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Basic Setup Programming
6–14 976-0043-01-02
11E Search Watts
This menu item sets the inverter’s search sensitivity. Any load that is
below this setting does not cause the inverter to produce an AC output
voltage when running from batteries. The SRCH function must be
selected in 01A Inverter.
How does Search
Sense work
While idling in the Search Sense Mode, the inverter sends out a pulse
about once per second. This electrical pulse travels through the AC wiring
“looking” for loads that are connected to the system.
When a load is detected, the inverter then has to make a decision as to
whether or not the load is large enough to provide power to. This decision
point is user adjustable using the Search Sensitivity control on the
inverter.
Why use search
sense
Search sense allows you to selectively power only items that draw more
than a certain amount of power, but the bigger reason lies in power
savings.
For example:
Imagine an inverter that has a no-load idle power of 8 watts. This
means the inverter needs 8 watts to power itself even if no loads are
present.
If a water pump is driven by the inverter for only one hour total per
day then the other twenty-three hours out of the day the inverter is
using 8 watts per hour just to sit there and do nothing. That power
comes from the batteries.
If search sense is set so that the inverter sleeps until the pump wants
to run, the scenario described above greatly improves. Now instead of
the inverter idling at 8 watts, only ½ watt is drawn while in Search
Mode. This is a savings of 7½ watts per hour or 172.5 watt-hours.
This converts directly to 7 amp-hours for a 24 volt battery system.
In systems with small batteries or limited charging capability, this could
be a substantial savings.
How to set up the
Search Mode
feature on the
inverter
The Search Sense feature on the inverter is only valuable if the inverter
can spend a fair amount of time "sleeping" each day. Therefore, if Search
Sense is to be utilized it must be adjusted properly. The initial adjustment
should be made so that the inverter comes on only when needed.
Note: This item is duplicated for your convenience in menu item 01C and
11E. Changes to settings made at 01C will also change the setting in 11E.
Likewise, changes to 11E will also change the setting in 01C.