Intertie Installation Shlock [RE-wrenches]

[Bill Brooks]

Doug,

Actually, I would like to know the installer's name. I do the training and
troubleshooting for the CEC's program, and this is the stuff we try to keep
from happening. This system sounds like how many things can you get wrong in
a single installation.

It also sounds like they have the modules wired for a 36-volt nominal
battery. There is no way in the world that array will ever come close to
full power except for a few cold days in the winter. Open circuit voltage is
less than 52 volts on a hot day folks. I really appreciate your
conscientiousness in helping solve the problems, but there is absolutely no
option--the array must be rewired.

Incidentally, the CEC is very interested in problems like this. They know
these things are happening, but the people in the field are the eyes and
ears of the program. It is your duty as a member of this industry to help
raise the level of system installations. It's not like we need KGB
informants on bad systems, but we want to get the newbies (and some oldies)
headed in the right direction.

Bill.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joel Davidson [mailto:joeldavidson at earthlink.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2001 6:56 AM
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: Re: Intertie Installation Shlock [RE-wrenches]
>
>
> Sandy Miller at the CEC would probably like to know the installer's name.
>
> Doug Pratt wrote:
>
> > Wrenches,
> >
> >   I worry about what the California Intertie Rush is doing to
> > installation quality.  This past weekend I cruised down to Silicon
> > Valley to visit my son-in-law and check out the Intertie system he just
> > had installed.  (I can speak freely on this one because I neither sold,
> > specified, or consulted on this system. This was the first time I'd seen
> > it.)  Sale and installation was done by a local electrician who
> > "specializes" in Intertie. (And will remain nameless here.)
> >
> >   Josh was concerned, and asked me to come check it out because he never
> > saw the meter turning backwards.  Now, with a 5,500 sq.ft. house, a
> > pool, and a hot tub in his "starter castle", I wasn't too concerned.  My
> > attitude started to change when I found all the battery interconnect
> > cables finger tight, and no cover over the L-16 batteries in the garage.
> > The real shocker was finding the utility power connected to the AC-2
> > terminals on both SW-4048 inverters.  This puppy couldn't sell back if
> > it wanted to!   But then, with the SW's float/sell voltage set at 57.5
> > volts, the C40s set at 55.0 volts, and the modules wired in series sets
> > of THREE (!!), I guess it would be pretty hard pressed to find any
> > leftover wattage to sell anyway.
> >
> >   Yikes!  I tightened cables, adjusted the SW float voltage down to 52.5
> > volts, pushed the C40s up to 59v, and corrected the AC wiring.  That got
> > us about 3,100 watts of output AC sell power,  but out of a 6,000 + watt
> > array (51 Solarex 120s), that's not too impressive.  There wasn't
> > anything (reasonable) I could do about the array wiring.  And even with
> > the float/sell voltage at a minimal 2.18 volts/cell, we're asking the
> > modules to deliver 17.5 volts.  In the California summertime sun?  Ain't
> > gonna happen son.  This system will always perform poorly in warm to hot
> > weather.
> >
> >   Seems like our industry's biggest need right now is for knowledgeable
> > installers.  All you good ones reading this list, you're training
> > apprentices, right?  Good!
> >
> > Best regards,
> > Doug Pratt
> >
> > - - - -
> > To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> >
> > Archive of previous messages: http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/
> >
> > List rules & etiquette: http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm
> >
> > Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html
> >
> > Hosted by Home Power magazine
> >
> > Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
> >
>
> - - - -
> To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>
> Archive of previous messages: http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/
>
> List rules & etiquette: http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm
>
> Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html
>
> Hosted by Home Power magazine
>
> Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
>
>
>
>
>

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

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

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

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com

==^================================================================
EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9
Or send an email To: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register
==^================================================================