Trace/Kohler light flicker [RE-wrenches]

[Travis Creswell, Ozark Solar]

Joe,

Go to menu 11 and check the the voltage input window.  It might need to be
widened to catch the voltage variances as loads come and go. Is this a
Kohler powered 3600 RPM unit?

A Dual 5548 setup has over 7 kW worth of battery charging capability. 
Combine that with a few loads in the house and you are eating up all 8.5 kW
of that Kohler. This is probably really pulling the voltage down, maybe just
on one leg.  Dual set ups have a habit of one inverter dropping into float
as the other stays on bulk.  It at that time where it all falls apart. 
Since the voltage is going to equal ~240 the generator will compensate by
taking the unloaded (less loaded) leg's voltage up while the loaded leg
voltage goes down. For example 135+105 still = 240 but outside of what the
SW will accept in default settings.  Check the Max AC 2 amps (assuming
that's where the generator is fed into) and turn that down gradually to see
if that solves the problem.  The customer might even have to plug a large
load (500+watts) on the unloaded leg to balance out the gennie.  Don't
laugh, "been there, done that".

This can be easily verified if the "flickering" correspond with the "AC1 in
Good" led going from solid to flashing.  Watch the menu 4 input voltage as
this happens also.  I bet one is heading past 135 while the other drops to
under 110.

The Kohler tech's I've met are really sharp.  If they bless the unit its
probably OK.  I have them commission our bigger (over 100 kW) units but
rarely have them out on units under 20 kW.

Travis Creswell


---------

>Dear Joe:
>
>I am an avid reader of Homepower and read it cover to cover slowly.
>Mr. Perez has been extremely helpful with a problem I have had with
>an intertie problem I have had with my utility.
>
>I have a Trace Power Panel with 2-SW5548 inverters, 32-Trojan L-16
>batteries,  24 Siemens 100 watt panels, and a Kohler 8.5 RMY genset.
>
>  I am having a problem with the genset.  It is set up for 120-240v
>operation.  The problem is when the genset is running the lighting
>flickers from voltage fluctuation. Every type of light bulb does this
>you can even see this if the TV is on.  I have talked to Trace and
>they say that when the genset is running it powers the AC loads and
>operates as a battery charger.
>
>I recently had a Kohler authorized technician investigate the
>problem.  He set up the generator on a resistive load bank and the
>generator worked fine.  His diagnosis is that the inverters are
>causing the genset voltage regulator to become unstable.  He verified
>that with me by showing me the voltage fluctate on an analog and
>digital voltmeter.
>
>Have you ever had similar situations?  Is there any possible
>solution?  I am very interested in your opinion and think very highly
>of the staff at Homepower Magazine.

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