[RE-wrenches] TR Inverter Problems

[Bob-O Schultze]

The TR is a classic example of what I call 3C. Cheap Chinese Crap. If Xantrex had any ethics at all they would have killed that line and refunded everyone's dough years ago.
Bob-O

On Apr 30, 2013, at 3:44 PM, Kent Osterberg wrote:

Ray,

I've got a customer that has the same problem with a dual TR inverter system. When we first complained, Xantrex promised they were working on a fix. That never materialized and now the TR is out of production. It's a lousy product and customer service has been the same. A few months ago, I was asked to participate in a survey regarding Xantrex products and service. My responses must have got someone's attention because I got a follow-up call about the survey. There never has been a follow-up to correct this customer's problem inverter.

Kent Osterberg
Blue Mountain Solar, Inc.
www.bluemountainsolar.com
t: 541-568-4882

On 4/30/2013 3:19 PM, Ray Walters wrote:
> Hi Folks:
> 
> I just finished up another ugly rewire project for a customer that had another"installer" put in a Xantrex TR inverter.
> We fixed numerous wiring issues, including neutral bonded to ground in 7 different places!
> The issue we're having now though, is that the TR inverter output voltage fluctuates when running CF lighting, and the refrigerator.
> You can literally see the lights cycling brighter and dimmer, and hear the compressor on the fridge running up and down in frequency. Xantrex/ Schneider Tech support said that:
> A) The TR doesn't do well with CF lighting, and that we should switch to all incandescent........ hmmmm.
> B)  We should set the search watts to zero (which I already did)
> C) We need to increase the loads on the TR, as it doesn't regulate output voltage and frequency very well at lower loads........ 2nd big hmmmmm.
> 
> I knew there was a reason I quit installing Xantrex inverters about 5 years ago, but I couldn't recall the details.  Now its all coming back to my feeble, aging brain.  So aside from switching out the inverter , (which I just installed on a beautiful Midnite E-Panel) does anybody have any cures for our ills?  How would LED lighting behave?  Should I throw a capacitor across the output? or perhaps I should just retire early and sail around the Caribbean? (I can afford a canoe/ no sail......)
> 
> As always, thanks in advance for this wonderful technical (and emotional) support group,
> 

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