[RE-wrenches] Inverter On/Off Switch use Outback FX

[Ray Walters]

I've done the AC relay idea as well, on Schneider that didn't have the 
easy off switching like the Outbacks.  The problems are:
1) Much bigger relay, much higher current on the control side as well.  
It required a relay for the relay.
2) If there's a malfunction, you are messing with the main feeders for 
the home.
3) The inverters are still on with their no load draw, a pair of VFX 
inverters, would be 45 to 50 watts, so you could still shut the 
batteries down.

I think in your case without AGS, the trick might be to add a bypass 
control switch parallel to the relay, so they can manually turn the 
inverters back on.

Ray

On 7/20/2023 5:15 PM, Jay wrote:
> Hi Ray
>
> This house won’t have an AGS, manual start only.
>
> And your comments exactly, having to wait until the next day when 
> hopefully there is enough sun to charge the battery is iffy.
>
> Or they could do the inverter bypass switch.
>
> Again I’m back to why is it a worse idea to install a relay on the AC?
>
> Thx
>
> Jay
>
> As to the sol ark which I never thought about it being in a sense an 
> AC coupled system. IE if the inverter is off it won’t charge.
> I guess you’ll have to install an external  battery charger?
>
>
>
>
>> On Jul 20, 2023, at 5:08 PM, Ray Walters via RE-wrenches 
>> <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>>
>> 
>>
>> The aux off is only if the generator doesn't start.  You need to set 
>> the gen start voltage higher. Aux off is last ditch shut down, set 
>> for 44v for lead acid, or 47 to 49v, depending on the battery and 
>> inverter.   Hopefully DC coupled PV will raise the voltage enough to 
>> turn the inverters back on the next day.
>>
>> This is my concern on Solark installs, I just noticed that the 
>> inverter won't pass through PV, if it hits its LVD set point.
>>
>> On 7/20/2023 3:04 PM, jay via RE-wrenches wrote:
>>> HI All,
>>>
>>> I wanted to revisit this thread for one reason.
>>>
>>> If you turn off the inverter at the remote on/off with the AUX 
>>> relay, then starting the generator won’t have any impact as the 
>>> inverter is off.
>>> So someone will have to go and reset the AUX relay.
>>>
>>> Vs
>>>
>>> If you do a relay on the AC output, when you start the generator, it 
>>> will start charging, raising the battery volts, causing the AUX 
>>> relay to close AC output relay and you’ll have power in the house.
>>>
>>> Am I missing something?
>>>
>>> thanks
>>>
>>> jay
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Here is the last email I think:
>>>
>>> Mac,
>>>
>>> I think you've got an elegant solution to the problem. All you need 
>>> is an inexpensive relay and to program the Aux output for loadshed. 
>>> I believe shutting down the inverter with the remote on/off contacts 
>>> is actually less stressful on the inverter than opening a relay or 
>>> contactor on the load side.
>>> Kent Osterberg
>>> Blue Mountain Solar
>>>
>>>
>>> On 7/11/2023 5:19 PM, Mac Lewis via RE-wrenches wrote:
>>>
>>>     Hello Wrenches,
>>>
>>>     I'm trying to solve an issue with an older Outback FX system. 
>>>     It's a quad stack of Outback 3648 FX inverters and he has a
>>>     couple of Fortress eVault and an unreliable generator. The
>>>     LBCO setting can't go high enough to cut out before the eVaults
>>>     cut out so he occasionally will have to direct charge the eVault
>>>     to get things running again.I'd like to use a 12V Aux relay
>>>     logic to trip the primary inverter on/off contacts before we go
>>>     into battery shutdown so the solar has a chance to recover the
>>>     system.  Pretty simple overall but I wanted to see if there are
>>>     any known ill effects of doing this with substantial load on the
>>>     system.  Of course, I can use a power relay but this may be better.
>>>
>>>     Thanks for your input!
>>>
>>>     --
>>>
>>>
>>>
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