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--></style></head><body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Friends:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">I apologize for not reporting in sooner. As most of you remember, we have seen a few Outback systems with Mate3 controllers experience apparent self-reprogramming. I experienced it and several others reported on it. Many have requested updates, on-line and off.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">I have discussed this at length with a couple Outback employees. We have reached no definite conclusions but we do have a theory: About 2 weeks prior to this failure, I had a Mate3 fail. There are two in this system and of course the more important of the two failed. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">I swapped the less critical Mate3 for the failed unit. We stored the configuration of the failed unit onto the SD card and applied that programming to the replacement unit. We spot checked a few settings and assumed the programming was good. It is possible that corruption occurred during this process. The system ran fine for about 2 weeks and then failed. The failure mode was that 4 of the 8 inverters became Masters.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The site is, of course, a long ways from my shop. On my last visit I copied the data from the card I thought was pertinent, but I find that to be conclusive, I need the data from the other SD card. Once I retrieve that data, I can hopefully prove or disprove this theory. I will keep you posted.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">There are a couple of Outback employees that are taking this seriously, and I am most grateful to them. In reading between the lines, it appears to me that they don’t have a lot of support from management to pursue problems like this. It was never said directly, so I apologize if I misunderstood. However, if this problem is causing more than one or two of us consternation and inconvenience, we need to be vocal with Outback wo they can dedicate resources. I don’t fault Outback, we all have to set priorities. As consumers, we need to request higher priorities to issues if they are causing serious problems.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">There is also other issues: “partially disconnected” systems, gaps in the data and connection reliability issues.. The partial issue cropped up recently. There is a new firmware that supposedly deals with these issues. Check It out.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">I was told that since Optics was a free service, there was limited responsibility from Outback for reliability. I can’t agree with this point. We spent a lot of money on communications infrastructure and pay monthly for internet to use this service. I think Outback released the Optics system a wee bit prematurely. The pace of firmware upgrades confirms this. I respect Outback people and the product line, but I think expectations might have been more realistic if Optics had been deemed a “beta” release when it first came out. The value and promise of the system is obvious and I will hang in there with Outback and help any way I can to make the product better. One way I can help is remain optimistic that these problems will be solved.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">More soon.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">William</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><img width="64" height="28" style="width:.6666in;height:.2916in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D2556A.D92AC980" alt="Gradient Cap_mini"><br>Lic 773985<br><a href="http://www.millersolar.com/">millersolar.com</a><br>805-438-5600</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></body></html>