[RE-wrenches] AC Coupling Xantrex XWInverters toEnphaseMicroinverters

Tue May 3 08:40:09 PDT 2011

When it rains it pours... Just got a call from a competitor's Sunny Boy
owner that wants to add Enphase to an existing system.

Anyway, thanks for the tip on the X MPPT80. This higher voltage might
make the wire size small enough to run DC back to the existing battery
room. I guess the advantage is that this would eliminate the high
battery voltage shutdown issue. On the other hand, this would be less
efficient as far as grid selling as I understand it.

Jason

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Gary
Willett
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 10:40 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Coupling Xantrex XWInverters
toEnphaseMicroinverters

Jason, etal

Another Schneider/Xantrex option to consider.

Xantrex will be adding the MPPT 80 to their product line (orderable this
month). This new charge controller will allow high voltage strings
(600V, as opposed to 150V for current CC). It will also integrate into
the existing 4024 inverters via the XAN-Bus for charge control.

Regards,

Gary Willett, PE
Icarus Engineering / Solar Services LLC
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer # 031310-246

On 5/3/2011 9:15 AM, Jason Szumlanski wrote: 

Interesting. It's only "off-grid" when the grid goes down, which is
presumably not often in this case. I think the actual Enphase position
is that this "may void warranty." In practice, I doubt they would a)
ask, b) know, and c) actually disallow a warranty claim unless there is
system-wide damage that can be directly attributed to the off-grid
setup.

But to be safe I would advise the customer of this issue and make a case
for using the Xantrex GT or another brand that does not make the same
exception.

Thanks for the info!

Jason

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Mark
Frye
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 9:32 AM
To: 'RE-wrenches'
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Coupling Xantrex XW Inverters
toEnphaseMicroinverters

Jason,

My guess is that this will work just fine.

My comment is that according to my conversations with Enphase, they
would consider this an "off-grid" application for which they do not
warranty their product.

If this is the case, it is something your customer should understand
upfront.

Mark Frye 
Berkeley Solar Electric Systems 
303 Redbud Way 
Nevada City,  CA 95959 
(530) 401-8024 
www.berkeleysolar.com <http://www.berkeleysolar.com/>   

________________________________

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Jason
Szumlanski
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 6:18 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] AC Coupling Xantrex XW Inverters to
EnphaseMicroinverters

I read the application note here:

http://www.global-download.schneider-electric.com/852577A4005D7372/all/8
FA29D94B918A0FB8525781F0072FCA7/$File/ac-coupling-app-note(976-0240-01-0
1_rev-a).pdf
<http://www.global-download.schneider-electric.com/852577A4005D7372/all/
8FA29D94B918A0FB8525781F0072FCA7/$File/ac-coupling-app-note%28976-0240-0
1-01_rev-a%29.pdf> 

...and I contacted Xantrex to make sure the application note applies to
other brands of grid-tie inverters. It does according to the rep I spoke
with.

I just wanted to find out if there is any real world experience out
there with Enphase and the XW series AC coupled. I have a customer with
three XW4024's in single phase configuration set up as a battery backup
only now. He wants to add up to 10kW. I suggested Enphase as an AC
coupled system (mainly due to the distance to the proposed array). I'm
aware of the pitfalls noted in the application note regarding high limit
shutoffs. Any thoughts?

Jason Szumlanski

Fafco Solar

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