Xantrex Technology SW Series owner manual LOW Battery Transfer LBX Mode, Utility Grid kWH Meter

OPERATION

LOW BATTERY TRANSFER (LBX) MODE

UTILITY GRID kWH METER

AC

AC LOADSAC MAIN PANEL

AC LOADS SUB-PANEL

AC

INVERTER CHARGER

SOLAR ARRAY

DC

GROUND FAULT

PROTECTION

DC

BATTERY

DC

OVERVOLTAGE

DC

PROTECTION

Low Battery Transfer mode is an alternative way of operating “off the grid” using the utility for backup power instead of a generator. The system essentially operates as a stand-alone power system, independent of the utility grid. When the system is no longer able to keep up with the power requirements of the AC load, discharging the batteries to the LOW BATTERY TRANSFER VDC setting, the inverter connects to the utility grid. It then feeds utility power directly to the load and recharges the batteries.

When the battery voltage reaches the LOW BATTERY CUT IN VDC setting, the inverter disconnects from the utility grid and once again operates the AC load from the batteries. Since power is never sold back to the utility, this configuration does not require utility approval.

Simple in concept, this configuration may not provide the desired results. Incompatible settings and poor system designs (i.e., having excessive loads connected and/or low output of the charging source caused by undersizing the system or poor weather conditions affecting PV array output) often cause frequent cycling to and from the grid, thus reducing efficiency. Such cycling can actually increase power consumption from the utility grid.

The most common problem occurs when the LOW BATTERY CUT IN setting is lower than the BULK VOLTS DC setting, causing the batteries to only partially recharge before transferring off utility power. Since the batteries are not fully recharged, they can only support the load for a limited amount of time. This results in rapid cycling (every day or even multiple times per day) between the battery system and the utility grid. One way to reduce the amount of cycling is to set the MAX CHARGE AMPS AC value to its minimum setting of 2 amps AC; however, this increases the system’s dependency on the utility grid.

If the system is also used for utility backup, performance could be drastically affected if the batteries are not fully charged when the utility outage occurs.

The best performance can be achieved by recharging the battery from the utility grid and then waiting until the alternative power source (usually solar panels or a wind generator) has excess power available beyond what it takes to power the AC load. The system will continue to hold the batteries at the float voltage level until the alternative power source raises the battery voltage to a level that exceeds the battery charger settings before transferring. This is done by setting the LOW BATTERY CUT IN VDC setting higher than the BULK VOLTS DC and the FLOAT VOLTS DC settings. Once the battery is full, the charger will maintain the battery at the float voltage setting. If the alternative power source is able to contribute power, it will be used to offset the amount of power that the AC load draws from the utility grid. If the alternative power source is able to produce more power than the load requires, the battery voltage will then increase above the float level until it reaches the LOW BATTERY CUT IN VDC setting. At this time, the system will then transfer to the battery and operate “off the grid.” This reduces the amount of cycling by waiting until improved charging conditions (good sun or good wind) exist before transferring back to the battery.

 2001 Xantrex Technology, Inc.	Telephone: 360/435-8826	SW Series Inverter/Charger
5916 - 195th Street N. E.	Fax: 360/435-2229	Part No. 2031-5
Arlington, WA 98223	www.traceengineering.com	Rev. C: February 2001

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