Inverter broken

[rob11]

On my array, an inverter is broken. Nothing on the screen. (Sma)
Sma are replacing it ASAP. I was just wondering how I should leave the circuit breakers AC or Dc?
( I guess it doesn't matter as I haven't been advised either way)
For fact fans- 50kwp array.. ( Field mounted) 250w suntechs and 4 SMa 12000tl. Yearly production 53500 kwhs
thanks rob

 

[moggy1968]

I would say switch off at AC and DC isolators to be safe, you don't know whats going on in there

 

[Worcester]

Hopefully each inverter has it's own AC isolator - Switch that off. Also hopefully each of the DC strings going into that inverter can also be isolated - switch those off as well.

DO NOT PULL THE ESS (Electronic Solar Switch) DURING DAYLIGHT without isolating the strings first - you'll likely get a very big bang! (quote direct from SMA )

Get a qualified installer to replace and commission the new inverter. (They are heavy little blighters!). Also your Sunny Portal (assuming you've got a sunny webbox installed, if not why not becasue you could see the state of the inverter via that) will need re-configuring for the new inverter.

Pretty standard stuff really for anyone that knows what they are doing

 

[rob11]

Everything is done by the rightly qualified people. I just walk around and check the external stuff(visually).
Not sure about the web box - (don't have one) during the instal extra costs were kept to a minimum due to variable fit rate. (Commission date 26th feb 2012)
they are Bluetooth, and I read monthly data from the gate next to the array.
Whats the range of a web box?
Sunny explorer (user access) doesn't load the events page for that inverter so can't tell more about the fault.
rob

 

[Worcester]

Ever heard the expression - Penny Wise, Pound Foolish? And commissioned on the 26th Feb even more important to be able to analyse and monitor in depth just how the system is performing Thats precisely why the small extra cost of a webbox we ALWAYS install them on projects =>30kW - a couple of hundred quid and you get loads of reporting and stats. - Just had one of our sites report an inverter fault, I knew the likely fault and had it generating again within a few minutes without even visiting site - a 2 minute phone call is all that it took. Without that it could have been off for days as it is in a remote plant room that no-one visits regulalrly. The Webbox ideally communicates to the inverters via RS485 though you can get bluetooth ones, the RS485 boxes are far far more reliable, and then hooks into the network via normal ethernet / cat5 (needs internet access) to upload to sunnyportal -


We know exactly what happened to Inverter #2 on the 17th March!

 

[rob11]

So to update this thread a bit,,,
Yet another broken inverter. 3 out of 4 is pretty crap going in my opinion. According to SMA its a bad batch.
Anyone else had trouble with Sunny Tripower 12000 TL's ?
Luckily never any question/problems getting them replaced, and hopefully they are going to replace the 4th, as its from the same batch.

But i would like to instal some sort of remote monitering. But how is proving a differcult question to answer.
The Array is ground mounted, 300ms from my house, with NO line of sight. Its two lines of panels, with the 2 inverters on the back of each line (so they aren't all in one place, about 7m apart)
(this bit might sound silly) but theres no electic at the array (as in no 13amp 3 pin plug sockets) The nearest is over a track, but again with no line of sight to my house.
There is another house about 400ms away thats kinda has line of sight, but thru a line of oak trees, and one array is blocking the veiw for the other.
The grid connection point is 150m from array, and does have hh export meter which is transmittied data, i can log on and see the output 12hrs after. So i can use this to see if anythings been produced etc. But still requires me to actively log on and check.
I ideally need something to moniter and send me a mail/txt in the event of error.

Any ideas/suggestions

Rob

 

[SibertSolar]

Is there any board at the inverters that you can take a 240v feed from?

 

[SibertSolar]

I mean distribution board....is your kWh meter mounted near the inverters?

 

[SibertSolar]

Ah, the online meter portal admin/config may allow you to configure a zero or threshold based "no generation" flag that can automate an email notification? What type of meter is it?

 

[rob11]

I guess you are asking about the export meter- no sure what meter it is- but i think it belongs to the metering company, i only have basic access to the online part ( i think and will check)
Its part of a package we get from imserv, which in turn was requested by the company that has our power purchase agreement....

The kwh meters (export and generation and import) are all 150m from the array (no line of sight) but there is 240v supply there.

 

[SibertSolar]

Ok, it's the generation meter I was interested in, from an online configuration point of view. However, if your generation meter has a an optical or pulsed contact output, you could hook up a number of pulse-readers to provide online monitoring. We offer the Intellymodem (http://www.sibert.co.uk/consumables_info.php?id=61&p=163&c_id=46) which can provide email notification of zero expected generation. Additionally, if distance/practicality permits, you could run a 2-core signal cable from a daisy-chained volt-free output of the inverters (which I think is configurable to switch over on alarm/shutdown status - could be wrong, not too sure about the Tripowers) back to the Intellymodem to, again, remote notify of an issue via email.

Can't think of another idea, maybe someone else will...

 

[rob11]

The Generation Meter is an Iskra (or something like that)
THe problem with that setup is that it would only alert me to no output, but not if only one of the inverters is no performing.

Runniing a cable from the meters to the array doesn't appeal to me, as its 150m of farm track and farm yard, and i don't want to did it up again (if possible)

Getting 240v supply to the array is do able, just not appealing.
Thanks

 

[SibertSolar]

Understood. Well, if you can get 240vac at the array then that would be ideal. Good luck with it though

 

[Gavin A]

I'm confused. It's the inverters that need monitoring, so there has to be AC power to the inverters or they'd not work.

Get a spark in to run a 3 amp fused spur from the power supply to the inverters, then use the GSM enabled sunny web box all in a waterproof enclosure of some sort, then your monitoring problems are solved.

OK so you'll lose around 8W continuous of FIT money from the generation meter, but if you've got 4 x 12kW inverters then you can afford that level of reduction in FIT payments.

unless I've missed something.

 

[rob11]

I am not sure about the AC to the inverters. It inverter has its own cable, from the supply. And I know 3phase is part of the scheme. But I am not sure if each inverter is on 3phases or each one on it own phase.(beyond my level of understanding) the cable is 5 core. I will look at provided schematic as see that helps me.

Thanks