SPAM: Xantrex versus Sunny Boy [RE-wrenches]

[Jeff Clearwater]

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Hey Bill,

Gotta disagree on the space and efficiency issues you raise.  The 36 
KW system with 12 SBs we are installing fits in a 6 x 8 power shed 
only using up the walls and you still have the whole room.  A PV50208 
(and the transformer) for that system would have required a fork lift 
and lots more space - wouldn't even have fit in the door!  And with 1 
Square D HU361  per 2 inverters  - that's only 6 -  5" wide 
disconnects - hardly a space issue.

And on commercial flat roof installs - especially retrofits - you 
just put the SBs and disconnects under or at the end of your racks 
and you don't need a whole dedicated power room.

As for efficiency including the transformer, aren't you at 90% with 
the PV whereas SB is at 94% and with a better efficiency curve?

respectfully,

Jeff C.

>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
>
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
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-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jeff Clearwater
Village Power Design Associates
Sustainable Energy & Water Solutions for Home & Village
http://www.villagepower.com
gosolar at villagepower.com

877-SOLARVillage
413-256-6777,  Fax 413-825-0372
61 Baker Rd
Shutesbury, MA 01072

PO Box 115
Boonville, CA 95415
707-895-9015, Fax 707-897-0024
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`~

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