[RE-wrenches] Sunny Island DC Load Centers, Sealed Batteries

Wed Oct 7 19:12:52 PDT 2009

two issues, if a breaker is mounted vertical the on position is NEC supposed to be up.  
But the bigger issue is DC breakers have arc chutes, these rely on the arc gases rising and breaking over the arc chutes.  (some of them have magnets to force the arc over the chutes.)  The interrupting capacity of the breaker is severely compromised if the breaker is mounted on its side or upside down.  (this I state based on theory and observation)
Darryl

--- On Wed, 10/7/09, Walt Ratterman <wratterman at sunenergypower.com> wrote:

> From: Walt Ratterman <wratterman at sunenergypower.com>
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Sunny Island DC Load Centers, Sealed Batteries
> To: "'Mick Abraham'" <mick at abrahamsolar.com>, "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 8:50 PM
> 
> 
> 
>  
>  
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
> Hello Mick, 
> 
>    
> 
> The way I understand it, the DC
> switch on the SI is really an on
> off switch and not a circuit breaker.  SMA recommends
> that the system has other
> overcurrent protection.  The main value of the DC
> switch that I could see is
> that it provides an easier re-set point.  (There are
> some power saving
> conditions that require re-setting rather than
> auto-re-start.) 
> 
>    
> 
> And….  Since Outback
> has in their catalog using the Flexware mounted
> in this configuration, I would say the breakers are fine to
> be mounted in this fashion. 
> Worth checking though, of course.  I do know that you
> are not supposed to mount
> the DC breakers upside down (such as on the bottom of the
> flexware, where you
> would have to reach under the can to operate the
> breaker…..) 
> 
>    
> 
> Thanks, 
> 
>    
> 
> Walt 
> 
> SEPI 
> 
>    
> 
>    
> 
>    
> 
> 
> 
> From: Mick Abraham
> [mailto:mick at abrahamsolar.com] 
> 
> Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 6:41 PM
> 
> To: wratterman at sunenergypower.com; RE-wrenches
> 
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Sunny Island DC Load
> Centers, Sealed
> Batteries 
> 
> 
> 
>    
> 
> Hi, two
> questions:
> 
> 
> 
> (1) Doesn't each Sunny Island unit already include a DC
> disconnect breaker for
> the connection to battery?
> 
> 
> 
> (2) Aren't those big DC breakers in the Outback boxes
> restricted for
> "vertical installation only"?
> 
> 
> 
> I've got my own 3 phase Sunny Island thing coming up
> (maybe) so I look forward
> to these answers.
> 
> 
> 
> Mick Abraham, Proprietor
> 
> www.abrahamsolar.com
> 
> 
> 
> Voice: 970-731-4675
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
> On Wed, Oct 7, 2009 at 7:26 PM, Walt
> Ratterman <wratterman at sunenergypower.com>
> wrote: 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Hello
> Kirpal, 
> 
>   
> 
> Walt Ratterman
> here.  I can respond
> to at least the first part. 
> 
>   
> 
> In Burundi, we
> used three 5 KW Sunny
> Island 5048’s in a three phase configuration. 
>  
> 
>   
> 
> For all of the DC
> and AC breakers,
> wireways, etc., etc., we used the Outback Flexware
> equipment. 
> 
>   
> 
> We put the DC on
> the bottom and the AC
> on the top.  Due to the width of the SI’s, we
> used 2 – FW1000 systems to
> do this.  (And I am glad – we actually needed
> all of the wiring
> space.  I think it would work really well for your
> system. 
> 
>   
> 
> Of course, there
> may be some other good
> choices that I would be anxious to learn about as
> well. 
> 
>   
> 
> You can see some
> good photos of this
> installation at our photo gallery – linked form our
> Home Page at www.sunepi.org.  Click
> on
> the cover for the photos for the Burundi / Kigutu / Village
> Health Works / SELF
> project. 
> 
>   
> 
> Feel free to
> holler if you need any
> specifics on how we did anything here. 
> 
>   
> 
> OH – on your
> other question…I have no
> experience on large sealed banks, but Rolls now has
> AGM’s that start at T-105
> size, include the 8G8D sizes, and then go all the way up to
> 2V 3300 Ah. 
> 
>   
> 
> Thanks!! 
> 
>   
> 
> Walt 
> 
>   
> 
> 
> 
> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
> [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On
> Behalf Of Kirpal
> Khalsa
> 
> Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 6:15 PM
> 
> To: RE-wrenches
> 
> Subject: [RE-wrenches] Sunny Island DC Load Centers,
> Sealed Batteries 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>   
> 
> Hi
> Folks......we have an upcoming Sunny Island/Sunny Boy AC
> Coupled system
> installation.....We have mostly done Outback and Xantrex
> battery based
> systems.......and like the available supporting DC load
> centers with main
> breakers and other DC load and charging breakers......
> 
> What are folks using for the Sunny Island products? Outback
> Flexware DC 500's?
> or 1000's?
> 
> This particular system will consist of 4 Sunny Islands and
> therefore will need
> four main breakers......  We primarily need a breaker
> box to locate our
> main DC breakers coming from the battery bank.......Any
> advice, experiences
> would be appreciated......
> 
> 
> 
> Also on that note.....anyone wish to share any experience
> or advice on the GNB
> Absolyte GX series batteries or the East Penn Deka UnigyII
> as a standby grid
> connected back up battery bank....They both seem like they
> are good for
> primarily hanging out in float with occasional deep
> discharges not negatively
> affecting the health of the batteries.....This is the type
> of service we expect
> the batteries will be in primarily......Any recommendations
> of one brand over
> the other.....The vertical stacking seems convenient as far
> as space is
> concerned.....maintenece free......any recommendations on a
> good supplier on
> the west coast?  Any other brands i should be looking
> at in the sealed
> battery category for a fairly large Ah battery bank?
> 
> 100 thanks !
> 
> -- 
> 
> Sunny Regards,
> 
> Kirpal Khalsa
> 
> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer
> 
> Renewable Energy Systems
> 
> www.oregonsolarworks.com
> 
> 541-218-0201 m
> 
> 541-592-3958 o 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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