Kaneka GSA? [RE-wrenches]

[Ryan Mayfield]

Travis,

You should call the folks over at Energy Outfitters and see what they can do in the way of a combiner. I know they can help you with some custom boxes although their stock options will probably be less expensive. It's possible to get to a one or two combiner solution and then on to the Square D or inverter's disconnect. 

Most of the inverters I've run across have 3 DC inputs so you should be able to use a single 30A or 60A Square D disco depending on the size of the array.

Regardless you'll be looking at a number of fuses for your array.

Ryan



-----Original Message-----
>From: "Travis Creswell, Ozark Solar" <ozsolar at ipa.net>
>Sent: Aug 21, 2006 3:22 PM
>To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>Subject: RE: Kaneka GSA? [RE-wrenches]
>
>
>Is that what you do?
>
>Travis Creswell
>Ozark Energy Services
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Damian de Caires [mailto:damian at thesolarcenter.com] 
>Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 10:39 AM
>To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>Subject: RE: Kaneka GSA? [RE-wrenches]
>
>
>Why not save on the combi switches and just use y connectors
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Travis Creswell, Ozark Solar [mailto:ozsolar at ipa.net] 
>Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 11:14 AM
>To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>Subject: RE: Kaneka GSA? [RE-wrenches]
>
>
>Thanks for all dialogue about these modules.  I really appreciate it.
>I'm
>learning a lot.
>
>Let's see if I'm getting this so far.
>
>There is not an appropriate sized fuse available so you can't parallel
>the
>modules without a combiner box.  SMA's website says the Combi-Switch can
>do
>4 strings.  Assuming your local climate will allow 5 in series that's
>300
>watts per string x 4 strings for a total of 1200 watts.  If the inverter
>allows two inputs you could use two Combi-Switches and double that. Now
>you've got over $1k retail just in Combi-Switches for 2.4 kW system.  I
>see
>they also have Sunny Central Combiner boxes but with that product won't
>you
>need a disco in between the combiner box and the inverter (some string
>inverters have one built in).  Any ideas what a 20 string Sunny Central
>Combiner costs?  What size of fuse is required in the combiner box if
>you
>aren't paralleling?  There seems to be some disagreement on the actual
>rating of the module.
>
>After one buys some sort of combiner and does the extra labor to fiddle
>with
>all the strings the Kaneka's lower price per watt likely loose their
>attractiveness for grid tied systems.  Since they are thin film type
>product
>your racking cost is going to be approximately double.  ~2x the ft2
>required
>for the same wattage array as crystalline. 
>
>For less then 150vdc systems there is a solution.  But there is still a
>fair
>amount of labor involved to get to a sizeable array.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Travis Creswell
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jeffery Wolfe, Global Resource Options
>[mailto:jeff at globalresourceoptions.com] 
>Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 6:09 AM
>To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>Cc: Travis Creswell, Ozark Solar
>Subject: RE: Kaneka GSA? [RE-wrenches]
>
>
>We worked with Outback awhile ago to get some 3A circuit breakers for
>their stuff for use with Kaneka. They now have them, 150VDC, 100% rated.
>So if you're using Kaneka with batteries (lots of wiring) you can string
>in 2 parallel strings at least though one CB. No similar solution for
>the higher voltage of grid-tied.
>
>Jeff
>
>Jeffery D. Wolfe, P.E.
>Global Resource Options, Inc., Solar Energy Solutions
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Bill Brooks [mailto:bill at brooksolar.com] 
>Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 5:04 PM
>To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>Cc: 'Travis Creswell, Ozark Solar'
>Subject: RE: Kaneka GSA? [RE-wrenches]
>
>
>So Matt,
>
>What would the appropriate fuse rating be for two series strings in
>parallel? 
>
>Assuming the Isc is 1 amp, then Imax = 1 amp x 1.25 = 1.25 amp
>[690.8(A)].
>
>Therefore you must subtract the 1.25 amps from the 5 amp rating so the
>max fuse rating is 3.75 amps
>
>Two strings in parallel have a max current of 2.5 amps (1.25 x 2), and
>the minimum series fuse rating is 2.5 amps x 1.25 = 3.1 amps [690.8(B)].
>So the correct number is 3.5 amps.
>
>The only fuse allowable for this arrangement of two strings in parallel
>is a
>3.5 amp fuse. I'd be interested to see if they have this in their
>literature.
>
>Bill.
>
>
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