Re: [RE-wrenches] Enphase performance
Hi Randy, What are the best ways to mount the inverters to increase the output? Thanks At 06:49 PM 5/10/2010, you wrote: The mounting approach can affect the delta T ambient-module temperature resulting in much higher output for groundmounts, polemounts, or rooftop arrays in windy ridges or open spaces. Drake Chamberlin Athens Electric OH License 44810 CO License 3773 NABCEP TM Certified PV Installer Office - 740-448-7328 Mobile - 740-856-9648 ___ 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
Re: [RE-wrenches] FW: Enphase performance
I've got my SMA SB5 on a revenue grade meter and it's actually under-reported slightly since I started comparing it last August. SMA's counter has increased by 5649 kWh while the revenue meter has increased 5666 kWh- only 0.3% off. If I remember correctly from their training session they said they're usually within 1%, but their tech documents say +/- 5%. YMMV. Original Message Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] FW: Enphase performance From: Kirpal Khalsa solarwo...@gmail.com To: RE-wrenches re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Date: 2010/5/7 12:38 This same issue has come up over the years for us..first with PV Powered inverters and then noticed in Fronius as well..We have noticed in most of our grid tied systems that are connected thru a revenue grade meter for Oregon Energy Trust production reporting, that the inverter always has a higher performance than indicated on the utility grade meter. We have seen the discrepency as high as 10%. Over time this adds up to significant kWh differences. In our experience the inverter always has the higher kWh reporting, we have attributed this to the inverter wanting to report a good production number, to boost their efficiency claims..maybe even more than is accurate.I have asked PV Powered and Fronius about this and their line is that to put a revenue grade meter into the inverter would be cost prohibitive..interesting as the readily available revenue grade meters are only $30-$60. I would gladly pay that much extra if I didn't have to wire in an additional meter. I don't think this problem is unique to the Enphase units (i haven't installed any of these), I think all inverters should be required to install the revenue grade meters to give accurate reporting of actual production. Similar to how states have a weights and scales accuracy certification, energy consumption and production meters should be similarly calibratable. -- Sunny Regards, Kirpal Khalsa NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer Renewable Energy Systems www.oregonsolarworks.com http://www.oregonsolarworks.com 541-218-0201 m 541-592-3958 o ___ 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 ___ 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
[RE-wrenches] Tiny load problem
I am sizing a system that will have dual inverters to shorten generator charging in the winter and enough solar to charge the rest of the time. Here's the problem, the inverter will not be able to get into sleep mode at night. There are 2 cell chargers and a cpap machine having to run all night. It only totals 26 watts, has anyone found a better way to do this without having to keep an inverter awake to produce 26 watts? I would like to dedicate a Morningstar 300 watt inverter for the job but the system is 24 volts and Morningstar has no plans to make one in 24 volts. Anyone got any other ideas, or am I best to just deal with it? Thanks, Bob ___ 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
Re: [RE-wrenches] Tiny load problem
If the normal connected loads are within the capacity of a single inverter (which may actually be possible -- I run my whole house off one Outback FX2024, microwave, dishwasher, washing machine and all) then you can just leave one of the inverters in sleep mode or disable output but leave input/charging enabled. Which inverters are you planning on using for the generator charging? Depending upon which brand or how sophisticated you want to be, there are a couple ways to skin this cat. Easiest and cheapest is to simply not connect up any AC output wiring or stacking cables to the second inverter, and program it to stay asleep and charge only when it sees AC input power. I used to be religious about making sure my inverter was asleep, and even had a second baby inverter to power a handful of full time or sensitive loads. However, it got difficult trying to explain why you couldn't just plug the vacuum cleaner into just-any-old-outlet, and as my electronic widget count expanded it became less and less advantageous to have that baby inverter. Phil Undercuffler Conergy On Tue, May 11, 2010 at 9:58 AM, bob reelli...@gmail.com wrote: I am sizing a system that will have dual inverters to shorten generator charging in the winter and enough solar to charge the rest of the time. Here’s the problem, the inverter will not be able to get into sleep mode at night. There are 2 cell chargers and a “cpap” machine having to run all night. It only totals 26 watts, has anyone found a better way to do this without having to keep an inverter awake to produce 26 watts? I would like to dedicate a Morningstar 300 watt inverter for the job but the system is 24 volts and Morningstar has no plans to make one in 24 volts. Anyone got any other ideas, or am I best to just deal with it? Thanks, Bob ___ 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 ___ 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
Re: [RE-wrenches] Tiny load problem
Hi Bob, I run into this issue nearly every week and the solution is the same every time: install a small dedicated inverter. CPAP machines and cell phone chargers work just fine with modified square wave inverters but for only $100 you can have a 300 watt sine wave inverter. I'd recommend sine wave since many small load items like battery chargers, electric blanket control, electric toothbrush, etc., fail with MSW inverters. Contact me off list if you don't have a resource for small 12, 24 and 48 volt inverters. Larry Crutcher Starlight Solar Power Systems (928) 342-9103 Mailing Address: 11881 S. Fortuna Road, #210 Yuma, AZ 85367 Retail Store Shipping Address: 2998 Shari Ave. Yuma, Az 85365 - Original Message - From: bob To: 'RE-wrenches' Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 8:58 AM Subject: [RE-wrenches] Tiny load problem I am sizing a system that will have dual inverters to shorten generator charging in the winter and enough solar to charge the rest of the time. Here's the problem, the inverter will not be able to get into sleep mode at night. There are 2 cell chargers and a cpap machine having to run all night. It only totals 26 watts, has anyone found a better way to do this without having to keep an inverter awake to produce 26 watts? I would like to dedicate a Morningstar 300 watt inverter for the job but the system is 24 volts and Morningstar has no plans to make one in 24 volts. Anyone got any other ideas, or am I best to just deal with it? Thanks, Bob ___ 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
Re: [RE-wrenches] E-meter/Link-10 prescaler
Title: David Katz Thanks David, but the1:5 prescaler is for a different meter (e-xpert pro) than the old link-10/e-meter. I am looking for old stock of link-10/e-meter 0-100 volt prescalers. Todd David Katz wrote: Hi Todd, If you get desperate, you can buy them from the company that manufactured them for Xantrex. It is the same company that made the Link meters for them and still sells them in Europe. It is TBS electronics. http://www.tbs-electronics.nl/products_expertpro_15voltageprescalerkit.htm Cheers, David David Katz Chief Technical Officer AEE Solar 1155 Redway Drive P.O. Box 339 Redway, CA 95560 Tel (707) 825-1200 Fax (707) 825-1202 dk...@aeesolar.com www.aeesolar.com DISCLAIMER: This communication, along with any documents, files or attachments, is intended for the use of only the addressee and contains privileged and confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of any information contained in or attached to this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-mail reply and destroy the original communication and its attachments without reading, printing or saving in any manner. toddc...@finestplanet.com wrote: I am looking for any old stock or leads for the now discontinued E-meter/Link-10 prescaler. 0-100 volts. Thanks, Todd ___ 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 ___ 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 -- Todd Cory Todd Cory KE6SXS toddc...@finestplanet.com Mt. Shasta Energy Services License C-10 #811428 P.O. Box 689 Mt. Shasta, CA. 96067 (530) 926-1079 “I'd put my money on solar energy...I hope we don't have to wait till oil and coal run out before we tackle that." ∞ Thomas Edison, in conversation with Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, March 1931 ___ 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
Re: [RE-wrenches] E-meter/Link-10 prescaler
Try Bryan Belk at www.belktronix.com He's built some prescalers for the electric vehicle crowd and that segment has been longtime fanboy about the e-meter. I think you may find an appropriate prescaler on Bryan's site...or write to him. I have some 48v prescalers which were made by Bryan to work with the Xantrex XBM battery monitor...then Xantrex discontinued that meter. (I believe that's also a product from the Holland company referenced by David Katz...and discontinued by them.) Anyway...if any List members have some of those XBM meters for which you need 48v prescalers, contact me off list for a freebie or two. Jolliness, Mick Abraham, Proprietor www.abrahamsolar.com Voice: 970-731-4675 On Tue, May 11, 2010 at 7:17 PM, Todd Cory toddc...@finestplanet.comwrote: Thanks David, but the1:5 prescaler is for a different meter (e-xpert pro) than the old link-10/e-meter. I am looking for old stock of link-10/e-meter 0-100 volt prescalers. Todd David Katz wrote: Hi Todd, If you get desperate, you can buy them from the company that manufactured them for Xantrex. It is the same company that made the Link meters for them and still sells them in Europe. It is TBS electronics. http://www.tbs-electronics.nl/products_expertpro_15voltageprescalerkit.htm Cheers, David David Katz Chief Technical Officer AEE Solar 1155 Redway Drive P.O. Box 339 Redway, CA 95560 Tel (707) 825-1200 Fax (707) 825-1202 dk...@aeesolar.com da...@aeesolar.com www.aeesolar.com DISCLAIMER: This communication, along with any documents, files or attachments, is intended for the use of only the addressee and contains privileged and confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of any information contained in or attached to this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-mail reply and destroy the original communication and its attachments without reading, printing or saving in any manner. toddc...@finestplanet.com wrote: I am looking for any old stock or leads for the now discontinued E-meter/Link-10 prescaler. 0-100 volts. Thanks, Todd -- ___ 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 -- ___ 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 -- Todd Cory KE6SXS *toddc...@finestplanet.com* Mt. Shasta Energy Services License C-10 #811428 P.O. Box 689 Mt. Shasta, CA. 96067 *(530) 926-1079* * * “I'd put my money on solar energy...I hope we don't have to wait till oil and coal run out before we tackle that. ∞ Thomas Edison, in conversation with Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, March 1931** ___ 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 ___ 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
