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ICA
Owner’s Manual
Inverter
Communications
Adapter (ICA)
M
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Inverter Communications Adapter Owner’s Manual
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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.
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About This Manual Purpose The purpose of this Owner’s Manual is to provide explanations and procedures for installing, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting the Inverter Communications Adapter (ICA). Scope The Sine Wave Plus Inverter Communications Adapter (ICA) Owner’s Manual provides safety guidelines, planning and setup information, procedures for installing the ICA and its software (ICAP), as well as information about operating and troubleshooting the unit. Audience This Manual
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About This Manual Conventions Used The following conventions are used in this guide. 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 to other equipment. Important: These notes describe an important action item or an item that you must pay attention to. Illustrations Since software levels can change frequently to incorporate upgrades and improvements, it is r
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About This Manual Abbreviations and Acronyms AC Alternating Current ASC Authorized Service Center AHJ Authority Having Jurisdiction COM COMmunications Port DC Direct Current DOS Disk Operating System ICA Inverter Communications Adapter ICAP Inverter Communications Adapter Program (software) ICM Inverter Control Module ID IDentification LCD Liquid Crystal Display LED Light Emitting Diode PC Personal Computer PV Photovoltaic PVGFP PV Ground Fault Protection RMA Return Material Authorization 975-00
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About This Manual Related Information You can find more information about Xantrex Technology Inc. as well as its products and services at www.xantrex.com. vi 975-0052-01-01 Rev A
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Important Safety Instructions WARNING This chapter contains important safety and operating instructions as prescribed by UL and CSA standards for the Sine Wave Plus Inverter Communications Adapters (ICA) used in residential, RV, and marine applications. Read and keep this Owner’s Manual for future reference. 1. Before installing the ICA, read all instructions and cautionary markings on the ICA, the inverter, the batteries, and all appropriate sections of this guide. 2. Do not expose the IC
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Contents Important Safety Instructions- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - vii 1 Installation Introduction- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 Features/Components - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 Connecting the ICA Cable - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 Connecting the ICA to a Computer using a Modem - - - - - - - 6 Connecting Multiple ICAs to a Single Computer - - - - - - - - - 8 Positive Ground or PV Gro
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Contents Help - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30 LEDs and LCD Display - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30 Multiple-Unit Drop-Down Box - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30 Navigation Buttons - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 31 ICAP Keyboard and Terminal Emulation Keyboard Shortcut Commands - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 31 Changing ICAP Settings - - - - - - - - - - -
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Figures Figure 1-1 Inverter Communications Adapter (ICA) - - - - - - - - - - 3 Figure 1-2 Connecting Directly to the Inverter - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 Figure 1-3 Connecting the ICA to a Computer using a Modem - - - 7 Figure 1-4 Connecting Multiple ICAs - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9 Figure 1-5 Enlargements of pin assignments and color coding on ICA cable and connectors11 Figure 2-1 ICAP Welcome Screen - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 14 Figure 2-2 ICAP License Agreement
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Tables Table 3-1 Keyboard Commands - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 32 Table 3-2 Keyboard Commands (ICAP Only) - - - - - - - - - - - - - 32 Table 3-3 Keyboard Commands (Terminal Emulation Programs Only) - - - - - - - - - - - 33 Table 3-4 Troubleshooting the ICA - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 40 xiii
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Installation 1 Chapter 1, “Installation” describes how to install the ICA cable with or without a modem. The following topics are covered in this chapter. For this topic... See... “Introduction” page 2 “Features/Components” page 2 “Connecting the ICA Cable” page 4 “Connecting the ICA to a Computer using page 6 a Modem” “Connecting Multiple ICAs to a Single page 8 Computer” “Positive Ground or PV Ground Fault page 10 Protection Installations” “Additional Possible Requirements” page 12 “Advanced
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Installation Introduction The Inverter Communications Adapter (ICA) allows any Sine Wave Plus Inverter/Charger to be connected to a computer serial port or directly to a modem to be controlled and monitored over long distances. It uses the Inverter Communications Adapter Program (ICAP) to communicate with the inverters and emulates the inverter control module on the inverter. Virtually everything that can be done with the inverter’s control module can be emulated by ICAP. The ICAP can a
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Features/Components 25’ phone cable DB-9 Serial port ICA adapter adapter Figure 1-1 Inverter Communications Adapter (ICA) 975-0052-01-01 Rev A 3
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Installation Connecting the ICA Cable The ICA converts the REMOTE port on the Sine Wave Plus Inverter/Charger into a standard RS232 type communications port interface. See Figure 1-2 for the location of the Remote Port on the Sine Wave Plus Inverter/Charger. Important: There are two ports located on the inverter – one is used for the stacking cable and the other is for the remote control port. Make sure you connect the ICA to the correct port. If a Remote Inverter Control Module (ICM-Re
