[RE-wrenches] Outback inverter firmware mismatch

Wed Jun 5 13:25:28 EDT 2019

I have seen this problem and other similar problems many times. I saw one just last month that someone else was having trouble with. And with every single case that I’ve seen, the installer had accidentally neglected to ensure that the inverters are plugged into the correct ports. One of the Outback instruction manuals does say that the master inverter must be plugged into port one of the hub. In my own experience, if it’s not plugged into port one, all kinds of weird and strange problems arise. I would be only slightly surprised if Outback tech-support did not have you check that. I think that some of their techs don’t know the little details like that. On the Radian last month, I went over and switched the cables so that the Radian was plugged into port one, and it worked great after that.

Just to keep things organized, I always ensure to put the master inverter in Port 1, the second inverter (first slave) in Port 2, etc., then put all the charge controllers after that. I don’t understand it, I just know that this is a good way to prevent strange and frustrating errors.

Sometimes the ever occurs immediately, sometimes the error waits and happens after running a while. I have found this same issue with all Outback products, FX, Radian, FXR, etc.

Thanks,
Kienan

801-631-5584

On Jun 5, 2019, at 10:47 AM, William Miller <william at millersolar.com<mailto:william at millersolar.com>> wrote:

Bill:

I am not sure how your point applies. This occurs on systems that have been running for some time.   I would hope equipment in this price range and this application does not need frequent rebooting.

William

On Jun 4, 2019, at 9:32 PM, frenergy <frenergy at psln.com<mailto:frenergy at psln.com>> wrote:

Besides all the good info from Mac, there may be something to gain from following OB's sequence procedure for a proper complete system (all devices) shutdown and reboot.

Bill

Feather River Solar Electric
Bill Battagin, Owner
4291 Nelson St.
Taylorsville, CA 95983
530.284.7849
CA Lic 874049
www.frenergy.net<http://www.frenergy.net>

On 6/4/2019 4:04 PM, Bruce Geddes wrote:
Don’t know about Radian but I had this issue with a dual stack VFXR system.  After five visits to site (3 hours drive one way) Tech support eventually told me there had been a bad batch of comms boards on FXR’s but I had already swapped inverters out for VFX’s at last visit and issue ceased.  Definitely some sort of comms glitch causing the Mate3 to loose info on devices.
Best of luck from down under.
Bruce Geddes
PowerOn

From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Mac Lewis
Sent: Tuesday, 4 June 2019 3:00 p.m.
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback inverter firmware mismatch

William,

We have experienced this same issue on various Outback systems, mainly on multi-stack fxr systems.  I can't say I know or understand why this happens. To me, it makes sense that it's a communication error of some kind. What I've done with success:
1. Update all firmware, Mate, devices etc.
2. If a certain device (s) seems to have an issue, replace cables.
3. Apply terminal grease to all devices connections and Hub connections.

So far, this approach has worked, but will eat a lot of man hours.

Good luck, and please let us know if you find anything deeper out about this.

On Mon, Jun 3, 2019, 8:49 PM William Miller <william at millersolar.com<mailto:william at millersolar.com>> wrote:
Friends:

As part of my ongoing love/hate relationship with Outback, I have been occasionally receiving “Inverter firmware mismatch” warnings on some Radian systems. The firmware has not been changed.

I was told it was bad data cables. I replaced all cables on one system only to receive more of the same warnings. Then, suddenly the error warnings quit.

Now today another system is experiencing the same warnings.

Does anyone know what this means and how to fix it?

Thanks in advance.

William

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