Kirk I can't say exactly on battery life, but it seems to hold up pretty well and I do like using standard off the shelf batteries, I can always carry spares because if they are going to go dead you know it is when you are in the middle of no where! I prefer rechargeables, but someone always seems to forget to plug it in when you come back from the field!..oops! I do wish they had a better indicator of battery life. I have had problems connecting the 200R irradiance RF to the PV150 meter during training , and it is usually the battery being low in the 200R (9V), but not the PV150, they seem to last a pretty long time . Pop in a new one and everything is OK.
Bill On Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 2:54 PM, Kirk Herander <k...@vtsolar.com> wrote: > PS – What’s of battery life like in the Seaward products, in particular > when using the wireless irradiance meter? I have a Fluke 233 w/ detachable > remote display. It has a range of about 30 ft. Trouble is every time a pull > it out after a couple weeks of being turned off the batteries are always > dead……**** > > ** ** > > Kirk Herander**** > > VT Solar, LLC**** > > dba Vermont Solar Engineering**** > > NABCEPTM Certified Inaugural Certificant**** > > NYSERDA-eligible Installer**** > > VT RE Incentive Program Partner**** > > 802.863.1202**** > > ** ** > > *From:* re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto: > re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *Kirk Herander > *Sent:* Wednesday, February 13, 2013 5:39 PM > > *To:* 'RE-wrenches' > *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Seaward Solarlink**** > > ** ** > > Thanks Bill. It was your excellent HP article which turned me on to > Seaward products, as applied to full-blown evaluation. I am doing larger > and more commercial arrays now and this testing is a logical step up in > professional commissioning. Sure beats the basics using my old Fluke. Now > the hand-held IR thermal imager, at $6K, is a little harder to justify.*** > * > > ** ** > > Kirk Herander**** > > VT Solar, LLC**** > > dba Vermont Solar Engineering**** > > NABCEPTM Certified Inaugural Certificant**** > > NYSERDA-eligible Installer**** > > VT RE Incentive Program Partner**** > > 802.863.1202**** > > ** ** > > *From:* re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org > [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *Bill > Hoffer > *Sent:* Wednesday, February 13, 2013 5:03 PM > *To:* RE-wrenches > *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Seaward Solarlink**** > > ** ** > > Kirk > > Good to check out, it is a fair amount of money, but being able to safely > do Isc on a full series string, megging, grounding continuity and DC power, > it is a handy tool to have. > I have been using one for over a year now and have been very happy with > it. It is relatively quick to use once you get used to it and gives me a > lot of confidence in the final install knowing that the ground continuity > is sound, strings are in good shape ( no bad modules or connections ) and > the array has been safely meg tested ( shorted leads vs , - to Ground and + > to ground). Make sure you get the PV150 with extra memory and RF > capability with the 200R irradiance and cell temp meter. Clamp on meter is > good to, with the PV T leads attached will calculate DC power into > Inverter. > > I actually like their single phase Solar Power meter too , since it will > do kW AC, makes short work of doing Inverter performance validation. It > also does PF , Harmonics and will detect phase order for a 3 phase motor. > Pretty nice, seems most power meters are in the $6k range and start at 3 > phase, so for $500 bucks I think it is a good value. > > Keep in mind that the Seaward is designed for European installs where they > usually have MC4 connectors at each inverter location, so the PV connectors > supplied are MC4 and Sunclips. I have adapted the sunclips to Banana stlye > connectors so I can use standard off the shelf 20 amp 1000 VDC test leads > and banana clip extensions. Easy to also use MC4 adapters to any other > standard connectors. I wish we used MC4's to the inverters, it would speed > up commissioning alot! Sometimes it is a challenge to adapt combiners or > inverter disconnects to make a spot to use as a test lead when there is no > where to clamp on. Hopefully as commissioning of larger installs becomes > commoner we will see those manufacturers making a test spot more accessible! > > Also beware that the Megger only really works for PV Strings and if you > need to meg wire or motors you will need a standard $500 Megger, I like the > Fluke 1587 because it has other common meter funtions. Frankly I do not > like megging a PV string using a megger, to me the Seaward is a lot faster > and gives me more useful information all at once ( Voc Isc, Insulation > resistance, irradiance, Cell temp). > > I also do training in commissioning testing through Solar Energy > International ( PV351lab) that allows you to use all the advanced tools > available for commissioning and troubleshooting on live systems in their > lab yard. Well worth it to get a chance to play with the tools before you > put hard cash down on it. I also consult independently to train > installation crews in the operation of the Seaward, so you can contact me > off list if you wish to discuss that. > > > I would not do a larger commercial or utility scale project without the > PV150 as a minimum commissioning tool. Curve tracing Thermal cameras are > overkill unless you have module failures to track down or Bankability > commissioning requirements for them. Often they are much more dependent on > conditions than the preliminary Seaward tests. > > Highly recommend Seaward as a company and their tool, Great support and > product! Hukseflux recently released a similar tool that just came out for > a little less, but I have not had a chance to evaluate it yet or have I > heard from anyone using it yet. > > Good Luck**** > > On Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 1:25 PM, Kirk Herander <k...@vtsolar.com> wrote:** > ** > > Hello,**** > > **** > > Can anyone provide user feedback on the Seaward PV test/commissioning > equipment? I’m thinking of making the $2K investment in their Solarlink > kit. Thanks.**** > > **** > > Kirk Herander**** > > VT Solar, LLC**** > > dba Vermont Solar Engineering**** > > NABCEPTM Certified Inaugural Certificant**** > > NYSERDA-eligible Installer**** > > VT RE Incentive Program Partner**** > > 802.863.1202**** > > **** > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Options & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org**** > > > > > -- > Bill Hoffer PE > NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™ > Sunergy Engineering Services PLLC > 2504 Columbia Ave NW > East Wenatchee WA 98802-3941 > bhof...@sunergyengineeringservices.com Cell:(509)679-6165**** > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Options & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > -- Bill Hoffer PE NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™ Sunergy Engineering Services PLLC 2504 Columbia Ave NW East Wenatchee WA 98802-3941 bhof...@sunergyengineeringservices.com Cell:(509)679-6165
_______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org