Installation & Programming Manual FX & VFX “E” Series Inverter/Charger System Copyright 2003 OutBack Power Systems, Inc.
900-0027-2 19009 62nd Ave NE, Arlington WA 98223 USA
Page 26 Rev 7.1 06/08/06 Tel 360 435 6030 Fax 360 435 6019
STACKING INSTRUCTIONS
System Examples STACKED SYSTEM USING OUTBACK’S “PARALLEL” STACKING
This type of system may have between 2 and 10 FX’s that will have their AC Outputs connected to the same Leg. We will be using a
Quad-Stacked (4 FX) system as an example. If you have less than four FX’s then any reference to FX’s on ports greater than the
amount of FX’s in your system will not apply to your system. If you have more than four FX’s then follow the natural pattern of
programming that will become apparent in this example.
In a quad stack, I am assuming that the top FX is plugged into port 1 of the HUB, the 2nd FX down is plugged into port 2, the 3rd FX
down is plugged into port 3, and the 4th FX down is plugged into port 4 (This is not a rule, just for simplicity). Using the MATE, go to the
stacking menu (explained earlier in the “Stacking Instructions” section). You are now at the 1st stacking menu called “Stack Phase”. In
the upper right hand corner of the mate screen will always be the HUB port number of the FX you’re working with at the time. Let’s
start out with the FX that’s on port 1. If something other than P01 appears in the upper right hand corner then press the PORT button
until P01 appears. Set the “Stack Phase” of the port 1 FX to “1-2 PH Master”. Press the PORT button and verify that the label in the
upper right hand corner displays P02. We are still in the “Stack Phase” menu but we are now talking to the FX on port 2. Push the INC
button two times to set the “Stack Phase” to “OB Slave L1”. Press the PORT button again to talk to the FX on port 3. Push the INC
button two times to set the “Stack Phase” to “OB Slave L1”. Press the PORT button again to talk to the FX on port 4. Push the INC
button two times to set the “Stack Phase” to “OB Slave L1”. Now you’ve set 3 FX’s (P02-P04) to be in parallel with the master (P01). If
you have more FX’s in the system then program them as “OB Slave L1”.
Press the DOWN button 2 times to get into the “POWER SAVE LEVEL SLAVE ADJUST ONLY” menu. Press the PORT button until
P02 is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen. This menu pertains to the slaves only which is why we’re starting out with port
2. The setting from the factory should be already set to 1 which is the 1st rank slave. If it’s anything other than 1, then press the INC or
DEC buttons to make it 1. Press the PORT button to talk to the port 3 FX. Press the INC button to change the “power save level slave
adjust only” to 2 which is the 2nd rank slave. Press the PORT button to talk to the port 4 FX. Press the INC button until the setting is 3
for 3rd rank slave. Now you’ve set the rank for all the slaves. If you have more FX’s in the system then press the PORT button to
access the next FX and press INC until the number on the screen is 1 number less than the port number (i.e. if you are on P05, the
number on the screen should be 4).
Let’s back track a little by going to the “POWER SAVE LEVEL MASTER ADJUST ONLY” menu. Do this by pressing the DOWN
button, TOP button, then DOWN button. Verify that the screen you are on now is the “POWER SAVE LEVEL MASTER ADJUST
ONLY” screen and change the port to P01. Turn on all of your FX’s AC Output breakers. The master FX’s “Inverter” LED should be
solid and all the slaves “Inverter” LED’s should be blinking. Adjust the “POWER SAVE LEVEL MASTER ADJUST ONLY” from 0 to 1
and watch the 1st slave’s “Inverter” LED go solid. When the “Inverter” LED is on solid, this means that the inverter is on. When the
“Inverter” LED on the slave is blinking, this means the FX is asleep. Adjust the “POWER SAVE LEVEL MASTER ADJUST ONLY” to 2
and watch the 2nd slave’s “Inverter” LED turn on. Adjust the “POWER SAVE LEVEL MASTER ADJUST ONLY” to 3 and watch the 3rd
slave’s “Inverter” LED turn on. If you have more than three slaves then keep increasing the value in the “POWER SAVE LEVEL
MASTER ADJUST ONLY” screen and verify that each slave’s “Inverter” LED comes on as expected. You have now verified that all
FX’s are stacked correctly so adjust the “POWER SAVE LEVEL MASTER ADJUST ONLY” back down to 0 and have fun with your
system!
3-PHASE STACKED SYSTEM (3 FX’S ONLY)
This type of system will include only three FX’s and must be set up as described here. Turn off all AC Output and AC Input breakers
before powering up FX’s. In 3-phase stacking, I am assuming that the top FX is plugged into port 1 of the HUB, the 2nd FX down is
plugged into port 2 and the 3rd FX down is plugged into port 3 (This is not a rule, just for simplicity). The HUB has a jumper on it that
needs to be changed for 3-phase stacking (refer to the HUB manual). Using the MATE, go to the stacking menu (explained earlier in
the “Stacking Instructions” section). You are now at the 1st stacking menu called “Stack Phase”. In the upper right hand corner of the
mate screen will always be the HUB port number of the FX you’re working with at the time. Let’s start out with the FX that’s on port 1.
If something other than P01 appears in the upper right hand corner then press the PORT button until P01 appears. Set the “Stack
Phase” of the port 1 FX to “3ph Master”. The Master FX is considered phase A. Press the PORT button and verify that the label in the
upper right hand corner displays P02. We are still in the “Stack Phase” menu but we are now talking to the FX on port 2. Push the INC
button five times to set the “Stack Phase” to “3ph Slave”. Now you’ve set this FX (P02) as phase B, producing 208VAC between itself
and the master (P01). Press the PORT button again and verify that the label in the upper right hand corner displays P03. We are still
in the “Stack Phase” menu but we are now talking to the FX on port 3. Push the INC button five times to set the “Stack Phase” to “3ph
Slave”. Now you’ve set this FX (P03) as phase C, producing 208VAC between itself and the master (P01) and also 208VAC between
itself and the FX on phase B. The next two screens in the STACK menu do not apply to a 3-phase system, so you need not worry
about them. Remember that the AC input to a 3-phase system must be a 3-phase source (generator or grid). Have fun with your
system!