[RE-wrenches] TR Inverter Problems

[Ray Walters]

I couldn't agree more Bob-O
Pharmaceutical company? Ethics?  Opps.
I thought Schneider buying them would help, but they have no idea what 
they're even selling these days.  Have you seen their website?  I can't 
even find a spec sheet for the TR in all that "Solutions for PV systems" 
mumbo jumbo.
Amazing that the Trace equipment line that basically put PV on the map, 
is the bottom of the heap now.
I like your 3C term.  I'll put that in our dictionary near PITA ( pain 
in the a__ ) factor.

R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760

On 4/30/2013 5:54 PM, Bob-O Schultze wrote:
> 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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