William, The charge controllers could operate in open loop, while the SMA did close the loop. Open loop works really well for charge controllers.
I question if the closed loop communication was really working correctly if the SI is reporting 50% SOC when the batteries are reporting 95%… The SI should be getting its % info from the batteries… My thoughts are that the inverter needs to start frequency shifting at a lower voltage. If the closed loop communication isn’t working correctly, you could try setting a lower absorb and float voltage… I’ve had bad luck using open loop Lithium with SMA… If you were to consider switching out the inverters, consider putting in Fortress Envy inverters. -Kienan Green-Go Solar Wholesale Distribution LLC kienan@dist.solar maxfieldso...@hotmail.com<https://maxfieldso...@hotmail.com/> (801) 631-5584(Cell) www.distribution.solar On Oct 24, 2023, at 9:20 AM, Chris Sparadeo via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: Hi William, That’s an interesting idea to have close loop comms with two separate manufacturers at the same time. In theory I think this could work, but unfortunately, I don’t think SMA and Schneider share the same protocol # for the eVault. I believe SMA uses protocol #2 and Schneider uses #5. Kindly, Chris On Tue, Oct 24, 2023 at 10:40 AM MDElectricSolar via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote: I would tear all the sunny boys and sunny islands out and install two 15 kW Sol-Arks, problem solved. DC coupled. I've done this several times now for existing clients (mostly connected to the grid) but it is so much cleaner and more compact and effective. Michael D Nelson MD Electric & Solar, Inc. 707-684-0064 mobile 707-884-1862 office www.mdelectricsolar.com<http://www.mdelectricsolar.com> www.facebook.com/mdelectricandsolar<http://www.facebook.com/mdelectricandsolar> On Oct 24, 2023, at 7:31 AM, William Miller via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote: Friends: This situation is as yet unresolved. It is complicated enough I created a web page<https://millersolar.com/MillerSolar/case_studies/36_SIFortress/36_SunnyIslandFortressIntegration.html> to describe the scenario so I did not have to explain it over and over. I submitted this to Fortress tech support. They said they had likely not tested the Fortress compatibility with SI in an AC-Coupled system. While Fortress technicians and/or engineers ponder the situation I am brainstorming solutions. One idea is to convert to a DC coupled system. DC Charge controllers will have intrinsically better voltage control. The charge controller most likely suitable is the Schneider 600 volt 100 amp unit. I would need two of them. It is compatible with the existing string wiring. In researching it many questions came up about that product’s suitability. There is an integration guide for a Schneider system and Fortress but this would be a mixed system of Schneider and SMA. Would I be able to apply closed loop communication to both systems? Could the charge controllers work in open loop? Has anyone tried anything like this? I will keep you apprised. William Miller Miller Solar 17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422 805-438-5600 www.millersolar.com<http://www.millersolar.com/> CA Lic. 773985 _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org There are two list archives for searching. 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