Proportional Controller Technologies

[SibertSolar]

For anyone that might be interested or is curious to know the differences in functionality being employed out there - Technology Overview

 

[jason121]

Re: Propotional Controller Technologies

Installed Immersun the other week customer complaining that all the lights flicker when immersun is being used. Apparently one of the side effects of this device.

 

[Gavin A]

bugger, does that mean that phase angle is also problematic Mr Sibert ?

Marlec assured me that their system had passed tests for the flickering etc, but just read a report of it causing a buzzing MCB which doesn't sound good.

 

[Gavin A]

Re: Propotional Controller Technologies

Installed Immersun the other week customer complaining that all the lights flicker when immersun is being used. Apparently one of the side effects of this device.

unfortunately that means the installation is unlikely to be compliant with the flicker regulations, and it's likely to also impact others on the same phase.

it's why we pretty much stopped installing them - just done a couple since in areas of low grid impedance where the flickering shouldn't be an issue.

 

[jason121]

October will see the new design out and they would replace it. Thinking of using the iboost any thoughts

 

[SibertSolar]

There's pros and cons to burst and phase-angle control. These are typically easy enough to overcome in an industrial environment where industrial norms apply. Not so easy to comply with domestic CE (discounting self-certification) & EMC norms though....

 

[The Solar King]

Interesting stuff Andy
How about a list of which available controllers use what method.
From your experience, which are likely to comply with flicker regs?

 

[SibertSolar]

Hmmm, I'm cautious of being overly commercial here tbh but this document might help to outline who uses what. I'm also conscious of the fact that the Greenologic Power Reducer launch has been delayed although this is simply due to their commitment to being 100% compliant with domestic and industrial CE/EMC norms....

 

[Worcester]

As I understand it the new ImmerSUN wont use either phase angle or burst fire....

 

[SibertSolar]

Really? And why have they changed their technology??

 

[Gavin A]

Really? And why have they changed their technology??

because I pointed out 7-8 months ago that it was none compliant, and after a bit of head scratching they said they'd have to work on a fix for it - this was after we'd originally reported an issue last Autumn and been assured it wasn't a problem.

I also gave them some ideas of ways they could at least ensure that it wasn't installed in non-compliant situations via either proper impedance tests, or just monitoring the voltage change as a 3kW load was switched on and off, as a stop gap measure to ensure the unit wasn't installed in non-compliant situations, but they obviously preferred to not publicly acknowledge the issue rather than warning installers about it and giving them a simple method to ensure compliance.

None too impressed tbh that they continued to sell in volume while knowing it wasn't compliant in a small but significant number of situations, which is a shame really as I found the team there to be pretty helpful generally.

 

[SibertSolar]

Uhuh...indeed Gavin. I don't particularly want to comment any further on any specific product that we don't already stand by so I'll keep my input on this thread technical/info only.

 

[Gavin A]

I probably shouldn't have either, but they've left installers and customers open to legal issues and possible DNO action, as well as the potential for epilepsy sufferers to have that condition triggered by the flickering lights their non-compliant system causes in high grid impedance situations, so I'm a bit narked with them tbh.

 

[SibertSolar]

A statement from Greenologic has just been officially released so I am now allowed to distribute this document that might also be of interest

 

[Gavin A]

can you distribute it my way please - have several potentially interested sites