[RE-wrenches] OB Battery Charging

[R Ray Walters]

If a customer later feels they want the Mate for any reason, we will  
always provide one on our next maintenance call.
We let the customer decide if they want to spend the extra $295.00,  
rather than deciding for them.
Most choose not to, especially with grid tie.
I don't even have one on my own GTB system, I just have the cable  
hooked in, and pull the Mate out of my tool box if I want to do  
something.
Maybe I'm missing some spectacular performance enhancement and just  
don't know, but I just haven't found a reason to hook mine up in 2  
years.
The MX 60 screen tells me what the voltage is at, and array  
performance, the inverter lights tell me if I'm selling back, and the  
KWH meter logs total energy production.
Tell me what I'm missing? I'll happily start selling more Mates.

Ray

On Nov 7, 2009, at 2:37 PM, Drake Chamberlin wrote:

> I totally agree!
>
> Drake
>
> At 03:48 PM 11/7/2009, you wrote:
>> I always install a mate.
>>
>> My logic is that I can try, might not succeed, to walk them over  
>> the phone through the many adjustments that might need to be made.
>> And also look at error messages etc which can save me a bunch of  
>> time.
>>
>> So for those of you who don't include a mate, do you then charge  
>> the customer to show up and do a adjustment?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> jay
>>
>> peltz power
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Nov 7, 2009, at 12:10 PM, Allan Sindelar wrote:
>>
>>> Ray,
>>> We usually include the Mate if we expect a backup generator to be  
>>> the periodic source of a higher C/rate than the PV array for  
>>> equalizing batteries. The Mate is necessary to initiate an EQ  
>>> charge algorithm. How do you accomplish periodic EQ with an  
>>> Outback inverter and no Mate?
>>> Thanks,
>>> Allan Sindelar
>>> Allan at positiveenergysolar.com
>>> NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer
>>> EE98J Journeyman Electrician
>>> Positive Energy, Inc.
>>> 3201 Calle Marie
>>> Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
>>> 505 424-1112
>>> www.PositiveEnergySolar.com
>>>
>>> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [ mailto:re- 
>>> wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of R Ray Walters
>>>
>>> As far as customer interaction with the MATE, we generally don't  
>>> provide one. They're way too expensive and hard to understand, and  
>>> the chances of them screwing up the programming are too great.
>>> We install just the cable, and coil it up so that when we come  
>>> out, we can access the programming without having to remove all  
>>> the cover plates.
>>> Only customers that are comfortable with changing settings, etc.  
>>> actually get a MATE. (1 out of 10)
>>>
>>> R. Walters
>>> ray at solarray.com
>>> Solar Engineer
>>>
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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
>
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
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