Wrenches,
I know I'm a little late with my post here as I've fallen a couple
weeks behind on reading my Wrenches. Sorry to hear that so many of
you are frustrated with Outback but I just wanted to speak up for the
other side. Ninety five percent of my installation work these days is
off grid and nearly 95% of those are Outback components exclusively.
While I do run into minor glitches here and there Outback is always
there to expedite a set of boards or send out an upgraded Mate to
work with the new Flexnet. I'll admit that sometimes the combinations
of error codes are not intuitive but they are consistent and
predictable and therefore easy to diagnose just as long as your
customer can navigate the menus and communicate with you. Also, in
the few times I've been out of the area and my customer's called
Outback for things that could have been found in the manual my
customers have voiced that Outback's technicians were very helpful
and patient with them. Out of the last five Flexnets I've set up all
have been consistent and appear to be working flawlessly. Only three
of them are set up for auto gen start at this time and I'm still
using the Aux and AGS function through the inverter and not the
Flexnet. I also just program the AGS through volt start and not SOC
with the integrated Flexnet relay. However the Flexnet relay controls
my home's water pump without issues.
I know that those of you who are frustrated with their gen start
issues are experienced technicians and I'm certainly not saying you
shouldn't voice your dissatisfaction. I just want to speak up that if
it were not for the reliability and predictability of Outback
hardware I would have far less time on my hands. Hopefully they'll
make things right for you and convince you that they are the best
long term solution for off grid systems. Personally I cannot imagine
making a transition to any other manufacturer.
My 2 volts,
Nick A Lucchese
PS. I don't like that I can't find much programming information for
the GT models. The new manuals are great but certain information from
the old documentation still needs to be carried over.
Matt:
I have had the same experience with 2 Mates going bad on the Gen
start. I just replaced them with new ones and sent the little
buggers back to OutBack for a transfusion.
We have been slowly transitioning away from OutBack products in
general for most applications, except for the situations where they
are the only "perfect fit."
Tom Duffy
The Solar Biz
From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Matt
Tritt
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 12:20 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] mate issues AND MORE ISSUES
Actually you aren't the only two! I have had very similar problems
with at least three OB systems in the last year or so. In every
case, everything seemed to work perfectly when I was there, but
within 2 or 3 days there would be a call saying that the generator
wasn't coming on (always in the middle of the night). One owner
would start pushing buttons willy-nilly, so it all had to be
reprogrammed every visit. This problem has cuased a lot of
irritation and at least one lawsuit involving a dealer - who now
won't attempt ANY off-grid work at all. Surely this is just a
software problem that could be rectified without majorly re-work of
the Mate?
Matt T
Tump wrote:
Hey Jay, guess what I did yesterday in a Fu**(&& Blizzard! Yup that's right
went to "fix" the gen no start feature on the OB.
I reset the settings in the mate repoled it last week for the same issue, up
in hopes that it might turn on the gen BEFORE shutting down.NO error lights
gen will start NO problem in Man on or at the shed.
HELLO OUTBACK YOU OUT THERE??????
Would someone at OUTBACK let Chris out of the dog house, so he can respond &
we can hear how Jay & I are the only folks that seem to be having these
issues with the OB product line.
-----Original Message-----
From:
<mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org>re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org
[<mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org>mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org]
On Behalf Of jay peltz
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 1:10 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] mate issues
Hi Tump,
So just got a call from a customer.
Mate not auto starting the generator.
Mate set to auto.
Will start manually.
Time and date are perfect.
Volts got to 1.5v under 2 minute start and no start.
Getting frustrating.
jay
peltz power
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--
Nick A Lucchese
NABCEP Certified PV Installer
Planet Home
General Contractor # 808851
Sierra Solar Systems
563C Idaho Maryland Road
Grass Valley, CA 95945
tech info and foreign orders: (530) 273-6754
order line: (800) 51-SOLAR (US only) FAX: (530) 273-1760
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