Two Inverters for different orientation

N

Nickyrox

• Mar 5, 2011

• #1

Has anyone ever installed two Inverters to acommodate different orientation.
How would these two inverters be installed into an off gen meter?
I would be gratefal for any advice.

 

Worcester

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• Mar 5, 2011

• #2

Yep, very simple, (we use PV*Sol for design)

After each inverter make sure you have an AC isolater for each, then a simple standard junction box (see photo) , single ac cable to consuner unit / Total Generation Meter and another (single) AC isolator between meter and Consumer unit



Gordon

 

OP

N

Nickyrox

• Mar 5, 2011

• #3

Thanks Gordon,
That is how I thought it should be done but was double checking to see if I was right.
I thought there might be an issue as regards to connecting two phases from the inverters into one.
I know this is called a parallel connection.Just making sure to know that it won't create 2x 230V.
I am under the understanding that when you connect 2x DC strings in Parallel the Voltage of each stays the same and doesn't add up together,and would also be the case with AC.

Thanks

 

Last edited by a moderator: Mar 5, 2011

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N

Nickyrox

• Mar 5, 2011

• #4

Are those inverters TL's?

 

Worcester

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• Mar 5, 2011

• #5

Nope they are SMA SB1200's

Each inverter synch's independently with the AC

 

Last edited: Mar 5, 2011

Markc

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• Mar 7, 2011

• #6

Worcester said:

Nope they are SMA SB1200's

Each inverter synch's independently with the AC

Click to expand...

Nice work Gordon.

We have done exactly the same using the SB1200 (West / East roof) worked a treat.

 

Energetic

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• Mar 8, 2011

• #7

Have read somewhere in Sunny Boys manuals that there should be a seperate circuit/protective device for each inverter... Don't ask me where...

 

OP

C

claypole

• Mar 8, 2011

• #8

http://download.sma.de/smaprosa/dateien/5682/SB12_17-IEN104650.pdf
SMA download under the SB1700 product details. Page 22 certainly states seperates. I have absolutely no qualification to judge.

http://download.sma.de/smaprosa/dateien/5682/SB12_17-IEN104650.pdf
Is useful info on sizing and spacing the breakers.

I have to state I am not a spark so apologies if the above are blindingly obvious or not relevant. Just happened to be checking out the sma downloads today (note to self - get a life) and offering these if they're useful.

 

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N

Nickyrox

• Mar 20, 2011

• #9

I am installing another system with 2 different inverters connected as above.
The main supply is three phase.
There is a distribution board on one phase, now I take it it would be ok to put a 16a MCB on that board to supply the PV ac output.
I want to make sure there is not an issue with supplying one phase as regards to unbalanced loads.

 

edexlab

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• Mar 22, 2011

• #10

Its worth checking with Dno, Central Networks and I believe this is across the board state max inbalance of < 3.7 kw per phase which is also the G83 limit 16A per phase
Although I have heard of an installer being allowed slightly more ,but this was in a different area SPmanweb.

 

Last edited: Mar 22, 2011

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M

mazend

• Apr 20, 2013

• #11

Hello guys , i hope you can help me with this installation:

We have a 20 kwp pv array and want to connect on 2 inverters :
sma-tripower 12000 & sma tripower 8000.

If i want to wire the inverters in parallel can i do it just like the picture gordon posted , install separate isolation after each inverter then combine the AC output in a box?

Thanks

 

OP

E

Earthstore

• Apr 20, 2013

• #12

mazend said:

Hello guys , i hope you can help me with this installation:

We have a 20 kwp pv array and want to connect on 2 inverters :
sma-tripower 12000 & sma tripower 8000.

If i want to wire the inverters in parallel can i do it just like the picture gordon posted , install separate isolation after each inverter then combine the AC output in a box?

Thanks

Click to expand...

Any reason why you are using two different sized inverters?
You could use 2 x TL10000 or 1 TL20000.

But that said I can see no reason why you can not install it the same, although yours will be 3 phase.

 

SibertSolar

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• Apr 20, 2013

• #13

Or a P1 20.0 Trio, or an Eltek 19000TL....or a fair few others. The answer is yes but would consider individual overcurrent protection for each unit, as well as residual current protection, if required.

 

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M

mazend

• Apr 21, 2013

• #14

Thanks for your answers guys ,

Problem that were using Solarworld 250 poly modules , and whenever we go above 75 panels the STP-20,000 gets overloaded , should i trust sunny design in this regard??

 

Worcester

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• Apr 21, 2013

• #15

You'll need to put the inverters thorugh a DB, the set up shown at top was corrected with a small CU being added in place of the juction box, - each inverter should be on it's own final circuit.

Yes trust Sunny Design, us the 'Design Suggestions' to optimise your configuration. - You can still tweek the string configuration later to suit the actual roof layout. a due south 30 degree roof with your panels is most efficient using 2 x STP10000TL's (just remeber you'll need an SMA grid guard code as STP10000TL's oftem come configures as G83 as opposed to G59)

We tend to use SMA inverters for the monitoring and reporting - we've got lots of plants linked up to Sunny Portal so we can contrast and compare continually.

Power-one are good inverters and one of them comes with most of the swithing built in which can save time and cost on an installation.

Know why you're choosing the make of inverter, a single Power-One may be cheaper that multiple SMA's in lots of ways (DB's, Isolators, inverter mouting, space etc) though the Power-Ones are big so and so's!

Note: I believe the SMA STP-20000TLEE-10 has a single MPP tracker.

Bear in mind that as the 10000TL (not the EE) has 2 MPP trackers, you can use this to help with mulitple orientations.