Re: [RE-wrenches] Low output

[b...@midnitesolar.com]

All great questions.  Sounds like the battery voltage is below set-point 
(29V) using the heat gun


which is the thing to do to drag its V down.  The Kid should have gone 
back to MPPT (Bulk, Float or EQ) in a few moments


after doing that.

The sanity check for tracking is to note the Voc (105V), which you 
did...  Then note the PV input voltage


while the CC is in MPPT mode.  The input voltage should be somewhere 
between around 75% to 83%


of that Voc.  If it is higher than that (87V for 105V Voc)  then the CC 
is trying to reduce its output current


for some reason...  Either it thinks the battery voltage is above 
set-point voltage (battery temperature compensation?),


or is current limiting  (not in your case)...  OR, maybe the Kid is over 
temperature and is throttling back its output ?


You swapped in another Kid so that is probably not it.

If the input voltage is below the set-point voltage, (less than a out 77 
volts), then that is an indication of either


a shaded panel (not the issue it would seem) or maybe a bad panel or 
high resistance connection or something else.


If the PV input voltage is where it should be (between around 80 volts), 
then the array is putting out as much as it can


in the present conditions.  So if that is the case, or the PV voltage is 
below max power point (< ~77V), then I


would check for bad connections or current limiting from the PV array by 
short circuiting the PV array and measuring


the current with a clamp on meter or whatever you have.  Make sure to 
turn off or disconnect one of the PV wires


from the Kid input when doing that.  If you measure much lower than you 
expect for that array then you've more


than likely got a bad connection in the array or wiring down on the 
ground in the BOS box or PV breaker maybe.


Keep us posted.

Thanks,

boB Gudgel





On 6/20/2018 7:54 AM, Tump wrote:
Are your batteries fully charged? FLA batts?, check w/ a refractometer 
or set the Kid to EQ. T
Also check/cycle the combiner box breakers to off then on as they are 
center trip breakers and putting the cover on sometimes can trip them. 
Also while in the combiner box check for individual polarity and V/I. T
On Jun 20, 2018, at 8:06 AM, glenn.b...@glbcc.com 
 wrote:


Have you got another manufacturer's cc you could swap in temporarily?

Do you have a load on the batteries?

Sent from my 'smart' phone so please excuse spelling and typos.

-- Original message--
*From: *frenergy
*Date: *Wed, Jun 20, 2018 12:51 AM
*To: *re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org 
;

*Cc: *
*Subject:*[RE-wrenches] Low output

Off-gridders,

              Small 24 volt off-grid install.new installation, 3, 285
watt PVs in series, 4, L-16's in series, Midnight "Kid" CC.  Problem: I
cannot get more than about 200 watts (8-9 amps battery side) out of the
Kid display in full noon sun, clean PVs. Should be 700 watts plus and
about 28 amps.  Bulk/Absorb set at 29V, battery voltage at ~25 V (pulled
down with a heat gun).  I changed that Kid out for another new one> Same
issue!  I disconnected the PV wires where they land in the Kid and got
9.3 amps short circuit, 105 volts oc  Called Midnight tech support but
we couldn't come up with a good solution.  Ideas?

Thx,

Bill

Feather River Solar Electric
Bill Battagin, Owner
4291 Nelson St.
Taylorsville, CA95983 530.284.7849 
CA Lic 874049
www.frenergy.net 


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Re: [RE-wrenches] Pro Harvest Inverters (Formerly HI-Q)

[Brian Mehalic]

My experience has been much like Blake's, with the difference being they
were all in the Northeast, both roof and ground mounts, all 480 V.  That
was a couple of years back, and I know some smart folks have been working
on this product in the meantime.


Brian Mehalic
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional™ R031508-59
520.204.6639

Solar Energy International
http://www.solarenergy.org

SEI Professional Services
http://www.seisolarpros.com


On Wed, Jun 20, 2018 at 2:22 PM, Blake Gleason 
wrote:

> We have installed 500-1,000 of them (both 208V and 480V).  They are great,
> EXCEPT for reliability.  We have some jobs with 30+ inverters, on which we
> have over 100% replacement rate (ie, all inverters have been replaced, and
> at least some of the replacements have also been replaced).  Hi-Q has been
> trying to learn from the various failure modes, and gradually making
> improvements to reliability.  If they ever get to the point of a reasonable
> failure rate, it could be a great product.
>
> Blake
> Sun Light & Power
>
> On Wed, Jun 20, 2018 at 12:15 PM, Lorenzo Ortiz 
> wrote:
>
>> Wrenches,
>>
>> Anyone have any experience with the Pro Harvest inverters (now branded by
>> Outback)?
>> They were previously known as HI-Q inverters I believe and they come in
>> 3PH 208V & 480V and are super-small and light weight.
>>
>> Just wondering on their reliability or any known issues since they are
>> relatively new.
>>
>> --
>> *Lorenzo Ortiz   Commercial PV Designer*
>>
>> lore...@cal-solar.com*  (530) 274-3671*
>>
>>
>>
>> 
>> ___
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>>
>
>
> --
>
>
>
>
> 
>
>
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> * Blake Gleason* - PE, LEED AP
> *Director of Innovation & Technical Excellence*
>
> *P:* 510.845.2997 x128
> *E:* bl...@sunlightandpower.com
> *W:* sunlightandpower.com 
>
> See how universities are using business as a force for good with solar!
> 
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Pro Harvest Inverters (Formerly HI-Q)

[Blake Gleason]

We have installed 500-1,000 of them (both 208V and 480V).  They are great,
EXCEPT for reliability.  We have some jobs with 30+ inverters, on which we
have over 100% replacement rate (ie, all inverters have been replaced, and
at least some of the replacements have also been replaced).  Hi-Q has been
trying to learn from the various failure modes, and gradually making
improvements to reliability.  If they ever get to the point of a reasonable
failure rate, it could be a great product.

Blake
Sun Light & Power

On Wed, Jun 20, 2018 at 12:15 PM, Lorenzo Ortiz 
wrote:

> Wrenches,
>
> Anyone have any experience with the Pro Harvest inverters (now branded by
> Outback)?
> They were previously known as HI-Q inverters I believe and they come in
> 3PH 208V & 480V and are super-small and light weight.
>
> Just wondering on their reliability or any known issues since they are
> relatively new.
>
> --
> *Lorenzo Ortiz   Commercial PV Designer*
>
> lore...@cal-solar.com*  (530) 274-3671*
>
>
>
> 
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-- 














* Blake Gleason* - PE, LEED AP
*Director of Innovation & Technical Excellence*

*P:* 510.845.2997 x128
*E:* bl...@sunlightandpower.com
*W:* sunlightandpower.com 

See how universities are using business as a force for good with solar!

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[RE-wrenches] Pro Harvest Inverters (Formerly HI-Q)

[Lorenzo Ortiz]

Wrenches,

Anyone have any experience with the Pro Harvest inverters (now branded by
Outback)?
They were previously known as HI-Q inverters I believe and they come in 3PH
208V & 480V and are super-small and light weight.

Just wondering on their reliability or any known issues since they are
relatively new.

-- 
*Lorenzo Ortiz   Commercial PV Designer*

lore...@cal-solar.com*  (530) 274-3671*

-- 
 
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Low output

[Jerry Shafer]

Bill
Leave the PV off for a day or so it drop the battery voltage down, yes way
down to say 1 or 2 above your LVD, then at mid day turn on the PV at this
point your system should go WOT and you should see the output expected. The
biggest reason why you are not seeing the amps is demand and the range of a
24 volt system is pretty tight, because you are "off grid" the pv system is
responce based and without demand there is just the float output, whereas
connected to the grid you can always max out power. As a seperate note you
can push FLA L-16 to 31 volts adjusting for temps
Jerry

On Tue, Jun 19, 2018, 9:51 PM frenergy  wrote:

> Off-gridders,
>
>  Small 24 volt off-grid install.new installation, 3, 285
> watt PVs in series, 4, L-16's in series, Midnight "Kid" CC.  Problem: I
> cannot get more than about 200 watts (8-9 amps battery side) out of the
> Kid display in full noon sun, clean PVs. Should be 700 watts plus and
> about 28 amps.  Bulk/Absorb set at 29V, battery voltage at ~25 V (pulled
> down with a heat gun).  I changed that Kid out for another new one> Same
> issue!  I disconnected the PV wires where they land in the Kid and got
> 9.3 amps short circuit, 105 volts oc  Called Midnight tech support but
> we couldn't come up with a good solution.  Ideas?
>
> Thx,
>
> Bill
>
> Feather River Solar Electric
> Bill Battagin, Owner
> 4291 Nelson St.
> Taylorsville, CA 95983
> 530.284.7849
> CA Lic 874049
> www.frenergy.net
>
>
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Low output

[Tump]

Are your batteries fully charged? FLA batts?, check w/ a refractometer or set 
the Kid to EQ. T
Also check/cycle the combiner box breakers to off then on as they are center 
trip breakers and putting the cover on sometimes can trip them. Also while in 
the combiner box check for individual polarity and V/I. T
> On Jun 20, 2018, at 8:06 AM, glenn.b...@glbcc.com wrote:
> 
> Have you got another manufacturer's cc you could swap in temporarily?
> 
> Do you have a load on the batteries?
> 
> Sent from my 'smart' phone so please excuse spelling and typos.
> 
> -- Original message--
> From: frenergy
> Date: Wed, Jun 20, 2018 12:51 AM
> To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org 
> ;
> Cc:
> Subject:[RE-wrenches] Low output
> 
> Off-gridders,
> 
>  Small 24 volt off-grid install.new installation, 3, 285 
> watt PVs in series, 4, L-16's in series, Midnight "Kid" CC.  Problem: I 
> cannot get more than about 200 watts (8-9 amps battery side) out of the 
> Kid display in full noon sun, clean PVs. Should be 700 watts plus and 
> about 28 amps.  Bulk/Absorb set at 29V, battery voltage at ~25 V (pulled 
> down with a heat gun).  I changed that Kid out for another new one> Same 
> issue!  I disconnected the PV wires where they land in the Kid and got 
> 9.3 amps short circuit, 105 volts oc  Called Midnight tech support but 
> we couldn't come up with a good solution.  Ideas?
> 
> Thx,
> 
> Bill
> 
> Feather River Solar Electric
> Bill Battagin, Owner
> 4291 Nelson St.
> Taylorsville, CA 95983
> 530.284.7849 
> CA Lic 874049
> www.frenergy.net 
> 
> 
> ---
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Low output

[glenn.b...@glbcc.com]

Have you got another manufacturer's cc you could swap in temporarily?
Do you have a load on the batteries?
Sent from my 'smart' phone so please excuse spelling and typos.
-- Original message--From: frenergyDate: Wed, Jun 20, 2018 12:51 AMTo: 
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org;Cc: Subject:[RE-wrenches] Low output
Off-gridders,

             Small 24 volt off-grid install.new installation, 3, 285 
watt PVs in series, 4, L-16's in series, Midnight "Kid" CC.  Problem: I 
cannot get more than about 200 watts (8-9 amps battery side) out of the 
Kid display in full noon sun, clean PVs. Should be 700 watts plus and 
about 28 amps.  Bulk/Absorb set at 29V, battery voltage at ~25 V (pulled 
down with a heat gun).  I changed that Kid out for another new one> Same 
issue!  I disconnected the PV wires where they land in the Kid and got 
9.3 amps short circuit, 105 volts oc  Called Midnight tech support but 
we couldn't come up with a good solution.  Ideas?

Thx,

Bill

Feather River Solar Electric
Bill Battagin, Owner
4291 Nelson St.
Taylorsville, CA 95983
530.284.7849
CA Lic 874049
www.frenergy.net


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Re: [RE-wrenches] Low output

[Dana]

Try another brand of CC? 

I have had same issue /different manufacturer and had dead out of the box 
replacement & same issue with the replacement.

Are there any adjustable potentiometers, I do not know this CC? 

I have recently had 2 trouble shoots [with old C-40s] that were low CC output & 
moved the pots higher & lower and voila the CC worked again.   Very frustrating 
to say the least.

 

 



Dana Orzel  Great Solar Works, Inc. 

C - 208.721.7003   d...@solarwork.com

Idaho Contractor - # 028765 Idaho PV # 028374

NABCEP # 051112-136   www.solarwork.biz

"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"  

 Please consider the environment before printing this email.

 

 

-Original Message-
From: RE-wrenches  On Behalf Of 
frenergy
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2018 10:53 PM
To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Low output

 

Off-gridders,

 

Small 24 volt off-grid install.new installation, 3, 285 watt 
PVs in series, 4, L-16's in series, Midnight "Kid" CC.  Problem: I cannot get 
more than about 200 watts (8-9 amps battery side) out of the Kid display in 
full noon sun, clean PVs. Should be 700 watts plus and about 28 amps.  
Bulk/Absorb set at 29V, battery voltage at ~25 V (pulled down with a heat gun). 
 I changed that Kid out for another new one> Same issue!  I disconnected the PV 
wires where they land in the Kid and got

9.3 amps short circuit, 105 volts oc  Called Midnight tech support but we 
couldn't come up with a good solution.  Ideas?

 

Thx,

 

Bill

 

Feather River Solar Electric

Bill Battagin, Owner

4291 Nelson St.

Taylorsville, CA 95983

530.284.7849

CA Lic 874049

  www.frenergy.net

 

 

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