[RE-wrenches] Outback FM100

Fri May 15 16:51:29 EDT 2020

I have little experience with arc fault detection because I do not use
them offgrid. Could it save one from starting a wildfire? My experience is
I have never had a ground mount start a wildfire and even a bad panel is
pretty contained in a failure. 

I just know that I make a small fortune
replacing grid tie inverter AFD's that failsafe in the no solar mode.
Definitely do not want another way to lose power offgrid. There are plenty
already:) 

Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
"we go where powerlines
don't"
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ [1]
e-mail offgridsolar at sti.net
[2]
text 209 813 0060

On Fri, 15 May 2020 11:03:11 -0700, Jay  wrote:  Hi
William,   that warning isn't on the AFCI one,   Jay   Peltz power.        

 On May 15, 2020, at 10:41 AM, William Miller  wrote:

Jay:

On the FM100 landing page [3]. The warning is pasted below. 

_Due to the
different voltage ratings, OutBack Power does not recommend mixing the
FM100-300VDC with the FM60 or FM80-150VDC controllers on the same battery
bank._ 

Interestingly the warning is not seen on the FM100 AFCI landing
page [4]. 

I thought I saw this also in one of the Owner's manuals but I
looked today and can't find it there. Interesting... 

I have a client that
wants to add a fourth PV array to a system with three FM80s. This will
require a fourth charge controller. Being able to run smaller wire in the
existing conduits is an attractive proposition, making the FM100 a
desirable approach. I now have to figure out if I can add the FM100-AFCI
(which is apparently the only version available) to a system with three
FM80s, and if I do, what do I do with the existing GFDI breaker and how do
I arrange the DC bond? There is a lot to consider here. 

BTW, I was told
by a tech support person for an on-line sales firm that the original FM100
did not have the AFCI but those units have been discontinued. Now all
FM100s have the AFCI capability. I am weighing if I want AFCI if it is not
required. My territory includes central California wild lands so I suppose
I should take advantage of any fire safety means at my disposal...

William 

FROM: Jay [mailto:jay.peltz at gmail.com [5]] 
SENT: Friday, May
15, 2020 7:34 AM
TO: william at millersolar.com [6]; RE-wrenches
SUBJECT: Re:
[RE-wrenches] Outback FM100   

Hi William   

Yes downsizing breaker to
meet load is no problem. And getting wire that big into it with 1" KO is a
pain.    

I'm pretty sure any hub will work, needs 3S mate   

Where in
the manual did you find the "don't mix with other 60/80 controllers?   

Jay   

Peltz power    

On May 15, 2020, at 12:46 AM, William Miller 
wrote:    

Friends: 

I have occasion to try the FM100 charge controller.
I am wondering of anyone had found any quirks with implementing this
device. I have a few specific questions: 

1. I want to avoid AFCI unless
mandated. Will this be defeated if I don't run the leads through the sense
coil? (There is an AFCI and non-AFCI version but I can't seem to find the
non-AFCI version anywhere.) 

2. I noticed the manual indicates you are not
supposed to mix the FM100 with the FM80 or 60 in the same battery system.
This negates it for one project I had in mind. I am curious as to why this
is. Anyone know? 

3. Will the FM100 work with a standard hub? 

4. I
suppose this unit requires a 125 amp breaker. If the PV array cannot
support that full 100 amps I might down-size the OCPD accordingly. Anyone
contemplate this question? 

Thanks in advance. 

William

_______________________________________________
List sponsored by Redwood
Alliance

List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org [8]

Change
listserver email address &
settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
[9]

List-Archive:
http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html
[10]

List rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm [11]

Check
out or update participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org [12]   
_______________________________________________
List sponsored by Redwood
Alliance

List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org

Change
listserver email address &
settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

List-Archive:
http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html

List
rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm

Check out or update
participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org

Links:
------
[1]
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
[2] mailto:offgridsolar at sti.net
[3]
http://outbackpower.com/products/charge-controllers/flexmax-100
[4]
http://outbackpower.com/products/charge-controllers/flexmax-100-afci
[5]
mailto:jay.peltz at gmail.com
[6] mailto:william at millersolar.com
[7]
mailto:william at millersolar.com
[8]
mailto:RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
[9]
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
[10]
http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html
[11]
http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
[12]
http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches_lists.re-wrenches.org/attachments/20200515/015f133f/attachment.htm>