Generator has trouble connecting to inverter

fcparks · Dec 27, 2023

Hi all,
My inverter, XW Pro 6848, has trouble connecting to my generator. It will pass all qualifications, but then it is hit or miss if it will connect and start charging my batteries from the generator. Any suggestions? I’ve changed the size of the amp breaker in the settings with limited success.

Cronix · Dec 27, 2023

How clean is the output of your generator? Is it an inverter generator? What make/model/watts/etc?

fcparks · Dec 27, 2023

Cronix said:
How clean is the output of your generator? Is it an inverter generator? What make/model/watts/etc?

It’s a Westinghouse 5300Dfc. I think the output is good. One of the attached images shows the Hz (61.8) and Volt (118.6) output which is within the settings of the inverter. I’ve seen the Hz fluctuate a little between 60-63 and the volts between 118-120 before.

400bird · Dec 27, 2023

The attached image shows the charger is still qualifying, does it ever change?

Some generators aren't stable enough with no load to qualify. You could try adding a heater or some resistive load to see if it will help stabilize the AC. You could also widen the parameters for AC2, it may take longer to qualify with wide tolerances, but if it qualifies reliably that sounds like an improvement.

fcparks · Dec 27, 2023

400bird said:
The attached image shows the charger is still qualifying, does it ever change?

Some generators aren't stable enough with no load to qualify. You could try adding a heater or some resistive load to see if it will help stabilize the AC. You could also widen the parameters for AC2, it may take longer to qualify with wide tolerances, but if it qualifies reliably that sounds like an improvement.

It will change and say “Qualification Good” but then goes back to qualifying.

fcparks · Dec 27, 2023

fcparks said:
It will change and say “Qualification Good” but then goes back to qualifying.

Any specific parameters you recommend to widen?

fcparks · Dec 27, 2023

fcparks said:
It will change and say “Qualification Good” but then goes back to qualifying.

I think you looked at AC1 not AC2. The image shows that AC2 has qualification good.

fcparks · Dec 27, 2023

I expanded the Hz, Volt and Time delay disconnect and the generator connected first time. That has happened before but hopefully it was a result of changing one of these settings.

400bird · Dec 27, 2023

fcparks said:
I think you looked at AC1 not AC2. The image shows that AC2 has qualification good.

Look at "Charger Status" in the right column. It shows qualifying AC.

fcparks said:
I expanded the Hz, Volt and Time delay disconnect and the generator connected first time. That has happened before but hopefully it was a result of changing one of these settings. View attachment 185410

Fingers crossed.
Voltage and frequency are what I was going to suggest widening, it it works, it looks good.

Rossman · Jan 9, 2024

It's always frequency for me when this happens. Our big generators starter crapped out last winter and I had to use our cheapo Champion, and it was really cold (canada winter cold). The Champion was all over the place in terms of frequency. I widened the range the XW would accept, and then the other thing I did was lower the AC breaker size to like, 10A, just to get the loads onto the generator without loading it too much. Once well warmed up, I would increase the breaker size to draw more load. It was really finicky tbh.

Generator has trouble connecting to inverter

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