[RE-wrenches] Outback Mate3

[William Miller]

Howie:

I second your frustration with complex menu structures.  We have combatted 
that problem with concise, laminated instruction cards for fundamental 
operations (Inverter On/Off, Generator Remote Start, Equalization, etc).

More critical is the location in the menu structure of the Charger Mode and 
AC Drop functions.  The screens under the AC In function are way too 
similar and considerable damage can be done when the wrong button is 
pressed.  For example, we inherited a client that had been in the "Drop" 
mode for over a year and did not know it.  Their batteries became 
chronically undercharged and it cost them thousands of dollars for a new set.

I have to review my notes on the Mate3, having installed only one, as far 
as the operator interface.  The main advantage to the Mate 3, however may 
be this:  Many of my remote clients do not have phone service but they have 
satellite internet.  If I can plug a Mate3 into the internet and diagnose 
problems remotely, I can save a lot of travel time and provide a valuable 
service.

I was just at a remote ranch (the one with the Drop condition) and I 
installed a data acquisition system to confirm a diagnosis that phantom 
loads were eating up their PV kWh.  The drive time one way is two hours 
(not counting clearing fallen limbs, etc.).  If I could have  logged on to 
a full function, integral monitor and control system, I could diagnose this 
problem, start the generator and initialize an equalization, all from my 
desk or smart phone.  (The one missing function is checking battery 
water.  A ranch hand can do that.)

Can the Mate 3 do all of this?  I am not certain, but if it can, I am going 
to start selling them to select clients.

William Miller

PS:  I have had conversations with Outback about this issue and about 
providing better manuals.  They seem to be very interested in improving.

wm



At 11:09 AM 10/20/2012, you wrote:
>Thanks Daryl for the feedback.
>
>Have you or anyone else used the Mate3 on a VFX or GVFX, and is that an
>improvement over using the Mate2?