Re: [RE-wrenches] Sunny Island problems
Thank William. Keep us posted. Cheers Carl On Aug 25, 2014, at 6:42 PM, "William Miller" wrote: Colleagues: An update on the Sunny Island problems: When I provide a constructive criticism of a manufacturer and the manufacturer responds favorably I feel it imperative I make the fact public. SMA put a senior tech on the project and we are working on it now. I am very pleased with this development. We examined the data and developed some theories. I will report back on what we learned. For now, let the record show that SMA is putting good faith effort into a resolution. William Miller Lic 773985 millersolar.com 805-438-5600 ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Edge Experience?
August, We have three of these systems installed. Production results are good. We experienced one failed power optimizer on the first system which was installed two years ago. This unit failed within two months of installation. We have found tech-support be good when we needed it. Email alerts to failure conditions are lacking. I would agree with Erica, the ability to use PV wire for all cabling is a plus. Long strings also a plus. Cheers Carl Adams SunRock Solar On May 7, 2014, at 6:33 PM, August Goers wrote: Hi All – It’s interesting that I got only one response from someone who has actually used Solar Edge. Solar Edge is claiming that they have 20% of the residential market in the US. Anyway, sooner or later we will try a system or two with Solar Edge and I will let the list know how it goes. Incidentally, we have installed a lot of Power-One inverters and more recently many with AFCI protection. We’re starting to see false arc fault errors and it looks like this issue is going to be a big support burden until the problem is solved. Best, August Luminalt From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of William Dorsett Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2014 9:55 AM To: 'RE-wrenches' Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Edge Experience? Thanks August. Keep us posted on your results. That’s one of the great functions of this forum. From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of August Goers Sent: Monday, May 05, 2014 4:59 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Edge Experience? Hi Bill, That was my take up until recently. However, we’ve had lots of Enphase failures with M190s and M210s (to Enphase’s credit, no failures yet with M215s and M250s) so I’m hesitant to put more and more micros up on the roof. Plus, the price starts to beat micros around a system size of 4+ kW. We’re seeing a lot of competitors offer Solar Edge in the Bay Area including Solar City so there must be some good reasons to use them. In my mind, reliability is of utmost importance and I don’t have any firsthand knowledge on how the Solar Edge systems are working. I think they’ve only been in the US for about 3 years. Best, August From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of William Dorsett Sent: Monday, May 05, 2014 11:36 AM To: 'RE-wrenches' Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Edge Experience? August, it’s hard for me to see the point if you get all those benefits (long strings, module level tracking and monitoring, design flexibility) for the same price with micros. Bill Dorsett Manhattan, KS From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of August Goers Sent: Monday, May 05, 2014 10:57 AM To: RE-wrenches Subject: [RE-wrenches] Solar Edge Experience? Hi Wrenches, I have been watching Solar Edge for a while now and am curious if other wrenches have been using their product and what they think about it. I’m generally hesitant to adopt new technology until it has a good track record but I have to admit that I’m seeing some serious benefits in the Solar Edge system – long strings, module level tracking and monitoring, design flexibility, etc. Can folks who have tried their product let me know what you think and if you’ve had any failures? http://www.solaredge.us/groups/us/inverter/single-phase-solar-inverter Best, August Luminalt ___ 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] SMA WebBox - Bluetooth vs RS485
Dave, We put one in early this year about 70' from the inverter. No issues so I'm a fan. Two dials to adjust, one in the inverter, one on the web box, to set the channel. No experience with the Bluetooth sensor box so chime in on results when you know more. Cheers Carl Adams SunRock Solar On Aug 30, 2013, at 3:11 PM, Dave Click wrote: Have folks been having good experiences with the SMA Bluetoothed WebBox, or should I stick with the standard 485 edition? I'm guessing it'll be about a 20' max triangle between the SB1TL, WebBox, and SensorBox. Likely using a Sprint modem for the internet connection. Thanks in advance and hope everyone has a nice weekend! Dave ___ 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] Solar Bridge technical support contact
Hello wrenches Does anyone have a technical support contact At SolarBridge? Cheers Carl ___ 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 Edge v. micro inverters
Marco, We installed our first Enphase system in December 2009, and our last in December 2011, when their high failure rate became a problem. (Currently 10%+ for us). We were only installing the Enphase units on sites with shading issues, as a means to mitigate conditions. After moving away from Enphase, we selected SolarEdge as the solution of choice for those sites. The installation labor is comparable to the Enphase solution, separate device under each module. One clear advantage is that there are no custom trunk cables required, just the standard USE-2 cable and connectors. Our field experience has been better than expected production, and 1.4% failure rate. In December we installed a SolarEdge system just down the street from a site where we had previously installed an SMA string inverter on an unshaded site. The SolarEdge system has some shading. Both arrays have roughly the same orientation and pitch. To date the SolarEdge system with shading continues to out produce the unshaded SMA system by 5-8% kWh/kWp. I agree with your intuition on fewer components making a better solution and "IF" there is a reliable solution that accomplishes this that would be preferred. I just priced out the Mage AC module (SolarBridge technology) side by side with the Mage - SolarEdge combination and the later is less expensive equipment wise but I think that advantage would be erased by labor savings on the install. All that said I'm still a fan of the old fashioned string inverter solution unless the site shading conditions and or array geometry require an alternate solution. Cheers Carl Adams SunRock Solar On Jun 14, 2013, at 9:15 PM, "Marco Mangelsdorf" wrote: I’ve been educating myself on the Solar Edge product v. using micro inverters. If you click on the link below, you can read the pitch that they make for using their product over micros. Any opinions out there on how convincing their strategy is? As well as any experience in the field with the product? Intuitively, it seems to me that if you can accomplish what you need to accomplish (DC power from the PV mod to usable AC power) with fewer parts (as in a micro inverter instead of a DC-DC converter and a separate inverter), then that approach makes more sense. http://www.solaredge.us/groups/us/technology/microinverters thanks, marco ___ 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] Envoy on ATT Hotspot
Drake, We installed a similar system several years back. The client had a Verizon MiFi Internet connection device. We installed a wireless Ethernet bridge which was equipped with RJ-45 ports. Configured the ethernet bridge to connect to the MiFi unit. Plugged the envoy into the wireless ethernet Bridge and voilà. This client travels with the MiFi device at times and so the enlighten sends a message saying the envoy failed to report. Once the MiFi unit is back in the residence the envoy reconnect's and uploads data no problems. Similarly another client purchased a device from cricket mobile similar to the MiFi unit and the same connection strategy applied data plan for the cricket unit was approximately $15 a month. Cheers Carl On May 16, 2013, at 10:57 AM, Drake wrote: Hello Wrenches, We are attempting to connect an Envoy to an ATT wireless Internet system. Since the system provides no RJ 45 ports, we need some other device to bridge the wireless connection to the web. Enphase recommended a Cradle Point router, which might have some issues, as the site is limited access. It will be tuned on and off with a power strip switch. I called the 3G Store, and they recommended a "Pepwave Surf Mini." http://3gstore.com/product/1813_pepwave-surf-mini-200.html From the description, it sounds like it would work. Has anyone connected a system like this to the Internet? What equipment would you recommend? Also, if for some reason this is not possible, please let me know that. Thank you, Drake Drake Chamberlin Athens Electric LLC OH License 44810 CO License 3773 NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer 740-448-7328 http://athens-electric.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 ___ 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] Best practices for conduit penetration on roof
Rick, Another nice thing about the Soladeck is that it can be located directly under a module and is thus visible on the rooftop. Don't forget to seal the conduit entry into the residence. Cheers Carl ___ 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] 120W 12V Module Needed
Wrenches, I am in need of 120W - 12V module. Using this to drive a DC water pump for a small water feature at our church. Contact me off list if you can help. Please include a panel model number or spec sheet. Carl Adams SunRock Solar ___ 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] Power Factor and Grid Tied PV
Thanks to all who responded, The article Marco references, is the one referenced in the tinyurl in my original post. I did not find anything of significance in the previous Solar Pro issues. Based on the responses it seems there is no good data out there to answer the question posted. This may be due to 1) the fact that PV systems are not being installed in commercial facilities with large reactive loads 2) those facilities are not penalized for PF therefor the question is irrelevant to those system owners 3) the PV systems installed in such facilities are small with respect to the overall facilities load and any negative impact on PF is insignificant Cheers Carl ___ 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] Modules Supported only at Short End
Hello Wrenches, Typical PV modules installation instructions show modules being supported with two supports each spaced 25% of module length in from the short edge of the module. I'm looking for information on PV modules which can be supported on a mounting structure using only the short edge of the module for the support, so the full length of the module is spanning the distance between the support structure. I've heard some module manufacurers warrant this installation, and some do not. If you have specifics as to which modules DO or DO NOT support this mounting method that would be a help. With Regards Carl Adams NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer NABCEP Certified Solar Thermal Installer SunRock Solar Cincinnati, Ohio 513.766.6025 www.sunrocksolar.com ___ 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
