Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback VFXR3648 failures

[Bruce Geddes]

Hi All,

Although using a different version of the VFXR (3024E) I
have also had issues with a factory supplied FP2 system which is now
resolved.  Random shutdowns of the slave inverter which would indicate
"firmware versions different" and eventually lock up and revert to Boot Load
mode.  Required a firmware upload direct from the Mate to the inverter,
would not work via Hub!  I was told it was a firmware issue but later, from
a  different tech support, that it was a comms board issue which has now
been resolved with a  complete redesign of the board in question.  Total of
5x 6hour round trips to sort out!

 

My problem was fixed by retrofitting some VFX3024E's, fortunately an
off-grid system so no need for the grid capability.

 

Cheers,

Bruce Geddes

PowerOn

 

From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On
Behalf Of Ray
Sent: Thursday, 4 May 2017 7:55 a.m.
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback VFXR3648 failures

 

I had all kinds of trouble with the one and only VFXR system I did last
summer.  Every morning when the system would try to sell back, one inverter
would drop, which meant half the critical loads all got dropped too.
Considering the idea behind all the money for GTB is to keep those loads up
no matter what, we as an industry looked very bad.  A firmware update a
couple months later finally fixed the problem, but in the mean time I had
Outback Tech support trying to blame my wiring for the problems.

I had so many call backs due to this, along with Midnite "Rapid Shutdown"
issues, that I'm very hesitant to even take on anymore backup power systems.
I actually talk most people out of it right now.  If you already have 99+%
power availability, its going to be hard to improve that.  More likely, as
in our case, we are decreasing the up time not improving it, and the
customer is paying tens of thousands for that down grade. 

I'm just too honest to promote GTB right now, especially with Tesla's
disinformation campaign that makes people think they can backup their entire
house for any outage for $5k. I was doing backup systems before we were even
allowed to grid tie in the 90s, so I consider our current state of the art
to be in total disarray: 

shameful over promotion coupled with dangerous under performance.  

R. Ray Walters
Chief Technical Officer, RemoteSolar.com
BS Mech Engineering, 1988
Former NABCEP Certified, 2004-2016
Licensed Master ELectrician, Colorado
303 505-8760

On 5/3/17 12:51 PM, Starlight Solar Power Systems wrote:

Battery Wrenches, 

 

We designed a mobile power system with 6 Outback VFXR3648 inverters stacked
for 240 split phase. The battery system is a 20kWh lithium ion. So far, 2
FET boards have failed and the customer called today with another failure.
Outback said they had an early problem with these. I want to know if anyone
else is having issues with these and is the problem really fixed before I
quote another one.

 


Thank you,

Larry Crutcher
Starlight Solar Power Systems
(928) 342-9103

 

 

 

 






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[RE-wrenches] Conext Bridge for Li-ion

[Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar]

Schneider Electric Solar released the brochure in the attachment below.
They do not have a web page yet as they are getting the approvals. It
should not be long. One will be able to go to the site and get firmware
for the battery BMS.  I have been testing it since last year with the LG
Chem RESU-10. This is not scheduled until sometime in the 2nd half of
2017.

The other very impressive release later this year is the Outback Skybox.
It is an all in one dual HV mppts,5KW, and does not need a battery to
work. It can be added later.


Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
"we go where powerlines don't"
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
e-mail  offgridso...@sti.net
text 209 813 0060___
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Xantrex XW 6048A unregulated during charging

[Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar]

Hmm. This does not sound good! Three phase power correct? You could try
connecting a different inverter to the generator.
Are you sure the generator is staying connected and outputting qualifying AC?
There are set-points for bulk and absorb and they are the same right?

Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
"we go where powerlines don't"
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
e-mail  offgridso...@sti.net
text 209 813 0060


> Hello All,
>
> I’m working on a system with 3 Xantrex XW 6048’s that has grid on AC1
> and a 20 kw generator on AC2.  When charging from grid it regulates during
> an absorption charge at 58.2 where it should.  When charging from AC 2 -
> generator, the battery Voltage rises above 62 VDC,  but not every single
> time.  All the settings are correct, EQ is turned off, and if it
> accidentally got turned on is set at the same Voltage as the absorption
> setting.  Customer has a brand new 33 kWh AGM battery bank,  that I would
> rather not fry.  This is a battery backup system with no PV.
>
> I have checked all the temperature sensors (they seem good) and tried
> charging with them plugged in,  and with them unplugged and it doesn’t
> seem to change the situation.
>
> Has anybody else seen this happen before?  Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks very much,
>
> Jason Lerner
> Waldron Power and Light Co.
> (888) 927-2526
>
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Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
"we go where powerlines don't"
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
e-mail  offgridso...@sti.net
text 209 813 0060

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[RE-wrenches] Xantrex XW 6048A unregulated during charging

[Jason Lerner]

Hello All,

I’m working on a system with 3 Xantrex XW 6048’s that has grid on AC1 and a 20 
kw generator on AC2.  When charging from grid it regulates during an absorption 
charge at 58.2 where it should.  When charging from AC 2 - generator, the 
battery Voltage rises above 62 VDC,  but not every single time.  All the 
settings are correct, EQ is turned off, and if it accidentally got turned on is 
set at the same Voltage as the absorption setting.  Customer has a brand new 33 
kWh AGM battery bank,  that I would rather not fry.  This is a battery backup 
system with no PV.

I have checked all the temperature sensors (they seem good) and tried charging 
with them plugged in,  and with them unplugged and it doesn’t seem to change 
the situation. 

Has anybody else seen this happen before?  Any suggestions?

Thanks very much,

Jason Lerner
Waldron Power and Light Co.
(888) 927-2526

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Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback VFXR3648 failures

[Ray]

I had all kinds of trouble with the one and only VFXR system I did last 
summer.  Every morning when the system would try to sell back, one 
inverter would drop, which meant half the critical loads all got dropped 
too.  Considering the idea behind all the money for GTB is to keep those 
loads up no matter what, we as an industry looked very bad.  A firmware 
update a couple months later finally fixed the problem, but in the mean 
time I had Outback Tech support trying to blame my wiring for the problems.


I had so many call backs due to this, along with Midnite "Rapid 
Shutdown" issues, that I'm very hesitant to even take on anymore backup 
power systems. I actually talk most people out of it right now.  If you 
already have 99+% power availability, its going to be hard to improve 
that.  More likely, as in our case, we are decreasing the up time not 
improving it, and the customer is paying tens of thousands for that down 
grade.


I'm just too honest to promote GTB right now, especially with Tesla's 
disinformation campaign that makes people think they can backup their 
entire house for any outage for $5k. I was doing backup systems before 
we were even allowed to grid tie in the 90s, so I consider our current 
state of the art to be in total disarray:


shameful over promotion coupled with dangerous under performance.

R. Ray Walters
Chief Technical Officer, RemoteSolar.com
BS Mech Engineering, 1988
Former NABCEP Certified, 2004-2016
Licensed Master ELectrician, Colorado
303 505-8760

On 5/3/17 12:51 PM, Starlight Solar Power Systems wrote:

Battery Wrenches,

We designed a mobile power system with 6 Outback VFXR3648 inverters 
stacked for 240 split phase. The battery system is a 20kWh lithium 
ion. So far, 2 FET boards have failed and the customer called today 
with another failure. Outback said they had an early problem with 
these. I want to know if anyone else is having issues with these and 
is the problem really fixed before I quote another one.



Thank you,

Larry Crutcher
Starlight Solar Power Systems
(928) 342-9103







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[RE-wrenches] Outback VFXR3648 failures

[Starlight Solar Power Systems]

Battery Wrenches,

We designed a mobile power system with 6 Outback VFXR3648 inverters stacked for 
240 split phase. The battery system is a 20kWh lithium ion. So far, 2 FET 
boards have failed and the customer called today with another failure. Outback 
said they had an early problem with these. I want to know if anyone else is 
having issues with these and is the problem really fixed before I quote another 
one.


Thank you,

Larry Crutcher
Starlight Solar Power Systems
(928) 342-9103





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Re: [RE-wrenches] OutBack FX Internal Fan running 24/7

[Tom Ruscitti]

We had a similar issue last year on two new systems with FXR3048A 
inverters. An Outback tech proposed the solution below and  it 
mysteriously worked. Not sure if this applies to older FX inverters or 
only the newer FXRA with latest firmware.


•Make sure master is in HUB port 1 and sub-phase master in port 7. 
If not, various errors can show up including random inverter fan running 
continuously.


- Tom

--
Tom Ruscitti
Senior Engineer

Taitem Engineering, PC
110 S. Albany Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
Mobile: (607) 220-7022
www.taitem.com

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