Utility Interactive Mode - Xantrex SW Series Owner's Manual

UTILITY INTERACTIVE MODE

UTILITY GRID
kWh METER
AC
OUTDOOR AC
DISCONNECT
BACKED UP
AC LOADS
SUB-PANEL
IN BRIEF
In this mode, SW Series Inverter/Chargers can be used to move power from the DC system into the AC
utility grid. This is often called "selling" power since the utility pays for the power you produce. It is
relatively simple to set the inverter up to accomplish this. However, this type of installation is so new that
many utility companies have not formalized their regulations regarding acceptable installations.
Regulations will vary from one utility to another. The utility companies have a right and a need to be
careful about how power is fed into their system. Utility interactive should be done with the assistance
of your dealer and must be done with the approval of the local utility company.
As a minimum, an outdoor mounted AC disconnect should be installed at the service entrance or next to
the utility meter. It should be clearly labeled "SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEM AC DISCONNECT". This will
allow utility and emergency personnel to easily and safely isolate the system from the utility grid if required.
This disconnect should be lockable (by the utility) and installed between the AC HOT 1 INPUT of the
inverter and the circuit breaker in the AC load center connected to the utility grid. This allows the utility to
shut off the system if a problem occurs.
Since a utility interactive installation requires an understanding of your local utility code, limited diagrams
and details are included in this manual. Consult your utility or your local Xantrex dealer.
To operate the system in utility interactive mode, set-up the system as follows:
Connect utility AC power to the inverter's AC HOT IN 1 and NEUTRAL IN 1 terminals.
Connect the critical AC loads that are required to be backed-up, to the inverter's AC HOT OUT and
NEUTRAL OUT terminals.
Use the GRID USAGE TIMER (18) and the BULK CHARGE TRIGGER TIMER (15) with the battery
charger parameters adjusted under the BATTERY CHARGING (10) menu heading to determine the
battery voltage level you require for your batteries.
Select SELL from the SET GRID USAGE menu item in the INVERTER SETUP (9) menu heading.
Adjust the GRID (AC1) AMPS AC menu item located in the AC INPUTS (11) menu heading (See
UTILITY SUPPORT/OVERLOAD PROTECTION, on page 82) to match the amperage of the circuit
supplying AC to the inverter input.
Adjust the AC input voltage parameters using the SET INPUT LOWER LIMIT VAC and the SET
INPUT UPPER LIMIT VAC menu items, both located in the AC INPUTS (11) menu heading to match
the AC voltage requirements of your connected utility.
2001 Xantrex Technology, Inc.
5916 - 195th Street N. E.
Arlington, WA 98223
MAIN AC LOADS
AC
NOT PROVIDED
WITH BACK-UP
AC
INVERTER/
CHARGER
AC
DC
BATTERY
Telephone: 360/435-8826
Fax: 360/435-2229
www.traceengineering.com
OPERATION
SOLAR ARRAY
DC
GROUND FAULT
PROTECTION
DC
OVERVOLTAGE
DC
PROTECTION
SW Series Inverter/Charger
Page
Part No. 2031-5
83
Rev. C: February 2001