[RE-wrenches] XW6048 parts problem
Chris Schaefer
chris at solarandwindfx.com
Mon Sep 21 11:17:27 PDT 2009
Peter, perhaps I'm missing something here but why not use the Morning Star
Relay Driver. It has 4 channels and can use Battery voltage as an input
trigger. Again perhaps I'm missing something. Good luck.
PS still waiting on more than one aux output from Outback also.
Christopher
Solar & Wind FX Chris Schaefer's
WHERE KNOWLEDGE EQUALS POWER INDEPENDENCE
Specializing in Off-Grid Electricity for Remote Homes
Grid-Tied Power for Residential and Commercial Sites
Tel 585-229-2083 ~ Cell 585-748-1870
5115 South Hill Road
Canandaigua New York 14424
www.solarandwindfx.com <http://www.solarandwindfx.com/> ~
chris at solarandwindfx.com
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From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Drake
Chamberlin
Sent: 20 September, 2009 20:09
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] XW6048 parts problem
Hi Peter,
Do you need the extra fan? The VFX has an internal fan. Are there a lot of
heavy loads that push the limits of the Outback? If not, take out the fan
or swap it for a cover with no fan. Many VFX inverters didn't come with
cover fans. I don't know if they are standard now, or not.
Or, have the fan go on whenever the direct grid tie inverter is being called
on to charge batteries instead of feed the grid. If loads are not real
heavy, battery charging, by back feeding the AC Out, may be the time when
the fan is needed the most.
Before inverters started controlling generators, we used a device called the
Simple Switch, which was a voltage controlled contact. (We'd use it with a
GenWiz). I'm not sure what is out there these days. You could use the
Atkinson GSCM, generator start module, which senses the voltage. If you need
this solution, I'd call AEE.
Thanks for the heads up on the Xantrex. I just heard another horror story
about the Xantrex 6024 system. According to the installer, the owner shut
off an AC switch and the array cooked a bank of Surrette 25CS 25 PS
batteries. I don't know the new Xantrex line and don't understand how this
could happen. Is this really possible?
-Drake
At 06:43 PM 9/20/2009, you wrote:
Hi Drake (and everyone else interested in this thread),
Armed with the information from my esteemed colleagues, we went ahead and
purchased a SunWise "Solar Ready-Grid Tie Battery System", a SRB3.6 to be
exact. The heart of the system is a GVFX3648. I ordered it without the
Charge controller and purchased a SB3000 and 3150 Wdc of PV to go with it.
I also purchased a Grainger 2P2T relay with a 12 V coil in a NC
configuration (to disconnect the SB when the batteries are fully charged in
off-grid mode) and an Outback PSX-240 to transform the 240 Vac to 120 Vac
(in order to interface with the GVFX3648.
When we looked into hooking the relay up to the AUX-OUT of the GVFX3648, we
discovered that it was already dedicated to the fan.
So it looks like we will need to put something together to sense the battery
voltage and energize the relay coil, when we exceed the threshold. Any
recommendations for a add-on HVD? And exactly what threshold voltage should
we use for 8ea 6V 305 Ah (C/24) AGM batteries?
And for Drake: I gravitated away from Xantrex because of a very
unsatisfactory experience with a XW6048. The system failed to work properly
and Xantrex "hemmed and hawed" for over six months. Bottom line: we made six
service calls, two firmware upgrades and probably two dozen calls to largely
clueless group tech supporters. Through it all, I lost the customer's
confidence and he chose another integrator to do a follow on commercial
project. The last part of course was the worst part of the experience.
- Peter
Hi Peter,
The Outback inverter will not regulate battery charge while AC coupled. The
SMA is the only system designed to give a regulated charge to batteries in
the AC coupled mode. The Outback auxiliary relay can be used to drive a
relay that will disconnect the input to the inverter, to regulate battery
charge when grid is down. I like an "Ice Cube Rely" (such as Idec) to
control a contactor. The coil of the Idec uses very little power.
Why did you gravitate toward Xantrex from Outback?
Drake
At 09:25 PM 8/4/2009, you wrote:
I would like to start a thread on AC-coupled grid tied battery backup
systems. We do a fair number of GTBBSs (four to five a year) and I have
gravitated from the Outback solution to the Xantrex XW solution. I am not
happy with the XW product and especially not happy with Xantrexs post sales
technical support. I know I have more to learn about these puppies in
general, so I am genuinely disappointed with the uneven TS from Xantrex.
I also had this nagging feeling that the heart of a GTBBS should be the
tried and true high voltage inverter. Enter the SunPower positive ground
requirement, and now an AC coupled system seems the best solution.
>From the white paper that Outback sent me, there was no mention of a heavy
duty relay. Doesnt the Outback inverter regulate the battery charge control?
Has anyone tried to order a SunWize Solar Ready Battery Assemblywithout the
charge controller (e.g. P/N SRB3.6). It would seem that this is a nice
package for small energy needs (13 to 26 kWh of battery backup).
- Peter
[]Peter T. Parrish, Ph.D., President
California Solar Engineering, Inc.
820 Cynthia Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90065
CA Lic. 854779, NABCEP Cert. 031806-26
peter.parrish at calsolareng.com
Ph 323-258-8883, Mobile 323-839-6108, Fax 323-258-8885
_____
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [
mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of William
Miller
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 5:55 PM
To: jryago at netscape.com; RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] XW6048 parts problem
Jeff:
I have a spare. They are not kept in the socket but are loose in a bag.
Send me your mailing address off list. I leave tomorrow for a week, so I
hope I see your address before I go.
William
At 04:59 PM 8/4/2009, you wrote:
Just completed a large residential grid/gen/solar/battery system using a
XW6048 inverter.
We are using a SunnyBoy inverter at the array and doing an AC coupled
backfeed. To do this we have installed a heavy duty relay in the output of
the SunnyBoy, and are using the aux. relay contacts on the XW unit to close
this relay when battery voltage is at high limit (during no load power
outage to prevent over-charging)
Not sure if we lost it during installation, if it shook loose in shipment
and fell out, or was missing to begin with, but to connect to the aux.
contacts in th XW requires a very small green flat 5-pin connector which is
missing.
I contacted multiple people at Xantrex and their service center, waded
through their web site, and finally talked to a service tech. He advised
that "he was looking for an extra one of these connectors 6 months ago and
still has not received it, as these compoments are made and assembled in
China and they do not stock anything that is considered an assembly part
used in China to build their units."
First, I did not realize these inverters were being assembled in China, and
second, who ever heard of not stocking a replacement part just because its
made in China. If that were true, 95% of everything sold today in US would
not be able to order replacement parts.
Anybody out their know if there is a Radio Shack type supplier where I can
order a bag of these and get on with the system startup and my life?
Thanks,
Jeff Yago
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Drake Chamberlin
Athens Electric
OH License 44810
CO License 3773
NABCEP TM Certified PV Installer
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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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