Product Manual

Operation
900-0145-01-01 Rev B 21
Table 1 Summary of Input Modes
Mode Summary Benefits Cautions Intended Charger
Generator
Accepts power
from an
irregular or
low-quality
AC source

Can use AC that may be
unusable in other modes

Can charge even with a
poor generator or
low-quality AC source

Will pass irregular or
low-quality power to
the output; could
damage sensitive loads

Offset unavailable
Source:
Generator
Loads:
Non-
sensitive
devices
Performs three-stage
charge and goes
silent as specified by
settings.
Support
Adds battery
power to
augment an
AC source that
has limited
output

Can use battery power
in conjunction with
AC source

Offset operation sends
excess DC to loads

Drains batteries during
support; intended for
intermittent use only

May not function with
low-quality AC source
Source:
Grid or
Generator
Loads:
Can be
larger than
AC source
Performs three-stage
charge and goes
silent as specified by
user settings.
Grid-
Tied
Inverter sells
excess power
(renewable)
to utility

Bidirectional input

Can reduce utility bills
and still provide backup

Offset operation sends
excess DC to loads

Any additional Offset
excess is sold to the grid

Requires utility
approval

Other approvals may be
required depending on
electrical codes

Has exact requirements
for accepting AC input

Requires renewable
energy source
Source:
Grid
Loads:
Any type
Performs three-stage
charge and goes
silent as specified by
user settings.
UPS
In grid failure,
unit switches
to batteries
with fastest
possible
response time

Quick backup for
sensitive devices during
grid outage

Uses higher idle power
than other modes

Search function
unavailable

Offset unavailable
Source:
Grid
Loads:
PC, audio,
video, etc.
Performs three-stage
charge and goes
silent as specified by
user settings.
Backup
In grid failure,
unit switches
batteries to
support loads;
this is the
default mode

Simple use compared to
other modes; often
used with generators for
this reason

Less idle power than
UPS

Does not drain battery as
in
Support
Has none of the special
functions described in
other modes, including
Offset
Source:
Grid or
Generator
Loads:
Any type
Performs three-stage
charge and goes
silent as specified by
user settings.
MiniGrid
Stays off grid
most of the
time; only uses
grid when
batteries low

Can minimize/eliminate
dependence on grid

Offset operation sends
excess DC to loads (but
only when on grid)

Will not work properly
unless renewable
source is above a
certain size

Conflicts with related
modes in MATE3
Source:
Grid
Loads:
Any type
Performs three-stage
charge on reconnect;
if charger is disabled,
inverter emulates
charge cycle from
external source and
reacts accordingly
GridZero
On-grid but
actual grid use
is “zeroed out”
with battery
and renewable
power; does
not sell or
charge

Can minimize/eliminate
dependence on grid

Offset operation sends
excess DC to loads at
adjustable rate

Remains on-grid to avoid
transfer problems

Discharges batteries
while remaining on grid

Will not work properly
unless renewable
source is above a
certain size

Battery charger
inoperative
Source:
Grid
Loads:
Any type
Charger inoperative;
batteries must be
charged using an
external (renewable)
energy source