Sunny Boy control RS485 [RE-wrenches]

[Nick Nicholas]

Hi Keith:
    We have installed multiple systems which use RS-485 adapters and the
Sunny Boy Control Plus.  Both installations went successfully.
    One of the installations was 10+ Kw of Atlantis Sunslates solar shingles
on four SB-2500 inverters with RS 485 adapters.  The monitoring equipment
has worked flawlessly, and gave the customer an excellent view of his energy
production.
    The other installations were also successful, and the Sunny Boy
Monitoring equipment and software has always worked the first time for us.
    One of the systems can be viewed on the web, at www.rancholv.com/solar/,
were the customer has presented humorous installation photos and captions.
Un-fortunately, there are no pictures of the Control Plus installed.  He has
provided detailed pay-back analyses, where he argues that PV is not only
cost effective, but a reliable investment.  He has also added some
monitoring data to the website in "performance".
    This system was designed and installed last March and April.  At the
time, there was extensive discussion about how many SAPC/Sharp 165 watt
modules could be installed on a Sunny Boy 2500.  We installed two
sub-arrays, one with 20 modules, and one with eighteen modules with racking
for two more modules.  This gets back to the same discussion we had last
week about "some de-rating likely".  During summer months, the 18 module
inverter would operate more efficiently than the 20 module inverter.
However, with timer controlled fans cooling the heat sink and the room, the
inverter efficiencies were equal.  I will be interested in seeing annual
data in the spring.  Presently, the customer is using his Sunny Boy Control
Plus to monitor:
    Array output
    Ambient air temperature
    Cell Temperature at Module
    Wind speeds
    watts/ sq meter
    and more

 Nick
Alternative Power Systems
www.alternativepowersystems.com
aps at sbcglobal.net
135 Colfax Ave.
Grass Valley, CA 95945
(530) 274-0588 phone
(530) 274-0589 fax
----- Original Message -----
From: "keith" <kcronin at lava.net>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 30, 2002 5:09 PM
Subject: Sunny Boy control RS485 [RE-wrenches]


> Wrenches...
>
> Has anyone used the SB2500/SBC and the RS 485 connection for PC use?
> Does anyone have any feedback on it? What is the proper connection into
> the knockout at the bottom of the inverter to make it look clean and
> professional?
> Has anyone tried to use the Net connection feature at the bottom of the
> new SBC?
>
> It seems to me this is one of the great new ideas for implementing the
> "early adopter" customer for the future of the PV industry.  I am trying
> to be the 1st in Hawaii to have their PV system setup with a live web
> cam positioned on the roof "admiring," the PV panels and the sky, viewed
> at an angle to depict the latest weather activity.  I personally feel
> collecting real time data will be instrumental for future solidification
> that PV works!  It has so many wide implications from an education piece
> for our school children, to showing our neighbors what is possible with
> a little imagination. My solar hat is off to SMA for being so forward
> thinking in the plethora of options for system monitoring.  I hope I can
> weave these features in to many systems that we intend to install in the
> future. I hope to be able to have these clients "online", and at any
> time be able to check their system for performance or if there is
> trouble and be able to call them to see if something has changed at
> their homes or if they need a technician to give the system an
> inspection.
>
> Thank you for your input..all puns intended.!!!!!!!
>
>
> Keith Cronin
> Island Energy Solutions
> 318 A Kuulei Road
> Kailua, Hawaii 96734
> 808-262-3268 Tel
> 808-263-0338 Fax
> www.islandenergy.net
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
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