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Cooling the Axpert


edmundp

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Hi All,

 

If I monitor the Axpert's temperature from software it runs on average between 65 and 70 degrees.

 

I think this is a little hot.

 

What do you find if you have it and has anybody done something to cool it down more than the standard fans?

 

Ed

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60-70 is not too bad. I heard a rumour that google discovered that their hardware operate perfectly fine at higher temperatures, and turned down the AC in their data centers to save power :-) From what I remember, the rule is pretty much to stay under boiling point. Above 100, you halve the life of the component for every 10 degrees centigrade. Most will be destroyed above 150. I've seen AMD processors run at 85-90 without a problem.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi All,

 

If I monitor the Axpert's temperature from software it runs on average between 65 and 70 degrees.

 

I think this is a little hot.

 

I totally agree. They used to supply the fans drawing the air downwards, instead of blowing upwards.

 

We had a discussion of this on AEVA, starting here:

 

http://forums.aeva.asn.au/forum_posts.asp?TID=4332&PID=54762&title=pip4048ms-inverter#54762

 

Note that this was an older unit with older firmware. But it seems worth changing the air flow if it's upside down, and possibly replacing the fans with quieter ones.

 

has anybody done something to cool it down more than the standard fans?

 

 

We found that with quieter fans and blowing upwards, the temperature runs at only 35'C or so with a 2 kW load. But we don't run that unit all day; this was a "lab test". This will change in the next few weeks or months, when three of us will be running these inverters full time.

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Does the Axpert have filters like the InfiniSolar? My InfiniSolar started to reach 80, but when I opened it, I found that the filters on the outlets were clogged. After clearing them we are back in the 30s and 40s. It does seem to reach its highest temps in the early morning and late afternoon when there is almost no sun and it seems to try make something out of it. 

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  • 3 weeks later...

I totally agree. They used to supply the fans drawing the air downwards, instead of blowing upwards.

 

We had a discussion of this on AEVA, starting here:

 

http://forums.aeva.asn.au/forum_posts.asp?TID=4332&PID=54762&title=pip4048ms-inverter#54762

 

Note that this was an older unit with older firmware. But it seems worth changing the air flow if it's upside down, and possibly replacing the fans with quieter ones.

 

 

We found that with quieter fans and blowing upwards, the temperature runs at only 35'C or so with a 2 kW load. But we don't run that unit all day; this was a "lab test". This will change in the next few weeks or months, when three of us will be running these inverters full time.

After seeing another day of 30deg heat here and having had some 37deg days in the last few weeks I today decide to "flip the fans" on the Axpert 5kva 48V. Blow up and not down now!

 

Have a look at my Extended Data on PVOutput:  http://pvoutput.org/intraday.jsp?id=46042&sid=42110for more details but I have immediately seen the following:

 

9th Jan  Max/Min Temps = 67/52

10th = 64/51

11th = 65/53

12th = 67/52

13th = 70/54 (before flip @ around 14:30)

13th = Min 38 @  (Inverter on @ 14:53)

 

Max so far is 53 (Which is almost lower than my previous Min!!)

 

RESULT!

 

The flip was easy... you must take out the Serial Board...

 

Regards

Mark

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Ahhh... Edmund has added some Extended values to the PVO feed to upload various bits from the Inverter and the BMV. Works great. Have a look.

For the record. Edmunds SolarMon works very well. The beta version i have is really adding alot of value. Especially wrt Midpoint measurement etc.

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After seeing another day of 30deg heat here and having had some 37deg days in the last few weeks I today decide to "flip the fans" on the Axpert 5kva 48V. Blow up and not down now!

 

Have a look at my Extended Data on PVOutput:  http://pvoutput.org/intraday.jsp?id=46042&sid=42110for more details but I have immediately seen the following:

 

9th Jan  Max/Min Temps = 67/52

10th = 64/51

11th = 65/53

12th = 67/52

13th = 70/54 (before flip @ around 14:30)

13th = Min 38 @  (Inverter on @ 14:53)

 

Max so far is 53 (Which is almost lower than my previous Min!!)

 

RESULT!

 

The flip was easy... you must take out the Serial Board...

 

Regards

Mark

Some observations and thoughts on the temp drop.

 

1.  Fluctuates far more than before the fan flip.  Could be at least 2 reasons

- Fans can now clear hot air in the unit more quickly and so things cool better (and stay cooler).

- The temp sensor (would love to know where it is in the unit ;)) now sees the hot air clearing faster rather than an oven effect.  Fans also don't therefore stay on for very long and hence the spikes in the graph.

 

2.  My current temp is 40deg which is 11 deg lower than my previous min at this time of the evening.  And its a hot humid evening here.   My inside temp is still over 27 deg with 66% humidity.

 

Regards

M

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So here is what I did eventually - I attached a 12 inch 12V fan to the top left vent to suck out hot air on the horizontal axis from right to left.

 

The internal fans still blow downwards - no voiding of warranties.

 

Bit noisy, but mine is in the garage - so doesn't bother me.

 

Works a charm - temperature down between 15 to 20 degrees on average under all conditions. Unit cover also now cool to the touch for the first time ever.

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  • 2 weeks later...

After seeing another day of 30deg heat here and having had some 37deg days in the last few weeks I today decide to "flip the fans" on the Axpert 5kva 48V. Blow up and not down now!

 

Have a look at my Extended Data on PVOutput:  http://pvoutput.org/intraday.jsp?id=46042&sid=42110for more details but I have immediately seen the following:

 

9th Jan  Max/Min Temps = 67/52

10th = 64/51

11th = 65/53

12th = 67/52

13th = 70/54 (before flip @ around 14:30)

13th = Min 38 @  (Inverter on @ 14:53)

 

Max so far is 53 (Which is almost lower than my previous Min!!)

 

RESULT!

 

The flip was easy... you must take out the Serial Board...

 

Regards

Mark

Since I "flipped the fans" I get the following graph.  Spikes I think are due to fans coming on and off which is noticeable as they now clear the hot air very quickly as opposed to sucking it down through the bottom of the unit.

 

An average decrease of around 15 degrees. From around 58deg to around 43 deg.

 

Graphs is of daily average over the past few weeks.

 

I think a result.

post-862-0-38292500-1453977871_thumb.jpg

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