Batteryless inverter recommendation [RE-wrenches]

[Peter Parrish]

For reasons that are due no doubt to poor business practices, we have
installed just about every grid tied residential class inverter on the
market. I do have two comments about Fronius inverters:

(1) Compared to other inverters in the market, Fronius has lower voltage
ranges. This means that for designs that use higher voltage (more cells) PV
modules or just larger designs --  one often is driven to a three string or
even four string configuration. This almost always requires overcurrent
protection on each string = one more box and more $$. By comparison, the SMA
SB6000 and SB7000 haven built-in overcurrent protection for up to four
strings...nice touch.

(2) Back in August 2006 I discovered a problem with IG-4000s. They would
ramp up in DC voltage and current over a ten second interval and then snap
back essentially to zero and start the ramp up again. This was explained to
me by Fronius techies as a software glitch that occurred when the DC voltage
crossed over the grid voltage during MMP tracking. I was not involved in the
SW upgrade and I haven't heard of any other SW related problems.

- Peter

Peter T. Parrish, Ph.D., President
California Solar Engineering, Inc.
820 Cynthia Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90065
Ph 323-258-8883, Mobile 323-839-6108, Fax 323-258-8885
CA Lic. 854779, NABCEP Cert. 031806-26
peter.parrish at calsolareng.com 


-----Original Message-----
From: Joel Davidson [mailto:joel.davidson at sbcglobal.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 9:54 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: [Norton AntiSpam] Re: Batteryless inverter recommendation
[RE-wrenches]


Hello Mark,

I have heard good things about the Fronius, but how does the enclosure hold 
up to corrosive coastal air as compared to the Sunny Boy?

Joel Davidson

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Frye" <markf at berkeleysolar.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 8:25 AM
Subject: RE: Batteryless inverter recommendation [RE-wrenches]


>
> Joel,
>
> I would recommend Fronius.
>
> The Fronius units are the only package that I am aware of that utilize 
> high
> frequency transformation (low weight) and active cooling.
>
> Heat is the killer of electronic over the long haul, so the active cooling
> is very important.  And the fan is of course temperature controlled so it 
> is
> going to have a really long life span.
>
> The weight is very important to me as well. With Fronius I can install 
> 5.1kw
> in a 45 lb. package. That is a major benefit over the 90 - 110 lb. 
> packages
> based on low frequency transformation (big copper xfrmr).
>
> So I go with the only inverter that has both features in one package.  The
> Xantrex has high frequency transformation and is light, but does not have
> active cooling.
>
> The folks at Fronius are looking at an 18 year MTBF for the units. Their
> warranty support is very good. I have never had a problem with any I have
> installed.
>
> Also, I was very interested to see in the recent NREL article that
> circulated about the need for utility disconnects, that the subject 
> inverter
> was a Fronius.  The integrated, load rated, AC and DC "disconnect" 
> switches
> provided with the Fronius were an important positive design feature that
> helped support the conclusion of authors.
>
> Get smart, go with Fronius.
>
> Mark Frye
> Berkeley Solar Electric Systems
> 271 Vistamont Dr
> Grass Valley CA 95945
> (530) 401-8024
> www.berkeleysolar.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joel Davidson [mailto:joel.davidson at sbcglobal.net]
> Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 6:45 PM
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: Batteryless inverter recommendation [RE-wrenches]
>
>
> Wrenches,
> I like the SMA Sunny Boy (got one on my own home), but want to seriously
> consider other inverters. What grid-tie inverters have given you the 
> highest
>
> reliability (read: no call-backs)? Thanks in advance for your
> recommendation.
> Joel Davidson
>
>
> - - - -
> Hosted by Home Power magazine
>
> To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>
> Archive of previous messages: 
> http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read
>
> List rules & how to change your email address:
> www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php
>
> Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/
>
> Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
>
>
> - - - -
> Hosted by Home Power magazine
>
> To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>
> Archive of previous messages: 
> http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read
>
> List rules & how to change your email address: 
> www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php
>
> Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/
>
> Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
>
>
>
> 


- - - -
Hosted by Home Power magazine

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

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

List rules & how to change your email address:
www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php

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

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com


- - - -
Hosted by Home Power magazine

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

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

List rules & how to change your email address: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php

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

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

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

For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit:
http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER
--^----------------------------------------------------------------