[RE-wrenches] AC Coupling Xantrex XWInverters toEnphaseMicroinverters

Tue May 3 09:11:20 PDT 2011

Jason - A few comments:

1) I did install 1 AC coupled Enphase / XW system and it worked just fine.
After completion someone brought the Enphase warranty limitations to my
attention, so I called Enphase for clarification and they confirmed that any
connection to a battery-based system would indeed void their warranty.  This
was at least 2 years ago so it is possible that this policy has changed.

2) I am of the opinion that, considering Enphase's rapid production
increases and technology that is not significantly different from the AC
modules of the 90's that had such significant failures, Enphase could be
facing a large number of warranty issues in the coming years and redeeming
any warranty might be challenging.

3) I've done numerous AC coupled systems with string inverters and am an
absolute fan.  The systems are more efficient than DC coupled battery
back-up installations (assuming the grid is up most of the time) and the
wiring is obviously easier.

Good luck with the project!

For a brighter energy future,

Andrew Truitt
Principal
Truitt Renewable Energy Consulting
NABCEP Certified PV Installer™ (ID# 032407-66)
(202) 486-7507
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-truitt/8/622/713

[image: 24 copy.jpg]

"Don't get me wrong: I love nuclear energy! It's just that I prefer fusion
to fission. And it just so happens that there's an enormous fusion reactor
safely banked a few million miles from us. It delivers more than we could
ever use in just about 8 minutes. And it's wireless!"

~William McDonough

On Tue, May 3, 2011 at 9:40 AM, Jason Szumlanski <Jason at fafcosolar.com>wrote:

>  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<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
>
>
>
>
>  ------------------------------
>
> *From:* re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [
> mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org<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/8FA29D94B918A0FB8525781F0072FCA7/$File/ac-coupling-app-note(976-0240-01-01_rev-a).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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