[RE-wrenches] FW250

[Brian Teitelbaum]

Drake,

I completely agree with Chris here. The Midnight Solar E-Panels are far superior, in my opinion,  to the OutBack FW-250 boxes, and by the time that you add up all of the needed parts to make the FW-250 boxes work (cables, wire, breakers, shunt, etc.), they are about the same cost. The E-Panels are much easier to install and service. They also come with a shunt, whereas with the FW-250 boxes, if you need a shunt, you have to mount it on the inverter, below the top cover. This only works with the vented inverters, as the "turbo" cover on the sealed units don't have the clearance. On top of that, the shunt ends up only about 2-3" from the negative battery post, and is a hell of a hassle to connect with 2/0 or 4/0 cable.

 Brian Teitelbaum
AEE Solar



From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Chris Worcester
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 8:21 AM
To: 'RE-wrenches'
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] FW250

Hi Drake,
I did one of these when they first appeared in the spring of 2007, and swore them off. There is inadequate circuit breaker space on the AC & DC side especially when you are integrating  a GFP, requiring breakers be installed on both sides of the unit, back to back, which really eats into your working room! The lack of positive and negative DC busses and AC in or AC out busses left me using multi hole Polaris Insultaps or tying onto the top of the inverter's DC posts as recommended by OB tech support.. There were other issues too as you mention wire bending space.
Go with the MidNite Solar E panel and you'll be fine.

Sincerely,

Chris Worcester
Solar Wind Works
NABCEP Certified PV Installer
Phone: 530-582-4503
Fax: 530-582-4603
www.solarwindworks.com<http://www.solarwindworks.com/>
chris at solarwindworks.com<mailto:chris at solarwindworks.com>
"Proven Energy Solutions"

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Drake Chamberlin
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 5:42 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] FW250

Hello Wrenches,

There is a potential customer that purchased some equipment, including a FW250 box, that goes on the end of the  VFX inverter.

http://www.outbackpower.com/pdf/manuals/900-0060-1_REV_A.pdf

I've not installed one of these yet.  Looking at the manual, it looks extremely tight, especially on the DC side.  Has anyone had experience with these?  Is there sufficient wire bending space?


Thanks,

Drake Chamberlin
Athens Electric
OH License 44810
CO License 3773
NABCEP TM  Certified PV Installer
Office - 740-448-7328
Mobile - 740-856-9648
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