Sharp SunVista and colored cells [RE-wrenches]
Nick Nicholas, APS
APS at SBCGLOBAL.NET
Tue Nov 11 21:11:23 PST 2003
I was part of a Sunvista Installation at the Sharp Training in early
July. Unfortunately, the triangular modules and new racking system where
not yet available for testing, but we where able to wire one inverter. I
was a little disappointed that the inverter did not match very good with
many of the more common modules on the market. Even the Sharp 165s and 185s
can not utilize the inverter at full output. The inverter works best with
Sharp's 140 watt rectangular module or the 70 watt triangles. Three strings
of 11 Sharp 123's works also.
On another note, wouldn't it be great to see some colored cells in the
states. I am calling for the de-segregation of blue and gold solar cells.
Can't we all live together in harmony?
So, what I hear is that these gold modules would cost nearly $4 per watt
early on, and we (solar salespeople) would have to show some demand. The
largest deterrent is the decreased efficiency (12%!) That is a big
deterrent, but I believe that the aesthetic value outweighs the
functionality for many customers. (Or, is that just in California?)
It is certainly valuable to reach new markets. I believe that a
selection of silicon colors would open new markets. Therefore, if national
solar dealers would be willing to commit to some purchases, I bet a Sharp
Distributor would be willing to make some investment too.
Personally, I would love to have one of those modules on display in my
store. Who else is interested? Feel free to contact me on or off list.
Nick Nicholas
Chief of Engineering
Alternative Power Systems, Inc.
135 Colfax Ave. Grass Valley CA 959545
530-274-0588 530-274-0589 530-913-5605
aps at sbcglobal.net alternativepowersystems.com
Add this card to your address book
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: "Jeffery Wolfe, Global Resource Options"
<jeff at globalresourceoptions.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 7:42 PM
Subject: RE: Sharp SunVista and new panels [RE-wrenches]
> I have not installed a Sharp SunVista, but I don't see GFI testing as a
big
> deal. Maybe on a 25 inverter system, although it was fine on a 16...
>
> It seems like a good idea to do a test, rather than blowing a fuse. What
> happens if you have a Sharp with a ground fault when you turn it on? (No,
> we've had no ground faults in our SMA installs yet, but I'm sure we will
> eventually. Even carefulness does not prevent a bad run of wire with a
> manufacturer's fault from being installed.) Does it blow a fuse or what?
>
> Jeff Wolfe
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Doug Pratt [mailto:dmpratt at sbcglobal.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 9:47 PM
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: RE: Sharp SunVista and new panels [RE-wrenches]
>
>
> I have not personally been hands-on with a SunVista install yet.
> However, our LA branch installed a couple last month, so I got to rub up
> against some first-hand experience. There were some glitches with
> packaging and shipping. Both had power boards broken by ...ahem...
> shipping and handling techniques that were inconceivable to the Japanese
> engineers. This hasn't happened in the homeland ever in two years of
> production. (Even the truck drivers in Japan are polite, gentle, and
> careful? THAT'S inconceivable to me!) Sharp responded quickly, and
> Arthur Rudin himself went out to the sites to install new boards. (It's
> *very* quick and easy to replace power boards in this inverter.) This
> will not be an ongoing problem, and I doubt if anyone else in the US
> will ever experience it. Construction and packaging are both being
> upgraded.
>
> Installation is real easy. There's a lightweight frame that attaches
> to the wall first, then the inverter body pops in. Hookup is easy.
> Startup is as simple as pushing the "on" button. No fiddling around with
> clearing ground faults.
>
> From my ex-mechanic's viewpoint, it's kinda like comparing a late 90's
> Camry with an 80's Mercedes diesel. The Camry you just intuitively
> understand. All the controls are where you expect them, everything
> works, it hardly ever breaks...it just does it's job and you never even
> think about it. The Mercedes takes a bit more study, and demands more of
> your attention, but goes just as far in the long run. Funny how national
> stereotypes play out in heavily engineered products.
>
> Cheers,
> Doug Pratt
> Real Goods Technical Editor
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andy Cochrane [mailto:andy at powertripenergy.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 2:54 PM
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: RE: Sharp SunVista and new panels [RE-wrenches]
>
> Hi again,
>
> Thanks folks for the warnings and caveats. I didn't see a reply from
> anybody who said they had installed one yet though, so I'll echo a
> recent question:
>
> So then - has anyone on the wrench list actually installed a Sharp
> SunVista inverter yet?
>
>
> Andy Cochrane
> Power Trip Energy Company
> Port Townsend, WA 98368
> andy at powertripenergy.com
> www.powertripenergy.com
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andy Cochrane [mailto:andy at powertripenergy.com]
> Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 12:43 PM
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: Sharp SunVista and new panels [RE-wrenches]
>
>
> Hi All,
>
> I have been hired for a new residential PV project that seems to cry out
>
> for the new trangular Sharp panels and their new 3500 SunVista inverter
> (Hip roofs meeting at 45 degree angles and half the panels will face SE
> and half will face SW.)
>
> So does anybody out there have some experiences to report with this
> equipment yet?
>
> Andy Cochrane
> andy at powertripenergy.com
>
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>
>
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>
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