[RE-wrenches] Enphase IQ8 systems

Good Morning Wrenches, I am working through the Enphase training for their battery system while simultaneously designing a backup system. Cart is in front of the horse just a bit! Does anyone know if you are using an IQ8 roof top micro, does its output capacity add to the battery output

Re: [RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark install

Hello Ron, I'll try to point you in the right direction here, but yes you want to move forward cautiously. Good training is easily available all over the place now. I will say that you can be an excellent and successful solar installer these days without any experience with string inverters

[RE-wrenches] Removing paint from solar modules

Hi Wrenches, We had some painters try to paint a house in 35 mph winds and (of course) the overspray got onto some recently installed solar modules. They were using a latex water-based exterior paint. Are there any mild solvents you might recommend to help clean this up? Or just elbow grease?

Re: [RE-wrenches] Sunny Island/Fortress E-vault

Hi William, Are you doing open loop or closed loop communication? I'm not sure if Fortress can do a closed loop with SMA or not. We struggled to get the open loop to work well with some Blue Ion batteries, not from a charging sense but from a sense of getting the auto gen start to trigger

Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback Radian Generator Charging

Hi Amos, What input mode are you using? Try switching to "support" mode and see if the charging current increases. On Wed, Oct 25, 2023, 1:24 PM Amos Post via RE-wrenches < re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > Hello wrenches, > > We just installed an GS8048a Radian build with Mate 3SL

Re: [RE-wrenches] Aging Batteries

Hi Will, I'd keep inching the start voltage down and see if it helps. Sometimes old batteries just operate at a lower voltage and will sag more under load but they will still carry the load OK Of course you can: 1. Do all of your high power stuff when the sun is out. 2. Disable the generator

Re: [RE-wrenches] Magnum problem

Have you checked those little pop out breakers up near the wiring compartment? Have you tried "force bulk"? On Tue, Oct 31, 2023, 10:56 AM Dan Fink via RE-wrenches < re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > I have had issues before with Magnum inverter/chargers not accepting AC > input

[RE-wrenches] Small Diesel generator recommendation off-grid

Hello Wrenches, Can anyone recommend a reliable diesel generator that starts well in the 10-20kW range? Thanks! -- Mac Lewis *"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates* ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here:

Re: [RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark phantom loads

I had a similar issue once with a Sol-Ark 12k, triple stack. The issue ended up being that the phase relationship got reversed during the installation. AC out and AC in need to be carefully phased out. I don't really understand why, but it's an easy thing to check. Let us know what you find.

Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator question

Hello Chris, I think you will find that the generator interaction with the Sol-Ark is very basic and you won't have much flexibility to do this. As far as ancillary equipment to do a load start, one idea that comes to mind is a Victron shunt, Cerbo and GX device. I'm brainstorming a little bit

[RE-wrenches] Replacement inverters for legacy SunPower mods

Hello Wrenches, Does anyone have suggestions for replacement inverters for the older SunPower modules that require positive grounding? Can anyone quantify what the efficiency drop may look like in a transformerless inverter topology paired with these modules? Is it the negative ground we want

Re: [RE-wrenches] Sunny Island remote alerts

Hi William, Unfortunately, that's as much detail as you get via Webbox. It seems silly not to pass the exact code to me... On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 11:27 PM William Miller via RE-wrenches < re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > Friends: > > How can one read error and/or warning code

Re: [RE-wrenches] Need a hand with Sunny Island/Sunny boy AC couple

Hi William, I think you will find that the state of charge discrepancy will be a continual problem to contend with in voltage mode. The state of charge algorithm that the SI uses (and bases all decisions) is complex and not very Lithium compatible when at the ends of the state of charge spectrum

Re: [RE-wrenches] 2007 Kohler: Wrenches, can you help with parts or smarts?

Hello Mick, Here is what I'd do: Check compression on each cylinder, look for psi of about 90(ish). Also verify they are about the same (within a couple of percent). If its way out of this range, stop here. If they think they've gotten at least 5000 run hours, I'd stop here. These air cooled

Re: [RE-wrenches] .5 C charge rate for LiFePO4

Hi Jeremy, I think LiFePO can handle these high charge rates, but you don't have to provide them for battery health. They are happy at lower C rates too. On Fri, Aug 25, 2023 at 6:41 AM Jeremy Rodriguez via RE-wrenches < re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > Is it correct to size an PV

[RE-wrenches] Small Industrial Propane Generators

Hello Wrenches, Does anyone have a recommendation for a small, industrial propane generator? Something rated for prime power with reliable starting. I need it in the 12-20kW range. Hard to find them this small. Thanks in advance -- Mac Lewis *"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates*

Re: [RE-wrenches] Enphase Max Distance

I don't know your specific circumstance but the cellular modem option works really well for monitoring only. There are also many point to point networking systems that are solid and fairly easy to set up if you can do line of sight. Thanks! On Mon, Jul 25, 2022, 1:29 PM Nick Soleil via

Re: [RE-wrenches] Enphase Max Distance

t; > On Jul 25, 2022, at 11:08 PM, Mac Lewis via RE-wrenches < > re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > > I don't know your specific circumstance but the cellular modem option > works really well for monitoring only. There are also many point to point > networking systems

Re: [RE-wrenches] LiPO with Trace SW5548

I would consider a 15 cell (3.2 volts per cell) Lithium Iron Phosphate battery such as FNS (UL Listed 15 cell). This puts the LBCO at about 47.6-48.0V or so. A 15 series cell battery puts the voltage in line with the LBCO of the Trace inverter without an auxiliary contactor triggered by the

Re: [RE-wrenches] Do Sunny Islands and Fortress batteries play well together?

Hi Howie, I haven't done a Fortress paired with a Sunny Island, but I have done a large Blue Ion battery bank work a quad stack of Sunny Islands. You can use the Namaka box to aggregate battery bank data and select "external Li-ion BMS" and it will convey state of charge to the Sunny Island.

[RE-wrenches] partial data loss Mate 3s

Hello Wrenches, I am trying to figure out a tricky problem. I have a customer with a Mate 3s, most current firmware 1.4.7 paired with a radian and a couple of FM60s and some Lithium batteries. We have experienced partial data loss, particularly of the Mate 3s generator start parameters. These

[RE-wrenches] 3 phase off-grid UL listed

Hello Wrenches, What inverter options are there for 3 phase, UL listed, off-grid inverter systems in the 30kW+ category? It's been quite a while since I dove into this... Thanks! -- Mac Lewis *"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates* ___ List

[RE-wrenches] Large current battery combiners, UL Listing

Hello Wrenches, Is anyone aware of a high current, (~3000A DC rated, 48Vdc nominal) battery combiner panel that would allow for ~36-48 x 4/0 cables to connect? Seems like nothing will be close to UL listed on this. How do you go about building a 60 kW off-grid system on the battery side of

Re: [RE-wrenches] sol ark 12kw question

Hi Jay, It can process 6500W of solar per input port of the MPPT, in the case of the 12kW, there are 2 of them. so around 13kW. As an off-grid inverter, it's a 9kW total if perfectly balanced, but perhaps better to think of as 37.5A per phase. I don't believe that 37.5A increases if the solar

Re: [RE-wrenches] sol ark reliability question

Hi Jay, Generally, Sol-Ark has been very good to work with for us. We've done about a dozen of them. We did have an MCU swap for a parallel stacking glitch. I could tell it was a known issue because the diagnosis was remote, took about 10 seconds and the shipping was about 2 days and has fixed

[RE-wrenches] Complying with 690.9(B)

Hello Wrenches, I have an inspector who doesn't like my heavy duty square D disconnect loaded with 20A Littelfuse FLSR RK5 Littelfuses for use as a OCPD and disconnect on a PV circuit. I am operating below the 300Vdc rating for this fuse but I'm having trouble finding documentation that states

Re: [RE-wrenches] Current Transformers (CTs) paralleled for multiple panel measure?

Hi Scott, I asked Sol-Ark about this a while ago. The Sol-Ark cannot handle the increase in current on the pins of the CT input (even though it's quite small). However, my info could be out-dated. Maybe you could source a CT with 1/2 the output ratio and make it work? Let us know if you find a

[RE-wrenches] Low Frequency transformer off-grid inverter options

Hello Wrenches, I have a new client that has ran a pretty decent wood shop for about 10 years on a Magnum 4448. He's got some large loads, planers, saws, compressors vacuums etc. They are really nice, heavy duty pieces of equipment. Amazingly, the Magnum has been able to start these loads for

Re: [RE-wrenches] Low Frequency transformer off-grid inverter options

gt; Larry Crutcher > Starlight Solar Power Systems > > > > On Jan 13, 2023, at 11:33 AM, Mac Lewis via RE-wrenches < > re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > > Hello Wrenches, > > I have a new client that has ran a pretty decent wood shop for about 10 > ye

Re: [RE-wrenches] Sola-ark cold morning

Hi Dana, What type of batteries? What battery mode? If you have Lithium batteries with communication enabled, there are certain modes that the BMS is running the charging show. I've seen the Sol-Ark throttle back charge as instructed by the BMS under these circumstances. A quick check of this

Re: [RE-wrenches] Low voltage lithiums

Hi Kris, When the BMS suddenly blocks charge, the voltage will spike up if the charger can't respond quickly enough. You may try to decrease charge voltage slightly. This same affect can cook an alternator in a vehicle as well. Higher end BMS systems can shunt current to mediate this. Good

Re: [RE-wrenches] Low Frequency transformer off-grid inverter options

;> I would consider what web based monitoring system he wants and go with >>> that platform. >>> >>> Regardless of system I'd install soft start/vfd on the larger units. >>> Just easier on everything. >>> >>> The solark 12 doesn't seem to be good f

Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA SB-41 without WLAN

Hey Jeremy, However, I have had good success with TP Link Nano Router in Client Mode (as opposed to router, repeat, AP and hotspot mode). Client mode is great because it's not re-broadcasting the wireless signal for other devices, it's basically just acting as an ethernet port. They seem to be

Re: [RE-wrenches] outback FM-100

Hi Jay, Not sure about the Mate3s but I just got shipping notification for Fm100s from two different vendors. I had given up on them but I think they are out there now. Cheers On Tue, Jan 17, 2023, 2:43 PM William Miller via RE-wrenches < re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > Scott: > >

Re: [RE-wrenches] Remote battery disconnects

Hi William, Keep in mind that the bigger Midnite remote trip breakers aren't UL listed last I checked. Let us know what you come up with. On Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 2:39 PM Bradley Bassett via RE-wrenches < re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > Wiliam, > > I designed a system for this

[RE-wrenches] Sonnen tech support

Hello Wrenches, Does anyone know a good contact for Sonnen customer support? I've tried online, calling etc with no response after many attempts. Not impressed! Thanks in advance -- Mac Lewis *"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates* ___ List

Re: [RE-wrenches] Enphase ACM to rail mount plate

; > CA Lic. 773985 > > > > > > *From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On > Behalf Of *Mac Lewis via RE-wrenches > *Sent:* Thursday, February 23, 2023 9:56 AM > *To:* RE-wrenches > *Cc:* Mac Lewis > *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Enphase

[RE-wrenches] 1000Vdc Combiner Block, Fusing

Good Morning Wrenches, I am looking for suggestions on suppliers that work in the 1000Vdc UL listed equipment space. Specifically, I'm trying to build a 1000Vdc rated combiner (Combining 4 x 100A rated battery outputs up to 900Vdc) as well as add OCPD (fuse or breaker) on the output going to the

Re: [RE-wrenches] Inverter bypass

You can also build them with the interlock kits for (almost) whatever load center you like. https://interlockkit.com/shop/ Some of these are UL listed, some are not. The disadvantage of this route is that they are typically made for a high ampacity main circuit breaker, probably overkill for

Re: [RE-wrenches] 1000Vdc Combiner Block, Fusing

ville | > Indianapolis > > 513-448-5176 (mobile) > > 877-312-7456 (Main Office) > > da...@sesre.com > > > > *From:* RE-wrenches *On > Behalf Of *Mac Lewis via RE-wrenches > *Sent:* Sunday, February 26, 2023 10:54 AM > *To:* RE-wrenches > *Cc

Re: [RE-wrenches] Voltage Rise

Hi Dave, Where is the utility voltage being measured? I might suggest doing point to point voltage calculations based on the true wire size and then verifying with measurement. It's great to use an IR camera to look for hot spots. Do this when the problem is the worst. Is it symmetric with

[RE-wrenches] Enphase ACM to rail mount plate

Hello Wrenches, We are in the middle of planning for a full solar panel replacement at a house with AC modules. It was a Solaria 355 with an Enphase IQ7+. Solaria is going to replace the modules with a standard module, not an AC module (MC4 cabling not an Q Cable to J-box). This seems OK but

Re: [RE-wrenches] HomeGrid Battery Experience

One nice thing about the 15 cell vs the 16 cell is that the LBCO settings for older inverters will work fine. I haven't used HomeGrid yet, but it's a good advantage for drop-in replacements with older inverters. I've used a Chinese battery called FNS for this reason. It operates between 47V and

[RE-wrenches] Backwards compatibility Schneider

Hello Wrenches, I have someone who would like to move away from Iron Edison batteries. They want to go to Lithium, I'm thinking 2 x eVault Max would be a good fit for them. They have dual 5548 XW+ (not XW Pro) inverters with a Schneider Gateway device, I am curious if anyone has had

[RE-wrenches] Phased out Schneider Electric SCP

Hello Wrenches, Now that Schneider has phased out SCP, what are the options for a GUI onsite for non-savvy consumers? Thanks! -- Mac Lewis *"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates* ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues

[RE-wrenches] Woodland Park Wrench

Hello, Are there any wrenches out there that service Woodland Park CO? Please contact me off list. Thanks ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org

[RE-wrenches] Inverter On/Off Switch use Outback FX

Hello Wrenches, I'm trying to solve an issue with an older Outback FX system. It's a quad stack of Outback 3648 FX inverters and he has a couple of Fortress eVault and an unreliable generator. The LBCO setting can't go high enough to cut out before the eVaults cut out so he occasionally will

[RE-wrenches] Service rated tap devices

Hello Wrenches, Is there any tap devices (piercing or other) that are UL Listed for tapping on the utility side of a main breaker for a solar interconnection? Our AHJ won't allow anything that isn't service rated. Thanks in advance! -- Mac Lewis *"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates*

Re: [RE-wrenches] Web based system monitoring via 4GLTE uplink?

Mick, I'll vouch that the Victron solution works great. You need a GSM carrier, TMobile works as well as others, AT for one. The GSM piece is important, Verizon won't work with this. Another approach is to do a Mifi box with Verizon, then just use it as a wireless hotspot like any WiFi network.

Re: [RE-wrenches] Inverter On/Off Switch use Outback FX

ail I think: > > Mac, > > > I think you've got an elegant solution to the problem. All you need is an > inexpensive relay and to program the Aux output for loadshed. I believe > shutting down the inverter with the remote on/off contacts is actually > less stressful on the inver

[RE-wrenches] Generator start trigger limits XW+

Hello Wrenches, I just installed a set of Discover LFP on an older XW+ system. The communication seems to work great and the battery via Xanbus automatically updates the charge settings and inverter settings and the battery is viewable on the Xanbus network. For some reason, the auto gen start

Re: [RE-wrenches] Parallel Homegrid Stack'd Busbar

Hi Jason, The Sol-Ark 15k has dual battery input terminals so they can be combined right inside. This could be a good option to consider. Thanks On Thu, Jun 29, 2023 at 6:17 AM Maverick Brown via RE-wrenches < re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > I recommend the Victron Lynx Power In

[RE-wrenches] Remote load shedding

Hello Wrenches, Is anyone aware of a remote load shedding solution that doesn't require additional signal wiring to the loads? Generac has a great solution for this that they adapted from their generator business called a Generac Smart management module. Its a 2P x 50A relay that monitors line

[RE-wrenches] Schneider Rapid shutdown with 2023 compliance

Hello Wrenches, I need to retrofit a Schneider XW+ system with a rapid shutdown system. The owner purchased this equipment about 4-5 years ago but is trying to get it past a *very *intense inspector. To me, it looks relatively straightforward to get NEC 2023 rapid shutdown compliant using Tigo

Re: [RE-wrenches] Odd battery charging behavior with Outback inverters

William, This is a very timely question, I have been seeing the same thing. I also don't allow any Flexnet interference in charging. I went to investigate a site yesterday and figured this one out. It turned out that the Flexnet was uncalibrated by about 1V on the low side. This was a Lithium

Re: [RE-wrenches] Grid-Tied Radian Force Discharge

Hello Dave, Be sure you calibrate the flexnet and the inverter voltage. My gut feeling is that the Delta voltage you have is too tight. If you have the system on Optics, I'd set the LBCO pretty low, then observe how much voltage sag (or where your voltage cliff is) you are getting at the

[RE-wrenches] Solar pumping stormwater

Hello Wrenches, Im looking for recommendations on solar pumps for a stormwater overflow application. The water will be cruddy so the pump would need to be able to tolerate that, although we will do our best to mitigate that. I'd like to be able to pump about 20,000 gallons per day or so at a

[RE-wrenches] Discover Xanbus SOC jumpy

Hello Wrenches, I have a system that suddenly started seeing quite a few SOC drops and blips, causing generator starts. Here is an example SOC chart: [image: image.png] I plan to head up and apply a firmware update on the batteries, check cabling etc but Im curious if anyone has

Re: [RE-wrenches] Discover Xanbus SOC jumpy

> e-mail offgridso...@sti.net > text 209 813 0060* > > > On 2024-05-03 6:54 am, Mac Lewis via RE-wrenches wrote: > > Hello Wrenches, > > I have a system that suddenly started seeing quite a few SOC drops and > blips, causing generator starts. > > Here is an

[RE-wrenches] Fortress Avalon

Hello Wrenches, I am looking closely at offering the Fortress Avalon system. I would like to hear from anyone that has installed, commissioned and seen them work in the field. Pros and cons, all of your thoughts are appreciated. Thanks! ___ List

Re: [RE-wrenches] Reroofing grandfathering

Hi Howie, I would ask the AHJ and indicate you are simply reinstalling the system, not reengineering anything. I wouldn't take it for granted that the mounting hardware will be usable, or cost effective to reuse. It's often seized, cross threaded, dirty etc. There will be a lot of these coming

[RE-wrenches] Prepping for Bi-directional Charging with Enphase

Hello Wrenches, I have a customer who is an early adopter that is ready to add some Enphase 5P to his IQ 8 system. Doing this will require updating his current Sunlight backup IQ System Controller 2, to the latest IQ System Controller 3 to be able to work with the 5P. He is OK with this

Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback Optics RE and Starlink

Hi Dan, We've had very good luck with the Starlink/Mate3s combo with the latest firmware. Do other devices drop too? I think the updated router will fix this. You can also use that reboot schedule. I am curious, what router are you using for dual WAN? On Fri, Apr 5, 2024 at 1:23 PM

[RE-wrenches] Mounting height constraints for wall-mounted batteries

Hello Wrenches, Is there a mounting height limit for Enphase batteries that you are aware of? I don't see one from Enphase, just clearance requirements but Im wondering if there is a code about this. Thanks! -- Mac Lewis *"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates*

Re: [RE-wrenches] Older Sunny Islands charging newer Lithium's

Hi Peter, The Sunny Islands will work with Lithium, but there can be challenges. The Blue Ion to Sunny Island communication works really well, you need a Namaka box for that. This would be a great but expensive way to go. The difficulties with Sunny Island and no communication to BMS is when

[RE-wrenches] PV shedding Enphase

Good Morning Wrenches, I am working through a design with existing PV and a proposed small battery bank backup. We are pairing existing IQ7As with the System Controller 3, and a single 5P battery. We are well above the 150% oversizing of PV to battery capacity that Enphase allows so I need to

Re: [RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark 15k solar panel frame grounding

Hi Jason, You should be able to land your PV EGC in the inverter ground bar. You could do a quick resistance check to verify the +, - PV Is there a bond somewhere (upstream service panel or in the Sol-Ark itself) between ground and neutral? If not, this can cause this fault. On Wed, Jun 5,

Re: [RE-wrenches] HomeGrid Battery Experience

Hi Jason, This pairing should work fine. There is an open loop setting for the Homegrid and the flexnet can work pretty well keeping track of SOC. I'd stick with the Outback at least initially. The 15 cell Homegrid is lower voltage so it can work with older equipment with 48V lbco limit easily.