Temperature / Hidden Menu [RE-wrenches]

[Kirk Herander, VT Solar]

Hello,

I have used the first hidden menu to debug overtemp & fan problems in the SW series. It's been
awhile, and I don't have the notes in front of me, but this is how it works:

First of all, toggle to the "end setup menu" (20). Then press and release the "on/off" and "gen menu"
shortcut buttons at the same time and you will enter menu 21, called "temperature" something or
other. Anyway using the menu item buttons you can check heat sink temp, transformer temp, and fan
speed. The values of the heat sink and transformer are not actual temperatures but merely digital
representations (I don't know how to translate them). Under normal conditions(no battery charging,
inverter outputting moderate power) the readings will be around 200.

Now let's say you start the generator, and the batteries are at a relatively low SOC. The charger is
operating at or near the max. charge current, and the transformer and heat sink increase in temp. As
they do, their temp. value will begin to drop from the 200 level. The fan operates at one of four
speeds, and as the transformer temp increases (as witnessed by a falling value) the fan will turn on
as indicated by its reading changing from 0 to 1(the lowest speed). The fan will ramp up to level 4
(the highest speed) if necessary to keep the innards cool. If the xformer drops (heats up) to a value
of 50 or below, the inverter will kick out of bulk charge, for this is an overtemp condition.

I have an inverter in the field that cycles in and out of bulk charge, because the xformer would
immediately cool off once it kicked out of bulk, removing the error (overtemp) condition. Then the
gen AC would be re-applied, the xformer would heat up, ect, ect. This was resolved partially by
improving ventilation and adding an external fan(the internal fan works properly), but the inverter
still has problems on occasion. Trace really didn't have any suggestions as to how to fix this
permanently. They seemed more interested in blaming it all on the installation environment. And most
of the time when I return an inverter for a nebulus problem such as this, they say nothing's wrong,
we "tested to all factory specs", and return it. But their field / tech support is another can of
worms, and I shouldn't get too wound up on a Sunday.

Hope this is useful info.

Kirk, Vt. Solar

"R. Sparks Scott" wrote:

>         OK smart guys, how about letting the rest of us know how to enter this
> "tech menu"? I guess I could ask the Trace reps here at the Fair this
> afternoon, but I'd rather get into the menu and look around so I can ask
> them some intelligent questions instead.
>         On the heat shrink question, I have best results with sisscors. As for the
> glue-filled stuff, never buy it because I make my own. If you don't already
> have a can of Scotchcote (a 3M product), you need to discover it right
> away. It'a the ultimate weather proofing goop for covering black electrical
> taped joints. I just slather some of it on the cable, terminal and whatever
> else I'm trying to shrink the tubing over, apply the shrink, and apply the
> heat gun while the Scotchcote is still tacky. The shrink goes down over the
> goo, causing it to bubble and run all through the covered area. Works
> great, even around battery terminals!
>
>         -S
>
> - - - - - - -
> To send a message to the list use: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
>
> To view an archive of previous messages go to: <http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/
>
> To unsubscribe send an email message to: <RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com>
>
> To check out who the other RE-Wrench participants are, go to <http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/>
>
> Hosted by Home Power magazine: <http://www.homepower.com>
>
> for info contact: <michael.welch at homepower.com>
> ___________________________________________________________
> T O P I C A  The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16
> Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics

- - - - - - -
To send a message to the list use: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>

To view an archive of previous messages go to: <http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/

To unsubscribe send an email message to: <RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com>

To check out who the other RE-Wrench participants are, go to <http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/>

Hosted by Home Power magazine: <http://www.homepower.com>

for info contact: <michael.welch at homepower.com>
___________________________________________________________
T O P I C A  The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics