[RE-wrenches] Outback VFXR3648 failures

[Bruce Geddes]

Hi All,

                Although using a different version of the VFXR (3024E) I
have also had issues with a factory supplied FP2 system which is now
resolved.  Random shutdowns of the slave inverter which would indicate
"firmware versions different" and eventually lock up and revert to Boot Load
mode.  Required a firmware upload direct from the Mate to the inverter,
would not work via Hub!  I was told it was a firmware issue but later, from
a  different tech support, that it was a comms board issue which has now
been resolved with a  complete redesign of the board in question.  Total of
5x 6hour round trips to sort out!

 

My problem was fixed by retrofitting some VFX3024E's, fortunately an
off-grid system so no need for the grid capability.

 

Cheers,

Bruce Geddes

PowerOn

 

From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On
Behalf Of Ray
Sent: Thursday, 4 May 2017 7:55 a.m.
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback VFXR3648 failures

 

I had all kinds of trouble with the one and only VFXR system I did last
summer.  Every morning when the system would try to sell back, one inverter
would drop, which meant half the critical loads all got dropped too.
Considering the idea behind all the money for GTB is to keep those loads up
no matter what, we as an industry looked very bad.  A firmware update a
couple months later finally fixed the problem, but in the mean time I had
Outback Tech support trying to blame my wiring for the problems.

I had so many call backs due to this, along with Midnite "Rapid Shutdown"
issues, that I'm very hesitant to even take on anymore backup power systems.
I actually talk most people out of it right now.  If you already have 99+%
power availability, its going to be hard to improve that.  More likely, as
in our case, we are decreasing the up time not improving it, and the
customer is paying tens of thousands for that down grade. 

I'm just too honest to promote GTB right now, especially with Tesla's
disinformation campaign that makes people think they can backup their entire
house for any outage for $5k. I was doing backup systems before we were even
allowed to grid tie in the 90s, so I consider our current state of the art
to be in total disarray: 

shameful over promotion coupled with dangerous under performance.  

R. Ray Walters
Chief Technical Officer, RemoteSolar.com
BS Mech Engineering, 1988
Former NABCEP Certified, 2004-2016
Licensed Master ELectrician, Colorado
303 505-8760

On 5/3/17 12:51 PM, Starlight Solar Power Systems wrote:

Battery Wrenches, 

 

We designed a mobile power system with 6 Outback VFXR3648 inverters stacked
for 240 split phase. The battery system is a 20kWh lithium ion. So far, 2
FET boards have failed and the customer called today with another failure.
Outback said they had an early problem with these. I want to know if anyone
else is having issues with these and is the problem really fixed before I
quote another one.

 


Thank you,

Larry Crutcher
Starlight Solar Power Systems
(928) 342-9103

 

 

 

 






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