Re: [RE-wrenches] FM80
Jesse, The controller is supposed to limit the output current to 80 amps. But the 80-amp GFDI breakers will trip anyway. Kent Osterberg Blue Mountain Solar, Inc. www.bluemountainsolar.com On 5/28/2013 9:01 PM, Jesse Dahl wrote: When I was looking at the Outback Flexone setup today during some down time I notice that they send that package out with an 80A PV breaker and an 80A GFDI breaker. If a person had an array up at 2500W and a 24V battery bank, on some occasions, wouldn't this lead to tripping of the 80A breaker on the output side of the charge controller? 2500W/24V (just for math sakes)=104A Jesse Sent from my iPhone On May 28, 2013, at 10:10 AM, "SunHarvest" wrote: Jesse, I have an FM80 on an array of 2560 STC; all off-grid. The only issue I have is that when my batteries are full, and I have essentially zero loads, and the sun is shining away, my XW will disconnect and my house will lose power. I have to reset the system to get back online. This, I'm pretty sure is not a malfunction of the FM80, but rather an issue with the XW, just haven't had time yet to fully trouble-shoot. I think it's a matter of reconfiguring the XW charging setpoints. I haven't had any direct issues with the FM80 with this STC "over power" set up. Eric SunHarvest (530)98-3738 - Original Message - From: "Jesse Dahl" To: "Wrenches" Sent: Friday, May 24, 2013 8:06 PM Subject: [RE-wrenches] FM80 Hello, I'm working on bid for a system using the FM80 controller. The specs for the controller say the maximum STC wattage for a 24V system is 2500W. The array I want to use has a STC wattage 2550. I called outback to ask if this was "close enough" today and didn't get a reply (holiday weekend?!) I also called the distributor I buy my parts through and they said it wouldn't be a problem. I don't want to lose warranty of something happens. I don't want to use different modules. I don't want to have to add another controller and split up the array just for 50W. Thoughts? Have a good holiday weekend! Jesse ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & 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] FM80
When I was looking at the Outback Flexone setup today during some down time I notice that they send that package out with an 80A PV breaker and an 80A GFDI breaker. If a person had an array up at 2500W and a 24V battery bank, on some occasions, wouldn't this lead to tripping of the 80A breaker on the output side of the charge controller? 2500W/24V (just for math sakes)=104A Jesse Sent from my iPhone On May 28, 2013, at 10:10 AM, "SunHarvest" wrote: > Jesse, > > I have an FM80 on an array of 2560 STC; all off-grid. The only issue I have > is that when my batteries are full, and I have essentially zero loads, and > the sun is shining away, my XW will disconnect and my house will lose power. > I have to reset the system to get back online. This, I'm pretty sure is not a > malfunction of the FM80, but rather an issue with the XW, just haven't had > time yet to fully trouble-shoot. I think it's a matter of reconfiguring the > XW charging setpoints. I haven't had any direct issues with the FM80 with > this STC "over power" set up. > > Eric > SunHarvest > (530)98-3738 > > - Original Message - From: "Jesse Dahl" > To: "Wrenches" > Sent: Friday, May 24, 2013 8:06 PM > Subject: [RE-wrenches] FM80 > > >> Hello, >> >> I'm working on bid for a system using the FM80 controller. The specs for the >> controller say the maximum STC wattage for a 24V system is 2500W. The array >> I want to use has a STC wattage 2550. I called outback to ask if this was >> "close enough" today and didn't get a reply (holiday weekend?!) I also >> called the distributor I buy my parts through and they said it wouldn't be a >> problem. >> >> I don't want to lose warranty of something happens. I don't want to use >> different modules. I don't want to have to add another controller and split >> up the array just for 50W. >> >> Thoughts? >> >> >> Have a good holiday weekend! >> >> Jesse >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> ___ >> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change email address & 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 > > Change email address & 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 Change email address & 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] Solar Bridge AC Modules
Marco, Are these recent issues. I was told of this problem by our distributor, who says this is now resolved. On Tue, May 28, 2013 at 7:45 PM, Marco Mangelsdorf wrote: > Challenges with the monitoring system. > > ** ** > > *From:* re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto: > re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *Carl Adams > *Sent:* Tuesday, May 28, 2013 9:11 AM > *To:* RE-wrenches > *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Solar Bridge AC Modules > > ** ** > > Hello Wrenches, > > ** ** > > SolarBridge is paired up with four companies ( ET Solar, Mage Solar, > Talesun, and Solartec ) manufacturing AC modules. Have any of you > installed any of these yet and if so what was your impression. > > ** ** > > With Regards > > Carl Adams > > SunRock Solar > > ___ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change email address & 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 Change email address & 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] Xantrex XW or Outback with very small temporary battery bank
Hi Jim, I have done exactly this before (old, but not dead car batteries) with the XW and no problems at all. In fact, due to the XW's flawed charging algorithms my default config is to set the batteries to the lowest possible Ah setting. I've not tried with Outback but can't see how it would be a problem. Kevin -Original Message- From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org]On Behalf Of Jim MacDonald Sent: May 28, 2013 1:33 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: [RE-wrenches] Xantrex XW or Outback with very small temporarybattery bank Hi wrenches I have a "friend of a friend" that wants a 6kW grid tie with battery backup system, but does not have the money to buy everything at the moment. Right now, he can afford the PV + inverter + BoS, but estimates that he's need to put aside $$ for about a year before he can afford a proper battery bank. He'd like to consume/ sell all solar kWh this year; during this time in a blackout he'd be outta luck and he knows that. Was thinking about "fooling" the inverter with a temp battery bank of (4) used 12v car batteries just so it can see voltage and turn on. Outback says their Flex "needs" 100 ah minimum, and the Radian would need 350 ah minimum; Xantrex XW 100 ah. Im wondering how they'd know the battery bank was so shallow if it were to never cycle. And of course if we could perform a memory wipe/ factory reset on the CCs in a year's time and then install a nice new 48v deep cycle 800 ah batt bank. Has anyone ever tried to connect a too-small battery bank to a battery-based / grid-tied inverter, and had the inverter not work because the bank was too small? (If there are old threads on this please let me know) thanks Jim MacDonald ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & 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] Solar Bridge AC Modules
Challenges with the monitoring system. From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Carl Adams Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 9:11 AM To: RE-wrenches Subject: [RE-wrenches] Solar Bridge AC Modules Hello Wrenches, SolarBridge is paired up with four companies ( ET Solar, Mage Solar, Talesun, and Solartec ) manufacturing AC modules. Have any of you installed any of these yet and if so what was your impression. With Regards Carl Adams SunRock Solar ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & 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] AC Coupling different brands
Lars, With the old Trace inverters? Were they 4.01 firmware or 4.10/4.30? Did you use the GTI? How did you AC couple them - which input/output terminals? And what was the rationale in an off grid scenario - distance to sun in a shady forest? I didn't know this was possible. Thanks, Allan Allan Sindelar al...@positiveenergysolar.com NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician Founder and Chief Technology Officer Positive Energy, Inc. 3209 Richards Lane (note new address) Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507 505 424-1112 www.positiveenergysolar.com On 5/28/2013 11:53 AM, lars Ortegren wrote: We have done a number of off grid AC coupling projects over the last eight years. We have found they are successful with anything that comes close to a true sign wave, including some of the old Trace inverters. I would be careful to not come too close to the wattage of the source inverter, and keep in mind that your battery charging is only one stage (bulk), and might not be the best choice without another charging source (i.e. the grid, or a semi regular generator). I can't say it makes a lot of sense, but when we have tested grid tied inverters and charge controllers side by side, the GT inverters produce significantly more than any CC's on the market.. Any more, I think that it is a better design to have the larger array tied to a GT inverter, and a small array tied to a charge controller for absorb and float charging...Just sayin. Lars Ortegren Director of Operations California Solar Electric Company 10141 Evening Star Drive, Suite 6 Grass Valley, CA 95945 http://www.californiasolarco.com/ Phone : (530)274-3671 Fax: (530)274-7518 California C-10 Electical Contractor #779624 NABCEP Certified PV Installer # 091110-89 Certified NABCEP Continuing Education Provider ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & 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 Change email address & 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] Xantrex XW or Outback with very small temporary battery bank
Hi wrenches I have a "friend of a friend" that wants a 6kW grid tie with battery backup system, but does not have the money to buy everything at the moment. Right now, he can afford the PV + inverter + BoS, but estimates that he's need to put aside $$ for about a year before he can afford a proper battery bank. He'd like to consume/ sell all solar kWh this year; during this time in a blackout he'd be outta luck and he knows that. Was thinking about "fooling" the inverter with a temp battery bank of (4) used 12v car batteries just so it can see voltage and turn on. Outback says their Flex "needs" 100 ah minimum, and the Radian would need 350 ah minimum; Xantrex XW 100 ah. Im wondering how they'd know the battery bank was so shallow if it were to never cycle. And of course if we could perform a memory wipe/ factory reset on the CCs in a year's time and then install a nice new 48v deep cycle 800 ah batt bank. Has anyone ever tried to connect a too-small battery bank to a battery-based / grid-tied inverter, and had the inverter not work because the bank was too small? (If there are old threads on this please let me know) thanks Jim MacDonald ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & 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] AC Coupling different brands
Hi Lars I'm curious what you found those efficiency differences to be? And how are you measuring inverter charging efficiency in the bi directional mode Thanks Jay Peltz power Sent from my iPhone On May 28, 2013, at 10:53 AM, "lars Ortegren" wrote: > We have done a number of off grid AC coupling projects over the last eight > years. We have found they are successful with anything that comes close to a > true sign wave, including some of the old Trace inverters. I would be > careful to not come too close to the wattage of the source inverter, and > keep in mind that your battery charging is only one stage (bulk), and might > not be the best choice without another charging source (i.e. the grid, or a > semi regular generator). I can't say it makes a lot of sense, but when we > have tested grid tied inverters and charge controllers side by side, the GT > inverters produce significantly more than any CC's on the market.. Any more, > I think that it is a better design to have the larger array tied to a GT > inverter, and a small array tied to a charge controller for absorb and float > charging...Just sayin. > > Lars Ortegren > Director of Operations > California Solar Electric Company > 10141 Evening Star Drive, Suite 6 > Grass Valley, CA 95945 > http://www.californiasolarco.com/ > > Phone : (530)274-3671 > Fax: (530)274-7518 > > ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & 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] Solar Bridge AC Modules
Hello Wrenches, SolarBridge is paired up with four companies ( ET Solar, Mage Solar, Talesun, and Solartec ) manufacturing AC modules. Have any of you installed any of these yet and if so what was your impression. With Regards Carl Adams SunRock Solar ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & 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] Gas oven question
Wrenches, The issue of the 3-500 watt electric glow bar in gas ovens is well known. I recently installed a Peerless-Premier stove in my off grid kitchen, selecting a model built specifically for off grid homes, with an electric igniter for a pilot light for the burner. But occasionally I'm asked for a recommendation of a a separate gas oven, installed independently of a gas cooktop. Peerless only makes freestanding ranges. Any suggestions, please? Allan -- Allan Sindelar al...@positiveenergysolar.com NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician Founder and Chief Technology Officer Positive Energy, Inc. 3209 Richards Lane (note new address) Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507 505 424-1112 www.positiveenergysolar.com ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & 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] AC Coupling different brands
We have done a number of off grid AC coupling projects over the last eight years. We have found they are successful with anything that comes close to a true sign wave, including some of the old Trace inverters. I would be careful to not come too close to the wattage of the source inverter, and keep in mind that your battery charging is only one stage (bulk), and might not be the best choice without another charging source (i.e. the grid, or a semi regular generator). I can't say it makes a lot of sense, but when we have tested grid tied inverters and charge controllers side by side, the GT inverters produce significantly more than any CC's on the market.. Any more, I think that it is a better design to have the larger array tied to a GT inverter, and a small array tied to a charge controller for absorb and float charging...Just sayin. Lars Ortegren Director of Operations California Solar Electric Company 10141 Evening Star Drive, Suite 6 Grass Valley, CA 95945 http://www.californiasolarco.com/ Phone : (530)274-3671 Fax: (530)274-7518 California C-10 Electical Contractor #779624 NABCEP Certified PV Installer # 091110-89 Certified NABCEP Continuing Education Provider ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & 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] FM80
Jesse, I have an FM80 on an array of 2560 STC; all off-grid. The only issue I have is that when my batteries are full, and I have essentially zero loads, and the sun is shining away, my XW will disconnect and my house will lose power. I have to reset the system to get back online. This, I'm pretty sure is not a malfunction of the FM80, but rather an issue with the XW, just haven't had time yet to fully trouble-shoot. I think it's a matter of reconfiguring the XW charging setpoints. I haven't had any direct issues with the FM80 with this STC "over power" set up. Eric SunHarvest (530)98-3738 - Original Message - From: "Jesse Dahl" To: "Wrenches" Sent: Friday, May 24, 2013 8:06 PM Subject: [RE-wrenches] FM80 Hello, I'm working on bid for a system using the FM80 controller. The specs for the controller say the maximum STC wattage for a 24V system is 2500W. The array I want to use has a STC wattage 2550. I called outback to ask if this was "close enough" today and didn't get a reply (holiday weekend?!) I also called the distributor I buy my parts through and they said it wouldn't be a problem. I don't want to lose warranty of something happens. I don't want to use different modules. I don't want to have to add another controller and split up the array just for 50W. Thoughts? Have a good holiday weekend! Jesse Sent from my iPhone ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & 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 Change email address & 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
