Sunnyboy ground fault mystery [RE-wrenches]

Bill Brooks billb at endecon.com
Wed Feb 25 11:46:04 PST 2004


Kirk,

Looks like your fault is in the module, not the wiring. Test the 3rd module
from the positive end and see what its voltage is to ground when it is
isolated from the array. The problem could be in the junction box. If
not.... it is likely you have a bad module.

Bill.


-----Original Message-----
From: Kirk Herander, VSE [mailto:kirk at vtsolar.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2004 11:11 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Sunnyboy ground fault mystery [RE-wrenches]


Hey folks,

I have a system comprising of -6- old 60volt Mobil RA-180 ribbon silicon
modules wired to a SunnyBoy 2500U inverter. The modules are mounted on a
metal top-of-pole rack. The inverter detected a ground fault upon start-up.
The open ciruit array voltage is 323 vdc. I measured the voltage from the
pole to array pos. at +133 vdc. The measurement from pole to array neg.
is -190 vdc. So it would appear that perhaps there is a short from the 3rd
module internally to the rack and pole. Its looks like the array voltage is
"center-tapped" to ground somehow. However I isolated every module and did
not find a short. I also isolated and bugged out inverter and  DC disconnect
wiring and couldn't find a short either. Any ideas on how to solve this
mystery would be greatly appreciated.

thanks, Kirk

Vermont Solar Engineering
Kirk Herander
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
Certified Solar PV Installer(TM)
Xantrex Certified Dealer Charter Member
NYSERDA-eligible installer
Vermont Solar and Wind Partner

PO Box 697
Burlington, VT. 05402
www.vermontsolar.com
www.backeastsolar.com
800.286.1252 - 802.863.1202
fax 802.863.7908

- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/

List rules & etiquette: http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com

- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/

List rules & etiquette: http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. FREE!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/create/index2.html
--^----------------------------------------------------------------










More information about the RE-wrenches mailing list