little help needed with a SB1800 [RE-wrenches]

[Brad Bassett]

Brian,

You've checked voltage on each sub-array, but what do you have coming 
into the inverter? I'd check the sub-array to sub-array wiring. If there 
is something backwards there you may get the results you have. I'd check 
both voltage and current. 

Brad
AEE


brian wrote:
> 
> Hello wrenches people... i've been reading along for a while, and now i 
> have a small problem that on the surface seems very simple... and yet, I 
> 
> am still stumped.
> 
> A customer of mine had a small grid-tied PV system with 16 Siemens SP-75 
> 
> and an AEI GC1000.  You can guess what happened to the GC1000 (loose 
> fuse holder melted the dc input main fuse, melted entire panel.  side 
> note: the fuse holders in those inverters are el cheapo, but i've found 
> that bending them really tight against the fuse, and using liberal 
> amounts of electrical grease helps keep the fuse holders a bit cooler, 
> and prevents these commons meltdowns). 
> 
> Anyway... I added 8 more modules, and installed an SMA SB1800.  To avoid 
> 
> having to rewire a lot of the existing array, I came up with a somewhat 
> odd wiring schematic;  but the voltage string sizing work out fine on 
> paper, and even SMA saw no problem with it.  Here is a simple version of 
> it:
> 
> http://www.paloaltohardware.com/temp/
> 
> So the problem... is that in 1424 hours of operation, the SB1800 has 
> only produced 440 kWH.  The most I've ever seen the thing put out is 
> about 990 watts AC.  (the array faces just about due south, no shade at 
> all, about 25degree slope.
> 
> Any ideas?  I've check all connections and checked voltage on each 
> subarray of 4 modules.  My next step will be to start checking each 
> idividual module... but i wanted to ask you guys first, as it will be a 
> major PITA to get to each individual connection.
> 
> thanks in advace,
> 
> -Brian
> 
> 
> 

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