<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered)">
<style>
<!--a:link
{mso-style-priority:99;}
span.MSOHYPERLINK
{mso-style-priority:99;}
a:visited
{mso-style-priority:99;}
span.MSOHYPERLINKFOLLOWED
{mso-style-priority:99;}
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Arial Narrow";
panose-1:2 11 5 6 2 2 2 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
h1
{margin-top:12.0pt;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:3.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
page-break-after:avoid;
font-size:16.0pt;
font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold;}
h3
{margin-top:6.0pt;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
page-break-after:avoid;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;
letter-spacing:-.5pt;
font-weight:normal;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{margin-right:0in;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.alist, li.alist, div.alist
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-indent:-.15in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.ahead3, li.ahead3, div.ahead3
{margin-top:6.0pt;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
page-break-after:avoid;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;
letter-spacing:-.5pt;}
p.StyleaparaJustifiedAfter0pt, li.StyleaparaJustifiedAfter0pt, div.StyleaparaJustifiedAfter0pt
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:justify;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Arial Narrow";}
p.alistnead, li.alistnead, div.alistnead
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;}
p.anumlist, li.anumlist, div.anumlist
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.aHead1, li.aHead1, div.aHead1
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
text-align:center;
page-break-after:avoid;
font-size:16.0pt;
font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold;}
p.StyleHeading3Left0Firstline0, li.StyleHeading3Left0Firstline0, div.StyleHeading3Left0Firstline0
{margin-top:6.0pt;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
page-break-after:avoid;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;
letter-spacing:-.5pt;}
p.a-text, li.a-text, div.a-text
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.apara, li.apara, div.apara
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-indent:.35in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.StyleHeading1Centered, li.StyleHeading1Centered, div.StyleHeading1Centered
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:6.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;
text-align:center;
page-break-after:avoid;
font-size:16.0pt;
font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold;}
p.Styleapara1TimesNewRomanFirstline025, li.Styleapara1TimesNewRomanFirstline025, div.Styleapara1TimesNewRomanFirstline025
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:justify;
text-indent:.25in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
letter-spacing:-.25pt;}
p.PPAhead, li.PPAhead, div.PPAhead
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:16.0pt;
font-family:Arial;}
p.aparabullet, li.aparabullet, div.aparabullet
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:justify;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
letter-spacing:-.25pt;}
p.AAbulllist1, li.AAbulllist1, div.AAbulllist1
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.AAbulllist2, li.AAbulllist2, div.AAbulllist2
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:1.0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.EmailStyle32
{font-family:Calibri;
color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle33
{color:black;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
/* List Definitions */
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
-->
</style>
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<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>
<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'>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>
<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'>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>
<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'>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>
<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'>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>
<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'>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)<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></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)<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></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)<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></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)<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></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)<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'>Several
other tweaks of no consequence</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'>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>
<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'>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>
<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'>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>
<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 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)<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></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)<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></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)<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></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)<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></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)<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></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>
<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, 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>
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>
</body>
</html>