I dealt with this on my "last" GTBB system. I say last, because I only
do backup systems now in places like Puerto Rico that actually need
backup. The FXRs will NOT connect to even an inverter generator (Yamaha
EF3000), unless they are programmed to GEN. Our solution was to save
two different system profiles on the Mate, and the customer, after
actuating the transfer switch was to switch to the other profile on the
Mate. Power reliability before GTBB: 99.9%, Power Reliability after
GTBB was installed: 80%.
The FXRs had firmware problems that caused one inverter (and half the
backup loads) to shut off when trying to sell back. Outback Tech support
blamed me for the problems, and only after several months of shut downs,
did they acknowledge that their firmware was actually the issue.
Customer spent $30k+ for less reliability.
Magnum going away? Probably a good thing too, since I had my first out
of the box failure this Spring, after an almost perfect record over the
past 15 years. Customer was on generator power for over 2 months
waiting for the replacement. My whole career has been marked with great
companies being sold, only to see them later drown in a cesspool of
mediocre products and poor tech support.
Ray Walters
Remote Solar
On 10/24/2024 5:55 PM, Bradley Bassett via RE-wrenches wrote:
As I remember the FXR inverters will rarely connect to any generators
beside very well controlled or inverter type generators. I agree that
I don't think there is any automatic transfer from grid tie to
generator input.
Brad Bassett
On Thu, Oct 24, 2024 at 3:42 PM Wayne Irwin via RE-wrenches
<re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
It is my understanding that the FXR will not "automatically"
switch from Grid Input to Gen.
To my knowledge this is a manual option only.
I do not recall any way to make this happen automatically. That
would have been great.
You can however still call for the generator at a low V setting
and have the generator power an external charger to boost the
batteries.
I think the brand we used to use was IOTA however, I have also
seen golf cart chargers used.
Wayne Irwin
President
License #CVC56695
State Licensed Solar Contractor
Pure Energy Solar International Inc.
wa...@pureenergysolar.com
PureEnergySolar.com <http://pureenergysolar.com/>
SolarChargingStation.com <http://solarchargingstation.com/>
352 377-6527 Office
352 336-3299 Fax
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*From:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org> on
behalf of Jay via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>
*Sent:* Thursday, October 24, 2024 5:57 PM
*To:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>
*Cc:* Jay <jay.pe...@gmail.com>
*Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] New Outback FXR Series as GTGBB on
existing Off Grid Home
Hi Jeremy
There are two issues I think.
1 is that the inverter won’t connect.
And I don’t have an answer why the inverter won’t in sell mode but
will in gen mode. Maybe the generator is slightly out of the more
narrow window for grid. I presume you’ve checked hz and volts and
they are in spec for grid? I know sometimes the frequency control
can be slightly variable without a load. I’ve had success in the
past getting inverters to connect to a generator with putting some
dumb loads on it. Like incandescent lights or small heater.
2. Maybe it’s a good thing it won’t because if it did connect
wouldn’t it be possible for the inverter to try to sell to the
generator? If you didn’t have to change grid to Gen?
Jay
On Oct 23, 2024, at 8:47 PM, Jeremy Rodriguez via RE-wrenches
<re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
Wrenches,
We have a client that has brought utility power in and we now
have the system hooked up to the utility.
In setting the system up, I've experienced that the inverter will
sell and function fine with all the settings set up as* Grid
Tied* mode, but it does not play nice when the grid is gone , and
the Generator is brought in as the AC source.
We have installed an external transfer switch to switch the
inverters' AC input, from either the utility or the existing
backup generator ( if the grid fails), automatically.
The manual states that the inverter's two input selections can be
programmed for seperate input modes, via the* Input* *Type* menu.
Ive not been able to get this accomplished.
When simulating a grid outage, thus changing the AC input to the
inverter being from the Generator, the inverter will not synch to
the AC power to charge the batteries.
The only way that I can get the inverter to synch, is to switch
the input mode to *GEN* from *GRID.*
This is not ideal since the client would need to be present to
make the button push, even though the generator will be started
automatically if the grid were to go down (hopefully) , just as
it did before.
With no way to contact Outback , can someone advise how to
properly program the inverter/ MATE3S for this project?
Equipment onsite:
Single VFXR3648 inverter
Two FM60 CCs
Hub4
MATE3S
ATS with Dual Relays 50A
L.A. Battery bank
Here's how we would like it to work:
Utility power ON:
Sell excess power once the batteries have gone through the Absorb
cycle. Batteries remain full in case of a utility failure.
Utility Outage:
ATS now feeds Inv AC input via Generator if needed.
Inverter runs the home as it did , off grid.
If the battery voltage drops and the AGS is engaged, the inverter
will use that input to charge the batteries as usual. If the
grid comes back on and the gen is running, the generator can
still run, with no connection to the inverter. With the grid now
charging the battery bank, and the AGS will enventually shut off
the Gen. Based on voltage.
Contact me off list if necessary
Jeremy Rodriguez
All Solar Inc.
Penrose, CO
719-276-4954
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