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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Hi Allan;<br>
<br>
You didn't mention the DC load center used, but that would effect
the decision, as well as the relative wall space. I've found
customers were very happy with an E Panel setup, as they gained
floor/ wall space with the upgrade as well. I'm tired of still
working in old Trace DC 250 boxes, if I don't have to. <br>
For inverters, my vote would be for the Magnum over the Outback,
not that we've had reliability issues with either, but mainly the
bang for buck factor.<br>
The Magnum has the 120/ 240 vac output, more surge and continuous
rating than an Outback, and the remote is much lower cost and much
easier to use than the MATE 3. I also appreciate that Magnum is
policing internet discounting, while Outback is allowing an
"anything goes" pricing policy, that makes it hard for a reputable
installer to compete. Magnum gets my customers more power for
less money, and I can still afford to offer a service warranty and
pay the bills. I think I really starting moving away from Outback
when they advertised for technical support personnel: "no
experience necessary". <br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760</pre>
On 1/30/2015 6:02 PM, Allan Sindelar wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote cite="mid:54CC29A4.9010608@sindelarsolar.com"
type="cite">
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;
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Esteemed Wrenches,<br>
This question is prompted by a specific customer's situation, and
I have a question related to this, but I'm mainly using the
situation to ask a broader question.<br>
<br>
The specific situation: A customer's Xantrex SW+2524 has been
acting erratically. Fixing the inverter is not the issue; the
client is quite remote, and costs of diagnosis, parts and labor
for these legacy units have gone up enough that the customer has
already decided to replace the unit with a current product. From
my perspective, the issues at hand revolve around how to safely
and cleanly install a modern inverter into a system structured
around old equipment. <br>
<br>
The specific question: Outback's FX series is the current product
that most readily replaces the SW/SW+ series: it's also 120V
in/out, and it has DC on the right and AC in/out on the left of a
horizontally-laid out unit. However, several times in recent years
I have heard disparaging comments, both here and in private
conversations, about the purported drop in quality of Outback's
inverters and controllers since Alpha bought them, but
specifically because units, or parts of units, are now made in
China, rather than in the U.S. What I want to know, please, are
answers to two+ questions: 1) what's the real scoop? what is now
made where? and 2) what actual experiences, specifically product
failures, have any of you had that directly relate to changes
directly attributable to overseas production? In other words, how
much of this is real and how much is rumor?<br>
<br>
The bigger question (and this issue will come up frequently in the
coming years): the SW+, like the SW before it, operates at 120V AC
on both input and output. More and more modern battery-based
inverters input and output split-phase 120/240V AC. When should I
hesitate to replace a 120V legacy inverter with a 120/240V unit?<br>
<br>
Among larger whole-house single inverters, Outback's FX and VFX
units operate at 120V, but these are older models. SMA's Sunny
Island is 120V only, but this is generally considered a weakness
in typical SI installations, and these expensive units don't adapt
as well as replacements in older home systems. Magnum's MS4024 is
available in either configuration. Outback's Radian and
Schneider's XW and Conext SW are only available as 120-240 units.<br>
<br>
Here are the issues that I see: <br>
Don't do it if a backup generator is 120V AC-only. It will work,
but is hard on the inverters, as all charging current will come in
on one leg of the inverter's AC input. Fortunately, relatively few
generators are 120V-only; pretty much just the smaller
inverter-generators. Most cheaper gennies are 240V, and either run
through a step-down balancing transformer (which would be taken
out with the old 120V inverter) or run out of balance. Many better
portable generators have a 120/120-240 switch, making it necessary
to only replace a cable and plug to add a second hot conductor.<br>
<br>
Also, most older AC switchgear, such as QO403 inverter bypass
switches, are set up for single pole breakers, and would thus
require replacement, and reworking in general on the AC side to
handle two hot input and output conductors. <br>
<br>
But once the jumper between the two hot legs is removed in the AC
main panel, and two hots are connected, making the panel 120-240,
what are the concerns that I might not have anticipated? Are there
any hidden dangers, or situations where this change could cause
problems, especially in AC distribution? <br>
<br>
Thanks in advance. I hope that I don't regret posting this late on
a Friday...<br>
Allan<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Allan Sindelar</b><br>
<span style="font-size:10.0pt"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:allan@sindelarsolar.com">allan@sindelarsolar.com</a></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10.0pt">NABCEP Certified PV
Installation Professional<br>
NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional<br>
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician<br>
Founder (Retired), <span
style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Positive Energy, Inc.</span><br>
<b>505 780-2738 cell</b><br
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