Schneider XW Pro DIY Resources

[BentleyJ]

3 phase doesn't get much attention on the forum but most of the problems with Schneider lately has been with Enhanced Grid Support, Sell Back. Specifically, the batteries getting drained overnight. So far that issue has not been corrected in the firmware but the work-around has been to set Grid Support Volts to the same value as Float Voltage on the Charge Controllers. The effect is to disable Enhanced and revert to simple voltage control which seems to work as expected.

Another recent post described a similar problem, in that case they had Recharge Volts set higher than Grid Support Volts which resulted in a configuration error.

The XW Pro is still a well built, low frequency work horse. The Xanbus communication system is basically plug and play. I recently purchased an InsightHome just as a redundancy in case the ComBox quit working. It was fairly easy to set up using the quick start guide. I did note a few minor incompatibility issues with the older XW+ inverter but those have nothing to do with the XW Pro.

You have to decide what equipment is appropriate for your needs, but I wouldn't rule out Schneider based on what is mostly an isolated issue.

 

[EnderWiggin]

3 phase doesn't get much attention on the forum but most of the problems with Schneider lately has been with Enhanced Grid Support, Sell Back. Specifically, the batteries getting drained overnight. So far that issue has not been corrected in the firmware but the work-around has been to set Grid Support Volts to the same value as Float Voltage on the Charge Controllers. The effect is to disable Enhanced and revert to simple voltage control which seems to work as expected.

Thanks - yeah, I've asked multiple times in the forums about 3 phase and gotten crickets in response. I think only Hodges talks about it at all, and Hodges is a SMC guru, not Schneider or Victron.

Thankfully, in my planned setup, whether it's Victron or Schneider, I won't be using the grid at all, for charging or sell back, just running the inverters in off-grid mode and if I need emergency charging from the grid due to lack of solar, I will toggle on some Chargeverters to preserve isolation (power in the new place is too dirty to allow to pass through whilst charging the batteries back up).

Choices, choices. Appreciate the detail on the software; it seems like, in my case (DC coupled solar, no grid at all), really either solution is fine. Schneider has better surge, reputation in hardware, and cleaner install look, but Victron has local service staff (though they're horribly unresponsive on email) and better stats in VRM and community support...

 

[Gttnsun]

Here is a webinar from Schneider for 3 phase XW Pro to add to the resources

 

[Gttnsun]

I have Dual Xw Pro Commissioned in January of this year, running off grid the firmware i am running is Insight Facility at v1.18 and XWP 2.04.00 build 29

 

[dougbert]

I have Dual Xw Pro Commissioned in January of this year, running off grid the firmware i am running is Insight Facility at v1.18 and XWP 2.04.00 build 29

same here with a single (waiting for the dual) in off grid mode. Works great. same firmware as well

 

[Gttnsun]

same here with a single (waiting for the dual) in off grid mode. Works great. same firmware as well

My system is working great also, I upgraded from a older Magnum inverter so the technology took some reading and videos to understand, but I am very happy with my Schneider system.
I see some good deals on XW pro right now

 

[wyosolar]

My system is working great also, I upgraded from a older Magnum inverter so the technology took some reading and videos to understand, but I am very happy with my Schneider system.
I see some good deals on XW pro right now

Where are the good deals at as I am in the market.

 

[NC_hydro]

Where are the good deals at as I am in the market.

If you don't mind dealing with the cluster that is SS they have the XW Pro on sale for $2,800 and some change.

 

[Cmiller]

Zonna Energy has terrific tech support. They have locations in PA, OH, IN, and IL. But I believe they are pretty much wholesale. However, you could call them and see if they have a recommendation of who to buy from. That way you could probably end up with their tech support.

The XW is a rock solid inverter, and the only time really that you have any issues is specifically with grid sell type of functions, AC coupling, and also sometimes they are a little finicky with cheap portable generators when trying to charge.

If you want to use the XW to sell, I would honestly go with Schneider charge controllers, and make use of the "enhanced grid support" function. That will cause the inverter to manage the charge going to the batteries by adjusting the output power of the XW to achieve 3 stage charging, while selling all excess power back to grid. Efficiency will be a little lower for power being sold to the grid, but you will eliminate some of the potential issues with AC coupling.

If you will NOT be selling, I would stick with charge controllers as well. I am off-grid and AC coupled, and I really like the whole concept. However, with charge controllers you do tend to get better control over the charging, as well as no frequency shift making your clocks run off, and also, your efficiency will likely be a bit better with charge controllers if you are running off-grid! In order to gain efficiency by going AC coupled (vs DC coupled) you will need to have direct-use of +50% of your solar power! Anything less than that and you will have a lot of losses going into and out of the batteries with an AC coupled system.

 

[Gttnsun]

Zonna Energy has terrific tech support. They have locations in PA, OH, IN, and IL. But I believe they are pretty much wholesale. However, you could call them and see if they have a recommendation of who to buy from. That way you could probably end up with their tech support.

The XW is a rock solid inverter, and the only time really that you have any issues is specifically with grid sell type of functions, AC coupling, and also sometimes they are a little finicky with cheap portable generators when trying to charge.

If you want to use the XW to sell, I would honestly go with Schneider charge controllers, and make use of the "enhanced grid support" function. That will cause the inverter to manage the charge going to the batteries by adjusting the output power of the XW to achieve 3 stage charging, while selling all excess power back to grid. Efficiency will be a little lower for power being sold to the grid, but you will eliminate some of the potential issues with AC coupling.

If you will NOT be selling, I would stick with charge controllers as well. I am off-grid and AC coupled, and I really like the whole concept. However, with charge controllers you do tend to get better control over the charging, as well as no frequency shift making your clocks run off, and also, your efficiency will likely be a bit better with charge controllers if you are running off-grid! In order to gain efficiency by going AC coupled (vs DC coupled) you will need to have direct-use of +50% of your solar power! Anything less than that and you will have a lot of losses going into and out of the batteries with an AC coupled system.

I purchased my XW PRo from Zonna, through a installer, he got wholesale and marked it up a little, I liked that they repair inverters, that is a good resource to have.
My second choice was NAZ

If you don't mind dealing with the cluster that is SS they have the XW Pro on sale for $2,800 and some change.

This was the deal that I saw, very tempting

 

[Cmiller]

I purchased my XW PRo from Zonna, through a installer, he got wholesale and marked it up a little, I liked that they repair inverters, that is a good resource to have.
My second choice was NAZ

Zonna puts lots of effort into having good customer support! Their support team has firsthand experience with the equipment that they are providing support for, and they "know the why behind the how and what", if that makes sense.

 

[wyosolar]

Zonna puts lots of effort into having good customer support! Their support team has firsthand experience with the equipment that they are providing support for, and they "know the why behind the how and what", if that makes sense.

Do I contact them directly to order or do they have Reps they recommend to order through? If that is the case, who does the support Zonna or the Reps I purchased through?

 

[Cmiller]

I would contact them directly and ask who to buy through. They can direct you to who to buy from, depending probably on where you are from. Whoever you order through would be your first go-to on service, but Zonna has a service extension as well, where you can get ahold of their service techs directly.

Here is a link to their website. At the top of that page is their phone number.

 

[Consumerbot3418]

@Cmiller — you said you’re successfully AC coupling off-grid with XW Pro? I’m having major power quality issues with a Sunny Boy (XW Pro in backup mode), and will eventually start my own thread.

But for right now, I just wonder which GT inverter you’re using?

 

[Cmiller]

@Cmiller — you said you’re successfully AC coupling off-grid with XW Pro? I’m having major power quality issues with a Sunny Boy (XW Pro in backup mode), and will eventually start my own thread.

But for right now, I just wonder which GT inverter you’re using?

No, sorry, I should have clarified. I am AC coupling with a Victron system and a Fronius GT inverter.

However, at our shop at work we have 2x XW+ 6848 with an AC coupled Sunny Boy. The shop is completely off-grid. The curtailing of the SB was not way smooth until we set it for off-grid mode. If you are grid-tied normally, setting the SB to off-grid mode is not an option though, as you will need to have a different setting for your power company. Now, setting it to a fairly "new" grid code should get you a relatively smooth curtailment. Depending on how old the SB is, you may need to update firmware to get a grid code such as Rule 21, etc.

What are you seeing specifically, as far as your issues go? Is you're XW Pro set for AC coupling for sure? (That setting should be under "advanced features".)

 

[Consumerbot3418]

No, sorry, I should have clarified. I am AC coupling with a Victron system and a Fronius GT inverter.

However, at our shop at work we have 2x XW+ 6848 with an AC coupled Sunny Boy. The shop is completely off-grid. The curtailing of the SB was not way smooth until we set it for off-grid mode. If you are grid-tied normally, setting the SB to off-grid mode is not an option though, as you will need to have a different setting for your power company. Now, setting it to a fairly "new" grid code should get you a relatively smooth curtailment. Depending on how old the SB is, you may need to update firmware to get a grid code such as Rule 21, etc.

What are you seeing specifically, as far as your issues go? Is you're XW Pro set for AC coupling for sure? (That setting should be under "advanced features".)

That's the exact config I'm trying to get working: 2x XW Pro 6848, AC coupled with a Sunny Boy 7.7-US-41, completely off-grid. I think it's only one generation behind current.

I have no issues with curtailment. I've been using it off-grid with a pair of Sunny Islands, and it's set to "Island Mode". Tried doing same with XW, and had issues with the XW and Sunny Island apparently "fighting" with each other. I've written it up in this post. Seems to work alright, until a large load is switched on or off, and then I get an oscillating hum, and eventually, a terribly distorted sine wave.

If your shop at work has this combination working reliably, then it makes me feel like I must have done something wrong, versus blaming the equipment compatibility. I'd really appreciate if you could share more details about the firmware versions and settings, if at all possible. I've done a factory reset on the XW multiple times (and reapplied Rule 21 grid code), but this issue doesn't go away. I'd be most grateful if you'd respond to the thread.

 

[Cmiller]

.... I'd be most grateful if you'd respond to the thread.

I'll take a look at the thread, and see if I can offer any insight!