I have only one XW GTWB system, installed earlier this year, so my
experience is quite limited in the current Schneider era, but I
wanted to offer a different opinion than Kirpal's. Conergy supplied
me with an old-stock inverter with out-of-date firmware, so upon
installation I was unable to program optimized grid interconnection
because of a problem with the early firmware, so I had to return in
install current firmware. For this, Conergy supplied a System
Configuration Tool. I worked with Schneider tech support both times
and got knowledgable, helpful and patient techs.
To its credit, the XW System Control Panel (the Mate equivalent) is
exceptionally easy to navigate and intuitive. I was even able to
show the customer how to navigate through it, something I don't
often attempt with the current Mate.
My biggest issues with Schneider have been about their lack of
support for their legacy products. Without manuals, affordable
parts, service centers and support for SW-series and similar
products, I'm not likely to spec or purchase much of their product.
That lack of support for my long-time customers just isn't right to
me. I let the folks at the SPI Schneider booth know this too.
Outback's tech support in the last year at least has been excellent
in my experience.
Allan
On 12/29/2010 2:45 PM, Kirpal Khalsa wrote:
>From our experience there is no comparison with
regards to customer service, should you need it after
purchase/install......Outback has been accessible and
knowledgeable. Xantrex has not......
--
Sunny Regards,
Kirpal Khalsa
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer
Renewable Energy Systems
www.oregonsolarworks.com
541-218-0201 m
541-592-3958 o
On Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 1:08 PM, Jason Szumlanski <ja...@fafcosolar.com>
wrote:
No recent experience with Xantrex,
but Outback panels have been great. Flexpower panels
come factory wired with charge controllers as options.
The final connections are pretty simple. I’m doing a
quad inverter Outback Flexware 1000 system now, and
just finished with a dual inverter Flexware 500
system.
The one thing to watch out for is
make sure you are ordering exactly what you expect to
get. For example, at one point the dual inverter
Flexpower system literature did not show the X240
autotransformer included (preinstalled), but it did,
in fact, come with it. They may have changed that
after I pointed it out to them. If you go with
Flexware components rather than a Flexpower prewired
power center, make sure you are clear on what you are
getting (i/o bypass assembly, terminal bus bars, etc.)
There’s nothing worse than getting on-site and finding
out you are missing something. The A/C breakers are
pretty cheap. I’d put a couple extra in the A/C panel
for future expansion (if this will be the main load
center).
If I had one complaint about the
Outback gear, it would be the charge controller
brackets, which I find to be pretty flimsy. If I had
to come up with one more complaint, maybe the positive
battery connection to the breaker could be easier, but
I fixed that by using 45 degree Magnalugs on my
cables.
The finish on the Outback panels
seems to be more durable compared to the finish on the
old Xantrex SW5548 power panels I used to buy, but I
haven’t seen any recent Xantrex equipment. That’s
probably not real important, but I thought I would
opine.
Jason Szumlanski
Fafco Solar
Nope.
HI Marco,
The first issue is do you
need/want 240v?
On Dec 29, 2010, at 11:45
AM, Marco Mangelsdorf wrote:
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1191 / Virus Database: 1435/3346 -
Release Date: 12/29/10
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