xantrex xw 60 mppt CC

Re: xantrex xw 60 mppt CC

the xantrex unit works well it does what it is supposed to. so far with my testing and 2 of my customers testing we have been happy it is quite and just works. so far they dont seem to have any of the little glitches the FM series does.

Re: xantrex xw 60 mppt CC

I would say the KO's on the XW are easy to remove they are easier than the 3 FM series i have messed with but as SG said i dont see that as a big issue.

On a side not Xantrex has done a good job with FCC compliance they even separate the DC Conductors and the Communications cables with a good thick piece of steel. I dont know if it is a lot "Quieter" then the competition but it wold seem it has to be?

Re: xantrex xw 60 mppt CC

Good to know SG i keep thinking i want to start messing with Ham radios but i may have to much noise production right now.

Re: xantrex xw 60 mppt CC

Interesting regarding the XW CC NOW being FCC Class B. Initally it was NOT Class B. Recall SG stating that it was, but in checking Regulatory Approvals on the then-current Data Sheet FCC Class B was not listed. In an exchange with Xantrex, they admitted that it did not pass B, and initial production units shipped would NOT be Class B : ...

http://www.xantrex.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=502&PN=2

Now in looking at the PDF DS, it DOES say FCC Class B.

SSOOOO, if someone like myself wanted to make certain that the unit purchased was REALLY Class B, and not an old unit in distribution, is there a NEW P/N to make absolutely sure ?? And, normally, there is a sitcker for Class B, or it is often on the main sticker on the product, but woluld one be able to see some Mark on the product stating that that exact unit IS Class B ??

Have taken almost every effort at my off-grid Hammie Radio site to eliminate/reduce/contain RFI. The CC is now the largest source on noise (have done external suppression). Have been waiting to see the Midnite Classic, as it seems most flexible, and will be about 2 years newer in design when it ships than the XW CC.

Will try asking this on the X Forum, BUT The Big X seems to completely ignore THEIR Forum these days.

TIA for any concrete info. Vic

Re: xantrex xw 60 mppt CC

Hi Neil,


Well, YES almost all of the noise is the MX-60. It it conducted, then radiated. All of the ins and outs from the MX are in pipe, but even if all of my efforts were perfect in suppressing RFI, still, the PV array would have a large opportunity to radiate any conducted noise. I DO need to improve the common-mode chokes on the MX's ins and outs, as this is prob the largest win, now.

Isolating the antennas from the PV array is VERY helpful. Have an antenna for 160 M which runs near the PV array, and this is the largest problem. The emissions are larger on lower frequencies, and the 160 M antenna is 270 feet long, so lotta opportunity to collect the noise signal. OK, the MX's noises are in the form of stable, and fairly clean carriers, spaced 25 Khz apart. On the 160 M antenna, they may be about S7-to S9 on 160, about S5-S6 on 80/75 and so on. One of the frequencies is approx 3759.5 Khz. Also, seems that odd multiples are at a different signal level than the even ones -- ie, one noise carrier is louder than one one just above or just below. The noise goes away away when the controller sleeps.

And the only way that I found that there was a hurt FET in the controller, was that it would "make power from darkness". That is, it would allow battery voltage to leak through a bad FET, and run the MPPT at night. Would read about 90 Volts in, would "make" about 80 Watts or so. I would hear the noise that I knew from experience was the MX, but in complete darkness -- MAGIC. The fan would even run at times. Told OB that they should patent this magic, but instead, they had me send the MX back for repair.

So, that is my experience. A further note, you can tell what mode the MX is in by listening to one of the noise carriers. Bulk, it is constant level. In Asorb, the level changes as the MX PWMs to setpoint, and Float the carrier level changes more abruptly (poorly described). Have no Mate, so at times listening the the MX helps me determine its mode, and weather it is time to begin using XS solar input.

The X 5548 SW+s do have a small, borad-band swiching birdie which moves in frequency. IT is about S 0.3 while using an 80 M wire antenna. It is not too obnoxious. The chargers in the Inverters might generate larger signals (tho I've not heard them), but seldom need to run the generator to charge the batts.

That is about all from here. Have all power runs in pipe, have even used a totally sheilded Romex type house wiring from Coleman called CorraFlex. It has a corrogated extruded aluminum "shield" on the outside, which is continuous, not a spiral wind as in MC cable. This shield is very much like that on Andrew Hardline. There still are cords on electrical things, but think each little thing that is done to reduce/contain noise helps. The most important thing to help reduce received noise seems to be isolation of antennas from the PV array/power generation area, and running all interconnects in pipe. The power room is a steel Cargo Container, which alwo helps ( I think).

73 Just my personal observations. Vic

Re: xantrex xw 60 mppt CC

Hi RandomJoe,

Well couple of other things ... Directional antennas and Coax feeds help. Essentially all of the noise from MY MX-60 is conducted by wiring and then radiated, not simply radiated ( in my experience) Separation of the antennas from the area where the PV is located/power produced/consumed seems to help reduce the noise.

AND, the FM series is newer, so it may have additional RFI suppression. Did once speak with ann OB engineer (not boB) who was looking at the emissions issues with the MX-60. My 20-6 Meter Yagi is very quiet, unless I point in the direction of the PV array, and then the noise is much lower than on the lower bands. On the lower bands, the filters are less effective, and the antenna has larger aperture area (I think that is the term) -- collection area. And on the lower bands it is often more difficult to seperate the antenna from the power production area.

But is is great that you have not noticed any noise from UR system ! I do realize that if the noise is a big problem in a certain situation, will simplly drop the PV in breaker -- noise gone !

The person on this Forum who really knows the MX-60 Hardware is boB, and perhpas he will correct any of my errors, but he and Robin are busy finishing the design of the Midnite Classis MPPT CC, which many of have been waiting for !

73 Will look for your observations. Vic

Re: xantrex xw 60 mppt CC

Over the line by a couple dB is close ! And, in practical terms, probably close enough I think. The XW ~may~ have been a bit easier than other controllers to reduce RFI (other than RVPP & BZ), because of its lower switching efficiency hardware design.

It didn't look like there was any RF reduction on the MF unit I saw but maybe something has been done recently. On the MX, I used to have a 20 meter dipole right over the test PV modules outside of OB just for testing this stuff. Didn't get very far, but I will try much harder on the Classic. I would be happy just to get near the class B line.

Yes, the bands were very good today. I am happy to have HF mobile again too ! I wanted to get a hybrid car, but have decided not to because I hear that hybrid cars are VERY bad RFI generators !

boB

Re: xantrex xw 60 mppt CC

Hi boB, thanks for the additional info. Had wondered about Hybrid's RFI profile. About the bands, YES, surprising that with a lil flux, but no sunspots for ages, that there is still propagation to desirable places.

Thanks SG for added info on the XW CC. Have noticed that Solar distribution often does not seem to work at rotating inventory -- FIFO. Often not a huge thing, tho.

Neil, first, the quest for noise reduction is a bit obsessive on my part. My Off-Grid location is, really, exclusively for Hammie Radio. The background noise is S 0.00 exclusive band noise (Slolar events) & Lightning static. there are many workable stations with S1 signal or lower. SSOOO noises generated by my power system are very noticeable, and important. No measure is complete. All of my measures have been to REDUCE noise, not completely elinimate it. As one get reasonable noise reduction the next dB is that much more difficult to achieve. And finally, I am not being very scientific in my efforts -- Take my best guess at what is the best bang for the cost/effort. There are some variables that I am not controlling and so on.

Think that Ive kinna hijacked this thread, but some interesting info for me, at least.
Thanks, Vic . .

Re: xantrex xw 60 mppt CC

try some toroids on it and see what happens. make them big with as many turns as you can get.