BenQ

[Worcester]

We offering BenQ to a few of our customers with smaller roofs,

I know that BenQ make the panels for Sunpower, however does anyone know where there is any independent collateral (e.g. photon reports) for BenQ?

 

[jason121]

Speak to sun gift they might know ask for Scott

 

[whinmoor]

Try Waxman as well.

 

[Gavin A]

sun gift know what they're talking about with Ben Q.

 

[Worcester]

Thanks, spoken with Sungift, awaiting info - they didn't have anything immediately to hand despite advertising them as 'Award Winning' - so I asked which awards still waiting for info ...

Turns out they and Sunpower use the same cells, though they are different manufacturing plants, despite and alomost identical spec, so I was wrong in my belief that AU Optronics (that owns BenQ) made them for Sunpower..

 

[jason121]

Which inverter did you use with the BEN Q panels

 

[Worcester]

According to our calcs on a 3.57kWp system (11 x 325 w panels) the SMA SB3600TL is compatible.

 

[jason121]

Did you ground the -DC because I been told you have too

 

[Worcester]

From BenQ's specific installation instructions:

4.4 System Grounding (Transformer less)
PM096B00
Comply with the local regulations for earthing the modules and the PV array.
Grounding of the module frame can be achieved through use of clamps that penetrate the anodization in conjunction with grounding of the mounting system or through direct grounding of the frames by attaching a copper wire to a grounding hole of each module.

So with a SB3600TL, the short answer is no.

 

[jason121]

I was told to ground the DC negative to earth at the inverter. The inverter was the Eltek

 

[SibertSolar]

Isn't it the + be that needs grounding on the BenQ 325 panels? I think a galvanically isolated inverter is imperative for these panels isn't it? The ELTEK HE-t is transformered and does have internal grounding bar provision for the incoming strings, +ve or -ve as required by the panel manufacturer

 

[Worcester]

They have different requirements for different panels, and some need to be grounded others don't, sometimes it's the +ve, sometimes the -ve. .... And in some cases MUST only be used with a galvanically isolated inverter ... for these particular modules, the instructions direct from BenQ are as above..

 

[SibertSolar]

Ah, fair enough, I thought you were talking about their 325 Sunforte mono panels

 

[Gavin A]

I was told to ground the DC negative to earth at the inverter. The inverter was the Eltek

that's changing as of this next delivery, so no need for additional grounding.

We've held off on them until this point as it was only a couple of months away and I couldn't be arsed to get my head around it and train our teams etc just for a couple of installs until they changed it.

 

[jason121]

Ah, fair enough, I thought you were talking about their 325 Sunforte mono panels

Yes I was. The 320watt and 325watt