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81
August 2020
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Solar Stik
®
Inc.
PSS-G/RAID Alternative Energy System Deployment Guide
“Nuisance” Faults (Non-safety Related)
Overview
This manual covers most of the setup and conditions for proper operation. “Nuisance” faults are
usually the result of improper System configurations, which can lead to overload/fault conditions and
tripped circuit breakers. The most common faults experienced in the AES are described below:
• Power Surges and Tripped Circuit Breakers Caused by Secondary UPS within AES
Any UPS that is with the PSS-G/RAID tower should be disconnected when the AES is used to
power the station.
The AES ensures continuity of operations for all loads in the PSS-G/RAID,
negating the need for secondary UPS insertion. The PRO-Verter 7000 AGS provides continuity of
power, line conditioning, and surge suppression for the load circuit.
If there is a secondary UPS within the AES circuit, it can cause power surges when it switches
between “backup” and “standby” operation modes. The PRO-Verter has a transfer switch
that ensures uninterrupted power to the load as it oscillates between “inverter” and “AC pass-
through” (i.e., generator operation) modes. The transfer switch takes 16 milliseconds (ms) to
engage either circuit, which will not cause any interruption of power to the load; however, UPS
units are often set to the same switching threshold, so if they sense the 16 ms interruption, they
will also switch to “backup power” mode in order to support the load. The multitude of battery
circuits, switching, and charging/discharging within the AES circuit will cause power surging,
possibly overloading the AES at times. Additionally, a traditional UPS is designed for fast charge/
discharge service, which means
only minutes of runtime
for the load. The AES provides
several
hours of runtime
for the entire system from its 16 kWh battery bank.
Circuit breakers within the AES may also experience tripping due to current surging through the
Inter-Connect circuit.
• AC Overload Associated with Raising the PSS-G Tower
“Overload” fault messages display when the AC load on the inverter/charger’s output has
exceeded the inverter’s internal AC voltage and current protection limits. This can be caused by
inductive loads such as motors or pumps. If the PRO-Verter is being used to raise a Tower, and
the Tower binds due to physical damage, poor condition, or has additional payloads (weight), it is
possible this fault will occur.
If the overload condition lasts for less than 10 seconds, the fault automatically clears and the unit
restarts and resumes operation. However, if the overload occurs for more than 10 seconds, the
unit shuts down and the fault will require a manual reset.
• Circuit Breaker Trip Due to Inadequate Battery Capacity or Line Surge
Some PRO-Verters can require up to 200 amps from the battery bank during peak loads. If less
than recommended quantities of the Li Expander Pak are used, the Paks’ 50 A circuit breakers
may trip because of too much current flow out of the battery bank. Conversely, if the charger is
attempting to charge the batteries at its full rate, it will also trip the Li Expander Pak breaker. At a
minimum, the combined values of the Li Expander Pak circuit breakers must be greater than the
rated charge current from the PRO-Verter.
