<div dir="ltr">One of the issues to be aware of is power factor, and most people will not be able to determine power factor. If the Outback operates at a poor power factor, your 10KW generator will become a about a 6KW generator. A lot of the current will be wasted and will not produce charging power.<div>
<br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Feb 11, 2014 at 11:25 AM, jay peltz <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jay@asis.com" target="_blank">jay@asis.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Hi Matt,<br>
<br>
With two systems on the thread right now with pretty much the same problem, I am suspecting a problem with one or more inverters. Most all the Outback inverter issues I've have been have been on stacked systems.<br>
Having installed a lot of these inverters I have yet to see the exact problems cited here. Usually I've seen it with much smaller generators vs inverter size, but not with what I would call properly oversized units. And because it is with charger issues, turning down the charge rate, but leaving generator size accurate has proved to be quite successful.<br>
<br>
I would try to run the inverters such that you can test to see how they are each working.<br>
For the quad stack, try 2 at full tilt, then the other 2 and see if you can find something there, might take some rewiring to test all combos.<br>
For the tri stack, well you get the drift.<br>
<br>
jay<br>
peltz power<br>
<div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5"><br>
<br>
<br>
On Feb 10, 2014, at 5:09 PM, <a href="mailto:matt@solar-energy-solutions.com">matt@solar-energy-solutions.com</a> wrote:<br>
<br>
> Wrenches,<br>
><br>
> Based on Kevin's comments about Outback Chargers in the HUP thread I am<br>
> hopeful that some of you well-versed in the off grid world can assist.<br>
> Particularly I am curious if others can confirm deficiencies with Outback<br>
> chargers and suggest strategies for overcoming these deficiencies.<br>
><br>
> I currently have an off grid site with significant charging difficulty.<br>
> The site has been online around eight years with a quad VFX3648 stack.<br>
> Around six months ago the client began experiencing more generator issues<br>
> (he had certainly had occasional problems before but engine overruns<br>
> became almost a weekly occurrence which, considering the client is only<br>
> there on the weekends except during hunting season, is not good). The<br>
> client decided to buy a new generator based on a comment from Outback.<br>
> They suggested his old 15 kW Briggs with mechanical governor should have<br>
> the governor replaced with an electronic governor. This couldn't be done<br>
> so he bought a new GE 20 kW with electronic governor. The GE does not<br>
> work with the Outback chargers at all (sounds like immediate overrun) but<br>
> will run the home just fine (and pass-thru Outback with chargers off).<br>
><br>
> I am about at the point of asking the client to buy Iotas. However, we<br>
> have a Honda 6500 that has worked as a backup generator for this system<br>
> and that has worked for other Outback systems we have installed. The<br>
> Honda no longer works well with this Outback system (routinely disconnects<br>
> after a few minutes charging and won't charge more than a few amps per<br>
> port). Something has obviously changed for the Honda to no longer work<br>
> well and I am beginning to think that maybe I am missing something else.<br>
> We have checked grounding and switched around inverters to run off dual<br>
> stacks without any noticeable difference. The client has tried three<br>
> separate generators at this point and none work very well. After eight<br>
> years the batteries aren't in great shape but they hold a charge and<br>
> should be capable of more years of service (Surrette YS). Outback tech<br>
> support seems willing to listen and empathize but incapable of helping me<br>
> identify the issue.<br>
><br>
> Any advice is welcome.<br>
><br>
> Thanks,<br>
><br>
> Matt<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
<br>
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