[RE-wrenches] AC Modules ready for primetime?

Wed Oct 31 09:04:54 PDT 2012

Hello David,

Our inverters are a *true* AC Module, not just a micro-inverter that's been
attached to the PV frame or other structure.  They replace the junction box
on PV, and must be installed by a PV manufacturer, distributor, or OEM
that are certified to the appropriate UL Standards for that process.  Our
AC Modules are not designed for field/site installation to PV.

The advantages to this: We're exempt from DC-side ground-fault and
arc-fault because all DC conductors are internal to our inverter, and are
all less than 80Vdc.

Being mounted directly to the PV eliminates the j-box, diodes, high-voltage
DC conductors, and expensive DC connectors and their associated hassles.
This also reduces the product cost and decreases the system installation
time.  You're also assured of a perfect match of our inverter to the PV.

For notes - our AC Module inverters are made in Fort Worth, Texas.

Dan Lepinski, Senior Engineer
Exeltech Solar

--- On Wed, 10/31/12, David Katz <dkatz at aeesolar.com> wrote:

From: David Katz <dkatz at aeesolar.com>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Modules ready for primetime?
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2012, 10:39 AM

Dan Lapinski,

Does Exeltech make a microinverter that can be site-installed?  

David Katz

Sent from my HTC smartphone on the Now Network from Sprint!

----- Reply message -----

From: "Exeltech" <exeltech at yahoo.com>

To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>

Subject: [RE-wrenches] AC Modules ready for primetime?

Date: Wed, Oct 31, 2012 7:26 am

I'd like to correct an error in Jim's statement below related to how we

at Exeltech handle warranty.

If an AC Module inverter should fail, the entire module does not need to

be sent back for warranty -- just the inverter itself.  In our case, this

involves removing four small screws to separate the inverter from the

base.  The "lid" (or top of the enclosure) is the heat sink of the inverter.

The base stays attached to the PV.  There's no wiring involved.  It's all

internal, and you don't have to do anything except remove the old

inverter from the base and plug in the new one.

Once you access the back of the PV, total time to effect the swap

is typically about 1 minute.

Dan Lepinski, Senior Engineer

Exeltech Solar

--- On Wed, 10/31/12, Solarguy <ntrei at 1scom.net> wrote:

From: Solarguy <ntrei at 1scom.net>

Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Modules ready for primetime?

To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>

Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2012, 9:05 AM

Another question to consider when it comes to ACPV warranty replacement is, do you have to send the entire module back for repair if there’s a warranty claim on the inverter. Solar Bridge & Exeltech
 both say yes. All things equal, Solar Bridge still has DC apparatus exposed but not Exeltech. It would be nice to just be able to drill out the pop rivets and unplug the SB unit & return for repair.

And yes, I’m kinda biased toward Exeltech but they have been building inverters for 20+ years.

Jim Duncan
North Texas Renewable Energy Inc
www.ntrei.com

NABCEP PV 031310-57
TECL-27398
ntrei at 1scom.net

817.917.0527

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org]
On Behalf Of William Dorsett

Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 12:14 AM

To: 'RE-wrenches'

Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Modules ready for primetime?

Kirk, the BenQ modules use SolarBridge inverters. One of the questions to ask with ACPV is who backs the warranty on the inverter. According to SolarBridge’s
 website, the module manufacturer warranty’s the combination. This is fine as long as the mfg stays afloat but in this time with such major players as Sharp and BP backing out, who do you turn to if your inverter has a problem? As Bill said Exeltech is in this
 too, and warranty’s their own, so is one step less removed. 

One of the things we’ve gathered is that Enphase, with an installed base of something over a million, is having some problems with its first version, 190. Is
 that a problem inherent in the components chosen in its design or something as simple as insufficient potting? It is fairly low percentage,  but it also hasn’t been 25 years. And how does that balance with the installed base of any of the other microinverter/ACPV
 manufacturers? 

It seems that the temperature at which micros are required to live is the main advantage of remote string inverters. They can be down in the shade with free air
 moving around them.  On the other end of that trend are the ACPV which might have very little room between them and the module backing. There might be several practical actions like mounting the modules with the inverter on the down side so the air flow is
 cooler (a little like putting the pump or fan on the cool input side of a thermal collector), or spacing the array higher off the roof to allow more air flow.

I do agree with Bill that this is the direction the industry is heading and very quickly.

Bill Dorsett
Sunwrights
Manhattan, KS

From:

re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org]
On Behalf Of Bill Loesch

Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 11:43 AM

To: RE-wrenches

Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Modules ready for primetime?

Hi Nik,

As of SPI 2012, Solar Bridge advertized seven module manufacturers using their product.

Remember Exeltech, manufacturer of exemplary sine wave inverters, is also a player in this ACPV market, undoubtedly other players, too.

IMHO, ACPV is the route that the industry will _eventually_ follow. 
Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar
314 631 1094
On 30-Oct-12 10:13 AM, Nik Ponzio wrote:

I have a prospective customer requesting AC modules for a commercial job. What is currently available?

Thanks in advance.

Nik

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