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

2018-05-08 Thread Blake Gleason 
Hi Matt -  A couple of years ago, I worked extensively with an inverter
manufacturer (sorry I can't name) who was seeing a lot of arc-fault
nuisance tripping on systems with Tigo.  They had some fancy test equipment
and did a bunch of analysis and found that Tigo was creating a lot of noise
on the DC circuits, and that noise would look like DC arc fault noise in
many situations.  I don't know whether Tigo has made improvements or not,
but I wouldn't be surprised if the -40 is sensitive to the Tigo noise.  If
you can talk to the right person at SMA (I don't know who that would be
these days), you might ask them about whether they have evaluated the -40
arc detection for compatibility 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,
Blake

On Tue, May 8, 2018 at 9:42 AM, Matt Partymiller <
m...@solar-energy-solutions.com> wrote:

> 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
> connectors identical to your module manufacturer?  Are you crimping any DC
> transitions? Perhaps using insulated lugs for DC transitions? What type of
> conduit are you using for DC wiring? Are you using ferrules where you
> terminate in the inverter?  Any other tips or suggestions are also
> welcome.
>
> At the moment arc faults for the SMA -40 inverters seem to be our main
> service ticket at this time (surpassing Enphase replacements and
> surpassing prior-model SMA arc fault issues).  The arc fault errors are
> particularly prevalent on systems with Tigo optimizers installed though we
> have occurrences on pretty much every -40 unit.  System meantime between
> failure seems to be unpredictable but somewhere between 2-180 days.  There
> does seem to be some correlation between systems with shading and Tigos
> and prevalence of arc faults.  Shutting off arc fault seems to be the only
> true solution which is obviously undesirable.
>
> SMA has us update firmware and has had us shutoff Optitrac neither of
> which resolve the issue.  They also ask us to check wiring connections
> which almost never yields results (though we have found a squirrel or two
> which makes one grateful that the arc fault function exists).
>
> Thanks for any advice,
>
> Matt
>
>
>
>
> Matthew Partymiller
> Solar Energy Solutions LLC
> (877) 312-7456
> m...@solar-energy-solutions.com
>
>
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-- 













* Blake Gleason* - PE, LEED AP
*Director of Innovation & Technical Excellence*

*P:* 510.845.2997 x128
*E:* bl...@sunlightandpower.com
*W:* sunlightandpower.com 

See how universities are using business as a force for good with solar!

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Re: [RE-wrenches] Squirrel Guards for Solarworld 2.0 Frames

2018-05-08 Thread Benn Kilburn 
We've used the Solatrim on one larger system. Installed it fall of '17. 
Time will tell if the adhesive can withstand our temperatures swings of 30degC 
to -40degC

Benn Kilburn
SkyFire Energy
780-906-7807

> On May 8, 2018, at 9:50 AM, Nik Ponzio, Building Energy 
>  wrote:
> 
> We need to add squirrel guards to an older system with Solarworld panels. The 
> 2.0 frames are not compatible with the snapNrack or spiffy solar guards that 
> we have used in the past. Any other products that we should consider?
> 
> Has anyone used the  SolaTrim with adhesive attachment? http://solatrim.com/
> 
> 
> --
> Nik Ponzio
> Building Energy
> 1570 South Brownell Road
> Williston, VT 05495
> 802-859-3384 ext.115
> http://www.BuildingEnergyVT.com
> 
> 
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[RE-wrenches] Squirrel Guards for Solarworld 2.0 Frames

2018-05-08 Thread Nik Ponzio, Building Energy 
We need to add squirrel guards to an older system with Solarworld panels.
The 2.0 frames are not compatible with the snapNrack or spiffy solar guards
that we have used in the past. Any other products that we should consider?

Has anyone used the  SolaTrim with adhesive attachment? http://solatrim.com/


--
Nik Ponzio
Building Energy
1570 South Brownell Road
Williston, VT 05495
802-859-3384 ext.115
http://www.BuildingEnergyVT.com
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Squirrel Guards for Solarworld 2.0 Frames

2018-05-08 Thread AE Solar 
SnapNRack makes a ‘box frame adapter’ that will let you use their netting
on panels that don’t have the lip on the panel frame

On Tue, May 8, 2018 at 11:53 AM Kevin Eigel  wrote:

> HI Nick:
>
> We have used the solatrim on Solarworld modules, and it works well,
> although I have some doubts about how long the adhesive will hold up over
> time.
> We purchased it on ebay for a discount.
>
>
> Kevin Eigel
> *Ecohouse Solar*
> 1857 Northwest Blvd. Ste 201, Columbus, OH 43212
> www.ecohousesolar.com
> 614-805-5776
>
>
> On Tue, May 8, 2018 at 11:50 AM, Nik Ponzio, Building Energy <
> npon...@buildingenergyus.com> wrote:
>
>> We need to add squirrel guards to an older system with Solarworld panels.
>> The 2.0 frames are not compatible with the snapNrack or spiffy solar guards
>> that we have used in the past. Any other products that we should consider?
>>
>> Has anyone used the  SolaTrim with adhesive attachment?
>> http://solatrim.com/
>>
>>
>> --
>> Nik Ponzio
>> Building Energy
>> 1570 South Brownell Road
>> Williston, VT 05495
>> 802-859-3384 ext.115
>> http://www.BuildingEnergyVT.com
>>
>>
>>
>> ___
>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>>
>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
>>
>> Change listserver email address & settings:
>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>
>> List-Archive:
>> http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html
>>
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>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>>
>> Check out or update participant bios:
>> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>>
>>
>>
> ___
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>
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>
> Change listserver email address & settings:
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> --
Adam Katzman
Autonomous Energies
PO Box 1245
Kingston, NY 12402
www.autonomousenergies.com
(518) 567-1468
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[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
connectors identical to your module manufacturer?  Are you crimping any DC
transitions? Perhaps using insulated lugs for DC transitions? What type of
conduit are you using for DC wiring? Are you using ferrules where you
terminate in the inverter?  Any other tips or suggestions are also
welcome.

At the moment arc faults for the SMA -40 inverters seem to be our main
service ticket at this time (surpassing Enphase replacements and
surpassing prior-model SMA arc fault issues).  The arc fault errors are
particularly prevalent on systems with Tigo optimizers installed though we
have occurrences on pretty much every -40 unit.  System meantime between
failure seems to be unpredictable but somewhere between 2-180 days.  There
does seem to be some correlation between systems with shading and Tigos
and prevalence of arc faults.  Shutting off arc fault seems to be the only
true solution which is obviously undesirable.

SMA has us update firmware and has had us shutoff Optitrac neither of
which resolve the issue.  They also ask us to check wiring connections
which almost never yields results (though we have found a squirrel or two
which makes one grateful that the arc fault function exists).

Thanks for any advice,

Matt




Matthew Partymiller
Solar Energy Solutions LLC
(877) 312-7456
m...@solar-energy-solutions.com


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Re: [RE-wrenches] Squirrel Guards for Solarworld 2.0 Frames

2018-05-08 Thread Carl Adams 
Nick,

We use the SnapNRack screen and attach with SS self tapers and fender
washers.

Carl Adams
SunRock Solar
NABCEP Certified PV Installer

On Tue, May 8, 2018, 11:51 AM Nik Ponzio, Building Energy <
npon...@buildingenergyus.com> wrote:

> We need to add squirrel guards to an older system with Solarworld panels.
> The 2.0 frames are not compatible with the snapNrack or spiffy solar guards
> that we have used in the past. Any other products that we should consider?
>
> Has anyone used the  SolaTrim with adhesive attachment?
> http://solatrim.com/
>
>
> --
> Nik Ponzio
> Building Energy
> 1570 South Brownell Road
> Williston, VT 05495
> 802-859-3384 ext.115
> http://www.BuildingEnergyVT.com
>
>
> ___
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>
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