[RE-wrenches] RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 5, Issue 256

Ross Taylor ross.taylor at windenergy.com
Sat Aug 18 11:12:50 PDT 2012


Surge protection: for the price and quality and function, it's almost impossible to beat the Midnight Solar SPDs.
___________________________________
Ross Taylor - International Training Manager
Southwest Windpower

(Sent "mobily" so please forgive brevity or typos)

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Best practices for comp shingle flashing? (August Goers)
   2. Surge Protection- PV (Keith Cronin)
   3. Booster pump (Nathan Stumpff)
   4. Heart Interface Inverter (mac Lewis)
   5. Re: Heart Interface Inverter (Chris Mason)
   6. Re: Heart Interface Inverter (bob ellison)
   7. Re: Heart Interface Inverter (Jay Peltz)
   8. Combating requests for itemized PV pricing (Jason Szumlanski)
   9. Re: Combating requests for itemized PV pricing (Allan Sindelar)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2012 11:48:14 -0700
From: August Goers <august at luminalt.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Best practices for comp shingle flashing?
Message-ID: <e1fd9211d08550b141810da0059d23bf at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi Eric,



We've used TTi, EcoFasten, and Quick Mount. I like Quick Mount the best but
they are a bit pricy so we've been using Eco Fasten for the majority of our
work over the last year. If anything, I've found that TTi requires more
labor and is more likely to require shingle cutting plus I'm gun-shy about
their material quality.  That said, the majority of our standard comp
shingle mounts require no shingle cutting (although you might have to
remove a nail or two) with Quick Mount or Eco Fasten. You just slide them
up under the shingles as pictured in this video:



http://www.quickmountpv.com/training/videos/classic-comp-install.html



Maybe you have a different kind of comp in your neck of the woods? If
you're really worried about it you can always take a sample out and see if
you can slide it under the shingles without any cutting. It just might work.



Good luck.



Best, August



*From:* re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:
re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *SunHarvest
*Sent:* Wednesday, August 15, 2012 4:22 PM
*To:* RE-wrenches
*Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Best practices for comp shingle flashing?



Thanks guys. Talked with TTi and mentioned Mr. Miller's experience with
rust. They said they got a lot of feedback about this problem on their 1st
generation line and have since corrected the issue. I'll remain
cautious...thanks Willy.



TTi, DPW, EcoFasten, and Quick-mount all seem to have the same issue of
lacking versatility in height adjustment. Anyway, going to check out a
sample from TTi. DPW and EcoFasten look like they still require cutting of
both flash base and comp courses. I'm trying to avoid cutting anything as I
want to avoid disturbing original flashing and original roofing material.



Thanks for all your input!!



Eric Stikes
SunHarvest Solar
A Sustainable Energy Group Partner
+1 (530) 798 - 3738
www.harvesthesun.com
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:52:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: Keith Cronin <electrichi01 at yahoo.com>
To: RE-Wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Surge Protection- PV
Message-ID:
        <1345236751.89820.YahooMailNeo at web113414.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi folks

What kinds of products are you using for residential and commercial surge protection for your PV systems?

Have a few clients that have been asking.

Is it at the service, using products like this:
http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/public/en/bussmann/electrical/products/surge_protectiondevice/photovoltaic_spd.videos.html


I always wonder what it protects and the fine print in the event of a lightning storm to someone hitting a pole on the street and sending the surge back into the property.
?
Aloha,


Keith
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:22:10 -0800
From: Nathan Stumpff <Nathan at arcticsun-llc.com>
To: "re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org"
        <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Booster pump
Message-ID:
        <F0293D22AADF0B4BB93164A4BF88390F449550DB6D at REINA-SERVER.reina.local>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Thermal wrenches,

When plumbing a booster pump in series for a solar drainback system, should the booster pump go ahead of or behind the main circulator?

Cheers,
-Nathan

--
Nathan J. Stumpff - Arctic Sun, LLC
NABCEP Certified PV Installer #091209-175
NABCEP Certified Solar Heating Installer #032412-14
nathan at arcticsun-llc.com<mailto:nathan at arcticsun-llc.com>
Office: 907/457-1297
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2012 20:24:34 -0600
From: mac Lewis <maclewis1 at gmail.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Heart Interface Inverter
Message-ID:
        <CAOABG49x1m0muMY_wyyHfHE1anQRDmCS8zKTLDnJYDE9r0zmZA at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hello Wrenches,

AC charging system specs
Onan Marquis Gold 5500 LP Model 5.5HGJAB119D generator
Heart Interface Freedom 20 Model Inverter Charger (120VAC, 100A charger,
12VDC)

I have a new customer who has a used Onan RV generator (as specified
above), working with a Heart Inverter charger (specified above).  When the
generator is started, the Heart inverter kicks on and starts to charge,
after about 3 seconds it kicks off, then on, then off and repeats.  The
voltage and frequency of the generator output look good. 120V L-N and 60-62
Hz no load.  The Heart just doesn't seem to like it after it kicks on the
charger.  (Sorry, no scopemeter available)

What is very interesting is that on the other pole of a transfer switch
connected to the AC input, is a fairly inexpensive gas generator, pull
start, on wheels etc.  This puts out 108VAC at 59-60Hz.  When connected to
this generator the Heart immediately latches in and will continue charging
flawlessly at 100ADC.  For whatever reason, the Heart, doesn't like the
voltage waveform of the Onan generator.  The Fluke 87 multimeter that I was
using to test, was catching some type of transient (frequency reading would
shoot up to 70-100Hz) when the Heart would latch into the Onan.  Other that
that with my simple tools I could see no real difference between these
generators, other that the 108VAC of the gas generator.

Any ideas, or known compatibility issues with this equipment?

Thanks

--



Mac Lewis

*

"Yo solo s? que no s? nada." -S?crates
*
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Message: 5
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2012 07:25:41 -0400
From: Chris Mason <cometenergysystems at gmail.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Heart Interface Inverter
Message-ID:
        <CAG6C1qkQKtcB5TCMaEQk3ddQcQMJWUjX7-kigKdN=nHJB65X_Q at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

For what it's worth, the Fluke is known to mistake harmonics for base
frequency. I would look to borrow for a scope or at least use a cheaper
meter that can accurately report the frequency. Try slowing the generator
to 59 Hz to see if the inverter likes it better.


On Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 10:24 PM, mac Lewis <maclewis1 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello Wrenches,
>
> AC charging system specs
> Onan Marquis Gold 5500 LP Model 5.5HGJAB119D generator
> Heart Interface Freedom 20 Model Inverter Charger (120VAC, 100A charger,
> 12VDC)
>
> I have a new customer who has a used Onan RV generator (as specified
> above), working with a Heart Inverter charger (specified above).  When the
> generator is started, the Heart inverter kicks on and starts to charge,
> after about 3 seconds it kicks off, then on, then off and repeats.  The
> voltage and frequency of the generator output look good. 120V L-N and 60-62
> Hz no load.  The Heart just doesn't seem to like it after it kicks on the
> charger.  (Sorry, no scopemeter available)
>
> What is very interesting is that on the other pole of a transfer switch
> connected to the AC input, is a fairly inexpensive gas generator, pull
> start, on wheels etc.  This puts out 108VAC at 59-60Hz.  When connected to
> this generator the Heart immediately latches in and will continue charging
> flawlessly at 100ADC.  For whatever reason, the Heart, doesn't like the
> voltage waveform of the Onan generator.  The Fluke 87 multimeter that I was
> using to test, was catching some type of transient (frequency reading would
> shoot up to 70-100Hz) when the Heart would latch into the Onan.  Other that
> that with my simple tools I could see no real difference between these
> generators, other that the 108VAC of the gas generator.
>
> Any ideas, or known compatibility issues with this equipment?
>
> Thanks
>
> --
>
>
>
> Mac Lewis
>
> *
>
> "Yo solo s? que no s? nada." -S?crates
> *
>
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Options & settings:
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>
>


--
Chris Mason
President, Comet Systems Ltd
www.cometenergysystems.com
Cell: 264.235.5670
Skype: netconcepts
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Message: 6
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2012 10:07:33 -0400
From: "bob ellison" <reellison at gmail.com>
To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Heart Interface Inverter
Message-ID: <006b01cd7d4b$175ea430$461bec90$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Try putting a load on the generator (like a 1500 watt hair dryer) before the
Heart kicks on then once it transfers to the loads and starts charging, shut
it off.

It might be finding the voltage or frequency to high for it?s liking.

Plug it directly into the generator of somewhere before the inverter to get
gen power.



Bob Ellison



From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Chris Mason
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 7:26 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Heart Interface Inverter



For what it's worth, the Fluke is known to mistake harmonics for base
frequency. I would look to borrow for a scope or at least use a cheaper
meter that can accurately report the frequency. Try slowing the generator to
59 Hz to see if the inverter likes it better.



On Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 10:24 PM, mac Lewis <maclewis1 at gmail.com> wrote:

Hello Wrenches,



AC charging system specs

Onan Marquis Gold 5500 LP Model 5.5HGJAB119D generator

Heart Interface Freedom 20 Model Inverter Charger (120VAC, 100A charger,
12VDC)



I have a new customer who has a used Onan RV generator (as specified above),
working with a Heart Inverter charger (specified above).  When the generator
is started, the Heart inverter kicks on and starts to charge, after about 3
seconds it kicks off, then on, then off and repeats.  The voltage and
frequency of the generator output look good. 120V L-N and 60-62 Hz no load.
The Heart just doesn't seem to like it after it kicks on the charger.
(Sorry, no scopemeter available)



What is very interesting is that on the other pole of a transfer switch
connected to the AC input, is a fairly inexpensive gas generator, pull
start, on wheels etc.  This puts out 108VAC at 59-60Hz.  When connected to
this generator the Heart immediately latches in and will continue charging
flawlessly at 100ADC.  For whatever reason, the Heart, doesn't like the
voltage waveform of the Onan generator.  The Fluke 87 multimeter that I was
using to test, was catching some type of transient (frequency reading would
shoot up to 70-100Hz) when the Heart would latch into the Onan.  Other that
that with my simple tools I could see no real difference between these
generators, other that the 108VAC of the gas generator.



Any ideas, or known compatibility issues with this equipment?



Thanks




--







Mac Lewis

"Yo solo s? que no s? nada." -S?crates




_______________________________________________
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--
Chris Mason

President, Comet Systems Ltd

www.cometenergysystems.com

Cell: 264.235.5670

Skype: netconcepts



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Message: 7
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2012 07:23:40 -0700
From: Jay Peltz <jay at asis.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Heart Interface Inverter
Message-ID: <ABBFDF4E-B567-4A75-8A52-B527EBC8D615 at asis.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Hi folks
You might also check peak volts. If memory serves correctly those  older inverters charged off peak volts not RMS.

Jay
Peltz power

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 18, 2012, at 7:07 AM, "bob ellison" <reellison at gmail.com> wrote:

> Try putting a load on the generator (like a 1500 watt hair dryer) before the Heart kicks on then once it transfers to the loads and starts charging, shut it off.
> It might be finding the voltage or frequency to high for it?s liking.
> Plug it directly into the generator of somewhere before the inverter to get gen power.
>
> Bob Ellison
>
> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Chris Mason
> Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 7:26 AM
> To: RE-wrenches
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Heart Interface Inverter
>
> For what it's worth, the Fluke is known to mistake harmonics for base frequency. I would look to borrow for a scope or at least use a cheaper meter that can accurately report the frequency. Try slowing the generator to 59 Hz to see if the inverter likes it better.
>
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Message: 8
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2012 12:18:54 -0400
From: Jason Szumlanski <jason at fafcosolar.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Combating requests for itemized PV pricing
Message-ID:
        <CAJJtG3ozGzQwZgRBYpmRJYUWBS0WOuxDQ7jV4TRosFKyi2XAwQ at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

We are getting more and more people calling that want to provide their own
equipment and have us install it. It's frustrating, because usually they
are looking at prices for materials that either I would not consider
selling, or would not meet the mounting requirements of the Florida
Building Code. Of course, they do not understand and consider all of the
other costs.

In addition, lots of people are looking for a breakdown of prices (down to
the line item - nuts and bolts). I generally refuse to provide it because
it inevitably leads to the response "I can get that module/inverter online
cheaper." The "I need to make money" response leads to "yeah, but you must
be getting better prices than I see online" argument. And so on, and so
on... I'm sure you've heard it...

I've resorted recently to just providing a percentage breakdown,
stating that the price is roughly 25% each:

   - PV Modules
   - Inverters and Electrical
   - Mounting System
   - Design/Engineering, Permitting, Labor, Overhead, and Profit

Any other tips out there to answer the request for line item details?

Jason Szumlanski
Fafco Solar
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Message: 9
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2012 11:17:36 -0600
From: Allan Sindelar <allan at positiveenergysolar.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Combating requests for itemized PV pricing
Message-ID: <502FCE30.2080804 at positiveenergysolar.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

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End of RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 5, Issue 256
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