Suuny Boy inverter SB3000 HF-30

[PhilipK]

Hi - Can anyone help - I have a 3.67kw installation made up of 15 Sharp type ND-R245A5 panels in 2 strings ( 1 x 8 & 1 x 7 )
The inverter is a Sunny Boy SB3000 HF -30 which I was told was needed because of the uneven strings
Is this inverter powerfull enough to support a 3.67kw system as it seems never to produce above 2.9kw ?
Will it never achieve the annual 3.2 kw stated

 

[SolarCity]

Are you sure it is an SB3000 HF? If so, it only has a single MPPT and therefore it is not a good idea to have uneven strings connected to it.

 

[Earthstore]

What is tha orientation of the roof? south, east west split?
What is your location in the UK? what is the slope of your roof? (roughly in degrees)

 

[Gavin A]

Hi - Can anyone help - I have a 3.67kw installation made up of 15 Sharp type ND-R245A5 panels in 2 strings ( 1 x 8 & 1 x 7 )
The inverter is a Sunny Boy SB3000 HF -30 which I was told was needed because of the uneven strings
Is this inverter powerfull enough to support a 3.67kw system as it seems never to produce above 2.9kw ?
Will it never achieve the annual 3.2 kw stated

The only reason for using the 3000HF would be if it was run in single string, as the HF has a higher voltage range than most.

It's right at the top of the allowable input for the 3000HF, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, as the HF inverters are most efficient at high inputs, so while it will limit the output a little in full sun, it will probably generate more on average across the year.

Can you confirm how many of the PV cables you have going in to the bottom of the inverter - bottom left? Should be 2 cables if single string, 4 cables if 2 string.

 

[PhilipK]

Are you sure it is an SB3000 HF? If so, it only has a single MPPT and therefore it is not a good idea to have uneven strings connected to it.

Hi
Thanks for quick response.
It is definitely an SB3000 HF
Am I getting confused and it is not 2 strings but 1 and they had to use the HF because of 8 panels and 7 panels array

 

[PhilipK]

I have just checked and there are 2 cables going in the Inverter (bottom Left)
If it is 1 string did they have to use the HF because on uneven number of panels?

 

[whinmoor]

Could you provide a photo of the inverter? Do you have one or two DC isolators? They are normally grey on/off rotary-style switches. Especially interested in the connections at the bottom of the inverter and the wiring to the DC isolator(s).

Edit,

Just seen your post. Sounds like you have just the one string.

 

[PhilipK]

Hi
Roof orientation is south, rafter pitch 30, location is Stoke on Trent

 

[whinmoor]

Do all the panels face the same direction?

 

[SolarCity]

When you say that you have different strings, are they mounted on the same roof space? Or on a different roof space at a different orientation?

I would personally say that the 3000HF is not a bad choice for this array assuming that the panels are all at the same orientation. It may seem undersized but this is generally what installers do in the British climate - the basic understanding is that a 3000HF inverter will run better at, say, 2900w than a 3.6kW inverter - and that 2900w is far more common than 3.5kW. Does that make sense?

 

[PhilipK]

Hi
Tried to send photo but says to big

 

[whinmoor]

Email photo to me: [email protected]

I will post it for the guys to look at.

 

[PhilipK]

Same roof space - 1 row of 7 above a row of 8 all south facing on a roof with 30 degree pitch
I think I understand but will the gain by running better at 2900w outweigh the loss of never achieving above 3000w

 

[whinmoor]

Is there any shading from nearby buildings, trees, chimneys etc?

 

[PhilipK]

Yes - All south