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I've seen similar weirdness with many systems of various brands.
The issue seems to be having the generator shutting down while still
under load, with as you noted, the frequency and voltage dropping,
and the inverter not transferring quick enough. <br>
Basically I suggest to my customers having similar problems to:<br>
A) First, wait for the charge rate to come down, then<br>
B) shut down any other large loads, (ie wait for the water pump to
finish pumping) then<br>
C) manually switch the generator Breaker off, which allows a
cleaner, quicker transfer.<br>
<br>
Some generators have a cool down period after being signaled to shut
off, which solves the problem, too. Having auto control just shut
down the generator hard under load is always going to be rough. I
wouldn't blame it all on Schneider, although it sounds like in your
case the Conext is extending the low frequency time period, and
making it even worse.<br>
A relay might fix the problem too: first have the relay transfer the
loads, and then send the signal to shut down the generator after. <br>
<br>
Besides the firmware issue, I think you're noticing this problem
more, because of all the new arc fault junk in the house. IMHO, arc
fault shouldn't even be required on off grid systems with less than
70 amps capacity. Unless they've recently changed the UL testing,
arc fault breakers need a min of 70 amp to even work properly. Of
course they're annoyingly easy to trip when the frequency and
voltage get weird, so off grid all those arc fault breakers are Not
going to trip when they should, but Will trip when they shouldn't.
More waste of time and money off grid. Again, just my opinion.<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>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 12/29/2016 12:27 PM, Lou Russo
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAEE7mxohHQXPG1jDWY4xg_kPD88=Mq7QrG2TD_QRe0TUv=+NTA@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>Wrenches,</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I recently installed a Schneider Conext SW 4024,
Schnieder's DC Distribution panel, AC Distribution panel, SCP,
and the AGS. It was to be a straightforward inverter swap,
Xantrex 4024 to the Conext SW setup. The actual installation
went fine. I did switch over the house wiring from 120 to 240
as well as the diesel genset. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>After a steep learning curve with the client all seemed
well. 1 week later she called and says the power behaves oddly
as the generator is shutting down. Symptoms are some arc fault
breakers trip and the compressor on her fridge sounds like its
bogging down. I make the 45 minute drive out and started my
search. This is a site with 3 buildings on 3 acres. I double
checked all my wiring at the inverter, then moved onto the
various buildings checking for redundant neutral to grounds,
proper bonding, etc… Surprisingly although not great
workmanship everything is where it is supposed to be. I
decided to give the AC input on the inverter it's own
dedicated neutral as at this point I was reaching for straws
and the installation manual was unclear about this detail.
Still nothing. A call to Schnieder confirmed that there was no
setting I was missing. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I placed another call to Schnieder tech support. They did
and have continued to answer the phone promptly. It did take a
bit of chasing them but I finally got a answer that there
Level 3 folks can reproduce the error. The inverter is
following the frequency of the genset as it winds down down to
40hrtz. This is after the AC transfer inside the inverter has
happened. During the cool down period everything is fine. This
happens as the genset is actual shutting off and spinning down
to a stop. They say this a firmware issue and that it will
take months to push out as is needs to be UL listed. In the
meantime I have a pissed off client, her oven went belly up on
the low frequency voltage, there is concern about possible
unseen damage to her new water pump, and I wasted countless
hours of my own time attempting to make the situation right.
All of this due to a firmware that was released with a fatal
flaw and can not be changed for months. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I am extremely disappointed in Schneider. I have been
hesitant use them over the years as I was still scarred from
the Xantrex days. My “beta” test went will with a early
version I installed 2 years ago so I figured it was a safe
move. Obviously I was wrong. Lesson learned stick with Outback
and SMA. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>So I have 2 questions for the list.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>1.Has anybody else on the list seen this issue and
corrected it regardless of the firmware? I have installed one
other conext sw about 2 years ago when it first came out. The
setup is very similar except that it is 48V and has a very old
firmware. I went out to this old site to confirm all is well
and it is fine.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>2.Does anybody have a good contact at Schneider that could
be of help? I tried to contact Sandra Herrera as she was a
great help years ago, but her phone number no longer works. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>3.Does anybody have an old version of the Conext firmware
lying around they could point me to? The website does not seem
to have old versions. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Any input is greatly appreciated!</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Schnieder, if you have a presence here contact me. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>
<div class="gmail_signature">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>Aloha,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Lou Russo</div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:lou@spreesolarsystems.com"
target="_blank">lou@spreesolarsystems.com</a></div>
<div>440 345 6762</div>
<div>Spree Solar Systems LLC </div>
<div>CT-34322</div>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
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