[RE-wrenches] Xantrex XW

[Marv Dargatz]

Hey, I've renamed the subject to "Xantrex XW".

See Ya!

Marv
Enphase Energy
707 763-4784 x7016

Tump wrote:
> Sounds like the old trace GTI boxes.......UP DOWN UP DOWN
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
> [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of R.Scott
> Carlson
> Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 2:03 PM
> To: 'RE-wrenches'
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Request for Enphase inverter comments
> 
> 
> Hi Peter,
> Hate to say this, but this is common in many battery based systems. Not the
> problem you encountered specifically, but battery based systems are much
> more complex and take a lot of time and energy in general. Numerous return
> visits are the norm. Our lead tech has a lap top to download the most recent
> version of software and has many years of experience. Try the newer
> software. We install it on all XW installations.
> 
> 
> R. Scott Carlson
> Real Goods Carlson Solar
> Southern California V. P.
> of Sales and Installation
> (877)927-0782 (toll free)
> (951)304-3331(fax)
> (909)633-0782(cell)
> E-mail: scott at carlsonsolar.com
> Websites: Carlsonsolar.com 
> RealGoods.com
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
> [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Peter
> Parrish
> Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 10:39 AM
> To: 'RE-wrenches'
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Request for Enphase inverter comments
> 
> Normally, I have good things to say about Xantrex and their GT and XW class
> inverters. I personally replaced four GT units a while ago as they dealt
> with their "capacitor" problem. 
> 
> This post is about the XW product.
> 
> We installed a XW6048 with two charge controllers, a 4,200 W-dc PV array and
> a 550 A-hr, 48 Volt AGM battery bank.
> 
> Things went fairly smoothly in the install, but we encountered a "sawtooth"
> in the AC output in sell mode. Over a period of approximately 30-45 seconds
> the inverter charger would ramp up in output power (say to 2,800 W-AC), then
> snap down to zero and start over again. Although it is hard to follow what
> is happening in real time, it would appear that the ramp up is slower than
> the ramp down.
> 
> I spent four trips to the customer's home to try to resolve the issue with
> the help of Xantrex tech support. I even went to the trouble of making
> appointments with tech support, before going to the customer's home. With
> the help of tech support, we mucked around with the grid support voltage,
> float voltage, maximum sell current, two-stage vs three-stage charging, and
> checked a host of operating modes/settings. I spoke with every tech support
> person with knowledge of the XW system, and I double-checked my connections
> (torque). The last thing that tech support recommended was upgrading the
> firmware.
> 
> I finally convinced Xantrex to open a trouble ticket and I escalated the
> issue to their Product manager Ericka Yedid.
> 
> Since the system was manufactured in Aug 2007, Xantrex has recommended
> upgrading the firmware, and has promised to supply a dongle, files and an
> up-to-date XW configuration tool that can be used with a laptop to
> accomplish this end.
> 
> This is our first XW install and we are not experts on grid-tied battery
> backup systems although we have installed four now. Does anyone have
> experience trouble shooting these units? Anyone seen the sawtoothing I
> described? What is the quality of post sales tech support for this product?
> 
> - Peter
> 
> Peter T. Parrish, California Solar Engineering, Inc.
> 820 Cynthia Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90065
> Ph 323-258-8883, Mobile 323-839-6108, Fax 323-258-8885
> CA Lic. 854779, NABCEP Cert. 031806-26 peter.parrish at calsolareng.com 
> 
> 
> 
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