[RE-wrenches] Enphase "AC Frequency out of Range"

[penobscotsolar at midmaine.com]

Dave,
  We have been having the same problem with an Enphase system in Maine. I
have been dealing directly with the third tier engineers at Enphase and
they are working on a software fix for this. The"event" itself is only a
fraction of a second but IEEE requirements are that the inverter shut
down for five minutes. I only found out about this problem when it
started for this customer. It sems that Enphase has already addressed
the problem with a software fix for the M-190's. The M-215 fix should
come, according to Enphase, by the end of March. It will be
automatically downloaded through the Enlighten router.
   It's a known issue with Smart Meters with Enphase, but should be
reconciled soon.

Daryl DeJoy
NABCEP Certified PV installer
Penobscot Solar Design
www.penobscotsolar.com



> Wrenchsters,
>
>
>
> I have an Enphase 7.5kW system on a residence with utility Smart Metering,
> both the PV Production Meter as well as the utility billing meter being
> "read" every hour. This system has experienced many "AC Frequency Out Of
> Range" events since the system was installed. Below is copied the Enphase
> Event message. This particular event was for 5 minutes. Most of the events
> (all events are AC Frequency Out Of Range) last 5 to 10 minutes but
> occasionally they have lasted from 45 minutes to 64 minutes.
>
>
>
> My question is: Could the use of the smart metering increase the likely
> hood
> that AC Frequency events happen? Or is this just a coincidence and that we
> are dealing with fluctuating utility power AC Frequency issues?
>
>
>
> <<
>
>
>
> Started on: Mon February 04, 2013 12:49 PM EST
>
> Cleared on: Mon February 04, 2013 12:54 PM EST
>
>
>
> Recommended action
>
>
>
> This condition should correct itself. No action is required.
>
> Details
>
>
>
> The microinverter reports that the frequency coming from the utility is
> either too low or too high as specified by applicable regional standards.
>
>
>
> AC frequency is the frequency at which voltage varies on the utility grid.
> Frequency Out of Range events are usually transient and self-correcting by
> the utility.
>
>
>
> When the microinverter detects an out of frequency condition, it must
> remain
> offline until the utility has been within acceptable limits continuously
> for
> a short period of time (seconds to minutes, varies by region). If during
> that time the utility again exceeds or falls short of acceptable limits,
> the
> five-minute timer must restart and the microinverter may not begin
> producing
> power for an additional short period following the last out-of-bounds
> condition.  >>
>
>
>
> Best,
>
> Dave
>
>
>
>
>
> David Palumbo
>
> Independent Power LLC
>
> 462 Solar Way Drive
>
> Hyde Park, VT 05655
>
> www.independentpowerllc.com
>
> Vermont Solar Partner
>
> 25 Years Experience, (802) 888-7194
>
>
>
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