Compatability issues with SMA HF and Sanyo panels

[TMGL]

Re: Help with fault?

It will be an integrated dc isolator on the 4000tl so might just reset inverter tomorrow to see if the experience is as yours. Supplied by segen or AS solar if that's also a common link?

 

[Energetic]

Re: Help with fault?

Yesterdays figure, clearly showing the point of dropoff, now not even coming back up untill reset on the DC isolator. Might have to try swapping the Inverter out for a fronius... Can't really think of anything that will definitively give me an answer. Nobody else other than TMGL heard of this happening/had this happen? PM me please if you can't admit it on the forum, i won't tell... If you know of anyone that might be able to help please a pass their details on.

 

[SolarCity]

Re: Help with fault?

Did you change the DC isolator in the end?

 

[Energetic]

Re: Help with fault?

Yes, new isolator, new tails and sunclix into the inverter. Same stuff happening, behaves completely normally after a 10 second switchoff... Wondering if it could be a firmware issue but there must be tens of thousands of Sanyo/SMA installs out there now...

 

[SolarCity]

Re: Help with fault?

Sounds very much like a loose connection somewhere to me - possibly on a panel itself. Judging by the data you have shown, the problem appears to be getting worse - I would say this is consistent with a loose connection that is getting very hot. However, the fact that switching on and off at the DC isolator lets the system reset contradicts this conclusion.

Have you checked the resistance of the circuit during peak times?

 

[MorganPVI]

Re: Help with fault?

Whats your earth like?

We've had a dodgy connection on the 4000tl on the earth connect the clip was on the earth sheath, it was fine in the cloud but once the sun came out the inverter powered down - would not work over 2kw o/p. Re seated the earth clip on bare metal and it hit 4kw no issues.

 

[Energetic]

Re: Help with fault?

@ Biggs, my tester doesn't like me trying to get a resistance when there's lots of DC voltage present, how is this done?

@ Morgan, it's PME at 0.11 if that's the earth you mean? The array frame is not earthed. Do you mean the clip terminal on the inverter?

 

[MorganPVI]

Re: Help with fault?

Yes on the 4000tl the AC is connected with spring clips, iiirc same as a 2500.

I'm wary of the 2500, we fitted one and it would not generate more than 2500w, given the high irradiance this really struck me as odd and makes me think there is some kind of software control on these units. Given you've swapped one inverter out already i'd suspect some kind of issue with the panels, is it possible to fit another make of inverter, personally I'd be trying that before getting the scaffers back. Seems a real tricky fault to deal with.

 

[SolarCity]

Re: Help with fault?

@ Biggs, my tester doesn't like me trying to get a resistance when there's lots of DC voltage present, how is this done?

To be honest, I've not tried it. I test insulation resistance to earth but I've not tried getting a reading between pos and neg - The tester probably won't like it.

 

[confounded]

Re: Help with fault?

We got a call yesterday from a customer with a 2000HF and 10 235W Sanyo panels with this exact issue. Beautiful cloudless day and he got home to find his system was flat lining at 200W having dropped from 1800W at the peak of the day. As energitic says when I told him to switch the isolators on and off the system then bounced straight back up to normal and stayed there all day.

Not a big installer but have a good number of systems behind us without any other faults. This is a strange one!

 

[TMGL]

Re: Help with fault?

So 3 identical problems...all sma/sanyo installs. Admittedly this will be a very common combination but still more than a coincidence surely? Wonder if it's possible to rename the thread 'sanyo/sma install problems' to see if we can attract more data?

 

[Eco Deal]

Re: Help with fault?

Have you guys not over looked the country setting issue , I did an sma 4000TL and didnt change the setting to g83??

a good sunny days the invert would drop , like describe I went back to check and changed thre country setting to uk g83

NO problems reported since .

 

[Energetic]

Re: Help with fault?

The momentum is building on this with SMA and Segen and Sanyo looking into it now.

 

[ExtremePV]

Re: Help with fault?

What is the AC grid voltage when this happens?
And have you enabled / check if Optitrac enabled?

 

[Energetic]

Re: Help with fault?

G83 is on, optitrac off, grid voltage is within parameters. would optitrac help? SMA havent asked about that. Still no event codes for anything.