Brings Remote Communication and Control to Renewable Energy Systems

Intersolar North America 2012

Booth 8023

ARLINGTON, Wash.--OutBack Power Technologies, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of advanced power electronics for renewable energy, backup power and mobile applications, today announced its new communications AXS Port Modbus/TCP Interface, which allows users to remotely communicate and control their renewable and backup energy systems for optimal performance and management.

"It brings transparency and control to our installations where in-person maintenance or close monitoring can be difficult in remote or inaccessible areas."

Many renewable systems depend on on-site personnel to troubleshoot equipment and actively monitor and maintain operations. The AXS Port Modbus/TCP Interface makes it possible to remotely monitor and control an energy system by communicating with networked key system components. With the AXS Port Interface, users can securely access an OutBack Power system anywhere in the world via an Ethernet connection using Modbus Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).

"OutBack Power's AXS Port Modbus/TCP Interface affords a new communications standard to our product portfolio," said Phil Undercuffler, director of product management and strategy for OutBack Power. "It brings transparency and control to our installations where in-person maintenance or close monitoring can be difficult in remote or inaccessible areas."

Compliance standards are an important asset for telecommunications worldwide; however, comparable standards for remote communication to solar power systems are not in place. OutBack Power is helping drive standardization with the AXS Port, a SunSpec compliant device. The SunSpec Alliance is an industry coalition formed to establish global interoperability among renewable energy components by defining open interface standards, allowing plug-and-play operation between components and management systems. OutBack Power's commitment to incorporating standardization will drive the industry to provide reliable energy service, cost savings for customers to remotely respond to changing energy conditions, identify processes where efficiency is lost and actively manage energy storage charging.

Key features of the AXS Port Modbus/TCP Interface include:

*SunSpec Compliant device

*A 10/100 Ethernet interface

*Over two years of data logging accessible using FTP download

*Upgradable over Ethernet or MicroSD card

*Certifications include: FCC, CE, RoHS

*Internet standards: TCPIP, DNS, SMTP, FTP, DHCP, NTP

Additionally, OutBack Power recently announced its grid-interactive Radian Series GS7048E Inverter/Charger, offering 230V power for single phase and three phase residential, industrial, commercial and other applications. Engineered for compatibility across the diverse range of global power scenarios, the latest edition of OutBack's Radian series builds on the brand's reputation for reliability to meet the worldwide requirements of both stable and unstable grid infrastructures. The Radian empowers users to reduce costs associated with energy use by managing self-consumption, along with equipping them to handle the challenges associated with extended power outages.

Please contact an OutBack Power distributor for more information and pricing.

About OutBack Power Technologies
OutBack Power Technologies, a member of The Alpha Group, is the leading designer and manufacturer of advanced power electronics for renewable energy, backup power and mobile applications. With an emphasis on product performance OutBack has established itself as the product of choice in harsh environmental conditions and applications where product reliability is paramount. Whether the application is village micro-grids in Africa, rural electrification projects in Latin America, remote off-grid cabins in Alaska or suburban homes in Southern California, OutBack Power Technologies has set the bar for delivering advanced power conversion electronics. For more information, please visit www.outbackpower.com.