Questions, issues, need advice with my new Schindler XW+ 5548

[weather spotter]

For some reason about a week after I ran the config tool it started working again correctly. I'm not sure why the delay but it started working as it should

the gateway still could not make changes but the SCP could.

A couple weeks ago they released a new version of the firmware for the gateway and that A couple weeks ago they released a new version of the firmware for the gateway and that fixed the issues with changing settings from it.

the gateway is still not uploading to the web correctly all the time but it has gotten some data up.

i found out that AC coupled battery charging is very poor, it has an efficiency of about 78% (based on the readings from the unit. Keep this in mind when designing a system that the published charging efficient specs don't apply to grid down ac coupling.

[DickyDck]

Curious how this ended up for you, is all better?

[weather spotter]

They loaned me a config tool and that worked to finish the firmware update and in brick the unit !!!! Version 2.07 still is not fixing the charging issue. When I use He gateway to adjust settings I get a red box around the asorption timer and no value is accepted. If I leave it at the default 180 min it says "not valid next valid number is 179.99 or 180.01" and it does this same thing with any number input. because this timer is messed up the gateway cannot save any settings in the charging tab. Other settings will save but not the charging ones. I can use the SCP to change the numbers but I don't think the xw+ is saving the asorption time (it does change it but as it changes the number showing in the gaterway) but it seems to be stuck with ignoring this value and therefor it ignores leaving bulk mode.

Schinder escilated this to the enginnering team, I filled out a long document for them with all my settings and documenting the issue. I got one email for more info but I am still waiting for any susgested steps to resolve this issue.

i have tried resetting to factory defaults but this did not fix it either.

[weather spotter]

Got my New Conext Gateway in yesterday. I got it upgraded today to the latest firmware and found a big bug.

DO NOT attempt a firmware upgrade on an XW+ using the Gateway!!!! It will fail partway through and brick the XW+.

I called Schneider tech support and they said I need a com box or a config tool to recover the device. I am hopping that they have one to lone me to fix this issue.

From Eric Benson at Schneider "It appears the Gateway does not have the ability to recover a bricked upgrade."


Also of note: there is a miss print in the manual about the IP address for using Wif to connect to the Gateway the manual list's it as 191.168.100.1 but the correct address is 192.168.100.1.

As of right now it cannot use WiFi to connect to the internet, the gateway must be hooked up via Ethernet. this is a feature they are working on with a planned firmware update to the Gateway in May and one in June.

On a side note my charging issue of the Xw+ ignoring the bulk voltage set point is a known bug in 2.04 and fixed in 2.07. I cannot confirm that as my Xw is bricked at the moment...... Will advise when I get it fixed.

[weather spotter]

I already had the grid tie solar in and I decided that I wanted to add battery back up and given that I have shading issues,swapping out the SolarEdge for a charge controller may not be my best option. Also where everything is located, trenching a new line to the battery bank and putting it in would be difficult. So for me I was stuck with an AC coupled solution.

I wanted to get a tesla power wall 2 but they don't sell them in the Michigan yet because they claim they have no certified installers. I asked about becoming a certified installers and they never called me back and that's been two months. As my energy needs change over time I plan to dc couple my next aray so I have the best of both worlds AC to cover my loads and DC to charge the battery's.

I heard that they have the gateways in stock so mine should be shipping to me now

[ButchDeal]

How do you get your battery charged when the grid is out? after you spend so much money to get the XW+. why don't you just get a charge controller and setup the system properly?

It is an AC coupled system. The XW+ creates an isolated grid and the SolarEdge feeds in to the XW+, thus charging the batteries.
It is a valid system, though I personally prefer the simplicity and efficiency of DC coupled, AC coupled does work when configured properly.

[paulcheung]

Never mine about how you charge the battery when the grid is down. you use the XW+ to make grid tie inverter think grid is still on.

[paulcheung]

How do you get your battery charged when the grid is out? after you spend so much money to get the XW+. why don't you just get a charge controller and setup the system properly?

[weather spotter]

It is the battery voltage control what you want. You don't need to charge your battery bank to 100% because you have lithium batteries. unlike lead-acid batteries, lithium battery work well PSOC. you set the grid support voltage near the high battery cut off point. the inverter won't sell to the grid unless the battery voltage reach the set point. When the battery reach the voltage inverter start sell and when the solar goes lower the battery also get lower, the inverter stop sell, battery get charged.

Yes you are right for a normally DC coupled system (solar-charge controller- battery - xw- load). My system is solar - solar edge grid tied inverter- loads- xw - battery or grid. My only way to charge the battery's is with the xw I don't have a charge controller.

[paulcheung]

It is the battery voltage control what you want. You don't need to charge your battery bank to 100% because you have lithium batteries. unlike lead-acid batteries, lithium battery work well PSOC. you set the grid support voltage near the high battery cut off point. the inverter won't sell to the grid unless the battery voltage reach the set point. When the battery reach the voltage inverter start sell and when the solar goes lower the battery also get lower, the inverter stop sell, battery get charged.

[weather spotter]

Thanks for the ideas, I have played around with load shaving and want to be able to use it to self consume. I also want to be able to get time of use rate with net metering and I want the option to make sure the battery is full from solar each day so I can load shave each night. Keep in mind the only way to charge the battery's when AC coupled is to have the xw charge them. Right now I can turn off the grid and charge them up then manually turn on the grid and let it sell back once the battery's are full. I just wish there was a charge before export setting that would allow the xw to charge from extra AC solar before it passes though to the grid.

Or or what I might have to do is add a few pannels and dc couple them.... im finding there is never too much solar 🌞☀☀

[paulcheung]

Thanks for all the advice

Here is the link to the SW feature that I am trying to copy.

https://solar.schneider-electric.com/schneider-electric-awarded-patent-for-the-smart-charge-technology/

Right now When the solar is producing power it covers my loads and exports the rest. I like this but would like to also be able to take extra and charge the battery before it's exported to the grid. Basically I want to priority charge the battery's from solar while still hooked to the grid to export extra once the battery is full or if I have a cloudy day to use the grid. I'm trying to maximize self solar consumption.

The xw can do everthing I want (load shave, sell, grid support) when the solar is DC coupled with the battery's . I'm trying to do the same thing when AC coupled. It works when the grid is down, or shut off but not when the grid is up. Maybe I have just found a limitation of the high end equipment, but it is some what maddening that that smaller unit has the feature and the big one does not.


Im not fully sure what a cc charge stage is, but I thought bulk stage went from empty to xx.x colts and then asorb is on a timer (6min) then it's done charging (full).

The display it on the charger shows that it will put in 50A (or whatever I set it to charge) and keep putting that amps right past the bulk v cut out.

Why do you want to cycle the battery bank when you have net metering? The battery last a lot longer when they are on stand by than cycling. you can set the grid support voltage near the high voltage cut off, so the battery will be full before you sell to the grid, but you can't charge the battery unless you are using them. the lithium battery are good at PSOC unlike lead-acid batteries.

Right now I am using the load shave to use some of the battery power so tomorrow I can use the solar to give the batteries a heavy charge to stir up the lead-acid batteries.

your battery voltage has to be lower than the grid support set voltage. you can set the load shave amp to 0.5 amps so it won't draw much from the grid. when the battery bank use up the energy you can charge it with solar tomorrow instead from the grid. but you have to disable the XW charger or make sure the battery voltage to recharge by the XW set low enough that it won't trigger the XW Charger while using the battery power in the night.

Best wishes

[Mike90250]

I'd skip the battery monitor. In 2 weeks of actively monitoring your system, at all times, under all conditions, you will learn how to read your voltmeter and make a good enough guess as to where your batteries are. ( hint - generally they are never full enough )

The battery Totalizators, that count power Out vs In can get pretty close to an absolute SoC, but I don't bother with them either.

[weather spotter]

I'm not sure my xw+ is charging properly, it keeps going past the bulk termination voltage and bulk voltage setpoints I might try a factory wipe and see if reprograming it might help. Also I don't have a battery monitor on my system, is this hurting the xw's ability to read dc voltage?

I would like to buy the Schindler battery monitor but $400 seems like a lot when the Victron runs $200. But if it fixing the charging issue it would be worth it. Ideas? Advice about charging and battery monitors? Should I stay within the xanbuss family? Or mix and match my Equipmwnt to save a few bucks?

[Mike90250]

I've not set up any grid configurations, so I can't advise you on it.