[RE-wrenches] Seaward Solarlink

Wed Feb 13 14:54:23 PST 2013

PS - What's of battery life like in the Seaward products, in particular when
using the wireless irradiance meter? I have a Fluke 233 w/ detachable remote
display. It has a range of about 30 ft. Trouble is every time a pull it out
after a couple weeks of being turned off the batteries are always dead..

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 Kirk
Herander
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 5:39 PM
To: 'RE-wrenches'
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Seaward Solarlink

Thanks Bill. It was your excellent HP article which turned me on to Seaward
products, as applied to full-blown evaluation. I am doing larger and more
commercial arrays now and this testing is a logical step up in professional
commissioning. Sure beats the basics using my old Fluke. Now the hand-held
IR thermal imager, at $6K, is a little harder to justify.

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 Bill Hoffer
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 5:03 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Seaward Solarlink

Kirk

Good to check out, it is a fair amount of money, but being able to safely do
Isc on a full series string, megging, grounding continuity and DC power, it
is a handy tool to have.  
I have been using one for over a year now and have been very happy with it.
It is relatively quick to use once you get used to it and gives me a lot of
confidence in the final install knowing that the ground continuity is sound,
strings are in good shape ( no bad modules or connections ) and the array
has been safely meg tested ( shorted leads vs , - to Ground and + to
ground).  Make sure you get the PV150 with extra memory and RF capability
with the 200R irradiance and cell temp meter.  Clamp on meter is good to,
with the PV T leads attached will calculate DC power into Inverter. 

I actually like their single phase Solar Power meter too , since it will do
kW AC, makes short work of doing Inverter performance validation.  It also
does PF , Harmonics and will detect phase order for a 3 phase motor.  Pretty
nice, seems most power meters are in the $6k range and start at 3 phase, so
for $500 bucks I think it is a good value.

Keep in mind that the Seaward is designed for European installs where they
usually have MC4 connectors at each inverter location, so the PV connectors
supplied are MC4 and Sunclips.  I have adapted the sunclips to Banana stlye
connectors so I can use standard off the shelf 20 amp 1000 VDC test leads
and banana clip extensions.  Easy to also use MC4 adapters to any other
standard connectors.  I wish we used MC4's to the inverters, it would speed
up commissioning alot!  Sometimes it is a challenge to adapt combiners or
inverter disconnects to make a spot to use as a test lead when there is no
where to clamp on.  Hopefully as commissioning of larger installs becomes
commoner we will see those manufacturers making a test spot more accessible!

Also beware that the Megger only really works for PV Strings and if you need
to meg wire or motors you will need a standard $500 Megger, I like the Fluke
1587 because it has other common meter funtions.  Frankly I do not like
megging a PV string using a megger, to me the Seaward is a lot faster and
gives me more useful information all at once ( Voc Isc, Insulation
resistance, irradiance, Cell temp).

I also do training in commissioning testing through Solar Energy
International ( PV351lab)  that allows you to use all the advanced tools
available for commissioning and troubleshooting on live systems in their lab
yard.  Well worth it to get a chance to play with the tools before you put
hard cash down on it.  I also consult independently to train installation
crews in the operation of the Seaward, so you can contact me off list if you
wish to discuss that.

I would not do a larger commercial or utility scale project without the
PV150 as a minimum commissioning tool.  Curve tracing Thermal cameras are
overkill unless you have module failures to track down or Bankability
commissioning requirements for them.  Often they are much more dependent on
conditions than the preliminary Seaward tests.

Highly recommend Seaward as a company and their tool, Great support and
product! Hukseflux recently released a similar tool that just came out for a
little less, but I have not had a chance to evaluate it yet or have I heard
from anyone using it yet.

Good Luck

On Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 1:25 PM, Kirk Herander <kirk at vtsolar.com> wrote:

Hello,

Can anyone provide user feedback on the Seaward PV test/commissioning
equipment? I'm thinking of making the $2K investment in their Solarlink kit.
Thanks.

Kirk Herander

VT Solar, LLC

dba Vermont Solar Engineering

NABCEPTM Certified Inaugural Certificant

NYSERDA-eligible Installer

VT RE Incentive Program Partner

802.863.1202

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-- 
Bill Hoffer PE
NABCEP Certified Solar PV InstallerT
Sunergy Engineering Services PLLC
2504 Columbia Ave NW
East Wenatchee WA 98802-3941
bhoffer at sunergyengineeringservices.com Cell:(509)679-6165

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