EnerSys OutBack Power SkyBox, Руководство пользователя

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900-00272-01-001 Rev A
It’s Cloudy, My Batteries Are Dead, and the
Power is Out – What Now? (Using a Generator)
The SkyBox accepts generator input when needed; however, it doesn’t accept every generator at every time.
The SkyBox is picky and wants a generator that produces a (mostly) smooth waveform.
The best way to describe the operation is with an example. Let’s say that it’s night, your batteries have been
taxed by a cloudy day, the power has been cut off by the utility, and you have several heavy loads running.
The generator-start function recognizes the need to start the generator in order to conserve the batteries.
The SkyBox sends a signal to a starting circuit on the generator. The generator starts and spins up to the
rated voltage and frequency. The SkyBox closes the generator relay as long three conditions are met:
1) the grid relay is open, 2) the generator voltage and frequency are within tolerances, and 3) PV is not
running all the loads. Once all conditions are verified, it closes the generator relay. Generator power is
directly connected to the loads.
Next, the SkyBox wants to charge the batteries. You have configured it so that it can use generator power
to charge if needed. There are more conditions here. In order to charge the batteries using generator power,
the SkyBox must sense at least 4 Aac (~500 to 600 W) on its load port. PV cannot be present.
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The load ensures the generator waveform has been dampened enough for the SkyBox to connect without risking
any damage.
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If PV is present, the SkyBox will use the generator to power the loads and use PV to charge the batteries.
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These items mean that no mixing of generator power and solar power is allowed.
The example shows the conditions that need to be met for the SkyBox to connect to a generator, but how do
you start the generator in the first place? The SkyBox uses a function called
Advanced Generator Start
(AGS) to control the starting and stopping of the generator. To read up on AGS, see the applicable section in
the
SkyBox Programming Guide .
If you’ve chosen to manually start the generator, but have AGS configured, know that AGS will never stop a
manually started generator. Just remember that if you start it, you also have to stop it.
Using My Own Custom Batteries
Okay – great! The SkyBox is compatible with many batteries, but you’ll need to track down all the information
about your battery before connecting it to the SkyBox.
Given the increasing popularity and variety of lithium-ion batteries now available, it is important to clarify the
interoperability and safety considerations for pairing these batteries with OutBack Power inverters and charge
controllers. Lithium-ion batteries present different safety risks and performance impacts than the lead-acid
batteries many of our products were originally designed around. For this reason, OutBack Power has adopted
a white-list approach to battery interoperability. The Compatible Batteries list (see link on page 18) includes
batteries that have been reviewed and tested by OutBack Power personnel and whose manufacturers have
provided specific guidance on equipment settings and limitations. Use of batteries not on this list — including
unlisted battery models from the same manufacturers — is at the risk of the installer and host site and may
result in your warranty being void. This remains the case regardless of any technical advice or assistance that
may be provided by OutBack Power, its personnel, or representatives.