I just did a review of the TL inverters by SMA for possible use. A few points that are relevant: They require the use of an external fused combiner (they also sell). It has support for up to 6 strings, with both + and - fuse positions provided.
The integrated DC disconnect has no fusing - it will accept only two conductors The manual says these inverters are supposed to be installed in threes They only work on 208VAC Obviously they are lighter than their transformer based cousins There is a warning to beware of stray array capacitances in excess of 2 micro Farads or more and 50mA from the cells to ground or the inverter will disconnect Obviously an EGC is still necessary from the frame of the array Required clearance around the inverter has been increased to 12" (36" below) Replaceable varistors are used to protect DC inputs from high voltages (inside DC disconnect) Still 600VDC upper limit AC max conductor diameter is 2AWG, min is #6 DC conductors - #10 to #6 They recommend operating the DC disconnect once a year, 10 times to keep the contacts clean FYI - thought I'd share. -Glenn Burt From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of August Goers Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 3:50 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Tranformless inverter Hi Bill and Wrenches - For ungrounded arrays what specific fusing and or DC disconnect requirements are needed compared to grounded arrays? I'm trying to sort through the code but nothing is popping out at me besides what was already mentioned about needing to disconnect both the positive and negative lines on the DC side. In SMA's case I'm guessing that their new transformerless inverters with integrated DC disconnects and fuses may already take of all the requirements? Best, August August Goers Luminalt Energy Corporation 1320 Potrero Avenue San Francisco, CA 94110 m: 415.559.1525 o: 415.641.4000 aug...@luminalt.com From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Bill Brooks Sent: Friday, October 01, 2010 8:29 AM To: 'RE-wrenches' Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Tranformless inverter All, Transformerless inverters are simply a subset of ungrounded or resistively grounded PV systems covered by the NEC in 690.35 since the 2005 code cycle. Power-One has been marketing their ungrounded inverter in the U.S. for several years now. It was listed by CSA. The requirements for ungrounded systems in 690.35 are as follows: &bull "Photovoltaic power systems shall be permitted to operate with ungrounded photovoltaic source and output circuits where the system complies with 690.35(A) through 690.35(G). &minus (A) Disconnects. All photovoltaic source and output circuit conductors shall have disconnects complying with 690, Part III. &minus (B) Overcurrent Protection. All photovoltaic source and output circuit conductors shall have overcurrent protection complying with 690.9. &minus (C) Ground-Fault Protection. All photovoltaic source and output circuits shall be provided with a ground-fault protection device or system that complies with (1) through (3): &bull (1) Detects a ground fault. &bull (2) Indicates that a ground fault has occurred &bull (3) Automatically disconnects all conductors or causes the inverter or charge controller connected to the faulted circuit to automatically cease supplying power to output circuits. &minus (D) The photovoltaic source and output conductors shall consist of the following: &minus (1) Nonmetallic jacketed multiconductor cables &minus (2) Conductors installed in raceways, or &minus (3) Conductors listed and identified as Photovoltaic (PV) Wire installed as exposed, single conductors. &minus (E) The photovoltaic power system direct-current circuits shall be permitted to be used with ungrounded battery systems complying with 690.71(G). &minus (F) The photovoltaic power source shall be labeled with the following warning at each junction box, combiner box, disconnect, and device where the ungrounded circuits may be exposed during service: WARNING ELECTRIC SHOCK HAZARD THE DC CIRCUIT CONDUCTORS OF THIS PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEM ARE UNGROUNDED AND MAY BE ENERGIZED WITH RESPECT TO GROUND DUE TO LEAKAGE PATHS AND/OR GROUND FAULTS. &minus (G) The inverters or charge controllers used in systems with ungrounded photovoltaic source and output circuits shall be listed for the purpose. We now have several products newly on the market to include on the list such as the SMA and Exeltech products. Ungrounding the array requires additional fusing and disconnects, but the most significant difference is that the module wiring and all external cable must be PV Wire/Cable. Therefore only modules with PV Wire/Cable can be used in these systems. You must confirm from the manufacturer that they have made the switch. Hopefully all manufacturers will be installing PV Wire/Cable soon so that this will not be a problem anymore. It is a good call to use up your USE-2 and order PV Wire/Cable from now on. Bill. From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Exeltech Sent: Friday, October 01, 2010 6:39 AM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Tranformless inverter Transformerless grid-tie inverters are permitted under the National Electric Code as of 2008. The Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (UL, ETL/Intertek, CSA, etc.) took a while to develop the testing procedures for testing to UL1741, which was the basis for most of the delay. SMA isn't the only company with transformerless grid-tie inverters. I know of one American manufacturer with transformerless models on the market as well. Transformerless inverters are smaller, much lighter, and tend to be more efficient than transformer-based units. No transformer also means lower product cost, and less shipping expense. Win-win-win. Dan --- On Fri, 10/1/10, Drake <drake.chamber...@redwoodalliance.org> wrote: From: Drake <drake.chamber...@redwoodalliance.org> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Tranformless inverter To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Date: Friday, October 1, 2010, 6:58 AM I also received this advertisement. Previously I had investigated the smaller SMA transformerless inverters, and was told that this type would not be allowed in the US until the 2011 code. Has the ban been lifted? At 12:52 AM 9/29/2010, you wrote: Wrenches: I received an advertisement from a distributor that SMA is now shipping 8, 9 and 10 KW transformerless inverters. Don't these require double insulated PV wiring and no connection to ground on the AC side? It's been too long since this subject last crossed my desk and I want to refresh my memory on the specifics. William Miller Please note new e-mail address and domain: William Miller Miller Solar Voice :805-438-5600 email: will...@millersolar.com http://millersolar.com <http://millersolar.com/> License No. C-10-773985
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