[RE-wrenches] OutBack v. Xantrex (SqD)

[Jason Szumlanski]

No recent experience with Xantrex, but Outback panels have been great.
Flexpower panels come factory wired with charge controllers as options.
The final connections are pretty simple. I'm doing a quad inverter
Outback Flexware 1000 system now, and just finished with a dual inverter
Flexware 500 system. 

 

The one thing to watch out for is make sure you are ordering exactly
what you expect to get. For example, at one point the dual inverter
Flexpower system literature did not show the X240 autotransformer
included (preinstalled), but it did, in fact, come with it. They may
have changed that after I pointed it out to them. If you go with
Flexware components rather than a Flexpower prewired power center, make
sure you are clear on what you are getting (i/o bypass assembly,
terminal bus bars, etc.) There's nothing worse than getting on-site and
finding out you are missing something. The A/C breakers are pretty
cheap. I'd put a couple extra in the A/C panel for future expansion (if
this will be the main load center).

 

If I had one complaint about the Outback gear, it would be the charge
controller brackets, which I find to be pretty flimsy. If I had to come
up with one more complaint, maybe the positive battery connection to the
breaker could be easier, but I fixed that by using 45 degree Magnalugs
on my cables.

 

The finish on the Outback panels seems to be more durable compared to
the finish on the old Xantrex SW5548 power panels I used to buy, but I
haven't seen any recent Xantrex equipment. That's probably not real
important, but I thought I would opine.

 

Jason Szumlanski

Fafco Solar

 

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Marco
Mangelsdorf
Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2010 3:29 PM
To: 'RE-wrenches'
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] OutBack v. Xantrex (SqD)

 

Nope.

 

HI Marco,

 

The first issue is do you need/want 240v?

 

Jay

 

Peltz power

 

 

 

 

On Dec 29, 2010, at 11:45 AM, Marco Mangelsdorf wrote:

 

I don't do much off-grid no mo' and would appreciate some advice.

 

I've got a client who's going to be purchasing a power panel with either
an OutBack 3648 or Square D/Xantrex 4548.  Also included would be the AC
and DC switchgear integrated into the panel as well as either the
OutBack or Xantrex MPPT charge controller.

 

I welcome your recommendation and why.

 

Thanks,

marco

 

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