SolarEdge monitoring portal update

[Earthstore]

This is just a thought, is it not possible to put these boxes in the loft, in a neat line under each panel, then should you get any problems in the future you can just pop up into the loft.

 

[Eco Deal]

Was the a reading of 16v on the postive and negtive from the string if so evertything outside is ok

not on the inverter screen on a D.C voltage meter?

Hi MEP ELECT

Just to keep you up to date on my failed five month SolarEdge 4kW system, is still down.

As we discussed disconnecting the DC from the inverter gave 16.9V. The new control PCB was fitted yesterday but after pairing we got P ok 14/14 for my 16 panel system and only 1.6V DC and of course no output. According to the monitoring portal, panel 14 last communicated May 1st and panel 11 last communicated May 3rd. which more or less coincides with the two failures.

Because there appears to be 16.9V on the string the SE4000 inverter was replaced today with a new one. Sadly we still get 14/14 and 1.6V DC and no output.

It may be possible to reach panels 11 and 14 from the ridge to change the boxes if it ever stops raining. Failing that its up with the scaffold and change the boxes. Unfortunately I have a conservatory across the back of the house so they will need an eight meter scaffold bridge. It's not going to be cheap or quick.

Regards, Trader9.

 

[Eco Deal]

then you would need 16 cable entry points i have fitted alot of solar edge never had one faulty box !!!!
went to scotland and only took 15 which was a bummer!!!

This is just a thought, is it not possible to put these boxes in the loft, in a neat line under each panel, then should you get any problems in the future you can just pop up into the loft.

 

[Trader9]

Hi MEP ELECT

16V was on the pos and neg with inverter disconnected. Inverter reads 1.6V.

The monitoring portal shows 1V optimiser volts on every panel except 14 which has 20.75V ?????

I still think the string is the problem. My money is on a high resistance connection, so you can see the correct voltage but can't draw any current. When pairing the voltage rises to 5V then collapses on the inverter display.

The monitoring portal giving panel 14 as 20.75V is a bit odd though.

Regards, Trader9.

 

[methley]

Just to be clear, when the optimisers are not registered to the inverter they should each ouput 1v. When they are registered, then they will output anything from 0v to 60v depending on what the panel is generating and what all the other optimisers in the system are doing. They work together to give a string voltage of around 340v. Have you gone through the registration procedure on the new inverter?

 

[dansk]

I think your on the right lines trader9 - with 4 connections per optimiser i bet its a MC4 not pushed in correctly.

 

[Trader9]

Hi All

I agree that the optimisers put out 1V with the inverter off and we do read 16.9V when the inverter is disconnected. So one would have thought everything was good with the string. But having changed the inverter what is left? Remember it work fine for nearly five month's.

But the question I would love answerd is this, how much current can you see on a meter. Using a digital meter which is probably 10 megohm or more, draws no current so you could have a high resistance string of thousands of ohms and it won't alter the 16.9V reading. But if you check for current what would you expect to see?

I did want my installer to put a voltmeter across the DC during start up to see if the 16.9V collapsed, as I suspected it would, but I never got an answer.

Next time anyone installs a SolarEdge system, please take a voltage and current reading it would interest me to know the current available. Using ohms law you could get a basic string resistance. R = V/I remember this?

Checking the portal monitor again I should have noticed that the optimiser voltage for panel 14 (20.75V) was last measured 1/5/2012. I also note panel 11 was last measured 3/5/2012, panels 4 & 10 on the 9/5/2012 all other panels 10/5/2012 and none measured today 11/5/2012.

The good news is that the scaffolders are coming next week so all should be revealed.

Regards, Trader9.

 

[Eco Deal]

but the if one one disconnected then you would not have that one volt reading !!!!!

I wonder if the installer as pluged a power box into another power box where the panel was ment to go then pluged a panel to a panel ???

you prob wont get that but I do in my tiny mind

I think your on the right lines trader9 - with 4 connections per optimiser i bet its a MC4 not pushed in correctly.

 

[Eco Deal]

trader9 if your willing PM me your site log in ?

if you dont want to give that sort of info its fine just might be able to help or post a screen shot on her of layout?

 

[methley]

I'm not sure it makes sense to see a current reading when the optimisers are not talking to the inverter. The whole point of them dropping to 1v is that they effectively switch off the panels in the event of a failure. I'd be surprised if they would supply much current at all in that mode.

 

[dansk]

Yes I get that, but it has worked for five month

 

[Eco Deal]

Right if there is 16 v between positive and negitive this states the installation outside on roof is connected correctly .

you should have 1 v per panel (+ - 0.3v) when D.C is switched off.

when you have 14 / 14 is there voltage d.c being produced and watts in power?

 

[Trader9]

Hi All

MEP I have PM my login.

I am back and I see you are still debating my dilemma.

The reason I was thinking of measuring the current was to try and establish if the string had gone high resistance for any reason, as I can't think of any other cause. Surely if pairing the inverter can find only 14 of sixteen panels and sits there showing 1.6V DC there has to be a problem with the string.

There is no power being produced at all the inverter only see's 1.6V. I think the 16V collapses when the inverter try's to work due to high resistance on the string.

Don't worry scaffolding coming next week and I will be able to give you the answer.

Regards, Trader9

 

[Eco Deal]

It must be on the roof . if you swaped inverter already !!!!

I think it going to be something very tiny and hard to spot!! like a MC4 connector or somthing like that

 

[Trader9]

Hi MEP ELECT

Bit of a mystery I agree. The scaffold should be going up in the next few days and I hope to go up and have a look when they go up to find the fault. I will then post the results of what is found. I still think it is a high resistance connection unless water has got in somewhere. We will see.

Regards, Trader9.