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Wrenches,<br>
A bit over a year ago I built a mini-system for a customer: One 135W
module, SunSaver-10, 104 A/hr Concorde VRLA, Tri-Metric monitor and
an Exeltech XP125 inverter. All but the module were installed in a
plastic picnic cooler. The customer was totally satisfied with the
system for this weekend getaway cabin system and used it well within
its bounds - a couple of lights, mostly.<br>
<br>
Last week she called because the inverter had failed. I called
Exeltech tech support and was told that the XP125 lacks protection
against AC overload! There's no circuit breaker or internal shutoff
protection, and an internal fuse on the circuit board is included
only to protect against reverse polarity. And because the inverter
has been in operation for 15 months, this apparent failure isn't
covered under the one-year warranty. Send it in, under $50 to
repair. <br>
<br>
I wrote the customer about the load size and her (edited) answer is
below. Apparently it wasn't even an overload, just a failure,
possibly related to poor power factor in the cordless drill charger.
But I still have never heard of an inverter without some form of
overload protection, and it seems to me that a unit this small
especially needs it, given how easily its capacity can be exceeded.<br>
<br>
I have long respected Exeltech, one of few domestic electronics
products left. But this incident is giving me pause. Morningstar's
SureSine claims extensive protection: "The SureSine has extensive
electronic protections that will automatically protect against
faults and user mistakes such as short circuit, overload, high
temperature and low voltage disconnect. Recovery from most faults is
automatic." It's looking better all the time.<br>
<br>
Has anyone else experienced a similar failure?<br>
Thank you,<br>
Allan<br>
<br>
-- <br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><b>Allan Sindelar</b></font><br>
<small><a href="mailto:Allan@positiveenergysolar.com"><font
color="#000099" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><u>Allan@positiveenergysolar.com</u></font></a></small><font
face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><br>
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic
Installer<br>
NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional<br>
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician<br>
<b>Positive Energy, Inc.</b><br>
3201 Calle Marie<br>
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507<br>
<b>505 424-1112</b><br>
<a href="http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/" target="_blank"><u>www.positiveenergysolar.com</u></a></span></font>
<b><br>
<br>
</b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span>-------- Original Message
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<th nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT" valign="BASELINE">Subject: </th>
<td>(no subject)</td>
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<th nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT" valign="BASELINE">Date: </th>
<td>Fri, 9 Sep 2011 12:48:14 -0400 (EDT)</td>
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<th nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT" valign="BASELINE">From: </th>
<td>Joann</td>
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<th nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT" valign="BASELINE">To: </th>
<td><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:allan@positiveenergysolar.com">allan@positiveenergysolar.com</a></td>
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<div>Hi Allan, i just got your message. I have a 7.2 volt
craftsman cordless drill and I used the 1 hour charger. As soon
as I plugged it in, the inverter made a funny sound and
everything went off. the battery was operating 100% - it was
in the morning and nothing else was turned on. On the bottom of
the charger it says: dual charge rate
<div> input: 120V AC 60 Hz 65 watts</div>
<div> output: 7.2-24V DC 1.6A Battery Charger</div>
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<div> </div>
<div>Yes, it's a little upsetting that this happened. I remember
asking you if I could overload it - one of my concerns and you
advised me that wouldn't happen. I appreciate your taking care
of this. Thanks, Joann</div>
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