Thanks for the succinct explanation Nick. I look forward to the fix. Like you, I believe this is happening with other inverters, but lacking the level of monitoring available with Enphase, people just aren't aware it is happening.
Daryl > Hi wrenches, > > The frequency out of range issue is being caused by some utility meter's > communication "ping". This ping is actually affecting the utility voltage > and frequency, and can be viewed with a power quality analyzer. It is > highly likely that this is affecting a wide variety of utility-interactive > inverters, but is only noticeable with the Enphase systems; due to the > high > level of visibility that our Enlighten monitoring and reporting provides. > > These changes required that the software undergo a new certification > process. We have completed our CSA certification of the new software, and > are validating it's functionality before pushing out the solution to our > entire population of microinverters. We are in the process of beta > testing > the software fix, and are hoping to have this resolved in February. > > Thank you for your patience as we work to resolve this issue. > > > On Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 9:24 AM, <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Dave, >> It doesn't happen often, and the longest I've seen him stay "down" is >> about a half hour, but it seems to get progressively worse as time goes >> on for some reason (initially only the five minutes, but longer down >> times lately). This particular customer is difficult and picky, to >> boot. I hope yours is a bit kinder. Mine seems to think we did him an >> injustice of monumental proportions. >> We have had the utility out there logging events, meetings with the >> utility and another solar company in Maine to discuss all this, and >> have kept Enphase in the loop throughout. Enphase has responded in a >> responsible and reasonable manner throughout. >> If you want to discuss this with Enphase, call and ask for Bret. He's >> the engineer I previously dealt with, although he is second tier, he is >> accessible. >> >> >> >> >> > Thanks Daryl. Does your system also sometimes stay off for longer >> periods >> > sometimes? My clients system can stay off for up to 64 minutes. >> > >> > Dave >> > >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From: [email protected] >> > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of >> > [email protected] >> > Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2013 12:01 PM >> > To: RE-wrenches >> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Enphase "AC Frequency out of Range" >> > >> > Dave, >> > We have been having the same problem with an Enphase system in >> Maine. I >> > have been dealing directly with the third tier engineers at Enphase >> and >> > they >> > are working on a software fix for this. The"event" itself is only a >> > fraction >> > of a second but IEEE requirements are that the inverter shut down for >> five >> > minutes. I only found out about this problem when it started for this >> > customer. It sems that Enphase has already addressed the problem with >> a >> > software fix for the M-190's. The M-215 fix should come, according to >> > Enphase, by the end of March. It will be automatically downloaded >> through >> > the Enlighten router. >> > It's a known issue with Smart Meters with Enphase, but should be >> > reconciled soon. >> > >> > Daryl DeJoy >> > NABCEP Certified PV installer >> > Penobscot Solar Design >> > www.penobscotsolar.com >> > >> > >> > >> >> Wrenchsters, >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> I have an Enphase 7.5kW system on a residence with utility Smart >> >> Metering, both the PV Production Meter as well as the utility billing >> >> meter being "read" every hour. This system has experienced many "AC >> >> Frequency Out Of Range" events since the system was installed. Below >> >> is copied the Enphase Event message. This particular event was for 5 >> >> minutes. Most of the events (all events are AC Frequency Out Of >> Range) >> >> last 5 to 10 minutes but occasionally they have lasted from 45 >> minutes >> >> to >> > 64 minutes. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> My question is: Could the use of the smart metering increase the >> >> likely hood that AC Frequency events happen? Or is this just a >> >> coincidence and that we are dealing with fluctuating utility power AC >> >> Frequency issues? >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> << >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Started on: Mon February 04, 2013 12:49 PM EST >> >> >> >> Cleared on: Mon February 04, 2013 12:54 PM EST >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Recommended action >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> This condition should correct itself. No action is required. >> >> >> >> Details >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> The microinverter reports that the frequency coming from the utility >> >> is either too low or too high as specified by applicable regional >> > standards. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> AC frequency is the frequency at which voltage varies on the utility >> >> grid. >> >> Frequency Out of Range events are usually transient and >> >> self-correcting by the utility. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> When the microinverter detects an out of frequency condition, it must >> >> remain offline until the utility has been within acceptable limits >> >> continuously for a short period of time (seconds to minutes, varies >> by >> >> region). If during that time the utility again exceeds or falls short >> >> of acceptable limits, the five-minute timer must restart and the >> >> microinverter may not begin producing power for an additional short >> >> period following the last out-of-bounds condition. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Best, >> >> >> >> Dave >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> David Palumbo >> >> >> >> Independent Power LLC >> >> >> >> 462 Solar Way Drive >> >> >> >> Hyde Park, VT 05655 >> >> >> >> www.independentpowerllc.com >> >> >> >> Vermont Solar Partner >> >> >> >> 25 Years Experience, (802) 888-7194 >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >> >> >> >> List Address: [email protected] >> >> >> >> 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 >> >> >> >> >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > List sponsored by Home Power magazine >> > >> > List Address: [email protected] >> > >> > 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 >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > List sponsored by Home Power magazine >> > >> > List Address: [email protected] >> > >> > 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 >> > >> > >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >> >> List Address: [email protected] >> >> 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 >> >> > > > -- > > Cordially, > > *Nick Soleil* > > *Field Applications Engineer > * > > *Enphase Energy* > > Mobile: (707) 321-2937 > > > ** > > *Enphase Commercial Solar.* > *Limitless.*<http://www.enphase.com/commercial?utm_source=email&utm_medium=sig&utm_campaign=Comm2012> > > * > *<http://www.enphase.com/commercial?utm_source=email&utm_medium=sig&utm_campaign=Comm2012> > > 1420 North McDowell > > Petaluma, CA 94954 > > www.enphase.com <http://www.enphaseenergy.com/> > > P: (707) 763-4784 x7267 > > F: (707) 763-0784 > > E: [email protected] > > [image: nabcep logo] Certified Solar PV Installer #03262011-300 > > Dont get me wrong: I love nuclear energy! Its just that I prefer fusion > to fission. And it just so happens that theres an enormous fusion reactor > safely banked a few million miles from us. It delivers more than we could > ever use in just about 8 minutes. And its wireless! . > > - William McDonough > > > > This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and > may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not an > intended recipient, you may not review, use, copy, disclose or distribute > this message. If you received this message in error, please contact the > sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: [email protected] > > 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 > > _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: [email protected] 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
