Xantrex Technology SW Series - Manual (Page 79)

OPERATION
 2001 Xantrex Technology, Inc.
5916 - 195th Street N. E.
Arlington, WA 98223
Telephone: 360/435-8826
Fax: 360/435-2229
www.traceengineering.com
SW Series Inverter/Charger
Part No. 2031-5
Rev. C: February 2001
Page
71
GENERATOR SUPPORT MODE
IN BRIEF
The factory default settings are intended to operate the inverter as an inverter/charger connected to a
generator. When the generator is off, the inverter will power the AC loads from the battery. Once the
generator is started, the AC loads will be transferred to the generator and the inverter will become a
battery charger and store the unused power in the batteries for later use. The inverter will automatically
limit the draw of the battery charger to prevent overloading the generator. When the generator is turned off
it will be disconnected and the inverter will instantly take over and power the AC loads from the batteries.
Generator support does not require that the automatic generator control system be used.
To operate in this mode the system must be set-up as follows:
•
Connect the generator AC output to the inverter’s AC HOT IN 2 and NEUTRAL IN 2 terminals.
•
Connect the AC loads to the inverter’s AC HOT OUT and NEUTRAL OUT terminals.
•
Adjust the battery charger parameters to match the requirements of the batteries connected (if the
factory defaults listed in the technical section are not satisfactory).
•
Adjust the SET GEN (AC2) AMPS AC menu item located in the AC INPUTS (11) menu heading, to
the continuous output ability of the generator. This allows the generator support feature to function
correctly, preventing the generator from being overloaded. The generator’s output should be de-rated
for altitude and if propane or natural gas is the power source. It is best to error on the low side for this
setting, or to experiment with higher settings after the system has been operational.
•
Adjust the SET INPUT LOWER LIMIT VAC located in the AC INPUTS (11) menu heading, to the
lowest AC voltage that the AC loads can tolerate. If the generator is pulled down to this level while
powering a load, the inverter will back-off its battery charging or even operate in parallel to reduce the
load on the generator. Keep in mind that when the inverter supports the generator it uses energy from
the batteries to power the AC loads. Therefore, when generator support occurs, the batteries can be
discharging instead of recharging even though the generator is running.
•
Adjust the SET INPUT UPPER LIMIT VAC located in the AC INPUT (11) menu heading, to the
highest voltage that the generator will be allowed to operate without being considered out of tolerance.
At this voltage the inverter will disconnect to protect the AC loads. When the voltage returns to the
operating window, the inverter will require a minimum of 20 seconds to re-synchronize and connect
the generator to the loads.
INVERTER/
CHARGER
GENERATOR AC LOADS AC AC
BATTERY
DC