[RE-wrenches] Fire Fighters

[frenergy]

Dan,

        I recently installed a 4.6 KW system with TIGO "maximizers"
http://www.tigoenergy.com/index.html   at each PV, wired in with MC4's. A 
Gateway (mounted centrally amidst the PVs) communicates wirelessly with each 
maximizer, then relays (via cat5) status, info to the Maximizer Management 
Unit, mounted adjacent to the inverter in this case.

        Besides displaying current DC outputs at string level, it has a 
larger red button that can be pushed to stop the output at the individual 
PVs.  All DC wires after the maximizer (wired in at each PV) are 
dead....besides making firefighting safer, it's a really handy feature 
during wiring also (I don't need my hair straightened anymore, again!).

        The main reason I installed the TIGO system was to mitigate shading 
issues and PV/string imbalances.  Also though, they have monitoring, down to 
the PV level.  Enter Username and password from anywhere and there you are, 
minute to minute output, history, etc.  I've heard of output gains of 
anything from 6% to 20% (this probably the ocassional max) due to MPPTing 
and reducing mismatch.

Bill

Feather River Solar Electric
4291 Nelson St.
Taylorsville, CA  95983
530-284-7849/6544 fax
Solar powered since 1982


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Fink" <danbob at hughes.net>
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 5:29 PM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Fire Fighters


> Andrew;
>
> I think that in the future, the solution to the dilemma of entire roof 
> aspects fully covered in PV vs. firefighter safety is going to be 
> module-level control. Some shade mitigation systems already have it, 
> including an "all stop" button at the system control center. I hope some 
> electronic nerd somewhere is working on an inexpensive automated module 
> safety cutout. If the unit cost were low enough, the economics might work 
> out.
>
> My fire department had to cut through a roof for ventilation in high winds 
> just last week. It's horrible, dangerous work, and having access to the 
> right location on the lee side, and a quick and safe escape route, are 
> essential.
>
> DAN FINK
> Buckville Energy Consulting LLC
> IREC/ISPQ accredited Continuing Education Provider
>
>
>
> andrew at solarenergyoregon.com wrote:
>> While the Content of the CalFire info is amazingly extensive, and the 
>> intentions behind it unequivocally laudable, where it limits rooftop 
>> availability of PVs, it is not so great and a needless catastrophic blow 
>> to the advancement of the photovoltaic industry in the United States of 
>> America.  If the industry does not get its thoughts together around 
>> firefighter safety and rooftop availability for solar from a more 
>> solarcentric perspective, we will see more bad code like that recently 
>> passed in Oregon spread throughout the nation, well... like fire, that 
>> all but outlaws the installation of far too many residential systems.
>>
>> Respectfully,
>>
>>
>> Andrew Koyaanisqatsi
>> President
>> Solar Energy Solutions, Inc.
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