Inverter Testing--Continuing the thread [RE-wrenches]

[Bill Brooks]

Wrenches,

Chuck Whitaker, my esteemed colleague and founder of Endecon Engineering
wanted me to post this for him in regards to standardized testing:

"But you STILL won't be able to compare the results from Xantrex with those
from AEI, SMA, etc. if they don't do the same test.  I can guarantee, left
to their own devices, they will test (or have tests performed by a 3rd
party, or two or 5!) in a way that presents their product in the most
favorable light.  In my mind, the procedure is more important right now than
who performs it..."

To add to that, the rating must be intuitive and clearly stated so that
designers and installers do not misinterpret the rating. Inverters are a
classic example of this, but current ratings on charge controllers are also
classic:

The Trace C-40 can handle 40 amps of continuous current whereas the Trace
C-60 can handle 48 amps of continuous current. Nowhere that I know of is
this distinction clearly made. Now this has installers asking "is this a
continuous rating or what?" Not the kind of ambiguity that promotes
understanding or good design.

Module STC rating is another classic piece of misinformation. Our industry
will always fight the misinterpretations that inevitably result because no
one has the guts to rate their own modules under real-world conditions.
Obfuscation rules in the PV industry, and at some point we have to
collectively say, ENOUGH.

Marketing departments will continue to spin their products and that is fine
and to be expected. Technical specifications should not be exposed to the
subjectivity of the marketing department. Ultimately, no one is truly served
by specs that have marketing spin. Before any one company gets on their high
horse and claims to be 100% above board in their specs, don't bother. They
all present their products in a way that will attract sales. They rarely
lie, but they almost never give the whole story.

The devil is in the details, the devil causes bad performance in systems,
the devil is this abiguity, and the devil is BAD.

Oh my--that's enough for now,

Bill.

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