Well, hallelujah!
I just took a call from Steve Higgins, head of service and repair at Trace, in response to this posting. He is also contacting all the other wrenches who posted on this topic.His recommendations:
1) Trace will send a plug to fit in the stacking interface port, to attenuate the RF noise which goes thru this port in route to the remote port.
2) Cut the bare conductor under the insulation, as per Carl's earlier posting. These two take care of 80% of problems, according to Steve.
3) If not, a resistor (R13) can be changed on the control board, either by a good wrench or a service center. (Of course, since you can't send in an inverter for service, we'd all bill Trace for the service call if we did this, right?)
He'll send parts and info.
 
But--Lo and Behold!--a tech from Trace called! With an answer! If I'm gonna complain, I must also give credit when it's deserved.
Thanks, Steve.
Steve welcomes calls and e-mails to him from wrenches. 360 435-8826 X2226; shiggins@traceengineering.com He said he can't serve as the technical manufacturer's liaison because he's not in marketing. Huh? OK, whatever.
 
Happy to report this news,
Allan @ Positive En
----- Original Message -----
From: Allan Sindelar, Positive Energy, Inc.
To: Pagan MacKay
Cc: New wrenches posting
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2001 3:27 PM
Subject: Fw: PS: Remote display malfunction [RE-wrenches]

Pagan,
We have also had glitches, two times out of two with the PS remote (and the PS series is useless without the remote). I sent the first one back to Trace for repair; it came back "no problem found" and continued to have the same problem when used again.
I am posting this to you directly to make sure you are aware of this problem, with a copy to the wrenches list so they know you know. Please help us out.
Allan at Positive Energy
 
----- Original Message -----
I had a problem with a PS remote, digits where disappearing, if I turned the inverter off via the DC disconnect all the numbers and letters came back.  
I called Trace  a couple of times about it and ultimately they recommended I cut the ground wire in the cable to the meter and this solved the problem.  
I had the meter recessed in the wall directly above the inverter.  I suspect magnetic fields were causing problems.
                                                           Carl Hansen
Carl, I have had the same experience with two separate installations. I think the problem is endemic to the design. The display would periodically get scrambled. Pressing the reset would return but since I experienced it twice and others on this list also report the problem, I suggest the problem is not with the installation or noise but something else. Seems to me that Trace needs to fix this. Its a lot of money to spend on something that works half ass. I will not be using them or recommending them till this problem is fixed. What say you Trace?

Best, Don
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