Re: [RE-wrenches] crumbling ballast blocks

[Mike Kocsmiersky]

I recommend the hydraulically pressed ballast block over the non hydraulically 
pressed kind.

 

From: cwarfel [mailto:cwar...@entech-engineering.com] 
Sent: Monday, July 2, 2018 1:08 PM
To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] crumbling ballast blocks

 

I am not trying to prolong this thread, but I do want to say that there should 
be an inspection of the blocks in freeze/thaw areas.  We started an inspection 
program of our systems or systems in the area and although we don't install 
ballasted systems, we found enough other things to address. On my own 8 year 
old system zip tie failure was over 50%.  It opened my eyes to the need to do 
these inspections, and spec better materials at the start.  

I remember the survey in Wisconsin regarding the inspecting of fairly old solar 
thermal systems.  All the participants really seemed to love their systems, but 
I think over 3/4 of them were not working. 

 

On 7/1/2018 8:02 PM, Jerry Shafer wrote:

Kirt, Chris, Wrenches

We have not had any issues other then one or two in Hawaii or California, it 
might be the location, concrete blocks sitting in the weather all exposed to 
rain from on all sides and then potential freezing conditions will cause 
failure of the blocks, the same issue pools will get if there are tiles around 
the edge when they pop off in freezing conditions but thats just me>

Jerry

NABCEP Installer and PVI

 

 

On Wed, Jun 27, 2018 at 10:20 AM, Kirk Herander  wrote:

All,

I have a 6 year old ballasted roof system in which about 50% of the solid cap 
blocks(16”L x 8”w x 4”D) are cracked and crumbing, some are close to rubble. I 
assume it was a bad batch, but has anyone seen this before? What might be the 
preventive remedy in the future? A coating of some sort?

 

Kirk Herander

Owner|Principal, VT Solar, LLC 

Celebrating our 27th Anniversary 1991-2018

www.vermontsolarnow.com

dba Vermont Solar Engineering

NABCEPTM  2003 Inaugural Certificant

VT RE Incentive Program Partner

802.863.1202

 

 

 


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-- 

 

 Christopher Warfel, PE
   ENTECH Engineering, Inc.
PO Box 871, Block Island, RI 02807
   (401)466-8978

 
  EEI logo

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Re: [RE-wrenches] Fwd: Re: Rapid Shutdown and January 1 2019 option?

[cwarfel]

Thanks Rebekah, At this time, I feel like we are stranded on one option 
that used to be very popular with my customers.  Unlike most of the 
mainland, 95% of our customers want batteries. Right now, we are only 
going to do ground mounted dc coupled until we have a chance to evaluate 
the Outback system. The combiner box is large and that doesn't excite 
some people. Chris



On 7/6/2018 8:23 PM, Rebekah Hren wrote:

Hi Ray and Dan and Chris, etc,

I agree with a lot of what you are saying, don't get me wrong...I have 
an off-grid house too and I've been worrying about how module level 
shutdown will be implemented and what it means for reliability and 
cost, especially dc-coupled battery-based systems that really don't 
have or need MLPE.


I'm working on article for the Sept/Oct Homepower about rapid shutdown 
and one the things I've been excited to learn about is the new Sunspec 
alliance power line communication protocol 
 
for receivers and transmitters for RS. As Ray mentioned Midnite is 
already selling their SOB 
 
(er, haha). And Tigo just got their cheapest RS MLPE option the TSF-F 
UL  
listed. What's cool is the devices are inverter-agnostic, and don't 
need another conductor for data or power running to them. But as Ray 
also said, they aren't working with charge controllers, yet.


So I do think there is some good news on the horizon! From the way the 
2020 NEC first draft is written, I don't perceive any chance of the 
690.12 rules really changing drastically. But something else that may 
change the products we can use to meet the requirements is a new UL 
standard that is being worked on- UL 3741 PV Hazard control. I don't 
know much about it, but here is a list of the people 
 who 
are on the Standards Technical Panel. I think a few of them are on 
this listserv so maybe one of them will give us an update!


Best,
Rebekah



On Fri, Jul 6, 2018 at 4:39 PM Ray > wrote:





 Forwarded Message 
Subject:Re: [RE-wrenches] Rapid Shutdown and January 1 2019 option?
Date:   Fri, 6 Jul 2018 16:37:47 -0600
From:   Ray  
To: Rebekah Hren 




Hi Rebekah;

I very much appreciated your previous posts on this. Yes, we do
not need to disconnect the inverter and battery per previous
interpretations.  However, the RS system can and will trip for a
variety of reasons, which disconnects the charging system.  It
might take a couple of days to discharge the batteries, but the
results are the same: rotten meat in the fridge and a dead
battery. If no one is home, thousands of dollars of battery could
be ruined in a matter of weeks, if its Gel or AGM.

If we get to a point where all the modules have shut down built
in, and the Controllers also have built in disconnect so their
capacitors don't back feed, then it won't be so hard to comply
with 690.12.  In the mean time though, off grid should be given a
clear exemption based on array size and Voc of the array.  We are
often only wiring 2 modules in series, so we are already well
below 100 v.   Rules designed for 600 v arrays should not
unilaterally apply to everyone, just as 600 VAC rules don't all
apply to 120 vac residential.  There are numerous exemptions for
lower voltage AC situations, we are just asking that the same
thinking be applied to PV.

Ray Walters
Remote Solar
303 505-8760

On 7/6/18 2:57 PM, Rebekah Hren wrote:

I believe there was a big improvement for off-grid systems as
relates to RS in the 2017 NEC - the diagrams in 690.1(b) all show
the PV system disconnect clearly now.  If you check out the
diagrams you can see that energy storage/battery circuits,
including the battery-based inverter whether AC or DC coupled,
are outside the PV system boundary, thus not PV system circuits,
thus not subject to RS.

Also, the NEC 2020 1st draft report has been published

,
so get your comments submitted!

Rebekah Hren
Member, NEC CMP-4

On Fri, Jul 6, 2018 at 2:22 PM Dan Fink mailto:danbo...@gmail.com>> wrote:

I agree with you, Ray, as a purely off-grid solar installer
and troubleshooter. I think all that was accomplished in NEC
2017 on this issue is that non-habitable structures, like the
common off-grid 'power shed' don't need 690.12 RS anymore.

Dan Fink
Professor of Solar 

Re: [RE-wrenches] Xfmr's job?

[Lones Tuss]

Hello All
The VFX/FX inverters does make use of the X240 transformer.
The transformer itself could act as a step up, a step down, or a load balancing 
transformer.
Neither the FXR or the Radian inverters require the transformer as a load 
balancing transformer.
The transformer can still be used in its step up or step down configurations.
The FXRA does not use the transformer for load balancing therefore each 
inverter must be sized to handle the loads 
and any associated surges as required by the ac loads on that leg.
What was lost was the ability of the inverter systems to "borrow" from the 
lessor used ac leg.

What was gained. 
The FXRA can sell back with up to 10 inverters compared to two of the GVFX .
The FXRA can have up to 9 inverters in a 3 phase system compared to 3 with the 
VFX.
The FXRA has seven modes of operation allowing on grid or off grid operation.
SA capabilities are also available.

The question "How much wattage could be supplied by the Radian on a single AC 
leg" was also asked.
I put 6000 watts on L1 leaving no loads connected to the L2 phase.
I will add this is not recommended practice. 
The loads should be balanced at the ac panel as closely as possible.
But real life conditions are not always ideal.
I hope this helps to clarify.
Take Care All









-Original Message-
From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf 
Of Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2018 7:53 AM
To: RE-wrenches 
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Xfmr's job?

The 8kw radian still has to have balance! You can't expect it to supply 8kw  @ 
120vac. It can supply 8kw  @ 240 vac.


> Does each of the 4 kW 240 volt inverters have a maximum on the 
> 120-volt power it can supply?  for example, can it supply 70% of the 4 
> kW on 120 -volts?
> This example would leave 5.6 kW of 120-volt?
>
> On Tue, May 29, 2018 at 11:09 PM, jerrysgarage01 
> 
> wrote:
>
>> The Radian has 2, 4k, 240 volt inverters, so its different but the 
>> way the computer works it makes the same from the load side of things 
>> Jerry
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
>>
>>
>>  Original message 
>> From: frenergy 
>> Date: 5/29/18 5:51 PM (GMT-10:00)
>> To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
>> Subject: [RE-wrenches] Xfmr's job?
>>
>> Hey folks,
>>
>> Outback FP2 with Xfrmr shifts power to "other" leg if 
>> that leg needs more than the one FX can provide, right?  Say, you 
>> need 5.5 KW on leg 1, the Xfrmr pulls some power from the leg 2 
>> (inverter) to support that 5.5KW load on leg 1.
>>
>> My question (assuming above is accurate) is does the 8048 Radian do 
>> the same?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> 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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Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
"we go where powerlines don't"
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
e-mail  offgridso...@sti.net
text 209 813 0060

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