I’m going to try the thermal camera trick before resorting to lifting modules.
rick brown SolShine Energy Alternatives, LLC Electrical & Solar Contracting Services www.SolShineEnergy.com Check, Virginia 24072 O: 540.235.3095 M: 540.808.9502 VA Class A Contractor Lic# 2705147660 VA Master Electrician Lic# 2710062762 VA Alternative Energy Systems Installer NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional 110112-21 > On Jun 21, 2021, at 5:42 PM, Jeremy Coxon <[email protected]> wrote: > > We are going through a similar scenario right now with APSmart RSD’s and a > SMA 7.0 that will start up and run, then the next day no start up at dawn. > Perform a hard reset on inverter and array starts up, runs all day, then the > next morning we’re back to doing a hard reset to get array to start up. > > Very simple system 2 strings of 12, voltages at inverter around 8V > (12x0.7=8.4V) - short run with oversized conductors means very small voltage > drop thankfully. SMA says we need to be on site to troubleshoot, but without > the little APS RSD Eye, I’m thinking they’re just going to say it’s not their > problem. APS’s troubleshooting guide basically says lift each panel to find > the problem. Not a happy camper! > > Jeremy Coxon NABCEP > Certified MWBE > > Sent from my iPhone > >>> On Jun 21, 2021, at 12:43 PM, "[email protected]" >>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >> Carl, >> That’s very helpful. We’ll check each module and report back. >> >> rick brown >> SolShine Energy Alternatives, LLC >> Electrical & Solar Contracting Services >> www.SolShineEnergy.com >> Check, Virginia 24072 >> O: 540.235.3095 >> M: 540.808.9502 >> >> VA Class A Contractor Lic# 2705147660 >> VA Master Electrician Lic# 2710062762 >> VA Alternative Energy Systems Installer >> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional 110112-21 >> >> >> >> >> >>>> On Jun 21, 2021, at 12:15 PM, Carl Adams <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>> >>> Rick, >>> I was recently troubleshooting a similar problem. Open circuit voltage on >>> all strings was as expected but under load one string was showing almost no >>> power. Tracked this down to a failed APSmart device which had clear signs >>> of thermal damage. Pictures 1.1 and 1.2. . >>> A second failed unit some months later had a thermal failure and this one >>> toasted the module. Picture 2.1. >>> >>> These devices can make it difficult to do any meaningful string level >>> testing. The devices output a nominal 0.7 volts in open circuit >>> conditions. That documentation says this voltage reading is + 25%, so in >>> theory you could have a number of devices which were not working and your >>> string voltage would not indicate that. >>> >>> APSmart does make a test device which can help you verify the >>> functionality. The device is called RSD-EYE+ Detector. You can contact >>> YI Kang , APPLICATION & TECHNICAL SUPPORT MANAGER, >>> MLRSD at APSmart for additional information. 737.218.8486 >>> <FailedAPSmart1.2.jpg> >>> >>> <FailedAPSmart2.1.jpg> >>> >>> <FailedAPSmart1.1.jpg> >>> >>> With Kind Regards >>> Carl Adams, President >>> SunRock Solar, LLC >>> 513.290.9072 (mobile) >>> 513.766.6025 (office) >>> >>> >>> >>>> On Mon, Jun 21, 2021 at 11:55 AM Lloyd Hoffstatter >>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> Rick, >>>> I would check with SMA to make sure you have the latest firmware. >>>> >>>> Best regards, >>>> Lloyd >>>> >>>> Lloyd Hoffstatter >>>> Sunstruck Consulting >>>> >>>> Get Outlook for iOS >>>> From: RE-wrenches <[email protected]> on behalf of >>>> [email protected] <[email protected]> >>>> Sent: Monday, June 21, 2021 11:42:36 AM >>>> To: RE-wrenches <[email protected]> >>>> Subject: [RE-wrenches] RSD Troubleshooting Help >>>> >>>> Wrenches, >>>> >>>> I’m in need of some troubleshooting help on a newly installed system with >>>> rapid shutdown. System consists 2 SMA SB5.0-1 SP-US-41 (RSD version), RSD >>>> devices are APS RSD-S-PLC. Each SB is configured with two strings of 9. >>>> Modules are REC Alpha 360s. >>>> >>>> This system was fully functional for about 1 week before things went awry. >>>> Initial symptoms were that one of the two strings read 0V 0A on the >>>> display while the other read ~315V, 5A. The RSD devices output ~700mV each >>>> when in the off mode (a nice verification feature). I’m reading the >>>> correct voltage - 6.75V - on both strings when in off mode. Once the Sunny >>>> Boy comes on line I’m reading around 10V on the faulty string and the >>>> correct voltage - ~315V - on the other string. >>>> >>>> The above seems to indicate that each RSD is getting sufficient DC voltage >>>> from the module. Short of pulling each module and doing a visual check >>>> what else can I look at? How do you isolate a faulty RSD device? >>>> >>>> And as luck would have it, everything is functional at the moment. >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> >>>> rick brown >>>> SolShine Energy Alternatives, LLC >>>> Electrical & Solar Contracting Services >>>> www.SolShineEnergy.com >>>> Check, Virginia 24072 >>>> O: 540.235.3095 >>>> M: 540.808.9502 >>>> >>>> VA Class A Contractor Lic# 2705147660 >>>> VA Master Electrician Lic# 2710062762 >>>> VA Alternative Energy Systems Installer >>>> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional 110112-21 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>>> >>>> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> List Address: [email protected] >>>> >>>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the >>>> other: >>>> https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> List rules & etiquette: >>>> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>>> >>>> Check out or update participant bios: >>>> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>>> >>>> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> List Address: [email protected] >>>> >>>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> There are two list archives for searching. 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