…especially replacement! The inverter weighs in at 185 lbs, so replacement likely will require the use of a crane on multi-story flat roofs.
I am in complete agreement with you that putting inverters on the roof is not ideal. Not only is servicing and replacement an issue, but there is no doubt that the inverter will run hotter sitting in the sun. But this is one way to satisfy the 2014 rapid shutdown requirements, so I assume we will be seeing more of it. Compared to other commercial roof rapid shutdown solutions that employ a contractor it seems important to consider rooftop inverters, as they provide potentially more reliable system operation in the long run. Maybe we should be looking at lower DC/AC ratios for these systems? I am still wondering if anyone on the list has installed these SMA Core1 inverters. Thanks for the comments! Kelly PS: I didn’t design or install the system, but am inspecting and commissioning it. > On Nov 2, 2017, at 2:30 PM, William Miller <[email protected]> wrote: > > Kelly: > > I see one problem: the inverter on the roof. Makes servicing and > replacement a real pain. > > William > > > > Lic 773985 > millersolar.com > 805-438-5600 > > > -----Original Message----- > From: RE-wrenches [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Kelly Larson > Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2017 12:36 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [RE-wrenches] SMA Core 1 Inverter > > Dear estemed Wrenches, > > I will be inspecting a system with SMA’s new Core 1 inverters and am > wondering: What experience do you have with this inverter? > > I think it is the first inverter made to sit freestanding on a commercial > roof. It looks like it has some super interesting features, including > “String Failure Detection”. (Why is this feature deactivated by default?) > > I’m not sure how well it will satisfy the rapid shutdown requirement when > the roof array areas are broken up, but on one with a contiguous array area, > it looks like it’ll work for the 2014 NEC. > > Any bugs or issues I should know about? > > Thanks in advanced for your replies! > > Blessings, > Kelly > > > ~~~~~ > Kelly Larson > 707-223-3209 > > Box 504 > Ukiah, CA 95482 > Electrical Engineer > NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional IREC Certified Master > Trainer for Photovoltaic Installer CA Electrical Contractor# 868189 > SolarKelly.com > > "Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power > and magic in it." -- Goethe > > _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: [email protected] Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
