Xantrex solar inverters were originally made by a Canadian company but have since been bought out by Schneider Electric. A few years ago, they discontinued the Xantrex model and introduced the Context range to replace it. So when a Xantrex solar inverter fails under warranty, it is replaced with the new Schneider.
In case you see an issue with a Xantrex solar inverter and it’s outside the 5-year warranty, we have put together a list of faults and solutions from its users manual. The list contains procedures for solving possible problems and provides you with solutions. Should you decide to follow the recommended actions, please note that safety measures should be observed to avoid any risk of injury. Otherwise, contact a qualified electrician for assistance.
|
Problem |
Possible Cause |
Solution |
| The inverter’s LEDs and display are blank and the inverter does not operate in sufficient sunlight. |
Utility service panel AC and DC breakers are switched off |
Turn on the breakers in the sequence described in “Commissioning Procedure” below. |
| The display reads Inverter Offline and AC Voltage Fault. |
Utility service panel breakers are switched off. AC grid voltage is not present or incorrect. |
Turn on utility panel breakers. Check AC connections at the inverter’s terminals. Ensure AC voltage within the range specified in “Output” below is present. |
| The display reads Inverter Offline with sufficient sunlight. |
DC breakers are switched off (if installed), or DC fuses are blown (if installed). DC array voltage is not present. |
Turn on any DC breakers and check any DC fuses. Check DC connections at the inverter’s positive and negative DC terminals. Check for incorrectly wired PV arrays. |
| The display reads Inverter Offline and DC Voltage Fault with sufficient sunlight. |
DC voltage is present but incorrect. | Check DC connections at the inverter’s positive and negative DC terminals. Check for incorrectly wired PV arrays. Ensure a voltage within the operating voltage range is present at the inverter’s terminals. |
| Only the inverter RED LED is illuminated and the display reads Ground Fault. |
Ground fault condition detected on the PV array |
The PV system should be checked by a qualified electrician and repaired. See “PV Ground Fault Detection” on page viii. To reconnect: 1. Make sure the GT Inverter is not outputting power, and then switch off the DC breaker. If a DC breaker is not used, then disconnect the DC input. 2. Switch off the AC breaker. 3. Remedy the actual ground fault. 4. Restart the unit using the sequence described in “Commissioning Procedure” below. |
| The System value (power being produced by the system) displayed on each inverter’s LCD is different on inverters connected to the same daisy-chained network. |
Inverters can display different System values when one of the inverters is set to a different baud rate than the rest. That particular inverter’s baud rate screen shows Tx and/or Rx error (see Table 5-3 on page 5–6). |
Check each inverter’s baud rate and compare the settings. Change any inverters with an incorrect baud rate. Make sure to follow the recommended procedure supplied by Xantrex. See the Application Note, Xantrex Grid Tie Solar Inverter Baud Rate Change Procedure (976-0216-01-01 available on www.xantrex.com). |
Here are the steps of the Commissioning Procedure:
| To start the GT Inverter: |
| 1. Ensure the AC breaker is off. |
| 2. Ensure the correct multi-contact PV connectors are firmly plugged into the GT Inverter as described in “Connecting the DC Wiring” on page 3–2 of the Xantrex Solar Inverter manual. |
| 3. (GT 2.8-AU only) Ensure the AC quick connect is firmly inserted into the GT Inverter and that the coupling ring is tight. |
| 4. Uncover the PV array and/or close the main DC disconnect switch, if one is installed. Ensure the PV array is producing the required output voltage. |
| 5. Connect the utility grid voltage by switching the AC circuit breaker on. |
The AC Voltage should be within below Output range:
| GT2.8-AU | GT5.0-AU | |
| Maximum output power | 2800 W ac | 5000 W ac |
| Maximum output current | 14.0 A | 24.0 A |
| Nominal grid voltage | 230 Vac | |
| Nominal grid frequency | 50 Hz | |
| Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) | <3% | |
| Power factor | >0.99% (at rated power) >0.95% (full power range) |
|
| Output characteristics | Current source | |
| Output current waveform | Sine wave | |
If you need to check the full details, you can find them on the Xantrex solar inverter manual’s Troubleshooting section. Should you follow the troubleshooting steps above but the issue is not fixed on your Xantrex solar inverter check if it’s still within the warranty period so you can contact the equipment installer or supplier.
If your Xantrex solar inverter is outside the warranty period we suggest that you contact a professional solar power expert. If you’re in the Gold Coast or Brisbane area contact Gold Coast Power Solutions here and we will be in touch to provide you with further assistance.
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