Solar panel & inverter data - Page 3

 

Yes, the built-in chargers are great.  I could even call them superb.  The
user has a vast amount of control of the settings.  The Bulk, Float, and
Equalize voltages and charge times are all progammable.  Just about anything
you could even want to set or change can be done through the "Mate."  Except
there is no way to bypass the built-in transfer switches.  Plus if you want
to use a smaller generator (120 volt) you have to change three different
charge settings.  I think they could have made that a lot simpler.  My
second choice for charging, if my DC charger is kaput, is to use Inverter #2
as a seperate charger (also set for Master but with the Inverter Output
disconnected) so one is supplying my power and the other is only for
charging.  This works quite well except for the efficiency losses.   But, if
I need to switch it back I have to do a whole lot of button-pushing and
change a lot of settings and open and close circuit breakers just to connect
a 240 volt genny and use both chargers.  One thing you DON'T want to do is
to change the Stack settings with the output of  both inverters closed
(activated).  There are built-in protections but I'd rather not find out if
they work ;-)

I can't speak for the OB inverters as far as welding goes but they seem to
have a tremendous surge capacity, probably quite a bit higher than what they
are rated at.  This is what I meant by "underrated."  On occasion someone
will turn on a big load while another big load is running (oops) with only
one inverter running everything and so far it has just kept going.  Except
for the air compressor I mentioned.  But it may have other problems.  I have
ran my washing machine which is probably well over 1000 watts when it's
running along with my well pump which is around 2500 watts running at the
same time with a single VFX3648 and the X240 transformer with no problems.
I don't know exactly what the surge is when the washer kicks in to spin
cycle but it is possible that the well pump has come on during the spin
cycle so the combined total surge is likely way beyond the rating of the
inverter.

 

Curbie wrote:


Google ?

Graham


--
due to the hugely increased level of spam please make the obvious
adjustment to my email address

 
It figures, I just spent two days putting an inverter data
spread-sheet together and HomePower releases the same thing in this
month's issue.

Have fun. (or try, anyway)

Curbie