[RE-wrenches] Outback inverter generator question

Sun Aug 13 13:52:59 PDT 2017

Hi Dave, I’m trying to get the customer to do a manual AC bypass but have to be careful about going over the clients technical ability to the point where he will cause more problems. Dealing with the vagaries of peoples choices is not always so cut and dried unfortunately. This client has money but will not spend it properly. In a small business you don’t often get to choose your customers. By the way the current fires out here, that have been raging for over a month now, are insane. Just one fire covers over 500,000 acres! I have been locked down at my property for 35 days because if I leave I will not be allowed back in.

Ron Young

> On Aug 13, 2017, at 10:42 AM, Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar <offgridsolar at sti.net> wrote:
> 
> Agree Dan if this is troubleshooting an installation done by someone else.
> On the other hand, it is our responsibility at the design phase to not
> even give the option of not having good Com's and AC bypass switching. The
> AC by pass would tell you quite a bit here about if the generator, the
> load, or the Inverter/charger was the source.
> 
> I have clients who are pretty clueless but I can get on the phone and walk
> them thru the data/button pushing for my troubleshooting.
> 
> Fires are nasty! We had 5,000 people evacuated for 7 days here 10 days ago
> in temperatures near 100F. Quite a few science projects inside those
> refrigerators!! I had a fire guy tell me if I leave my land they would not
> let me back in. Since this happens every 3 years or so we always stay as
> there never is an engine here until the fire goes by.
> 
> An E ticket ride watching the air attack!
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> For situations like these, unfortunately I've found that it's very handy
>> to
>> keep a remote each for Outback, Magnum and Conext in the troubleshooting
>> tool bag. Without a Mate (preferably a Mate 3) you are driving the highway
>> with a tarp over your windshield, and have to navigate by blinky colored
>> lights telling you where to exit onto the dirt road.
>> 
>> What blinky light error code is the inverter throwing at him?
>> 
>> I don't understand why clients won't spring for these relatively
>> inexpensive, essential remotes, but it's the same with battery SOC
>> monitoring coulomb counters up here off the grid. You just spent $10K on
>> an
>> offgrid power system, and can't afford a remote (I now call them "inverter
>> control panels" to clients) or a SOC monitor ("battery control panel")?
>> But
>> that's how it is, over and over again.
>> 
>> So sorry that you can't get to the site because of the fires, I have been
>> through that here in Colorado. I'd suggest tinkering with the inverter
>> charger settings and try lowering the load percentage to the generator,
>> but
>> without a Mate you can't do that.
>> 
>> I sincerely hope that Tump's suggestion is correct and that your client
>> has
>> auto-idle turned on with the Honda. My only Honda issue has been the 3kW
>> "cube" with a magnum inverter, all the 5kW Hondas have been fine with any
>> inverter brand.
>> 
>> Best regards;
>> 
>> 
>> Dan Fink
>> Professor of Solar Energy Technology, Ecotech Institute
>> IREC Certified Instructorâ„¢ for:
>> ~ PV Installation Professional
>> ~ Small Wind Installer
>> Executive Director, Buckville Energy
>> NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providersâ„¢
>> 970.672.4342
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Sun, Aug 13, 2017 at 8:07 AM, Tump <tump at swnl.net <mailto:tump at swnl.net>> wrote:
>> 
>>> Make sure that the client has the AUTO idle  set to OFF!
>>> 
>>> On Aug 12, 2017, at 8:32 PM, Ron Young <solareagle at solareagle.com <mailto:solareagle at solareagle.com>>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Have a client where I recently installed an Outback VFX3524 inverter in
>>> June. Heâ€™s using a Honda generator and has recently started having
>>> issues.
>>> He has been complaining that the inverter seems to be running hot but I
>>> believe this is because he doesnâ€™t have good ventilation around it. He
>>> is
>>> probably also running high on the loads. He doesnâ€™t have a Mate so
>>> canâ€™t
>>> identify the error. He is in a remote location and I am currently unable
>>> to
>>> travel due to fire restrictions in my area (major BC wildfires).
>>> 
>>> Here is his recent email:
>>> -Seems the inverter is recognizing the power in as an issue, and
>>> throwing
>>> an error.
>>> -My existing 5000 Honda generator has been online with the unit since
>>> you
>>> installed it.
>>> -The last few days, when there is very little load, or the unit goes to
>>> float, the generator goes into a high rpm.
>>> -My existing 5000 Honda crapped out on me this morning, and holds a low
>>> rpm, not putting out much power.  Will run a tool, but still wonâ€™t
>>> hold a
>>> higher rpm.
>>> -I borrowed an identical 5000 Honda generator, and it seemed to be doing
>>> fine for about 1.5 hours.
>>> -Now itâ€™s doing the same thing as the other generator.  The inverter
>>> system throws an error, the generator is taken offline, and the
>>> generator
>>> rpm go up.
>>> -If I manually manipulate the throttle not he generator lower, then the
>>> inverter re-engages.
>>> 
>>> What the heck could this be?  I donâ€™t want to fry the borrowed
>>> generator,
>>> but we canâ€™t systematically bypass the inverter, and the house
>>> requires the
>>> power.
>>> 
>>> Ron Young
>>> earthRight - Solareagle
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> 
> 
> Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
> "we go where powerlines don't"
> http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ <http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/>
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