[RE-wrenches] array commissioning

[Glenn Burt]

We recently began using the PVA-600 Solmetric with its wireless options.
I have found it to be a real timesaver for commercial commissioning. Testing
can be done from the rooftop, both V & I without making a run to the
inverter(s) and waiting for generation (to measure each string's Imp).

Running down the normal Voc, manual irradiance and module temperature is
better than nothing, but really does not compare with the immediacy and
accuracy you get when all the measurements are performed within the same few
seconds.

Does require a Windows based computer to operate the analyzer and I bought
an Acer tablet that works great for this. It needs a couple of USB ports to
run the wireless dongles as well.

-Glenn

-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Yago
Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2011 10:44 AM
To: 'RE-wrenches'
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] array commissionning

In addition to designing and installing solar systems for all kinds of
clients since to 1980's, I am starting to receive requests from owners to
commissioning new solar installations that were designed and installed by
other firms.  In many cases these may have been installed by a large
commercial electrical contractor with no prior experience with solar
installations but installed the rest of the wiring on the new facility, by
just follow the construction documents provided by the electrical engineer.
It is also possible that the engineer who designed all of the electrical
work on the new facility had no prior experience with solar design, and just
did a "cut and paste" outline spec using guidance from suppliers wanting to
provide the modules and inverters on the project. 

Since I am also a consulting engineer I am sometimes asked to commission new
schools and hospitals, so I am very familiar with the "normal" LEED type
building commissioning process.  However, although I typically use a
voltmeter, ampmeter, and ground fault meter for checking my own
installations, I am thinking that if I am being asked to commission solar
systems installed by other firms (in some cases my competition) I better use
one of the new recording IV curve tracer test meters that would be easier to
use and would provide data recording for documentation.

My concern is I probably will not need this level of system verification
more than one or two times per year, and the IV analyzers by Solmetric,
Daystar, and Seaward are very costly.  Of course this would also be useful
for checking my own system installations, but so far my manual testing has
been acceptable to all involved.

Is anyone doing commissioning on larger solar arrays using these "do-it-all"
testing devices, and which meter was the easiest to use and best performance
for the $$.   I don't not need some very high-end high $$ system, just
something that can provide separate and combined IV curves for multiple
string arrays with data files that I can convert to print back in the
office.  I am also not a computer expert, so would want a meter that is very
easy to download the data and print custom graphs without going through all
kinds of data conversion issues.

Thanks for any advice,

Jeff Yago


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