Xantrex GT5.0-NA User manual

Grid Tie Solar Inverter
Xantrex Grid Tie
Solar Inverter
Owner’s Manual
GT5.0-NA

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 © November 2006 Xantrex International. All rights reserved.
Exclusion for Documentation
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 LOSSES, DAMAGES, COSTS OR EXPENSES, WHETHER SPECIAL,
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’SRISK; AND
(C)REMINDS YOU THAT IF THIS MANUAL IS IN ANY LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH, ALTHOUGH STEPS HAVE BEEN
TAKEN TO MAINTAIN THE ACCURACY OF THE TRANSLATION, THE ACCURACY CANNOT BE GUARANTEED. APPROVED
XANTREX CONTENT IS CONTAINED WITH THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE VERSION WHICH IS POSTED AT
WWW.XANTREX.COM.
Date and Revision
November 2006 Revision A
Manual Part Number
975-0320-01-01
Product Part Number
864-0118
Contact Information
Telephone: [phone] (toll free North America)
1 360 925 5097 (direct)
Fax: [phone] (direct)
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.xantrex.com

975-0320-01-01 iii
About This Manual
The purpose of this Owner’s Manual is to provide 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
This manual does not provide sufficient information for anyone but a qualified
installer to install this product. Installers should be electricians or technicians fully
educated on the hazards of installing electrical equipment. The monitoring and
operation information in this manual is intended for anyone who needs to operate
a GT Inverter.
Organization
This manual is organized into 6 chapters and an appendix.
Chapter 1 contains information about the features and functions of the Xantrex
Grid Tie Solar Inverter.
Chapter 2 provides information about installing the GT Inverter. It contains
information on determining a suitable location for installation, PV array
requirements, and procedures for mounting the unit.
Chapter 3 provides information about DC and AC wiring, and grounding the GT
Inverter and the PV array.
Chapter 4 contains information on starting up the Xantrex Grid Tie Solar Inverter
and performing a functional test.
Chapter 5 contains information for understanding the LCD screens and the LED
indicators.
Chapter 6 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 contains information about the specifications of the Xantrex Grid Tie
Solar Inverter.

About This Manual
iv 975-0320-01-01
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 describe things which are important for you to know, but not as
serious as a caution or warning.
CEC California Energy Commission
CSA Canadian Standards Association
GT Grid Tie
LCD Liquid Crystal Display
LED Light Emitting Diode
MPPT Maximum Power Point Tracking
NEC US National Electrical Code NFPA-70
PV Photovoltaic
PVGFP PV Ground Fault Protection
STC Standard Test Condition
UL Underwriters Laboratories
Vac Volts AC
Vdc Volts DC
VMPP Voltage at Maximum Power
VOC Open Circuit Voltage

About This Manual
975-0320-01-01 v
Symbols Used
Related Information
You can find more information about Xantrex Technology Inc. as well as its
products and services at www.xantrex.com.
Ground
In this guide: Important information, warnings, or cautions.
On the product: Important information, warnings or cautions with further
explanation in the product guide.
Caution, risk of electric shock.
Hot surface—risk of burns.
FOR AUTHORIZED SERVICE PERSONNEL: Before opening cover,
disconnect DC and AC power and wait 5 minutes to allow internal voltages
to reach safe levels.
NOTE: there are no user-serviceable parts inside.
Refer to the operating instructions.
5 min.

vi

975-0320-01-01 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. Under some conditions, the GT Inverter heat sink can reach temperatures hot enough to cause skin
burns if accidentally touched. Ensure that the GT Inverter is located away from normal traffic areas.
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. Authorized service personnel should reduce the risk of electrical shock by disconnecting 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. Normally grounded conductors may be ungrounded and energized when a ground fault is indicated.
10. The GT Inverter must be connected to an AC equipment-grounding conductor directly and a DC
grounding electrode conductor to a single point ground.
11. The AC Neutral connection is for voltage sensing only and is not used as a current carrying conductor,
nor is it bonded to ground.
Observe the clearance recommendations as described on page 2–7. Do not install the GT Inverter in a zero-
clearance or non-ventilated compartment. Overheating may result.
WARNING
The following warnings identify conditions or practices that could result in personal injury or loss of life.
CAUTION
The following caution identifies conditions or practices that could result in damage to the unit or other
equipment.

Safety
viii 975-0320-01-01
Location of Safety and Data Labels
The figure below shows the location of the safety label and the data label with model, serial and part
number information.
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.
Safety Label
Data Label