Re: [RE-wrenches] High altitude off-grid systems

[Ray]

We've had some systems at 11,000 ft plus, for almost 20 years. We have 
mixtures of Outback, Midnite, Blue Sky, and old Trace equipment.  Never 
any issues with electronics related to altitude.  Actually the altitude 
related system issues are generator derating, and array output exceeding 
STC ratings on really clear cold days due to the thin atmosphere.  The 
third issue would be installers not being able to catch our breath after 
jogging back to the truck.


Ray Walters
Remote Solar
303 505-8760

On 4/11/19 3:39 PM, Dan Fink wrote:
Hi Chris; I am deeply concerned about this as nearly 100% of the 
systems I install are at 8000 ft (2500m) or higher. I've never had a 
problem with warranty claims to Outback or Schneider up to this time. 
If this is a "new thing" I'd really like to know about it, on list or 
off.


The alitude de-rate stuff seems to involve dialectric ratings on the 
transformer coils, and low air density for cooling. I think that's all 
in ANSI.



Dan Fink
Director of Solar Education, Greendustrial Training LLC
IREC Certified Instructor™ for:
~ PV Installation Professional
~ Small Wind Installer
NABCEP PV Associate
Executive Director, Buckville Energy Consulting
NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers
dan.f...@greendustrialtraining.com 


970-672-4342



On Thu, Apr 11, 2019 at 1:28 PM > wrote:


Hi folks:

I am curious as to how many of you sell/install battery/inverter
systems at high altitudes?Have you had any particular issues with
them?Last year we discovered (in a mostly costly fashion) that
Schneider inverters (and also Outback) are not warranted above
6500 ft.

Magnum inverters are warranted to 15,000 ft max altitude.

Best,

Chris Daum

Oasis Montana Inc.

406-777-4309 or 4321

406-777-4309 fax

www.oasismontana.com 

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Re: [RE-wrenches] High altitude off-grid systems

[Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar]

I just read the XW pro warranty and the environmental usage. There is no
mention of altitude being a limiting factor of warranty. The XWP does
derate power based on heatsink and ambient temperature. I am testing the
beta here and it has been solid. I cc'd Sandra from Schneider and will pass
this on to Engineering. 
Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
"we go where
powerlines don't"
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ [1]
e-mail
offgridso...@sti.net [2]
text 209 813 0060

On Thu, 11 Apr 2019 10:37:09
-0600,  wrote:   

Hi folks: 

I am curious as to how many of you
sell/install battery/inverter systems at high altitudes? Have you had any
particular issues with them? Last year we discovered (in a mostly costly
fashion) that Schneider inverters (and also Outback) are not warranted
above 6500 ft.  

Magnum inverters are warranted to 15,000 ft max altitude.


Best, 

Chris Daum 

Oasis Montana Inc. 

406-777-4309 or 4321


406-777-4309 fax 

www.oasismontana.com [3]  

-- 




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[2]
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[3] http://www.oasismontana.com
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Re: [RE-wrenches] High altitude off-grid systems

[Dan Fink]

Hi Chris; I am deeply concerned about this as nearly 100% of the systems I
install are at 8000 ft (2500m) or higher. I've never had a problem with
warranty claims to Outback or Schneider up to this time. If this is a "new
thing" I'd really like to know about it, on list or off.

The alitude de-rate stuff seems to involve dialectric ratings on the
transformer coils, and low air density for cooling. I think that's all in
ANSI.


Dan Fink
Director of Solar Education, Greendustrial Training LLC
IREC Certified Instructor™ for:
~ PV Installation Professional
~ Small Wind Installer
NABCEP PV Associate
Executive Director, Buckville Energy Consulting
NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers
dan.f...@greendustrialtraining.com
970-672-4342




On Thu, Apr 11, 2019 at 1:28 PM  wrote:

> Hi folks:
>
>
>
> I am curious as to how many of you sell/install battery/inverter systems
> at high altitudes?  Have you had any particular issues with them?  Last
> year we discovered (in a mostly costly fashion) that Schneider inverters
> (and also Outback) are not warranted above 6500 ft.
>
>
>
> Magnum inverters are warranted to 15,000 ft max altitude.
>
>
>
> Best,
>
>
>
> Chris Daum
>
> Oasis Montana Inc.
>
> 406-777-4309 or 4321
>
> 406-777-4309 fax
>
> www.oasismontana.com
>
>
>
>
> ___
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>
> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
>
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> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
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>
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>
>
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[RE-wrenches] High altitude off-grid systems

[chris]

Hi folks:
 
I am curious as to how many of you sell/install battery/inverter systems at 
high altitudes?  Have you had any particular issues with them?  Last year we 
discovered (in a mostly costly fashion) that Schneider inverters (and also 
Outback) are not warranted above 6500 ft.  
 
Magnum inverters are warranted to 15,000 ft max altitude.  
 
Best,
 
Chris Daum
Oasis Montana Inc.
406-777-4309 or 4321
406-777-4309 fax
  www.oasismontana.com 
 
 
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Re: [RE-wrenches] All-In-One Off-Grid Power System-Nimbus Power

[Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar]

No but it looks promising with the numbers. Where made and how much?
Here is another similar that showed up in my inbox. 


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JO3BNDBGVjomlg3a09KRbKrnfwXsREyS/view
[1] 

Downside on these is, They would be a new spare for me to have for my
Outback and Schneider offgrid systems. 
Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
"we go
where powerlines don't"
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ [2]
e-mail
offgridso...@sti.net [3]
text 209 813 0060

On Thu, 11 Apr 2019 08:20:16
-0700, Lorenzo Ortiz  wrote:   Anyone have any experience with these guys? 
Seems like a cool product but not a lot of info out there.   Nimbus Power
Systems [4]
   -- 
Loren Ortiz 
Technical PV Design Specialist - Commercial/Residential/Off-Grid   
lo...@cal-solar.com [5] californiasolarco.com [6]   MAIN: 530-274-3671 EXT:
311 FAX: 530-274-7518   

 SHOWROOM LOCATED AT: 149 E MAIN ST. GRASS
VALLEY, CA 95945  -- 

Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
"we go where powerlines
don't"
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ [8]
e-mail offgridso...@sti.net
[9]
text 209 813 0060
 

Links:
--
[1]
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JO3BNDBGVjomlg3a09KRbKrnfwXsREyS/view
[2]
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
[3] mailto:offgridso...@sti.net
[4]
https://www.nimbuspowersystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/HPS12-300-Specification-Sheet-Rev-2.2.pdf
[5]
mailto:lo...@cal-solar.com
[6] http://californiasolarco.com
[7]
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[8]
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[9] mailto:offgridso...@sti.net
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[RE-wrenches] All-In-One Off-Grid Power System-Nimbus Power

[Lorenzo Ortiz]

Anyone have any experience with these guys?
Seems like a cool product but not a lot of info out there.

Nimbus Power Systems


-- 

Loren Ortiz
Technical PV Design Specialist - Commercial/Residential/Off-Grid

lo...@cal-solar.com californiasolarco.com

*Main: 530-274-3671 ext: 311 * *Fax: 530-274-7518*

-- 
 
*Showroom located at: 149 E 
Main St. Grass Valley, CA 95945*
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Re: [RE-wrenches] HV Module Testing

[drake . chamberlin]

Voc is 37.1
That times 1.25 is 46.38 V

It is less than 120 V, so I guess I can not test individual modules on
the 500 V setting. Is that the case? 

Thanks,

Drake 

- Original Message -
From:
 "RE-wrenches" 

To:
"RE-wrenches" 
Cc:

Sent:
Wed, 10 Apr 2019 15:51:42 -0700
Subject:
Re: [RE-wrenches] HV Module Testing

The IEC 62446 standard for IRT on PV is:

Voc@STC x 1.25 = 120 V to  ≤ 500 V, test to 500 V
Voc@STC x 1.25 = > 500 V, test to 1,000 V

They specify using one of two methods: 

1. With the array short circuited (a la the Seaward test meter style)

2. Testing both positive and negative to ground - both the negative
and positive leads need to be isolated (fuse open/breaker off, and
disconnected from parallel busbar connections).  In my experience,
putting the meter in series (meter positive to PV negative, meter
negative to ground) is usually sufficient for finding ground-faults.

Make sure the meter-to-ground connection is low resistance, and that
the connection point is something that is actually bonded to the
equipment grounding system. 

Temperature, humidity, and the amount of "glass" being tested will
have significant impacts on measured results, but you're really
looking for an outlier, assuming it isn't a hard fault that could've
been found with a DMM or a visual inspection.

Always a good idea to check with the module manufacturer to see if
they have documentation on their recommended procedure.

Cheers,

Brian Mehalic 
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional™ R031508-59
National Electrical Code® CMP-4 Member
(520) 204-6639

Solar Energy International
http://www.solarenergy.org [1]

SEI Professional Services
http://www.s
eisolarpros.com [2]

On Wed, Apr 10, 2019 at 3:07 PM  wrote:

That is very helpful. If I do the high voltage test, can I test from
both positive to the frame and negative to the frame? 

Thanks,

Drake 

- Original Message -
From:
 "RE-wrenches" 

To:
"RE-wrenches" 
Cc:

Sent:
Wed, 10 Apr 2019 10:35:50 -0700
Subject:
Re: [RE-wrenches] HV Module Testing

Drake
I have performed test for manufactures and you must keep the test
voltage under the max rated voltage of the module, we have a bunch of
tests we do but in short, you need to see the modules up close, look
at the edges and back sheets look for green, brown or black spots, you
need to do testing both dry first then wet if it is a ground fault
concern. Most of the time the visual will find the issues but you
still want to verify what you think you see. Make sure you look at the
wiring to and from, the combiner box(s) or even the inverter(s).

On Wed, Apr 10, 2019 at 8:31 AM Drake
 wrote:

  Hello Wrenches, 

 We are troubleshooting an array of Orion modules, either 230s or
250s. The array is showing a ground fault. 

 We would like to test these modules with an insulation tester? 

 We would like to apply 500 V or 1000 V to each the + and – and test
resistance to ground. 
  
 Is this practice safe for individual PV modules? Is there anything I
should be aware of before attempting this?

 Thanks,

 Drake

Drake Chamberlin
Athens Electric LLC
 OH License 44810
 CO License 3773
 NABCEP Certified Solar PV 
 740-448-7328
http://athens-electric.com/ [7] 

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