Xantrex GT3.0 User manual

Xantrex Grid Tie
Solar Inverter
Owner’s Manual
GT3.0

Xantrex Grid Tie Solar Inverter
Owner’s Manual

About Xantrex
Xantrex Technology Inc. is a world-leading supplier of advanced power electronics and controls with products from
50 watt mobile units to one MW utility-scale systems for wind, solar, batteries, fuel cells, microturbines, and backup
power applications in both grid-connected and stand-alone systems. Xantrex products include inverters, battery
chargers, programmable power supplies, and variable speed drives that convert, supply, control, clean, and distribute
electrical power.
Trademarks
Xantrex Grid Tie Solar Inverter is a trademark of Xantrex International. Xantrex and Xanbus are registered
trademarks of Xantrex International.
Other trademarks, registered trademarks, and product names are the property of their respective owners and are used
herein for identification purposes only.
Notice of Copyright
Xantrex Grid Tie Solar Inverter Owner’s Manual © September 2004 Xantrex International. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer
UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AGREED TO IN WRITING, XANTREX TECHNOLOGY INC. (“XANTREX”)
(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.
Date and Revision
September 2004 Revision B
Part Number
975-0131-01-01
Contact Information
Telephone: [phone] (toll free North America)
1 360 925 5097 (direct)
Fax: [phone] (toll free North America)
1 360 925 5143 (direct)
Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.xantrex.com

975-0131-01-01 iii
About This Manual
The purpose of this Owner’s Manual is toprovide explanations and procedures for
installing, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting the Xantrex Grid Tie Solar
Inverter™.
Scope
The manual provides safety guidelines, detailed planning and setup information. It
provides procedures for installing the inverter and information about operating
and troubleshooting the unit. It does not provide details about particular brands of
photovoltaic (PV) panels. You need to consult individual PV manufacturers for
this information.
Audience
The manual is intended for anyone who needs to install and operate the GT
Inverter. Installers should be fully educated on the hazards of installing electrical
equipment. Certified electricians or technicians are recommended.
Organization
This manual is organized into 6 chapters and an appendix.
Chapter 1, “Introduction”, contains information about the features and functions
of the Xantrex Grid Tie Solar Inverter.
Chapter 2, “Installation”, provides information about planning for and installing
the GT Inverter. It contains information to help you plan wire routes, AC and DC
connections, and find a suitable location for installation. It also discusses
requirements for grounding the GT Inverter and your PVarray.
Chapter 3, “Wiring the Inverter”, provides procedures for making DC and AC
wiring connections, and grounding the GT Inverter and the PV array. Instructions
for wiring inverters in parallel are also provided.
Chapter 4, “Starting the Inverter”, contains information on starting up the Xantrex
Grid Tie Solar Inverter and performing a Functional Test.
Chapter 5, “Monitoring the Inverter”, contains information for understanding the
LCD screens and the LED indicators.
Chapter 6, “Maintenance and Troubleshooting”, contains information about how to
provide general maintenance for the Xantrex Grid Tie Solar Inverter. It also
provides information about troubleshooting the unit.
Appendix A, “Specifications”, contains information about the electrical and
environmental specifications of the Xantrex Grid Tie Solar Inverter.

About This Manual
iv 975-0131-01-01
Conventions Used
The following conventions are used in this guide.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
WARNING
Warnings identify conditions that could result in personal injury or loss of life.
CAUTION
Cautions identify conditions or practices that could result in damage to the unit or other
equipment.
Important: These notes describethings which are important for you to know, but not as
serious as a caution or warning.
AC Alternating Current
CSA Canadian Standards Association
DC Direct Current
GT Grid Tie
GUI Graphical User Interface
LCD Liquid Crystal Display
LED Light Emitting Diode
MPPT Maximum Power Point Tracking
PC Personal Computer
PV Photovoltaic
PVGFP PV Ground Fault Protection
PWM Pulse Width Modulation
STC Standard Test Condition
UL Underwriters Laboratories
Vac Volts AC
Vdc Volts DC
VMP Voltage at Maximum Power
VOC Open Circuit Voltage

About This Manual
975-0131-01-01 v
Related Information
You can find more information about Xantrex Technology Inc. as well as its
products and services at www.xantrex.com
Other useful documentation on photovoltaic systems includes:
•“A Guide to Photovoltaic (PV) System Design and Installation”, California
Energy Commission (CEC), publication #500-01-020, June 2001 (available at
www.energy.ca.gov).
•“California Interconnection Guidebook: a Guide to Interconnecting
Customer-owned Electric Generation Equipment to the Electric Utility
Distribution System using California’s Electric Rule 21”, California Energy
Commission (CEC), publication #500-03-083, September 2003 (available at
www.energy.ca.gov).

vi

975-0131-01-01 vii
Important Safety Instructions
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS—This manual contains important instructions that shall be followed
during the installation and maintenance of the Xantrex Grid Tie Solar Inverter.
1. Before installing and using the GT Inverter, read all instructions and cautionary markings on the
inverter, wiring box, and all appropriate sections of this guide.
2. To reduce risk of fire hazard, do not cover or obstruct the heat sink.
3. Observe the clearance recommendations as described on page 2–18. Do not install the GT Inverter in a
zero-clearance or non-ventilated compartment. Overheating may result.
4. Use only accessories recommended or sold by the manufacturer. Doing otherwise may result in a risk
of fire, electric shock, or injury to persons.
5. To avoid a risk of fire and electric shock, make sure that existing wiring is in good condition and that
wire is not undersized. Do not operate the GT Inverter with damaged or substandard wiring.
6. Do not operate the GT Inverter if it has received a sharp blow, been dropped, or otherwise damaged in
any way. If the GT Inverter is damaged, see the Warranty section.
7. Do not disassemble the GT Inverter. It contains no user-serviceable parts. See Warranty for instructions
on obtaining service. Attempting to service the GT Inverter yourself may result in a risk of electrical
shock or fire and will void the factory warranty.
8. To reduce the risk of electrical shock, disconnect both AC and DC power from the GT Inverter before
attempting any maintenance or cleaning or working on any circuits connected to the inverter. Turning
off controls will not reduce this risk. Internal capacitors remain charged for 5 minutes after
disconnecting all sources of power.
9. The GT Inverter must be provided with an equipment-grounding conductor connected to the AC
ground.

Safety
viii 975-0131-01-01
Regulatory Compliance
The GT Inverter has complete on-board over-current, over-temperature and anti-islanding protection, and
meets U.S., Canadian and international safety operating standards and code requirements:
•UL 1741 –Standard for Inverters, Converters, and Controllers for Use in Independent Power Systems
•CSA C22.2 No. 107.1-01 General Use Power Supplies
•IEEE C62.41 Recommended Practice on Surge Voltages in Low-Voltage AC Power Circuits (Location
Category B3).
To locate the firmware version number
The firmware version number for the protection processor is visible on a screen that appears when the unit
starts up or is powered up after switching the AC/DC Disconnect switch to “on.”The screen reads:
The number appearing after “ROM”is the firmware version number for the protection processor.
FCC Information to the User
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant
to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can
be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference
by one or more of the following measures:
•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
•Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
•Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Flash = 01.01
ROM = 01.01