Thank you for your purchase of OutBack products. We make every eort to assure our power
conversion products will give you long and reliable service for your renewable energy system.
As with any manufactured device, repairs might be needed due to damage, inappropriate use, or
unintentional defect. Please note the following guidelines regarding warranty service of OutBack
products:
• Any and all warranty repairs must conform to the terms of the warranty.
• All OutBack equipment must be installed according to their accompanying instructions and manuals
with specied over-current protection in order to maintain their warranties.
• The customer must return the component(s) to OutBack, securely packaged, properly addressed,
and shipping paid. We recommend insuring your package when shipping. Packages that are not
securely packaged can sustain additional damage not covered by the warranty or can void warranty
repairs.
• There is no allowance or reimbursement for an installer’s or user’s labor or travel time required to
disconnect, service, or reinstall the damaged component(s).
• OutBack will ship the repaired or replacement component(s) prepaid to addresses in the continental
United States, where applicable. Shipments outside the U.S. will be sent freight collect.
• In the event of a product malfunction, OutBack cannot bear any responsibility for consequential
losses, expenses, or damage to other components.
• Please read the full warranty at the end of this manual for more information.
About Outback Power Systems
OutBack Power Systems is a leader in advanced energy conversion technology. Our products include
true sine wave inverter/chargers, maximum power point charge controllers, system communication
components, as well as breaker panels, breakers, accessories, and assembled systems.
UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AGREED TO IN WRITING, OUTBACK POWER SYSTEMS:
(a) MAKES NO WARRANTY AS TO THE ACCURACY, SUFFICIENCY OR SUITABILITY OF ANY TECHNICAL OR OTHER
INFORMATION PROVIDED IN ITS MANUALS OR OTHER DOCUMENTATION.
(b) ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE, WHETHER DIRECT, INDIRECT,
CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL, WHICH MIGHT ARISE OUT OF THE USE OF SUCH INFORMATION. THE USE OF
ANY SUCH INFORMATION WILL BE ENTIRELY AT THE USER’S RISK.
Contact Information:
OutBack Power Systems
19009 62nd Ave. NE
Arlington, WA 98223 Phone (360)435-6030 • Fax (360)435-6019 www.outbackpower.com
Certicate of Compliance.................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Welcome to the OutBack Power Systems FX Series Inverter/Charger System .................................................. 4
FX Series Inverter/Charger Programming ................................................................................................................................. 5
Components and Connections ....................................................................................................................................................... 6
Powering Up ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7
Classic Series ......................................................................................................................................................................................
Stacking And Assigning FX Status ................................................................................................................................................. 9
Programming the FXs .................................................................................................................................................................. 10-12
Power Save Levels ..................................................................................................................................................................................14
AC ON ................................................................................................................................................................................................
List of AUX Functions ..................................................................................................................................................................
Adjustable AUX Output Functions .....................................................................................................................................
FX Default Values ....................................................................................................................................................................................24
OUTBACK GTFX AND GVFX CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE TO UL1741
UTILITYINTERACTIVE INVERTERS
OutBack GTFX and GVFX inverters comply with UL1741 for utility-interactive inverters. The following
specications refer to exporting power to a simulated utility source of less than 1% voltage total
harmonic distortion (THD).
The output of the GTFX or GVFX exceeds the minimum power factor of 0.85 specied in UL1741
•
section 45.2.2. Typical power factor is 0.96 or better.
The THD of the RMS (root/means/square) current is less than 5 percent of the fundamental under
•
the conditions of UL1741 section 45.4.2. Individual odd harmonics do not exceed the limits
specied in Table 45.1 of UL1741. Individual even harmonics do not exceed the limits specied in
Table 45.2 of UL1741.
The GTFX and GVFX inverters cease to export power to the simulated utility source under islanding
•
conditions specied in section 46.3 of UL1741.
The GTFX and GVFX inverters cease to export power to the simulated utility source after the
•
output voltage and frequency of the simulated utility source are adjusted to each of the conditions
specied in Table 46.1 of UL1741 within the time specied in that table. All production GTFX and
GVFX inverters are tested to comply with the table below as specied in section 46.2 of UL1741.
Condition Voltage Range (VAC) Frequency (Hz) Seconds Allowed Cycles Allowed
A <60 60 0.1 6
B <=60 to <105.6 60 2 120
C >=105.6 to <=132 60 no cessation no cessation
D >132 to <164.4 60 2 120
E >=164.4 60 0.033 2
F 120 <59.3 0.1 6
G 120 >60.5 0.1 6
3
WELCOME TO THE OUTBACK POWER SYSTEMS FX SERIES
INVERTER/CHARGER SYSTEM
The FX Series Inverter/Charger oers a complete power conversion system—DC to AC, battery charging,
and an AC Transfer Switch—and can be used for stand-alone or back-up applications.
OutBack Power Systems does everything possible to assure the components you purchase will function
properly and safely when installed as instructed according to local and national electrical codes. Please
read all of the following instructions and the instructions that come with any OutBack components included in your power system. Further instructions on individual FX set-ups as well as systems assemblies are
included with the FX and VFX Series Inverter/Charger Installation Manual.
The OutBack Power Systems FX Series Inverter/Charger is ETL listed to UL1741 (Inverters, Converters, Controllers, and Interconnection System Equipment for Use with Distributed Energy Resources). All Mobile FX
Series Inverter/Chargers are ETL listed to UL 458
Grounding Instructions – Each FX should be connected to a grounded, permanent wiring system. For most
installations, the negative battery conductor should be bonded to the grounding system at one (and only
one) point in the DC system. All installations must comply with all national and local codes and ordinances.
System grounding as required by the National Electric Code, ANSI /NFPA 70-1996, is the responsibility of the
system installer.
The equipment ground is marked with this symbol:
The Grid-interactive FX and VFX Inverter/Charger Programming Manual covers safety and the programming or
“stacking” multiple FXs using the OutBack Power Systems MATE.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
General Precautions
1. Use caution whenever working around electricity, electrical components, and batteries. There is always a potential
for shocks, burns, injury, and even death if an installer or user comes in contact with electricity.
2. Read all instructions and cautionary markings on the FX, the batteries and all appropriate sections of this manual as
well as other component manuals before using the system.
3. Be sure each system FX is securely installed according to the FX and VFX Series Inverter/Charger Installation Manual.
4. Follow all local and national electrical codes when installing OutBack equipment and components.
NOTE:
Neither the GTFX nor the GVFX is designed to be used with a generator. They are strictly for grid-interactive usage.
•
An OutBack MATE is required to program the FXs beyond their default values.
•
If an OutBack Charge Controller is in use, be sure to read its manual for optimum operation with a grid-interactive FX.
•
When powered up, the GTFX/GVFX will automatically sense if a utility grid is present and then connect to it after a 30-
•
second delay. There is a ve-minute delay before battery charging starts, which is done as a default action to assure
the batteries are charged should the grid fail. The inverter can sell power to the grid after the batteries are charged.
Ul 1741 requires approved surge protection for a grid-interactive system. The optional OutBack FLEXware Surge
•
Protector meets this requirement.
4
GRIDINTERACTIVE FX SERIES INVERTER/CHARGER PROGRAMMING
NOTE: Please see the FX and VFX Series Inverter/Charger Installation Manual to install, wire, and connect
each FX Series Inverter/Charger. This programming manual assumes all FXs have been installed and are
ready to program according to the way they were wired. To familiarize yourself with the programming
concepts, please read through the entire manual before programming your system.
Up to two grid-interactive FXs can be combined and wired or “stacked.”
• Stacking FXs does not refer to physically placing one FX on top of another, but to how they are wired
within the system and then programmed for operation. Stacking allows all the FXs to work together
as a single system.
• Stacking assigns the FXs to power individual legs of the system and to operate at certain times; this
order is assigned using the MATE.
NOTE
: An OutBack MATE with a code revision of 3.30 or higher is required to recognize and program
Grid-Interactive FXs. When multiple FXs are used, each needs to be assigned a status—Master or Slave
(at least one FX must be a Master).
• The Master FX is the primary and most heavily used unit. The loads and demands of the system
determine when and which Slaves are used. A Slave FX assists when the load demands are more
than the Master FX can handle alone.
• This is an orderly process as long as the user assigns each FX correctly. This is mainly a matter of
paying attention to the Port number for each FX when programming with the MATE.
Stacking Concerns
FXs should be wired and stacked appropriately to their individual power system. Problems can occur
when:
• An FX is incorrectly wired.
• An FX plugged into a HUB Port is mistakenly programmed (assigned the wrong status) or
misidentied.
An easy rule to remember is any FX wired to a specic phase or leg must be programmed to that
phase.
Stacking Options
• The Grid-Interactive FX Series Inverter/Chargers can be stacked in Classic Series only, which is limited
to two grid-interactive FXs.
• A HUB-4 or HUB-10 must be included to stack grid-interactive FXs. The Grid-Interactive FX cannot do
time-of-day selling.
• If the utility grid fails, the GTFX or GVFX seamlessly transfers the loads to the battery bank. When
the utility grid reappears, the Grid-Interactive FX automatically recharges the battery bank in case of
future power outages.
NOTE: The FW-X240 Auto Transformer cannot be used for stacking with a Grid-Interactive FX system.
The FW-X240 can be used to step-up the AC output of a single Grid-Interactive FX system, however.
5
Components and Connections:
BYPASSOUTPUT INPUT
1. With all AC and DC breakers OFF, connect all FXs to the HUB with individual lengths of CAT5 cable.
AC Breakers ODC Breakers O
POWERHUB
10987654321
Slave FXs plug into Ports 02 and higher
The FX connected to Port
01 is always programmed
OutBack Charge Controllers plug into any
ports after the last FX is connected.
as the Master.
a) Connect the OutBack MATE after all other components,
including any OutBack Charge Controllers, have been
connected and powered up.
b) Components installed after powering up the system will
require repolling the MATE (please see page 8).
c) With the MATE, a user assigns a status and stacking value to
the FX on each Port. These status and value assignments can
be changed at any time as long as the Master FX is plugged
into HUB Port 01.
nd
2
MATE
port is not
operable
MATE
ND
2
Mate
st
1
Mate
connects
at 1st MATE
port
•“Master” for one and two-phase
systems
• The Master FX is always considered to
be the leg one or L-1 phase.
NOTE: Pay attention to the Port number on the screen! Be sure the FX whose status and stacking value
you’re changing is the one you mean to change.
6
2. With the FXs connected to the HUB, turn only the DC breakers ON and power up the components. All AC
BYPASSOUTPUT INPUT
breakers should be OFF.
AC Breakers ODC Breakers On
LED Color LED Action LED Indicates
Green Solid GREEN Inverter ON
Flashing GREEN
Search Mode or Slave Power
Off Inverter OFF
Yellow Solid YELLOW AC Source is Connecteced
Flashing YELLOW
AC Input Live-Waiting to
Connect to the FX
Off No AC Input Present
Red Solid RED Error-Error Message, dis-
plays on the MATE
Flashing RED Warning: Non-critical FX
fault, the MATE can access
this informatio
n
NOTE: Powering up the FXs can cause the red ERROR
STATUS light to blink. After 5-10 seconds, the green
INVERTER light should be bright and the ERROR and
AC IN lights dark. The FX is now producing AC output
voltage.
7
3. After powering up the components, connect the MATE to the HUB.
a) Plug the MATE into the 1st MATE Port on the HUB.
b) The MATE will power up and should recognize any component connected to the HUB.
c) The MATE can then program the FXs.
d) The fth MATE screen (“Port Assignment”) should display all the FXs and any Outback Charge Controllers in
the system.
MATE Screens
PATH
G’day Mate (C) 2004 Version Searching Port Assignment
OutBack Code a.aa for Devices 1> FX 2> FX 3> CC 4> CC
Power 5> 6> 7> 8>
Systems Serial #xxxxxxxx HUB Found 9> 10> 2M>
Screen EE b.bb
4. To verify the MATE recognizes each HUB connected FX and OutBack Charge Controller, disconnect and then
either (a) reconnect the MATE to view its boot-up and repoll sequence or (b) follow this path to manually repoll: