Hey Jay -
I have seen this type of problem before - but it was with Kohler generators and the old SW series. They use a voltage regulation system which actually increases the AC output voltage along with the AC load level - they call it "power boost" and it is intended to offset the voltage drop in the wiring from the generator to the loads. Usually this is a good feature to have - but under some situations it can be a problem - such as when the inverter and generator are close together and the Generator's AC output voltage is set close to the limit of the inverter. Maybe the larger Onan's have a similar system. I think that the CFL lights are making a difference at very light load levels because they really only draw power for a very short time from the peak of the waveform - which causes the RMS voltage to drop. Then as the inverter loads up the generator the voltage rises again and its dropped. Even though the CFLs are a small total wattage AC load they draw power in a very brief instant - so they are more like a 1500 watt AC load which surges on each cycle for just a very brief instance (less than 1 millisecond usually - depends on the design of the CFL's power supply). Often the AC voltage waveform of an unloaded generator can be extremely non-sinusoidal without any operating. Unfortunately this requires an oscilloscope to check and even then there is not much which can be done if it is ugly. I would check the AC voltage on the generator with a hand held true-RMS meter and also with the MATE with the charger set to "OFF" (via the MATE). I would also increase the AC Input Maximum Voltage setting to at least 140VAC. Then enable the charger again and watch the AC input voltage on both the hand held meter and on the MATE itself. You might be able to have the customer check the AC input voltage level (with the charger on and off) and adjust the AC input maximum limit over the phone if that is possible - saving you a trip to the site perhaps. You also might need to adjust the calibration of the inverter's AC input measurement - again this is done with the MATE in the "CAL" menu section. I hope this helps! Christopher Christopher Freitas Director of Research and Development OutBack Power Systems, Inc. cfrei...@outbackpower.com <mailto:cfrei...@outbackpower.com> Tel 360 435 6030 Cell 360 202 4239 19009 62nd Ave NE Arlington WA 98223 USA www.outbackpower.com <http://www.outbackpower.com/> MESSAGE CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message (including attachments) is covered by the Electronic Communication Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. sections 2510-2521, is confidential, and may also be protected by attorney-client or other privilege. If you believe that it has been sent to you in error, please do not read it. If you are not the intended recipient,you are hereby notified that any retention, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Please reply to the sender that you have received the message in error, then delete it. Thank you.
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