net metered system question [RE-wrenches]

[Bill Brooks]

Steve and others,

Did you check the voltage with a calibrated digital multimeter, or did you
rely on the inverter to provide the 136 volt reading. The Trace SW unit,
prior to the UL software revision in October 2000, tends to misread voltage
by about 5% or more depending on how much current it is processing. This
causes these battery-based, grid-tied systems to trip offline any time the
site voltage gets above 126 Volts.

If 136 Volts is the true reading, it is extremely high and warrants a call
to the utility so they can come out and lower their voltage. This can damage
the inverter and will damage sensitive equipment in the house.

Bill.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Bell [mailto:sebpv at stelle.net]
> Sent: Monday, March 05, 2001 6:59 AM
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: Re: net metered system question [RE-wrenches]
>
>
> Hi David,
>
>     Has anyone checked the voltage of the grid when these
> conditions occur?
> I have had systems where all the set points seemed correct but it still
> would disconnect from the grid intermittently. It turned out that the grid
> voltage was climbing to about 136 volt which is outside the fixed
> accreptable voltage range when in SELL.
> It might be worth checking the grid voltage before you go crazy
> chasing set
> points.
>
> Sincerely,
> Steve Bell
> SunWize Technologies
> sebpv at stelle.net
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Palumbo, Independent Power & Light" <ipl at sover.net>
> >
> > PROBLEM: It has been observed, on more than one occasion, (I have not
> > re-visited the site yet so I have not personally checked things out yet,
> but
> > a very competent technical person was relaying the info to me via phone
> > yesterday),
> > that the pv charge controllers were controlling the pv current at float
> > voltage,54v temp comp, when observed. The sunlight was strong
> at that time
> > so the sell back that should have been occurring was not
> happening. After
> > the grid sell back was set up (Dec 2000) we had observed good
> performance
> on
> > sunny days with the meter spinning backwards to the tune of 16
> to 20 amps
> at
> > 120 volts on each SW4048.
>
>
> - - - - - - -
> To send a message:
>  RE-wrenches at topica.com
>
> The archive of previous messages:
>  http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/
>
> List rules & etiquette:
>  http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm
>
> To unsubscribe send a message to:
>  RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com
>
> To check out the other RE-Wrench participants:
>  www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html
>
> Hosted by Home Power magazine:
>  www.homepower.com
>
> For info contact list moderator by email:
>  michael.welch at homepower.com
>
> ____________________________________________________________
> T O P I C A  -- Learn More. Surf Less.
> Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose.
> http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01
>
>

- - - - - - -
To send a message:
 RE-wrenches at topica.com

The archive of previous messages: 
 http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/

List rules & etiquette:
 http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm

To unsubscribe send a message to: 
 RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

To check out the other RE-Wrench participants:
 www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine: 
 www.homepower.com

For info contact list moderator by email:
 michael.welch at homepower.com

____________________________________________________________
T O P I C A  -- Learn More. Surf Less. 
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose.
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01