XW "sell" mode programming issue [RE-wrenches]

[Mark Edmunds]

Hi Dan,

The answer you got from tech support is about right. We wrestled with
this one during the development of the XW... Our regulatory group felt
that if DC was shut down this could indicate the unit was moved and we
needed to make sure the user really intended to have the unit in sell
mode. Engineering felt that this would more likely be a normal
maintenance issue and the unit should revert back to its previous
setting. As you can tell the more conservative approach won out.

We are re-evaluating this, and hopefully will be able to get this
re-certified with the sell setting held during power down, and a few
more caution statements added to the manual!

Cheers,

Mark


Mark Edmunds
Xantrex Technology Inc.

-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Rice [mailto:danrice at scinternet.net] 
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 9:33 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: XW "sell" mode programming issue [RE-wrenches]


Wrenches,

I've come across an issue with the XW 6048 operating in Sell mode when
connected to the grid. For those who haven't worked with the XW in a
grid-tie system yet, there are a couple of program settings that must be
"enabled" to get the inverter to sell. In order to program the inverter,
a System Control Panel must be connected to the inverter. In the main
Setup menu, Grid Support must be set to Enabled. In the Advanced
Settings menu, the "Sell" setting must also be set to Enable. Simple
enough. One of the purported advantages of the XW with the System
Control Panel is supposed to be that, once programmed, the inverter
holds all settings, and the installer can remove the SCP, preventing the
system owner from tampering with settings and messing things up (like an
Outback FX with a Mate).

Here's the rub -when the inverter is completely powered off (all AC and
DC removed), the "Sell" setting in the Advanced Settings menu ALWAYS
comes up to the default "Disabled" setting when the inverter is powered
back on.
Shades of the SW's volatile memory. Any grid-tie XW installers should
take note, since inverters get powered off by customers from time to
time. If your system owner has an SCP, you can teach them to reprogram
the Sell setting, but if you choose to install a grid-tied (sell-back)
system and omit the SCP, you're in for a service call if the customer
powers off the inverter some time. (I'd be interested to know if the G
series Outback FX inverters behave similarly -is this a UL-IEEE issue of
some sort?)

I spoke to a Xantrex tech support assistant about this, and mentioned
that this issue would be posted here. I got a message back mentioning
that Mark will reply to this with Xantrex' explanation (something having
to do with there being a chance that if DC power has been removed from
the inverter, that could indicate that the inverter has been moved to a
new location that doesen't have an interconnection agreement with the
utility!?? I hope I got that wrong). In Xantrex's favor, the techs I've
spoken to about the XW have had live XW systems at their finger tips,
and have been able to verify problems or walk through menus using an
actual SCP, not just a manual. Good support there.

Caveat extorqueo.

Dan Rice
Abundant Sun, LLC.


Mark, BTW, it sounds like there are a number of reasons to retain the
12V generator run signal option on the GSM. Does the software upgrade to
the GSM adds the AC2 In Good recognition without eliminating the 12 V
generator run signal option? Either-or (and both) would be good
programming options -the more flexibility, the better.


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