Re: [RE-wrenches] Attaching PV with VELCRO

2023-04-12 Thread Matt Partymiller via RE-wrenches
method was mostly successful but had failed in a few areas resulting in edges coming up a bit and ponding on the laminates. Other failures to the modules were as significant as hook and loop failures. Far from the worst array I’ve seen. Matt Matt Partymiller General Manager Solar Energy

Re: [RE-wrenches] Exploding RSD Unit

2021-08-26 Thread Matt Partymiller
produce catastrophic failure. Matt Matt Partymiller General Manager Solar Energy Solutions, LLC Lexington | Louisville | Bloomington | Cincinnati | Evansville | Indianapolis 859-312-7456 (Office) 877-312-7456 (General) m...@sesre.com Check out our amazing new website and social media updates

Re: [RE-wrenches] Powerwall 2 AC PV regulation

2021-04-16 Thread Matt Partymiller
their monitoring system, though that may already be incorrectly configured and not monitoring the whole home if the system is backup only. Matt Matt Partymiller General Manager Solar Energy Solutions, LLC Lexington | Louisville | Bloomington | Cincinnati | Evansville | Indianapolis 859-312-7456 (Office

Re: [RE-wrenches] Sunpower monitoring site

2020-11-11 Thread Matt Partymiller
Same issue for me. Can’t analyze any site lately. It has been that way over a month. From: RE-wrenches On Behalf Of Dave Tedeyan Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2020 10:36 AM To: RE-wrenches Subject: [RE-wrenches] Sunpower monitoring site To the other Sunpower dealers out there, Is anyone

Re: [RE-wrenches] Supply side denial

2020-10-28 Thread Matt Partymiller
Kris, Are they telling you the problem is the connection in the meter base? We get this all the time from local utilities. Even with the listed Milbanks like you describe, they say no and direct us to tap on the load side of the meter base. I agree that you may consider an informal

Re: [RE-wrenches] Commercial three phase inverter @208V

2020-09-18 Thread Matt Partymiller
Three Core 62s with a transformer is a great solution. Lots of Fronius 15s could work but you could buy a backup transformer for the difference. Contact me off-list if you need help finding transformers. SMA will also direct you to some good solutions if pressed. Matt From: RE-wrenches

Re: [RE-wrenches] Modifying a plumbing vent

2020-08-31 Thread Matt Partymiller
of the pipe? Thanks for bringing this up. Matt Matt Partymiller General Manager Solar Energy Solutions, LLC 877-312-7456 m...@sesre.com From: RE-wrenches On Behalf Of Scot Arey Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2020 11:38 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Modifying a plumbing vent

Re: [RE-wrenches] rafter finding tool

2020-08-05 Thread Matt Partymiller
I purchased one of these about a decade ago to find rafters. It doesn’t work. Irregularly, non-repeatable locations were given with each pass. I still advocate sending someone into an attic to measure prior to drilling any holes. That obviously doesn’t work on all roofs. Matt Matt

Re: [RE-wrenches] Rooftop Conduit

2020-07-30 Thread Matt Partymiller
. https://www.chalfant-obo.com/Chalfant/Product/Category/10 Not as inexpensive as plastic. Matt Matt Partymiller General Manager Solar Energy Solutions, LLC 877-312-7456 m...@sesre.com From: RE-wrenches On Behalf Of Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2020 11:22 AM To: RE

Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Edge...continuous saga of 181/183 hardware failures...moving on to another inverter.

2020-07-24 Thread Matt Partymiller
Jay, We’ve had lots of SE failures. Maybe not hundreds. Certainly dozens. Every level from small residential inverters to their 33 kW 480V units. And optimizers, though far fewer optimizers on a percentage basis. From an inverter perspective, the location doesn’t seem to have mattered

Re: [RE-wrenches] Tesla Powerwall 2.0 - AC Coupling

2020-07-22 Thread Matt Partymiller
hes@lists.re-wrenches.org> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Tesla Powerwall 2.0 - Experience?/Generator charging That's going to be long extension cord for most off grid projects... Ray Walters Remote Solar 303 505-8760 On 7/21/20 12:11 PM, Matt Partymiller wrote: Jay, The Tesla Gateway has a 12v

Re: [RE-wrenches] Tesla Powerwall 2.0 - Experience?/Generator charging

2020-07-21 Thread Matt Partymiller
Jay, The Tesla Gateway has a 12v input terminal for boot up. To startup my off grid Powerwall we wired in a 12V power supply to the input terminals and plugged the other side into a grid-connected outlet. Some version of this is part of their off grid process. We’ve been running a

Re: [RE-wrenches] MLPE Mapping

2020-07-08 Thread Matt Partymiller
our map as part of that process. If you go with Tigo F’s you don’t even need to map! You sacrifice panel level visibility but, as far as I can tell, MLPEs are far more likely to fail than a reputable panel. I’d really like to know why all MLPEs don’t go the clip-on route. Matt Matt

Re: [RE-wrenches] Semi flexible modules

2020-03-09 Thread Matt Partymiller
with their crystalline flat installs that dried up in favor of 10 degree ballast. Matt Matt Partymiller General Manager Solar Energy Solutions, LLC 877-312-7456 m...@sesre.com On 2020-03-09 14:59, Starlight Solar Power Systems wrote: > Ray, > > Thinking of light weight P

Re: [RE-wrenches] Snap-n-rack edge guard screen

2020-01-13 Thread Matt Partymiller
We routinely use more clips than ship with the product in order to keep it securely fastened. I think 40 ship with it and we typically use 50. Thanks, Matt -- Matthew Partymiller Solar Energy Solutions, LLC (877) 312-7456 m...@sesre.com On 2020-01-13 15:19, William Miller wrote: >

Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA phantom arc faults

2019-09-16 Thread Matt Partymiller
If you are using EnnexOS you can clear remotely. Select the device with the issue, then config, then parameter. Filter by 'AFCI'. Turn off. Wait a few minutes, turn back on. I wouldn't recommend doing this unless you're certain its a false arc-fault. Matt On 2019-09-15 20:54, Jeff

Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA -40 Arc Faults

2019-08-01 Thread Matt Partymiller
ompatibility with Tigo; if not, maybe they could. I suspect it's > partially a matter of an evolving and imperfect set of standards. Probably > both the inverter and the maximizer meet their respective noise standards, > but there is still a problem when you put them together. > > Best

Re: [RE-wrenches] SolarEdge woes

2019-07-31 Thread Matt Partymiller
I believe calling at 2 AM your time would help. Once you hit about 8:30 AM EST, you might as well just do the online thing. Often online just takes 10-30 minutes and you get a valid answer (though I was told by a tech today he spent three hours going this route - hopefully that was a one-time

Re: [RE-wrenches] module level control for offgrid

2019-02-16 Thread Matt Partymiller
I tried to design a system with TS4-Os and an Outback CC. They were not compatible at that time (about a year ago) due to conflict between optimizer function and Outback MPPT. The system would get stuck off MPPT. I assume that is still the case but cannot confirm. Tigo support kept saying they

Re: [RE-wrenches] Fat Spaniel

2018-10-23 Thread Matt Partymiller
ABB took over their sites and all of ours are still accessed at www.auroravision.net. Matt On Mon, October 22, 2018 4:32 pm, Peter Parrish wrote: > I have a client with a Fat Spaniel box. They can't remember their user > name and password. I did a little digging and I came to the conclusion >

Re: [RE-wrenches] 5 battery strings

2018-07-25 Thread Matt Partymiller
Most systems will operate down 2 volts without a problem. Warrants reconfiguring but often the homeowner won't even notice for a few days. In the past month I have had Outback and Sunny Island customers running down a cell. Sunny Island is reconfigurable to manage the situation better.

[RE-wrenches] SMA -40 Arc Faults

2018-05-08 Thread Matt Partymiller
Wrenches, I recall seeing some past threads about SMA arc fault issues but am curious if others are using SMA -40 inverters extensively and NOT seeing intermittent arc faults? If so, I would be curious what your DC installation practices look like? Are you ensuring that homerun ends use

Re: [RE-wrenches] Li+ Systems Puerto Rico

2018-02-19 Thread Matt Partymiller
Ray, I think your biggest issue may be SolarEdge. They told us the StorEdge unit would not start up without grid power. We had an employee install one anyway on his tiny home. He hooked it up to the grid initially to get it started (in back of shop where house was built). He is not sure how

Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA and Tigo

2017-05-16 Thread Matt Partymiller
Rhine, I have another strategy for you. The Tigo Rapid Shutdown works by pressing the shiny red button on the Cloud Connect device or when both the inverter and the Cloud Connect lose AC power. The inverter obviously will lose power every night. The Cloud Connect would presumably lose power

Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA and Tigo

2017-05-15 Thread Matt Partymiller
Mark, We have been using Tigo for awhile on select sites. The standard Tigo solution looks pretty identical to the Power+ package. Overall we like the product and like that it now integrates with Sunny Portal. Tigo tech support is pretty good to work with though rarely returns calls. Expect

Re: [RE-wrenches] Equipment for rapid shutdown NEC 690.12

2016-12-14 Thread Matt Partymiller
August, Great question. Canadian Solar makes a module with SolarEdge optimizers integral. Trina offers a similar product with Tigos integral. I think both products would allow the string architecture you like while incorporating rapid shutdown. I have found these solutions to be less

Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA Arc-Fault

2016-11-10 Thread Matt Partymiller
Dave, We have seen false arc-faults on numerous SMA installs. I have at least two where we have spent longer troubleshooting than installing the array (basically removed and re-installed all components). SMA is very little help and ultimately encourages us to deactivate the arc-fault feature,

Re: [RE-wrenches] Troubleshooting Stumper - Resolved

2016-09-28 Thread Matt Partymiller
he thread. I hope we can > all learn something from this. > > Best regards, > > > MATT > > > Matthew Sirum > P.O. Box 1227 > Greenfield, MA 01302-1227 USA > phone: +1.413.773.0611 > email: matthewsi...@gmail.com > > > Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2016

[RE-wrenches] Troubleshooting Stumper - Homerun Interference in Conduit/Inverter Turning Off/On Rapidly

2016-09-07 Thread Matt Partymiller
Wrenches, One of our systems is having an issue I have not encountered before where the inverter switches between nighttime mode and interconnection every few seconds. I am hoping for some technical wisdom from the community. We have an array of 20 TrinaSmart modules in two strings of 10. The

Re: [RE-wrenches] Getting ready for 2014 NEC rapid shut down with string inverters

2016-08-29 Thread Matt Partymiller
August, I am not answering your question but SMA tech support folk have specifically told me that putting our 600V jacketed control wire in the same EMT as the DC strings is leading to false arc fault trips. Matt On Mon, August 29, 2016 3:42 pm, August Goers wrote: > Hi Wrenches, > > > > > I’m

[RE-wrenches] Solectria 3.8 Inverter Failures

2016-07-25 Thread Matt Partymiller
Wrenches, We have recently had a string of Solectria 3.8 failures. The commonality to the failures seems to be a failed internal relay on the top part of the inverter and we (and one customer) have witnessed brief arcing occur as the inverter attempts to start up. In every instance we have seen

Re: [RE-wrenches] array overloading of an inverter

2016-07-13 Thread Matt Partymiller
Kirk, I would recommend you consider using a tool like PVsyst or Helioscope to model DC:AC ratios. A quick modeling of roughly 200 kW on three Solectria 50 kW inverters shows about 1.3% clipping here. It then comes down to analysis of your costs for additional modules, dc wiring, and inverters.

Re: [RE-wrenches] service call reimbursement

2016-06-16 Thread Matt Partymiller
I am shocked anyone would refer to SMA's tech support (at least in the past year) as good. At least 50% of the time that I have to call SMA I end up on hold for 45 minutes before the automated system just hangs up on me. Most of the level one support staff are useless. If I try to leave a

Re: [RE-wrenches] MPPT over amp

2016-06-03 Thread Matt Partymiller
Bill, To answer your first question, you can wait 45 minutes on hold before SMA hangs up on you. If you are waiting for a call back, good luck. I have asked your MPPT question of SMA and they told me there was some tolerance if we went over mppt amp rating (two strings pushes it in many

Re: [RE-wrenches] !000 volt wire for trench-buried extended runs - what type?

2016-05-18 Thread Matt Partymiller
You will probably use PVwire. As far as I am aware it will be your least expensive option. Get it in aluminum, direct-burial rated if you want. Or pre-sleeved in PVC conduit. Matt On Tue, May 17, 2016 6:52 pm, Howard Arey wrote: > Good day, wrenches. > > > > > I am installing four dual axis

Re: [RE-wrenches] Optics RE reliability

2016-05-16 Thread Matt Partymiller
Our Optics systems spend more time offline than online. Outback continually provides good technical support but they are unable to permanently resolve this connection issue. Luckily we only have a couple Optics systems but we have been dealing with this same issue for around a year. In most

Re: [RE-wrenches] supply side connection - Tap connector recommendations

2016-05-11 Thread Matt Partymiller
Mac, Is this a utility or AHJ prohibition? In most jurisdictions we work in (not CO) the utilities prohibit taps in the meter base but take no responsibility for conductors once they leave the meter base. Matt On Wed, May 11, 2016 11:44 am, Mac Lewis wrote: > Hi Kirpal, > > > Sounds like you

Re: [RE-wrenches] supply side connection - Tap connector recommendations

2016-05-10 Thread Matt Partymiller
Ilsco has some great options. See: https://www.platt.com/CutSheets/Ilsco/Ilsco-InsulationPiercingConnectors-CatalogPage.pdf Matt Matthew Partymiller Solar Energy Solutions LLC (877) 312-7456 m...@solar-energy-solutions.com On Tue, May 10, 2016 1:27 pm, Kirpal Khalsa wrote: > Hi Folks, > We

Re: [RE-wrenches] 1000V rated 6AWG wire

2016-01-28 Thread Matt Partymiller
The cheapest solution I have been able to find for this over the past 12 months has been PV wire. The other problem you might find is 1000V listed components to transition from PV wire to other types of wire. Matt On Thu, January 28, 2016 7:48 am, Kirpal Khalsa wrote: > Hello Friends! > I am

Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback customer service?

2015-12-08 Thread Matt Partymiller
Larry, I have had as much or more difficulty reaching Outback as what anyone here has explained (and experiences that belong in another forum). I don't think what Peter describes is something Outback will remotely support. In fact, I have had Outback techs provide me a process for

Re: [RE-wrenches] Serviceable equipment on a roof

2015-08-13 Thread Matt Partymiller
Perhaps try asking your panel manufacturer for a letter stating no maintenance is expected or can be performed on the modules. Matt Matthew Partymiller Solar Energy Solutions LLC (877) 312-7456 m...@solar-energy-solutions.com On Thu, August 13, 2015 10:51 am, Daniel Young wrote: We actually

Re: [RE-wrenches] to flash or not to flash

2015-08-06 Thread Matt Partymiller
Daniel, My answer is to flash until others prove me wrong. I am in the same position you are, speaking to the same manufacturers you are, and probably dealing with the same low competitor pricing you are. These products sure sound tempting. Over the past decade I have probably removed a dozen

Re: [RE-wrenches] Repetitive and unknown arc-fault codes with this combination...Sunpreme bi-facial and Fronius IG

2015-06-18 Thread Matt Partymiller
How quickly, after reset, do you see a new arc-fault error? Same day? Month later? Have you tested string volts/amps? On Thu, June 18, 2015 8:30 am, Howard \Scot\ Arey wrote: I need some help please! I'm quickly losing credibility with two of my customers. We have two installations with

Re: [RE-wrenches] Milwaukee Sub Scanner versus Bosch D-Tect versus others?

2015-05-10 Thread Matt Partymiller
We have tried a number of products. The D-Tect is in amazing stud finder but did very little on shingle roofs. The mechanism by which you run it across a surface is clearly not made for shingles. It is basically a $1000 sculpture on the top shelf in our shop. I am still not aware of any great

Re: [RE-wrenches] Modules over vents

2014-09-25 Thread Matt Partymiller
Carl, In our shared region plumbing code requires vents be 12 above roof line. Electrical inspectors probably won't catch this, plumbing inspectors probably won't get on a roof, but still there is a code concern. You might exercise some caution. Matt Matthew Partymiller Solar Energy

Re: [RE-wrenches] Inverters Maximum Input Ratings

2014-08-27 Thread Matt Partymiller
Rebekah, My understanding was that PVsyst modeled inverter nominal power not maximum power. I believe this helps to compensate for inverter temperature limitations. For instance, depending on inverter location and power ratio, I would suppose that there may be instances where the simulation

Re: [RE-wrenches] Inverters Maximum Input Ratings

2014-08-26 Thread Matt Partymiller
Jason, This does not exactly answer your question but SMA Sunny Design indicates a 70% power ratio (ac rating/dc wattage) as the threshold. SMA has a letter indicating installing below 70% will not invalidate warranty (as long as other design practices like 600V DC are met). I have not been

Re: [RE-wrenches] Sunny Island: Reliability / Error Codes

2014-08-25 Thread Matt Partymiller
William, In general I have found the SI to be more reliable than other similar products. My one grievance is the 'tap' error you mention. We have units from more than 5 years ago where this method of failure is the norm in grid-tie battery backup mode. Basically, the power goes out, the SI

Re: [RE-wrenches] Mate 3 web interface

2014-08-02 Thread Matt Partymiller
Kirk, My understanding is that Outback is just rolling out new software: http://www.opticsre.com/ I have asked them for training on the product but am not sure of the release date. Our current systems with Mate3 and monitoring have the Mate wired to the customer network and we have otherwise