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<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Good point. The loads are fairly small, totaling
about 270 W. The security system, a medical oxygen pump, telephone system, a
portion of the basement lighting; totaling about 270 W. That’s why I said
“in excess of 3.0 kW”. I expect 3.2-3.4 kW total production at
local noon, perhaps less this time of year (the array is a flush mount on a
5:12 roof; dead South). Charge control does show the full amount. I am less
concerned, at least at this point about the top end AC sell power; I just want
the system to settle down and produce 3.0 kW+ at Noon this time of year.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>- Peter </span></font></p>
<div>
<p><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:navy'>Peter T. Parrish, President<br>
California Solar Engineering, Inc.<br>
820 Cynthia Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90065<br>
Ph 323-258-8883, Mobile 323-839-6108, Fax 323-258-8885<br>
CA Lic. 854779, NABCEP Cert. 031806-26<br>
peter.parrish@calsolareng.com</span></font><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <b><span style='font-weight:
bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Jon Haeme<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, November 28, 2008
10:59 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> RE-wrenches<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [RE-wrenches]
Problems with the Xantrex XW6048</span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>What are the loads on the sub-panel being backed up by this system ?
Any power being used on that sub-panel would not show up on the screen showing
power being sold to the grid . Does your charge control show the full rated
output from the array ? </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Jon </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Jon Haeme Innovations</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>NABCEP certified installer #102503-19</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Kempton, IL</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>On Nov 28, 2008, at 12:22 PM, Peter Parrish wrote:</span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
<br>
</span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>I was hoping that I would not have to post
the message, but I have been unable to sort this problem on my own, and I am
attempting to gather information and advice from this august body.</span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>We install about two grid-tied battery
backup systems a year in the Los Angeles basin and will probably continue to do
so at this rate or greater for the foreseeable future. I might add, that it is
difficult for us to support these installs and sales because of the added
complexity of the systems and the extra knowledge and terminology we have to
master. Those of you for whom the off-grid market is your primary market, know
this stuff backwards and forwards.</span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Having said that, the information I am
looking for is any experiences and advice that the wrenches may have and are
willing to share with me about the Xantrex 6048 (or similar) systems.</span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>We purchased a XW6048 with two MPPT60-150 charge
controllers. We also have a System Control Panel and all four boxes are wired
up using Cat5+ Ethernet cables (and terminations). The rest of the system
consists of 30ea Sharp 142W modules and 8ea 8A8D 12V/225Ah batteries. The PV
modules are configured as six strings of five each and the batteries are
configured as two strings of four each. The module strings are combined using
fusible combiners of three strings each and fed into the charge controllers
separately. The batteries are hard wired using 2/0 cable within the strings and
4/0 cable after combining. We are using SS bolts/washers/nuts on lead
terminals. The XW system and batteries are located in a fully furnished
basement in an air-conditioned home in Los Angeles (i.e. the temperature in the
basement varies no more than 65F to 80F.</span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Here’s the problem: I monitor the
system around local noon on a sunny day, and expect to see the system producing
in excess of 3.0 kW, with the batteries fully charged. Here’s what we
see: the system is in sell mode and he output power goes through an oscillation
from about 2.15 kW to 2.90 kW and back down again. The period of the
oscillation is ~5 secs on the rise and ~2 secs on the fall.</span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>In consultation Xantrex, here is what we
have done:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>(1)</span></font><font
size=1 color=black><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'> </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>Fiddled with the GS voltage. Currently it
is 53.0 V</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>(2)</span></font><font
size=1 color=black><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'> </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>Upgraded the firmware to Rev. 1.03.00</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>(3)</span></font><font
size=1 color=black><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'> </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>Fiddled with the max sell current, now
17.5 A</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>(4)</span></font><font
size=1 color=black><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'> </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>Fiddled with 2-stage vs 3-stage charge
cycles. 3-stage on charge controller and 2-stage on inverter/charger</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>(5)</span></font><font
size=1 color=black><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'> </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>Several other tweaks of no consequence</span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>We have made a total of six trips to this
customer after commissioning the system, each time with a different set of
suggested tweaks courtesy of four different members of the technical support
staff. One of the trips was solely for the purpose of the firmware upgrade. All
in all, I have been working the problem now for over four months.</span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>At this point in time, I have been unable
to reach a live tech support person after four tries spread out over two weeks.
About five weeks ago, one of the tech support individuals commented that this
oscillation in output power was a known phenomenon, but this was the same
individual that thought the problem would be fixed with the firmware upgrade.
I’m at my wits end. Leaving messages is a waste of my time. </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>I apologize in advance for the long
narration, but I was hoping to get all the facts out there at once and minimize
the amount of Q&As.</span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>(1)</span></font><font
size=1 color=black><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'> </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>Has anyone seen this phenomenon in the XW
systems?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>(2)</span></font><font
size=1 color=black><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'> </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>If so, what was the fix?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>(3)</span></font><font
size=1 color=black><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'> </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>What is the knowledge level and responsiveness
of Xantrex Tech support on this system? </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>(4)</span></font><font
size=1 color=black><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'> </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>Is anyone experiencing a general decrease
in the quality of Tech Support at Xantrex?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>(5)</span></font><font
size=1 color=black><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:black'> </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>To whom at Xantrex should I escalate this
problem I am having? In specific, I have spoken on two occasions with Erica
Yedid, who I understand is in charge of post-sales tech support for the SW
system.</span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>- Peter</span></font></p>
<div>
<p><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:navy'>Peter T. Parrish, Ph.D., President<br>
California Solar Engineering, Inc.<br>
820 Cynthia Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90065<br>
Ph 323-258-8883, Mobile 323-839-6108, Fax 323-258-8885<br>
CA Lic. 854779, NABCEP Cert. 031806-26<br>
<a href="mailto:peter.parrish@calsolareng.com">peter.parrish@calsolareng.com</a></span></font><font
size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:blue'> </span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
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