CEC list of eligible inverters [RE-wrenches]

Jeffery Wolfe, Global Resource Options jeff at globalresourceoptions.com
Mon Apr 4 23:04:02 PDT 2005


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MINOR RANT ON

Could we maybe consider getting a test that's real world for outside of
southern CA too? From everything I've seen and heard, for the CEC test
the inverter is basically put in a 40 deg C oven and told to work, then
adding it's own heat into the box. Last time I checked, most of the
country does not reach 40 deg C more than once a decade.

While I DO applaud the efforts at testing and certification, those who
make the test up, please remember that there is a growing market in
areas outside of CA. If the CA requirements require more heatsink, or
heavier components, to pass, well, we're all getting the quality, but
we're also all paying the price. If the quality does me some good, I'll
pay. But I don't need that Sherman tank to drive in the northeast.

Sure, we can say we'll just develop our own standards, but that's pretty
tough at this point. In fact, Connecticut has unfortunately decided that
their weather is just like CA, and has adopted the CA PTC method of
rating equipment and systems. Not sure what this accomplishes for CT
other than creating confusion. 

And to those inverter manufacturers who are using the test to highlight
their technology (our inverter can operate in a vacuum, so that's part
of the test), I say, you will not get our business, or our
recommendation.

Bill, I can hardly wait for those real world module tests. That would be
great. Just please make sure that the real world (not S. CA) is
represented in the test mechanism. We don't all live in the desert.

MINOR RANT OFF

Hope everyone has a pleasant evening. It was a typical April solar day
in the northeast, about 40 deg (that's F), overcast, rainy. What we need
is a good test of the long-term "waterproofness" of the inverters here!

Jeff

Jeffery D. Wolfe, P.E.
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer(tm)
Global Resource Options, Inc., Solar  Wind  Energy Solutions


-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Brooks [mailto:bill at brooksolar.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 1:48 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: CEC list of eligible inverters [RE-wrenches]

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John, Jerry, and all who participate and lurk,

John has done a good job of summing up a very difficult situation that
should not generate panic in the industry. Hopefully the list will be
updated on Tuesday (tomorrow) to reflect my original recommendation for
the list.

Unfortunately, the CEC decided to go against my recommendation to
include the information from all the reports that were submitted on
time. Instead the CEC decided to exclude all test results from reports
where I needed additional clarification. I tried to convince them not to
take this course of action since I was well aware that this was going to
create a lot of concern in our industry, particularly for those inverter
manufacturers who have invested a tremendous amount of time and money
over the past several weeks and months to come into compliance with this
new requirement. Given the backlash the CEC may reconsider my original
recommendation--let's hope so.

The wrenches, of all people, should be applauding this effort that the
CEC and the inverter manufacturers are making to provide certified
results from Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL) on
inverter performance.
Several inverters will be rejoining the list as they get their testing
done and the results submitted. In addition, a website will also be
available that has all the detailed data on the test results. This is
unique and will include a significant amount of data that was previously
extremely difficult to get from any manufacturer, impossible to get from
a NRTL.

So everybody take a deep breath and exhale slowly--we'll get through
this soon and I think that our industry will be the better for it.
Worthwhile things are rarely painless. Next time you talk with your
favorite inverter manufacturer, thank them for the time, effort, and
expense they have gone through to pull this data together--it was a
monumental task in a short timeframe.

We're not done yet--the module manufacturers are next....

Bill.

-----Original Message-----
From: John Berdner [mailto:jberdner at sma-america.com]
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 6:25 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Re: CEC list of eligible inverters [RE-wrenches]


Jerry / Wrenches:
 
I can not speak for all inverter manufacturers but, from what I have
heard,
many of us are in similar situations. First and foremost no one should
panic. The present situation is not permanent and CEC has committed to
updating the List very frequently during the next 4 to 6 weeks as some
of
the bugs are worked out with all the different inverter manufacturers.
Remember, the CEC testing protocol was in flux up to the very last
second
and there was much confusion about how to run the tests. The tests take
more
than 24 hours per inverter and must be run in a very exact order with
special requirements on time periods, ambient temperature windows, etc. 
****SNIP---(if you did not read John's post, go back and read it now)

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