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Schneider XW PRO 6k questions

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ohsolar

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Aug 14, 2022
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hi,

I have been running with Victron Multiplus II 3k/48v unit my small offgrid system for the last 6 months. No issues other than some flickering of lights when the refrigerator kicks off (i have a TV, Refrigerator, a 24x7 computer and some led lights running on it). I have 2 x EG4 LP4 batteries.

Now I want to upgrade so I can run a 4 Ton AC unit on it. So this is the plan:

- Soft Start to lower in-rush current
- Schneider XW pro x 1
- Insight home

Questions:
1) Do I really need a Schneider PDP(mini) if I have only have 1 inverter? I don't have solar. Would like to minimize costs
2) I use TOU settings on Victron to start charging my batteries at 8 pm (free power after 8pm) and start discharging at 6 a.m. Is similar setting supported on XW?
3) I see some load tests on XW and looks like it can even handle LRAs of 100A. Do I need a soft start?
-
-
4) Looks like EG4 LP4 batteries are supported for SOC readings. Right?

thank you
 
Last edited:
ohsolar said:
hi,

I have been running with Victron Multiplus II 3k/48v unit my small offgrid system for the last 6 months. No issues other than some flickering of lights when the refrigerator kicks off (i have a TV, Refrigerator, a 24x7 computer and some led lights running on it). I have 2 x EG4 LP4 batteries.

Now I want to upgrade so I can run a 4 Ton AC unit on it. So this is the plan:

- Soft Start to lower in-rush current
- Schneider XW pro x 1
- Insight home

Questions:
1) Do I need a Schneider PDP(mini) if I have only have 1 inverter? I don't have solar
Click to expand...
No, you can wire it up without it.
You do need the Insight home.
ohsolar said:
2) I use TOU settings on Victron to start charging my batteries at 8 pm (free power after 8pm) and start discharging at 6 a.m. Is similar setting supported on XW?
Click to expand...
From everything I've seen / read, yes.
ohsolar said:
3) I see some load tests on XW and looks like it can even handle LRAs of 100A. Do I need a soft start?
Click to expand...
Probably not, but it's a good idea to use one.
ohsolar said:
4) Looks like EG4 LP4 batteries are supported for SOC readings. Right?
Click to expand...
They are supposed to be but I think you need the BMS com box from SS
I'd use a quality shunt and run the batteries based off voltage with the schneider.
ohsolar said:
thank you
Click to expand...
You're welcome.


Someone please correct anything I got wrong, I don't own the Schneider but have been considering it and researching it quite a bit.
 
ohsolar said:
Questions:
1) Do I really need a Schneider PDP(mini) if I have only have 1 inverter? I don't have solar. Would like to minimize costs
Click to expand...
Functionally, no. But if you're getting permits and inspections, you probably need all the breakers that the PDP includes.
ohsolar said:
2) I use TOU settings on Victron to start charging my batteries at 8 pm (free power after 8pm) and start discharging at 6 a.m. Is similar setting supported on XW?
Click to expand...
Up until the most recent firmware, the answer was no. You cannot start a charge cycle based on a timer or otherwise. However, the most recent firmware says it now supports this function. I haven't tried it out and the firmware was only released a week or two ago. Maybe someone here has tried it.
ohsolar said:
3) I see some load tests on XW and looks like it can even handle LRAs of 100A. Do I need a soft start?
Click to expand...
It's much nicer in the inverter to run a soft starter. A few hundred to increase inverter life seems like a good investment.
 
400bird said:
Functionally, no. But if you're getting permits and inspections, you probably need all the breakers that the PDP includes.

Up until the most recent firmware, the answer was no. You cannot start a charge cycle based on a timer or otherwise. However, the most recent firmware says it now supports this function. I haven't tried it out and the firmware was only released a week or two ago. Maybe someone here has tried it.
Click to expand...
That would be great. Do you have the release notes? I don't see a version from July here

Downloads for Software & Firmware | Schneider Electric

Downloads for Software & Firmware - Download
www.se.com www.se.com

400bird said:
It's much nicer in the inverter to run a soft starter. A few hundred to increase inverter life seems like a good investment.
Click to expand...
yeah, makes sense
 
What is the LRA on the 4-ton HVAC? Even with a soft starter, you may need more batteries due to voltage sag during startup. My 4-ton can pull as much as 15kw with a soft starter installed. I had to change the battery settings to run on voltage instead of SoC in the inverter menu to get around a fault when the thing kicks in.
 
Browse said:
What is the LRA on the 4-ton HVAC? Even with a soft starter, you may need more batteries due to voltage sag during startup. My 4-ton can pull as much as 15kw with a soft starter installed. I had to change the battery settings to run on voltage instead of SoC in the inverter menu to get around a fault when the thing kicks in.
Click to expand...
Interesting..I only have 2x5kw batteries = total 10kw EG4. Do you have EG4?
So I have 2 units:
AC1(Lennox) - 3.5 or 4 ton (20 year old unit)30 amp circuit breaker240vLRA 124RLA 18.5
AC2(Trane) - 5 ton (newer unit)40 amp circuit breaker240vLRA 95RLA 16.5
 
Yes, I have (4) EG4 Lifepower4 batteries 20kWh total, running on a Growatt 12k LF inverter. My Lennox condenser is model HS26-048-6P from 2005 with an LRA of 137. With the Micro-Air EasyStart 368, the inrush comes down to between 55A and 65A (depending on outside temp).
 
Last edited:
Browse said:
Yes, I have (4) EG4 Lifepower4 batteries 20kWh total, running on a Growatt 12k LF inverter. My Lennox condenser is model HS26-048-2P from 2005 with an LRA of 137. With the Micro-Air EasyStart 368, the inrush comes down to between 55A and 65A (depending on outside temp).
Click to expand...
Is that an easystart 368x48 or 368x72? Assuming it is ok to use the x72 even though 4 ton only needs x48
 
ohsolar said:
Is that an easystart 368x48 or 368x72? Assuming it is ok to use the x72 even though 4 ton only needs x48
Click to expand...
I have the x48 but I think they recommend the x72 now for 4-ton units due to a few models needing a higher capacitance rating.
 
Browse said:
I have the x48 but I think they recommend the x72 now for 4-ton units due to a few models needing a higher capacitance rating.
Click to expand...
Cool. So I am under the impression that it will also drop the RLA with the soft start. Is that correct? Any numbers from your run?
 
It doesn't impact the RLA. Running current is about 16A. After startup, the EasyStart is taken out of the circuit.
 
RLA is locked rotor amps, not quite the same as starting current but often used interchangeably. I believe if the AC fails to start on the east start enough times, it will eventually back all the way out until the starting current is LRA, but under normal conditions, the starting current is reduced as noted. I saw the starting rush cut in about half on my 3 ton AC unit.
 
400bird said:
I read it on here. I'm going to run updates and read release notes once we're back from an upcoming trip and the kids are back in school. No one like it when I turn off the power for updates.
Click to expand...
Thank you. :)
 
Hi......I need your help...a few days ago I upgraded the firmware from 1.03 to 1.11, to my XW pro following the steps of Schneider, first I updated the insighthome I put the inverter on standby and then updated the XW pro. The update was done well but I find the detail that when the grid goes out the red led that marks the events on the inverter panel no longer lights up. In the SCP it does not indicate it either. Before doing the upgrade, in version 1.03, it worked, and it marked the events of the lack of grid and sent me an alert by email....can someone explain to me what happened...thanks
 
It's still on the to-do list. I need to make it a higher priority. But it bothers the kids and wife if I do it when they are home and work's been busy...
 
Got some answers here
diysolarforum.com

Schneider Insight Firmware 1.18

I have upgrade my InsightHome device to firmware V. 1.8 and now the InsightHome Dashboard do not display the current Load. Any suggestions? Should I downgrade the firmware to V. 1.17. If so, how. I am ready to upgrade my inverter to XW Pro 6.8. Inverter/Charger: XW5548 Charger: MPPT60...
diysolarforum.com diysolarforum.com
 
There's a caveat to the charge window you'll figure out. It doesn't work like an enable/disable, but rather as a window during which hitting the "Recharge Voltage" is ignored or not. The charger will still run the entire course of your charging cycle even if the window is exceeded. Additionally, using the time window requires the "Charge Cycle" under "Battery" to be set to 2-Stage, because if it's set to 3-Stage they'll just float indefinitely.
 
JBertok said:
There's a caveat to the charge window you'll figure out. It doesn't work like an enable/disable, but rather as a window during which hitting the "Recharge Voltage" is ignored or not. The charger will still run the entire course of your charging cycle even if the window is exceeded. Additionally, using the time window requires the "Charge Cycle" under "Battery" to be set to 2-Stage, because if it's set to 3-Stage they'll just float indefinitely.
Click to expand...
hmm..ok...thanks for the info. Assuming you running this way and have had no issues?
 
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