Millennia panels with Grid Tie [RE-wrenches]

Fri Sep 12 05:31:04 PDT 2003

Bill,

I thought BP stopped making Millennia modules some time ago? If you have
some to install, I hope they are your old stock and/or you got a good price
for them.

I've installed way too many of these over the years since they were HEAVILY
subsidized in my market and were the exclusive choice of module to be
acceptable for a local rebate program. I stopped selling them for many, many
reasons once we were allowed to use other modules. To my knowledge, only the
STXR is really designed for these modules. I've heard of people using them
on a Sunny Boy, which would make intuitive sense since these can handle a
wider voltage range, BUT this would violate BP's recent "recommendation" to
not connect the units above 48V nominal in series (despite their 600V rating
by UL???). I've had direct experience with the issues surrounding this
concern and it's not pretty. Issues I experienced with these modules made
all of Trace's inverter problems pale in comparison. That all said I know BP
attempted to address the problems and released a re-designed module before
they canned them, though I still believe the voltage issues remained. I
guess the people that bought them will see how well they hold up over the
years.

Take a look at the most recent installation guide for these modules from BP
and read the fine print. Call them if you want confirmation.

Best.

Jason Fisher

Aurora Energy LLC
Annapolis, MD
410-268-3088
jason at aurora-energy.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Roush [mailto:solarguide at everestkc.net]
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 11:15 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: Inverters for GT with Batteries [RE-wrenches]

Has anyone used the Millennium Panels (which I am still hunting specs
on) and a 48 volt inverter? I have a customer with some Millenniums who
wants grid tie and battery backup.

Best,
Bill Roush
Solar Electric Systems/KC, Inc.

-----Original Message-----
From: Darryl Thayer [mailto:daryl_solar at yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 9:16 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: Inverters for GT with Batteries [RE-wrenches]

Hi
I think the next good inverter will be the Outback
Grid tie.
The panels or arrays do not have to be 48 volt, I have
been so happy with the way that the MX 60 performs, I
use up to 120 volts OC from the panels into a MX60
which then charges 48-volt systems. (most of my work
is stand-alone but the grid tie is increasing).

I prefer 48-volt battery sets, where I am not working
with such high currents.  For stand-alone systems
where the batteries are cycled, I prefer
Lead-Antimony, such as Surrette.  But if the batteries
are for a grid tie system, where they just sit there
most of the time, in a float condition, as my grid
ties seem to do, I like a Lead-Calcium such as the
C&D.  If the batteries must be inside the house, I
prefer the sealed stacks from C&D, which I am now
buying a set as they are on sale.  The Lead-Calcium is
better in that it produces a lot less hydrogen and
uses a lot less water than Lead-Antimony.

Bye the way I do not like parallel sets of batteries,
having seen two fires caused by batteries in parallel.
 My limit is two in parallel,  and I prefer one
string.  No parallel.

Hope this helps Darryl

--- Graham Owen <graham at solarexpert.com> wrote:
> Allan,
>
> I have roof mounts installed (during re-roofing) on

> four homes in So
> Cal, most of which were done well over a year ago.
> I am also waiting
> and seeking reliable battery based grid-tie
> inverters.  One of these
> customers goal is "to be prepared for a terrible
> emergency and prolonged
> loss of grid power".  I explain to these customers
> that grid-tied and
> stand alone solar power are sound technologies, but
> combining both is
> not reliable and efficient, yet.  I have been
> considering installing 48
> V arrays with the new STXR's to get the rebate money
> flowing and later
> swap out the inverter for battery-based units, which
> I believe will most
> likely be low voltage.(?)
>
> BTW, the CEC recently moved an additional $30 mil
> into the Emerging
> Renewables Program account, should keep new
> reservations going at least
> until next March.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Graham
>

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