[RE-wrenches] Outback with grid charging

[toddcory at finestplanet.com]

i am not understanding the 'wisdom' of using non-grid tie inverters in this application. it is pretty easy to modify the inverters (board change out) to grid tie models, which would allow the inverter's to transfer the loads to the grid (internal transfer switch) and 'sleep' until there is an outage to back up. the only additional use the system would bring to their bill is re-floating the batteries occasionally.

with no renewable input (except silly, yard-art wind gennys), basically they have an expensive whole-house ups. i wonder what the intention or original design was supposed to do?
 
todd
 
 
 
 
On Friday, August 24, 2012 9:14am, "Jesse Dahl" <dahlsolar at gmail.com> said:



I do not want to take this on!  The wind, from what I have gathered is an absolute bust.  Just doing a little online research it seems like they are getting next to nothing from the wind generators.
From my little understanding of the system and reading replies, I would say they are buying power, losing 30% of it and then powering loads.
This system was installed by a contractor in Duluth, MN.
Jesse 

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 24, 2012, at 10:31 AM, Kent Osterberg <[mailto:kent at coveoregon.com] kent at coveoregon.com> wrote:



Two 1-kW wind generators doesn't sound       like enough to provide energy for a household except possibly in       the best circumstances. If there isn't much wind, the system is       getting most of it's energy from the grid. The utility bill would       go up even if they were using the same amount of energy in the       house. Batteries are energy losers!

 What Dave and others have warned about kWh metering issues is also       true. The new digital meters have many capabilities and the       default for most of them is to record energy going in either       direction as energy consumed. Since they are programmable, the       same meter can be used to record net energy - behave like most       disk-type meters; ignore energy in one direction - behave like a       detented meter; or record both incoming energy and outgoing energy       separately - a two register meter.  

Kent OsterbergBlue Mountain Solar, Inc.[http://www.bluemountainsolar.com] www.bluemountainsolar.comOn 8/24/2012 6:26 AM, Jesse Dahl wrote:
The system only uses grid power to charge batteries, they         have two FX3048T in parallel so I don't think the meter is the         issue.
They did send me a picture of the two wind towers, one is 20         feet off the ground and one is 60 feet off the ground... No wind         would be an understatement.


 Sent from my iPhone

 On Aug 24, 2012, at 7:43 AM, David Katz <[mailto:dkatz at aeesolar.com] dkatz at aeesolar.com>         wrote:


Check to see if their meter goes backwards.  Some utility meters           actually charge for power when you are selling.
 Or maybe they have no wind and a new big flat screen tv that           they leave on all the time.
 David Katz



----- Reply message -----
 From: "Jesse Dahl" <[mailto:dahlsolar at gmail.com] dahlsolar at gmail.com>
 To: "Wrenches" <[mailto:RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org] RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
 Subject: [RE-wrenches] Outback with grid charging
 Date: Thu, Aug 23, 2012 11:28 pm




Hello,

 I got a call from a family today about a system they had               installed recently and they think they have a problem.                They claim their electric bill has just about doubled               since the system has been installed due to outback using               the grid to power the loads instead of the battery bank.                They claim the MATE always shows the system buying the               exact amount as any load on the system draws.   Due to the               distance from my shop, I would like to get any ideas on               what could cause this before I drive all the way there.  
 
 What I know about the system:
 2 - outback inverters, 48v 
 2 - whisper 500 wind generators with whisper charge               controllers
 16 - MK 12v AGMS (8/inverter)

 I guessing setting, but if anyone has seen this before,               I'd like to narrow it down before the drive.  

 Thanks eh!

 Jesse

 Sent from my iPad!!!
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