[RE-wrenches] AC Modules ready for primetime?

Wed Nov 7 09:05:55 PST 2012

Hello Chris,

You're correct. Our AC Modules are 120Vac.  At first this may seem to be
a drawback, but it's not.  You can connect up to 10 PVAC Module inverters
per cable, and for small systems (10 inverters or less), use just one cable
connected from line to neutral.  This is no different than having an 1800 watt
hand-held blow-dryer connected and operating. The imbalance seen by the
utility company would be identical in both cases.

In 240V systems, you'd use two cables (as you surmised) -- one connected
from line 1 to neutral, the other connected from line 2 to neutral.  You can
also connect three cables of inverters to a 208 three-phase four-wire wye
topology.  One inverter model thus works in three different power systems.

Yes, it's a custom cable, but it's a fraction of the cost of the pre-fab "240Vac"
cables.

Please contact me off-list for details.

Regards,

Dan Lepinski, Senior Engineer
Exeltech Solar Products

--- On Wed, 11/7/12, Chris Schaefer <chris at solarandwindfx.com> wrote:

From: Chris Schaefer <chris at solarandwindfx.com>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Modules ready for primetime?
To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Date: Wednesday, November 7, 2012, 8:26 AM

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> 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>
    wrote: 

    From: Kirk Herander <kirk at vtsolar.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, 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
    [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at 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>
      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 LoeschSolar 1 -
 Saint Louis Solar314 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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