Status of an E-panel for the Conext SW

[Robin]

When do you see the grounded conductor broken? It isn't normally done in North America. We break the hot conductors only and keep the grounded conductors grounded. The exception is with a DC-GFP. Those are dangerous.
Does this help?

[DMJ72]

Thanks to Robin, Walter and the Midnite crew, my E-panel is in the Island. However, there is a holdup @ Customs as they have charged me the incorrect duty on said items. Idiots!   

As soon as I get it in hand I will post some pictures. The business where I buy my solar stuff is also keen to see it as this inverter is very popular here. Looks like they may be interested in ordering some.

It looks like I will NOT be using the AC IN of this inverter at all. Once the AC is qualified by the Conext SW, it switches over to bypass/charge. Only when the AC In is lost, does the unit Invert. This can not be overridden by the SCP. As we have excellent Sun in the Tropics, the utility is hardly ever used to charge the batteries. What we tend to do in a low battery / SOC condition is to switch over to AC bypass until the Solar charges up the batteries the next day or two. Generators are hardly used. In Jamaica,  by law we have to have a connection to the utility once we are a certain distance from the pole. There is no escaping it.

The Magnum and the Outback inverters do this (YAY HBX!!!), however what Installers do for the other inverters is to use a AC transfer relay operated by the Charge controller's Aux input. The Conext XW has a mode (grid support or load shave not sure) that is used to achieve the same thing.

Schneider really dropped the ball with the muted AC IN functionality. In addition to these firmware issues with stacking, I am not sure if I am going to use it in future installs.

I am looking seriously at the Half Radian ...  GS4048a. Its AC Modes are awesome, love that Grid-Zero!!

[Robin]

All inverter chargers work like the SW. They cannot invert and charge at the same time. The power just runs backwards for charging and then the other direction when the grid or generator goes down. The voltage range is determined by the transformer ration and electronics for regulation.
Some inverters like the FX and Magnum have HBX. We were doing this back in 1993 with the Trace SW inverter. I never liked it though. You can usually keep the AC input connected and just turn the charge current down to zero. That isn't HBX mode though. Be aware that HBX mode is going to wear out your batteries if you let the SOC go too low.

[DMJ72]

.........Some inverters like the FX and Magnum have HBX. We were doing this back in 1993 with the Trace SW inverter. I never liked it though....

Yeah, thats one of the reasons Outback and Magnum do so well here where we like to use the grid for backup only (not charging). The Conext SW is making fast inroads based on its power/price ratio though.

I hope that future Midnite Inverter has a way of prioritizing Invert over Pass-through based on voltage/soc like HBX

Back on topic .. I ordered the Backplate, which should make for a really hot looking install! I can't wait!

[Robin]

Rest assured that when we do an inverter, it will have all the bells and whistles. Don't hold your breath though. IT is a long ways off.

[DMJ72]

Rest assured that when we do an inverter, it will have all the bells and whistles. Don't hold your breath though. IT is a long ways off.

There is no doubt it will rock!

[DMJ72]

Its here!




The powder-coat matches the Inverter perfectly. This may be Mid-nite's best E-panel design yet. You can see a lot of work was done to make it look fantastic. I see ventilation slots were added, which is great.

[DMJ72]

Finally getting some time to devote to this project ...

Here is it mounted...



More pictures when its done...

So far all I can say, is that this thing is a beast.

[Robin]

Looks very nice. Would work even better with our Classics. You wouldn't need the Bogart battery monitor since the Classics come with our WhizBang Jr.
It does nook great though. Glad you like it.
Doug did good!

[DMJ72]

Looks very nice. Would work even better with our Classics. You wouldn't need the Bogart battery monitor since the Classics come with our WhizBang Jr.
It does nook great though. Glad you like it.
Doug did good!

Thanks Robin

I went with the Schneider MPPT60's due to two main reasons :
* Its in the kitchen and the wife hates fan noise, so I needed a passively cooled controller(s).
* The Classic does not yet speak Xanbus ... so I would not be able to have central reporting to my combox

To facilitate the Schneider SCCs, I had to add two NEG(-) bus bars for PV in #1 & #2. Ended up using the Outback TBB as that is what is available locally. The Trimetric will be flush, on the front of the E-panel next to the SCP

[dapdan]

Very sweet David. I can say I would love to get one of those with my conext swbut I can't return the panel I have now.

Damani

[DMJ72]

Very sweet David. I can say I would love to get one of those with my conext swbut I can't return the panel I have now.

Damani

LOL you could always sell the Schneider e-panel and your inverter to a customer, and when the 48V Conext SW comes out .. you get the Midnite Panel!

[dapdan]

That could work. I just need to find the sucker... I mean the customer.😊

Damani

[DMJ72]

I put on the cover today and powered everything up. Its running in testing for the week as I add another solar array.

What I have noticed with the Midnite Panel, is that due to its width and the design of the ventilation grill on the side, the whole thing acts like a muffler. It significantly mutes the noise of those two high speed fans, which can be irritating especially if its near a liveable space.

The wife is very happy.

[Robin]

Sometimes a reduced fan noise means reduced airflow and then increased heat. We take those things into consideration. Have fun with your MidNite muffler!