The importance of backup systems.

 Last week, my charge controller pooped out. I decided to replace my inverter too, while I was doing maintenance.

I replaced the charge controller with a Xantrex C60 PWM charge controller. The PWM charge controller is not to be confused with the Xantrex PWM inverter.

I received the pure sine inverter and replaced the PWM inverter.

When the new charge controller arrives, the Xantrex PWM charge controller will go back into storage. The Xantrex inverter, paired with the Xantrex charge controller, will make up a backup system. I also have a backup Raspberry Pi SoC (System on a Card) system data logger and array position controller.

I will have had a system failure and maintained household power availability. This illustrates the importance of backup systems and components.

Inverter poops out.

 Woke up one morning and the Epever Tracer 3210 had quit working.

I got on eBay and started searching. I discovered a newer model, from the same company, with higher current rating.

The Epever Triron 4210 was advertised with a repairable defect. The price was better than I expected. The unit is in the mail and should arrive Wednesday. 

The newer model should be a plugin replacement that requires no modification to the existing software/hardware setup.

Inverter - Modified sine and Pure/true sine

 I decided, recently, to replace the existing Xantrex PWM inverter with a pure sine inverter. The output of the latter is closest to that produced by municipal utilities.

The replacement is a Samlex 2000. That unit is rated for 2000 watts where the Xantrex is rated for 1500 watts.

According to my research, the new unit will be more efficient and produce a better performance from connected devices.

The one thing I dislike is the noise. A fan runs continuously and is noisy. Power is used up unnecessarily. For this reason, I have to turn the power off every night.

I need to rework the fan design or setup automated power boot control.

Alternatively, I could create two different house wiring systems: one for pure sine devices and one for devices using PWM.