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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Bob,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>There are a lot of settings that could influence your
numbers.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>I guessed at Yakima, WA for the PV Watts location and using
77%, I got:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>239kwh for December,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>254kwh for January</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>361kwh for February &</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>531 for March.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>I would predict you should have at least generated most of
this amount per month, not half as much for the whole
quarter.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>1. Make sure SellRE is enabled: ADV/FX/SELL/Grid Tie Authority
= Yes (instead of NO SELL).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>2. Double check the ADV/MATE/PG4/FN-DC Advanced Grid-Tie
Authority settings for set correctly or off. This setting allows the inverter to
absorb the batteries before enabling SellRE. If the charge is set for
a 3 hour Absorb before selling, that can put a huge dent in production. You
might consider turning this off or understanding if it intelligently shortens
absorb or set absorb to a short time, to hasten sell.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>3. Verify the Sell voltage is appropriate. I typically use the
low side of the Float voltage printed on the battery (52.8 [whatever Outback
allows]) and disable/lower Float on the Inverter's Charger.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>4. Also verify the Float and Absorb settings on the charge
controller. I use the high side of those same battery numbers (53.6 [whatever
Outback allows]). In a normal day, you don't want the charge controller thinking
it is done, but you want the inverter to do all it can. If the Charge Controller
goes to Float, the inverter will have nothing the sell, so I set the charge
controller Float a little higher than SellRE / Inverter Float. Of course, it
should never get out of Absorb anyway, but just in case.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Also keep in mind that you are splitting the selling across
two inverters wherein each one is 93% efficient (from the spec sheet) and I
think that is a peak value. So add up the losses down the chain to see if 77% is
appropriate. I have a site where I get 70% in the Winter and about 82% in the
Summer due to the tilt angle of the array. It is tough to get above 77% PV
watts vs. AC watts.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Does the site have the MATE3 so that you can some daily logs?
Monitoring is the key to success, in my opinion. How can you know where your are
going if you don't know where you've been?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>On another angle. During a bright sunny day at solar noon,
open the combiner box and verify with a DC Amp Clamp that all is as expected,
while the outback is Selling / FM80 is Absorbing as much as possible (expect
3.1-3.5kw on the FM80). Go off-grid and turn on a large load if
necessary.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Third Angle. Check the Grid Voltage while the Outback is
selling at much as possible. Make sure it is not going above 129 VAC, or so
(Stop Sell Reason other than 8, for instance).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Good luck,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Maverick</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=265371603-09042012><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV><BR>
<DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><B>From:</B> re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Bob
Clark<BR><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, April 08, 2012 9:43 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
RE-wrenches@lists.RE-wrenches.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [RE-wrenches] Abysmally low
production from FLEXpowerTWO GVFX3648system<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal>Dear Wrenches:<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>What am I not seeing with this situation?<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Only 133 DCkWH (120 ACkWH) during mid-December through April
6 (at least that is what the mate and the MX80 CC say). PVWATTS predicted
~600 ACkWH.<BR><BR>Here are the major components of the system:<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>24 - Silicon Energy 190W solar modules in 8 series of 3
modules for 4560W nominal<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>1 - Midnite Solar, Combiner box, MNPV12 with 8 circuit
breakers (one for each string)<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>1 - MX80 charge controller<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>16 - Concorde SunXtender Sealed AGM Battery, 6V, 405Ah, L16,
PVX-4050HT (2 parallel series of 8 batteries for 48V and 810 AH)<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>1 - Outback FlexNet DC System Monitor, FN-DC<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>2 - GVFX3648 inverters<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>1 - Mate2<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>1 - HUB10<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>1 - Remote Temperature Sensor<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The insolation this winter has been, if anything, more than
usual. The electrical usage noted on the utility bill was approximately
170 ACkWH more than the same winter period last winter. No appreciable
change in usage pattern this winter compared to last winter (in fact, if
anything, there has been less use this winter). Everything appears to be
functioning (normally, I think).<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>What is going on? It cannot just be a malfunctioning
utility meter. It seems to me that regardless of the functionality of the
utility meter, the Mate and the MX80 should show greater
production.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>What is being overlooked?<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Thanks for your help.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Papyrus; COLOR: #e36c0a">Bob
Clark<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Papyrus; COLOR: #e36c0a">SolarWind Energy Systems,
LLC<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Papyrus; COLOR: #e36c0a">(509)
826-1259<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>