[RE-wrenches] AC Modules ready for primetime?

Wed Nov 7 06:26:11 PST 2012

The only issue I see at this time is it is a 120Vac inverter instead of 240
like most other micro inverters. Thus you have to use two wire home runs to
get 240Vac. I'm I seeing this correctly that a special wire is required for
the home runs?

Christopher

  _____  

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Kelly Larson
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 10:36 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Modules ready for primetime?

...Just to chime in, I installed the Exeltech/NB ACPV modules on a residence
in January.  It was super easy.  They went in fast, with no GEC needed from
the roof.  Piercing connectors worked well clamping to the trunk cable.  No
conduit required.  Irradiance sensor is standard, with temp sensed from the
Heliosentry box.  The modules seem to be performing well, although the
system isn't connected to the internet, and I am not sure how the monitoring
works when it is.  (That is something I'd like to know more about before
installing another system.)  

Blessings,

Kelly Larson

On Oct 31, 2012, at 3:37 PM, Exeltech wrote:

Jason,

You're describing our "Home Run" cable and the connectors for the
AC Modules.

Replacements are easy.  The inverter base stays on the PV.  The
cable is a part of that base.  You don't need to disconnect anything.

Just remove four screws from the inverter (the "lid" of the enclosure
is actually the inverter heat sink), remove it (there's a five pin mating
connector inside the inverter .. the female half on the inverter, the
male half in the base) .. remove the inverter .. pop the new one in,
and replace the four screws.

That's it.  No wiring to mess with.

Dan

--- On Wed, 10/31/12, Jason Szumlanski <jason at fafcosolar.com> wrote:

From: Jason Szumlanski <jason at fafcosolar.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, 5:27 PM

One of the nice features I saw at SPI is the "trunk cable" which is a
standard cable to which you attach piercing taps that come attached on a
drop from each AC module's inverter. I like not having to worry about
connector spacing. I'm not sure how you handle replacements or removals, but
I'm sure that's been addressed. I haven't used these modules yet, but I can
see the benefits in the cable strategy.

Jason Szumlanski 

Fafco Solar

On Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 3:30 PM, Exeltech <exeltech at yahoo.com
<x-msg://67/mc/compose?to=exeltech@yahoo.com> > wrote:

Hello Kirk,

Our PVAC Modules are certified to UL and other applicable Standards on:

Helios PV, Milwaukee, Wisc  ( http://www.heliossolarworks.com/ )
PV made in Milwaukee  + our AC Module inverters made in Fort Worth
yields a 100% "Made in America" product.

NB Solar (made by "Sun Earth Solar"), China
In the PV business for 44 years.
( http://www.nbsolar.com/ )

Top Sun (Korea)
Vertically integrated PV manufacturer of ingots, wafers, cells, and PV
modules.
( http://www.topsun.kr/english/main/main.htm )

Distributed by Solarbine, with offices/warehouse facilities in Pennsylvania,
Texas, and Southern California.
( http://www.solarbine.net/ )

More PV manufacturers are working their way through in UL certification at
this
time, but non-disclosure agreements won't allow discussion yet.

Dan Lepinski, Senior Engineer
Exeltech Solar

--- On Wed, 10/31/12, Kirk Herander <kirk at vtsolar.com
<x-msg://67/mc/compose?to=kirk@vtsolar.com> > wrote:

From: Kirk Herander <kirk at vtsolar.com
<x-msg://67/mc/compose?to=kirk@vtsolar.com> >

Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Modules ready for primetime?
To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
<x-msg://67/mc/compose?to=re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> >

Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2012, 1:53 PM

Dan,

What panel OEM's are using your AC modules?

Kirk Herander

VT Solar, LLC

dba Vermont Solar Engineering

NABCEPTM Certified Inaugural Certificant

NYSERDA-eligible Installer

VT RE Incentive Program Partner

802.863.1202

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
<x-msg://67/mc/compose?to=re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org>
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
<x-msg://67/mc/compose?to=re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org> ] On
Behalf Of Exeltech
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 12:05 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Modules ready for primetime?

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
<http://mc/compose?to=dkatz@aeesolar.com> > wrote:

From: David Katz <dkatz at aeesolar.com
<http://mc/compose?to=dkatz@aeesolar.com> >
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Modules ready for primetime?
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
<http://mc/compose?to=re-wrenches@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
<http://mc/compose?to=exeltech@yahoo.com> >
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
<http://mc/compose?to=re-wrenches@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
<http://mc/compose?to=ntrei@1scom.net> > wrote:

From: Solarguy <ntrei at 1scom.net <http://mc/compose?to=ntrei@1scom.net> >
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Modules ready for primetime?
To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
<http://mc/compose?to=re-wrenches@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 <http://www.ntrei.com/>  

NABCEP PV 031310-57

TECL-27398

ntrei at 1scom.net <http://mc/compose?to=ntrei@1scom.net>  

817.917.0527

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
<http://mc/compose?to=re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org>
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org]
<http://mc/compose?to=%5bmailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org%5d
>  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
<http://mc/compose?to=re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org>
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org]
<http://mc/compose?to=%5bmailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org%5d
>  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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