SPAM: Xantrex versus Sunny Boy [RE-wrenches]

[Bill Brooks]

Marco,

I think there are several factors being overlooked in the responses. COST is
certainly one major one. I don't think SMA can come close to competing with
the PV series on cost. Efficiency I think is close to a wash between the two
even with the higher nighttime losses of the isolation transformer. Both
machines use IGBTs and they are very efficient at high power--they are not
efficient at low power. SPACE is another problem. 30 kW of SunnyBoy
inverters takes up tremendous space with disconnects and all. I think the
breakpoint between the SB and the PV is between 10-20 kW.

I really don't think the MPPT issues with the different orientations is an
issue. I do think the MPPT of the SB is slightly better than the PV series
in general, but I have not seen any good data to confirm that.

Reliability--I think the PV series is every bit as reliable if not more so
than the SB.

Both great inverters--the best inverters we have in our industry. The PV
series is better suited for this installation (just to be a contrarian--in
your heart you know I'm right--to quote Barry Goldwater).

Bill.

-----Original Message-----
From: Marco [mailto:marco at pvthawaii.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2003 2:59 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: SPAM: Xantrex versus Sunny Boy [RE-wrenches]



I'm getting differing opinions on a design question that's leaving me in a
bit of a quandry.  I'm pursuing a 30 kW DC grid-tied system sale to the
local healthfood store here in Hilo, ~19 degrees north lattitude.  There's
3-phase 120/208 service at the store, so I'd like to use a single Xantrex
PV30208 inverter (and isolation transformer).  Since there's not enough roof
space on the due south face for all 30 kW, the array would be split roughly
equally among the southern, eastern and western faces of the roof.  Each
series  string of (12) 24V modules would be on one plane, i.e., no series
string would span two roof faces.  Now, I know very well that splitting this
system onto three planes is not ideal when using a single inverter.
However, I'd much prefer to use one inverter rather than (12) 3-phase
SB2500s.  Nor do I want to use three 10-kW PV10208 inverters--one each per
roof face.  So, my question to my esteemed PV wizards is, how poorly or
sub-optimally do you think such a system will perform?  Any of you out there
who have installed similar multi-plane, single-inverter systems?

tanks,
aloha,
marco

Marco Mangelsdorf
President
ProVision Technologies, Inc.
69 Railroad Avenue, Suite A-7
Hilo, Hawaii 96720 USA
(808) 969-3281, fax 934-7462
www.provisiontechnologies.com



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