[RE-wrenches] AC Coupling Solar Edge SE10000A-US With Outback Radian GS4048A

[Gary Willett]

Esteemed Wrenches: Anyone have experience setting up AC coupling with SolarEdge and the Outback Radian? I have a client with a SolarEdge SE10000A-US inverter, equipped with 31 SunPower X21-345 modules (10.7kWp) and associated SolarEdge P400 DC optimizers. The DC optimizers are arranged into two strings of series connected optimizers: #1 = 16;  #2 = 15. The client wants to add a limited battery backup solution, and a 4kW inverter will serve the needs of the requisite protected loads panel. I am considering using the Outback Radian GS4048A inverter in conjunction with the GSLC175-AC-120/240 AC-Coupling Center. I want to make a slight change to the PRI programming on the SolarEdge inverter, and add another relay contact to the Radian, to accommodate a 4kW Outback inverter AC coupled to a 10kW SolarEdge inverter. This is my first AC coupling project with these systems. The analysis below is based solely on review of available documents on the Outback and SolarEdge web sites. Any help or guidance will be greatly appreciated. Regards, Gary Willett Icarus Engineering / Solar Services LLC References: (1) Outback Application Note "AC Coupling OutBack Power Radian Inverters with SolarEdge N. American Inverters" http://www.outbackpower.com/downloads/documents/technotes/ac_coupling_tech_note.pdf (2) Outback Application Note "Adding the battery back-up power option to existing grid-tied PV/solar systems" http://www.outbackpower.com/downloads/documents/flexcoupled/app_note_acc_new.pdf (3) SolarEdge Application Note "SolarEdge Inverters, Power Control Options" http://www.solaredge.com/sites/default/files/application_note_power_control_configuration.pdf REF (2); Page 9 of 14 - Outback's AC Coupling Guideline Number Two: The OutBack inverter power rating should be 1.25% of the GT inverter power rating. This guideline ensures that the GT inverter does not overwhelm the charging circuitry in the OutBack inverter if the load demand goes to zero and all available GT inverter power is flowing to the OutBack inverter. With the 4kW GS4048A inverter, the PV power rating is therefore limited to 3.2kW. This is 30% of the nameplate rating of the PV array (3.2/10.7). REF (3); Page 4 of 5 - SolarEdge/OutBack Radian Wiring Diagram: On the male connector that fits into the PRI connector on the SolarEdge PCB, two wires are connected from the OutBack GSLC load center 12V relay (OBR-16-DIN). When activated, a normally open contact (NO) of the Outback OBR-16-DIN 12V relay supplies +5V from "pin 8" to "pin 6" of the SolarEdge inverter's "Power Reduction Interface (PRI) port". REF (1); Page 3 of 5 - SolarEdge Setup / Programming: Per the App Note, when the Radian wants to shut down the SolarEdge, the OBR-16-DIN 12V relay is activated and a "1" is applied to bit 1 of the PRI. This takes the SolarEdge output power, in a gradual manner, from 100% to 0%. "DEFAULT" SolarEdge Programming 0000 <100,1,00,Y> ----meaning = 100% power, 1.00 power factor, point is active 0001 <0,1.00,Y> ----meaning = 0% power, 1.00 power factor, point is active For my project, when the grid is down, the SolarEdge inverter must be limited to 30% power. I want to use the second NO/NC contact on the OBR-16-DIN 12V relay to accomplish this. Not yet sure exactly how to accomplish this in the Radian programming, but here's how I want it to function: (a) when the grid is down, the second OBR contact, connected to bit 2 of the PRI, is activated and a "1" is applied to bit 2. This takes the SolarEdge output power, in a gradual manner, from 100% to 30%. (b) when the Radian wants to shut down the SolarEdge, a "1" is applied to bit 1. This takes the SolarEdge output power, in a gradual manner, from 30% to 0%. "PROPOSED" SolarEdge Programming 0000 <100,1,00,Y> ----meaning = 100% power, 1.00 power factor, point is active 0001 <0,1.00,Y> ----meaning = 0% power, 1.00 power factor, point is active 0010 <30,1.00,Y> ----meaning = 30% power, 1.00 power factor, point is active 0011 <0,1.00,Y> ----meaning = 0% power, 1.00 power factor, point is active Is this doable?

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