Outback Power Systems GFX1448E - Manual

Table of Contents 4 900-0112-01-00 Rev B Specifications for Model GFX1312E.............................................................................................................................43 Specifications for Model GFX1424E....................................................................

Table of Contents 900-0112-01-00 Rev B 5 List of Tables Table 1 Terms and Definitions..................................................................................................................... 2 Table 2 Battery LED Values .......................................................................

900-0112-01-00 Rev B 7 Introduction Welcome to OutBack Power Technologies Thank you for purchasing the OutBack International Series GFX Inverter/Charger. This product offers a complete power conversion system between batteries and AC power. It can provide backup power or complete off-grid service. ¾...

Introduction 8 900-0112-01-00 Rev B System Display and Controller The GFX inverters have no external controls. They can operate normally without an external control or interface. Basic modes and settings are pre-programmed at the factory. (See page 47 for default settings.) The MATE and MATE2 System...

900-0112-01-00 Rev B 9 Commissioning Functional Test Pre-startup Procedures 1. Ensure all DC and AC overcurrent devices are opened or turned off. 2. Double-check all wiring connections. 3. Inspect the work area to ensure tools or debris have not been left inside. 4. Verify battery voltage using a di...

Commissioning 10 900-0112-01-00 Rev B continued from previous page.... 5. If the INVERTER LED (green) is not illuminated, turn on the inverter using the system display or external switch. 6. Check the STATUS LEDs. Confirm that the INVERTER LED (green) is illuminated. 7. Using a DVM, verify 230 Vac b...

900-0112-01-00 Rev B 11 Operation LED Indicators Figure 4 LED Indicators BATTERY LEDS The battery LEDs show the approximate battery state. (See IMPORTANT note below.) The BATTERY LEDs are independent of STATUS LEDs. Any STATUS LED could accompany any BATTERY LED based on certain conditions. Common c...

Operation 12 900-0112-01-00 Rev B STATUS LEDS GREEN ¾ Solid: The inverter is ON and providing power. If accompanied by solid yellow LED, unit is selling power to the utility grid. (See page 24 for a description of the Sell function.) ¾ Flashing: The inverter has been turned ON but is idle. May be ac...

Operation 900-0112-01-00 Rev B 13 Description of Functions All items identified as settable or adjustable have set points which can be accessed using the remote system display. (See the system display manual for instructions on locating these set points.) The default settings and ranges of adjustmen...

Operation 14 900-0112-01-00 Rev B Search An automated search circuit is available to minimize the power draw when no loads are present. When enabled, the inverter does not always deliver full output. The output is reduced to brief pulses with a delay between them. These pulses are sent down the outp...

Operation 900-0112-01-00 Rev B 15 AC Current Settings The AC current settings control the amount of current that the inverter draws from the source(s). The amount of current is controlled by the grid or generator limit settings. These settings should be adjusted to match the size of the input circui...

Operation 16 900-0112-01-00 Rev B Generators A generator should be sized to provide enough power for both loads and battery charging. ¾ The generator needs a single circuit which is sized to provide current to all inverters on a given phase or leg. ¾ It is usually recommended that the generator be s...

Operation 900-0112-01-00 Rev B 17 Input Support A system display is required to control this function. When this function is enabled, the inverter limits the current draw from an AC source, augmenting it with additional current from the batteries when necessary. This helps prevent overloading a smal...

Operation 18 900-0112-01-00 Rev B Battery Charging IMPORTANT: Battery charger settings need to be correct for a given battery type. Always follow battery manufacturer recommendations. Making incorrect settings, or leaving them at factory default settings, may cause the batteries to be undercharged o...

Operation 900-0112-01-00 Rev B 19 The initial DC current is the maximum current the charger can deliver. It will begin at the charger’s specified maximum, but will gradually decrease as the voltage increases. This is a tradeoff in wattage and is normal for the charger. Absorption Stage This is the s...

Operation 20 900-0112-01-00 Rev B Silent This is not a charging stage, but a quiescent period between stages. The inverter remains on the AC source, but the charger is inactive. It enters this condition upon completing the Absorption stage, or when there is not enough energy to sustain selling. The ...

Operation 900-0112-01-00 Rev B 21 Figure 6 Repeated Charging Cycles New Charging Cycle If the AC source is lost or disconnected, the unit will return to inverting mode if enabled. The battery voltage will begin to decrease due to loads or natural loss. When the AC source is restored, the inverter wi...

Operation 22 900-0112-01-00 Rev B will always run for the full Absorption period if the batteries dropped below the appropriate voltage for that amount of time. If significant battery drain caused them to drop below the set points for doubling or quadrupling the rate, it may run for the full Absorpt...

Operation 24 900-0112-01-00 Rev B Selling IMPORTANT: Selling power to the utility company requires the authorization of the local electric jurisdiction. How the local utility company handles this will depend on their policies on this issue. Some may pay for power sold; others may issue credit. Some ...

Operation 900-0112-01-00 Rev B 25 Multiple-Inverter Installations (Stacking) Multiple inverters in a single system can support larger loads than a single inverter can handle. Installing inverters in this configuration is called “stacking”. Stacking inverters does not refer to physically placing one ...

Operation 26 900-0112-01-00 Rev B Parallel Stacking (Dual-Stack and Larger) In parallel stacking, two or more inverters are stacked to create a single, common 230 Vac output. ¾ The master provides the primary output. The slaves are connected to the same output and assist the master. ¾ The slave inve...

Operation 900-0112-01-00 Rev B 27 Power Save Levels Depending on the model, each inverter consumes approximately 20 watts of idle power while it remains on, even if it is not actively inverting or charging. The Power Save function allows the option to put some or all slave inverters into a quiescent...

Operation 28 900-0112-01-00 Rev B Auxiliary Terminals The inverter’s AUX terminals provide a 12 Vdc output that can deliver up to 0.7 Adc to control external loads. The AUX LED (see page 11) illuminates when this output is present. Typical loads include signaling a generator to start, sending a faul...

Operation 30 900-0112-01-00 Rev B System Display-Based Functions Advanced Generator Start (AGS) As noted under the Gen Alert feature (see page 28), the system is capable of starting a generator. Gen Alert simply starts and stops the generator based on battery voltage. For more advanced control, the ...

900-0112-01-00 Rev B 31 Troubleshooting Basic Troubleshooting This list is organized in order of common symptoms, with a series of possible causes. Each possible cause also has inverter LEDs which may be unusual for that mode of operation. (LEDs which are normal, and LEDs on the system display, are ...

Troubleshooting 900-0112-01-00 Rev B 37 Error Messages An error message is caused by a critical fault. In most cases when this occurs, the unit will shut down and the inverter’s ERROR LED (see page 11) will illuminate. See the system display manual for instructions on viewing errors. One or more mes...

Troubleshooting 38 900-0112-01-00 Rev B Warning Messages A warning message is caused by a non-critical fault. When this occurs, the unit will not shut down, but the ERROR LED (see page 11) will flash. See the system display manual for instructions on viewing warnings. One or more messages will displ...

Troubleshooting 900-0112-01-00 Rev B 39 Disconnect Messages Disconnect screens explain the reason that the inverter rejected an AC source. The unit returns to inverting mode (if turned on). The ERROR LED (see page 11) will not illuminate for a disconnect message, although it may flash for a concurre...

Troubleshooting 40 900-0112-01-00 Rev B Selling or Charging Stopped This screen displays a code number that identifies the status of the inverter’s charging or selling functions. In the MATE, this screen is titled “Stop Sell Reasons”, even though it also refers to charging. If the inverter has stopp...

900-0112-01-00 Rev B 43 Specifications Specifications for Model GFX1312E Table 9 Electrical Specifications (GFX1312E) Specification Value Nominal DC Input Voltage 12 Vdc Continuous Output Power at 25°C 1300 VA AC Output Voltage 230 Vac AC Output Frequency 50 Hz Continuous AC Output Current at 25°C 5...

Specifications 44 900-0112-01-00 Rev B Specifications for Model GFX1424E Table 11 Electrical Specifications (GFX1424E) Specification Value Nominal DC Input Voltage 24 Vdc Continuous Output Power at 25°C 1400 VA AC Output Voltage 230 Vac AC Output Frequency 50 Hz Continuous AC Output Current at 25°C ...

Specifications 900-0112-01-00 Rev B 45 Specifications for Model GFX1448E Table 13 Electrical Specifications (GFX1448E) Specification Value Nominal DC Input Voltage 48 Vdc Continuous Output Power at 25°C 1400 VA AC Output Voltage 230 Vac AC Output Frequency 50 Hz Continuous AC Output Current at 25°C ...

Specifications 46 900-0112-01-00 Rev B Environmental Specifications Table 15 Environmental Specifications for All Models Specification Value Rated Temperature Range (meets all specifications) 0°C to 50°C (32°F to 122°F) Operational Temperature Range (functions, but does not necessarily meet all spec...

Specifications 900-0112-01-00 Rev B 47 Default Settings and Ranges (viewed in MATE) Table 17 12-Volt Inverter Settings (MATE) Field Item Default Minimum Maximum search sensitivity (see page 14 for increments) 6 0 50 search pulse length 8 4 20 Search search pulse spacing 60 AC cycles 4 AC cycles 120 ...

Specifications 50 900-0112-01-00 Rev B Default Settings and Ranges (viewed in MATE3) Table 20 12-Volt Inverter Settings (MATE3) Field Item Default Minimum Maximum Sensitivity (see page 14 for increments) 6 0 50 Pulse Length 8 4 20 Search Pulse Spacing 60 AC cycles 4 AC cycles 120 AC cycles Input Typ...

900-0112-01-00 Rev B 53 Product Registration The purchase of an OutBack Power Technologies product is an important investment. Registering the products will help us maintain the standard of excellence expected in terms of performance, quality and reliability. Please take a moment to register and pro...

Product Registration 54 900-0112-01-00 Rev B INSTALLATION INFORMATION System Install/Commission Date System Array Size System Array Nominal Voltage Type of PV Modules System Battery Bank Size (Amp-Hours) Brand and Model of Batteries Does this system include an auxiliary AC generator? If yes, please ...

900-0112-01-00 Rev B 55 Warranty 5-Year Limited Warranty for GFX Products OutBack Power Technologies, Inc. (“OutBack”) provides a five-year (5) limited warranty (“Warranty”) against defects in materials and workmanship for its GFX Series inverter products (“Product”) if installed in fixed location a...

Warranty 56 900-0112-01-00 Rev B How to Arrange for Warranty Service During the warranty period beginning on the invoice date, OutBack Power Technologies will repair or replace products covered under this limited warranty that are returned to OutBack Power Technologies’ facility or to an OutBack Pow...

Warranty 900-0112-01-00 Rev B 57 Returning Product to OutBack After receiving the RMA number, the customer must pack the Product(s) authorized for return, along with a copy of the original purchase invoice and product registration, in the original Product shipping container(s) or packaging providing...

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900-0112-01-00 Rev B 59 Index A Absorption Stage...............................................................19 AC Current Settings ..........................................................15 AC Input ................................................................................14 AC Source Acc...