Hi Tump,
However the FNDC has both functions. % start and volt and time start.
So even if the % gets off for some reason, the volt/time should,
repeat, should start it.
I have all but given up on the flexnet. I find for most customers its
too complicated, and while it gives good information, its hard for
folks to read.
And most importantly for me, the AGS function is not reliable. I have
had pretty good luck with the normal AGS, but when hooked to the the
FLEXNET just too unreliable.
And heres the kicker. I talked to the techs at outback about a system
with a problem, and they told me there were having problems with the
flexnet and I should defeat it by setting the start/stop % to 0, great.
jay
peltz power
On Oct 14, 2009, at 4:30 PM, Tump wrote:
I have had issues w/ the FNDC I had to send it back for a reprogram
I sent the mate back at the same time too. MOST important thing I
learned is that the battery bank MUST be at a full SOC prior to
connecting the FNDC otherwise you defiantly will have generator
issues.
Still having our low voltage “non start” gen problem. Reset all
parameters in Mate and we will see what happens
from a customer dated 9/25/09 this customer also has had gen not
shutting off issues too.
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]
] On Behalf Of William Miller
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:28 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback FNDC relay, Flex Net Review
Kent:
The manual is not clear as to how this is done. Have you considered
using a relay in an FX inverter to activate the generator as is done
in a system without the Flex Net?
Interesting about the SMA claim, but until I hear otherwise, this is
just a claim.
William
At 01:25 PM 10/14/2009, you wrote:
William,
In all of these systems, the Mate's AGS system is being used to
control the FNDC's relay. The Mate's AGS port has been selected so
that it operates the FNDC's relay rather than using the Aux output
on the inverter. The FNDC is providing SOC info to the Mate, but
isn't directly controlling the relay.
I agree with you about the potential to confuse customers. And
about the inaccuracy of battery amp-hour meters in general. But it
is interesting that SMA's main claim about the Sunny Island is that
it does the best job managing batteries. It does it by keeping
track of the battery's SOC.
William Miller wrote:
Kent:
>From the Flex Net DC manual, page 16: "OutBack strongly
recommends using the AGS function of the MATE to control a
generator." I assume from your post, you are using the Auto mode
to have the relay control a generator, a practice that the above
quotation recommends against. This may relate directly to your
problems.
I have no experience with the Flex Net but I took this opportunity
to review the manual more thoroughly than I have previously. My
conclusion is that the Flex Net is a great tool for the
technically inclined but offers a minimal convenience for the lay
person. The State of Charge function may be a more realistic
method of determining actual state of charge, but if it operates
at all like the E-meter or the Tri-Metric, it is prone to
inaccuracy. The variables associated with individual battery
banks, particularly as they age, make accurate calibration a
moving target. Overall, the Flex net has the potential to
increase customer confusion with a proliferation of synoptic
(overly succinct) menus.
Again, I call on the technicians in the industry to create a user
interface with the lay person in mind. See previous rant.
I may find I recommend this system for remote locations so I can
poll statistics and interpret for the client, but I will not train
a client on the use of this unless he or she is particularly
inclined.
Anyone else have an opinion on the Flex net system?
William Miller
At 12:13 PM 10/14/2009, you wrote:
Has anyone besides me had problems using the relay in the Outback
FNDC? I've had three different customers report that their
generators failed to turn off.
--
Kent Osterberg
Blue Mountain Solar, Inc.
www.bluemountainsolar.com
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