant UPS, energy 
conservation--which we always include in the package--, with reduced 
run-time on typically oversized generators. We stress the insurance aspects 
of this combination, and the XW is the equipment  we have wanted for several 
years.

Now, hopefully it will be durable !  The SW's we removed were doing just 
fine, and will probably be used for an off grid cabin, although I don't look 
forward to moving and mounting them !

This was the first XW that Sunwize on the East Coast shipped, Fall 07, many 
shipped from the West Coast.
There must be some other experience out there--Any more comments?


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kirpal Khalsa" <solarworks at gmail.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 12:18 PM
Subject: experience with XW inverters [RE-wrenches]


> Greetings friends........looking to see if anyone has any experiences
> they would like to share regarding the Xantrex XW inverters in grid
> tied mode.....success? failure? xantrex support?  we are skeptical to
> try them based on xantrexs prior record.
> Spring is coming soon!
> Thanks
>
> -- 
> Sunny Regards,
> Kirpal Khalsa
> Renewable Energy Systems
> 541-218-0201
> 


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