[RE-wrenches] Inverter output fluctuations

Sat Jul 22 20:49:05 PDT 2023

Replacing SE with Conext 600-100😊, Seriously, everything will then play
nice together, and it's only a matter of time before the SE has to go.

On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 4:02 PM Howie Michaelson via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> Hi,
> I was finally able to get to the site with the light pulsating issue. It
> turns out it is that it directly corresponds to the AC coupled SolarEdge
> HDwave 6kW inverter.  Moreover, the pulsating gets stronger with higher
> output of the SolarEdge inverter (as more sun pouches more current through
> the inverter). And the hum of the XW+ very noticeably fluctuates in direct
> proportion to light fluxuations. It affects all the lights in the house,
> regardless of manufacturer, wattage or age. I did not have an oscilloscope,
> but looking at the Hz, it does sag very slightly to 59.9 when the SolarEdge
> is producing, down from a rock solid 60 Hz when the SE is not producing.
> The output voltage does not change at all.  The fluctuations in both the
> lights and the inverter hum immediately stops when the SolarEdge production
> is shut off. So it is clearly some interaction between the 2 inverters
> causing this issue.
>
> Has anyone dealt with this issue before? Does anyone have any suggestions
> for dealing with this, short of replacing the SolarEdge with a Schneider
> high voltage Charge Controller?
> Thanks,
> Howie
>
> On Mon, Jul 3, 2023, 7:09 PM Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
>> I think I would try eliminating things. Turn off the AC coupling for a
>> few days and get results. Turn of DC solar and get results. Measure AC
>> voltage with a scope or just observe voltage during the flicker. Are all of
>> the lights flickering? Are they on dimmers?  Are there any loads failing
>> that could be the source? Is the output with-in spec? Rock solid 60 HZ
>> right.
>>
>> Do an AC bypass of XW with the genset and check for flicker symptoms.
>>
>> Are they on Insight? They really need it for you to monitor.  Are there
>> any faults, warnings or events ? Check history.  There are a few settings
>> in the old XW+ that could have been glitched by a surge or nearby lightning
>> strike.
>>
>> XW+ could have a damaged FET. Open the unit and do a  visual.
>> There would be a smell and transistor fragments on the bottom right side
>> of the power bridge. 90% of XW failures have visual evidence.
>>
>> While you have it open, Check the DSP sensing and control board, both
>> LEDs (light-emitting diodes) D24 and D25 are on.
>>
>> Last thing is a DC power down of the unit and the DC buss for 5 minutes.
>> If that does not work, then a reset to factory values.
>> This is off an old list I got from Support many years ago and combined
>> with my findings over the years. Really rare for this kind of weirdness and
>> why it would be getting worse without visual evidence.
>>
>> Good Luck Howie!
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
>> "we go where powerlines don't"
>> http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ <http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/>
>> e-mail  offgridsolar at sti.net <offgridsolar at sti.net>
>> text 209 813 0060*
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 2023-07-03 12:42 pm, Howie Michaelson via RE-wrenches wrote:
>>
>> Hi All,
>> I upgraded an old clients' off-grid system about five years ago to a
>> Schneider XW6848+ and 2 Blue Ion 2.0 cabinets (32kWh). When the batteries
>> were moving toward full, if the charge rate was on the higher side via
>> generator or solar (AC coupled w/SolarEdge 6kW and DC coupled with an FM
>> 80), they would start to get pulsating lights similar to symptoms of other
>> older inverters when using a generator for charging. The solution for this
>> pulsation has usually been to kick back the AC charge amperage just enough
>> so the pulsating calmed down to a tolerable inconsequential level.  And
>> that worked in this case as well.
>> However, a few weeks ago, the pulsating became more noticeable and has
>> now become fairly intolerable.  To my knowledge, no settings changes we
>> made within the previous year, and these clients would be loath to make any
>> changes, so I doubt there were any. More puzzling is the pulsating has
>> started to happen at seemingly random times not related to charging.  It
>> happens at night or pre-dawn mornings without the generator, or during the
>> afternoons with solar charging.  And it is getting progressively worse.
>> Anyone have any thoughts on why that would start getting worse now?
>> Howie
>>
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-- 

Michael Morningstar

Morningstar Electric

PO Box 1494

Mount Shasta, CA 96067

530-921-0560

mjmorningstar at gmail.com
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