[RE-wrenches] Tigo and SMA AFCI - Was: AC coupled, grid-tied Sunny Island - contactor & bypass

[Ryan]

 From Robin

It has been pointed out that the Tigo modules can and do blow up some 
charge controllers and inverters. When a charge controller or inverter 
has fairly fast tracking, the two units fight each other. We have found 
Classics using the fast tracking mode will blow up with Tigo's in the 
system. We also found that putting the Classic in the slower tracking 
mode, Legacy, solves the issue. We are aware that at least one major 
inverter model must defeat the tracking in order not to blow up. We have 
not yet tested our arc fault detectors with Tigo modules, but plan on 
doing this in the near future. It might be possible that the Tigo 
modules present a signature that looks like an arc. That must be what is 
happening with the SMA inverter.

Robin


On 6/5/2013 3:33 PM, SunHarvest wrote:
> Just an FYI for anyone wanting to use Tigo optimizers with SMA 
> inverters incorporating AFCI -
> According to SMA the Tigo optimizers will not operate with the SMA 
> inverters. They didn't go into detail. They just said the AFCI feature 
> of the Sunny Boy is not compatible with Tigo. After further discussion 
> they acknowledged that disabling the AFCI feature in the Sunny Boy 
> would allow compatibility with the Tigo optimizer. Awesome.
> After talking this over with Tigo they came to the same conclusion but 
> neither company seemed too happy or confident in the marriage. Awesome.
> Eric Stikes
> SunHarvest
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *
>
>     Wrenches,
>     Here's an update on this configuration (20kW Enphase, AC coupled to
>     Sunny Islands) you should know about:
>
>     Enphase will not support and warranty the use of their micro inverters
>     in an AC-coupled installation with battery-based inverters. Enphase
>     approved this verbally with us in design, but balked when we asked
>     them to back it up in writing. Their issue/point is that AC-coupling
>     violates the UL1741 listing.
>
>     Thus, we're revising the design to use Sunny Boy string inverters. Our
>     customer would still like the module-level monitoring and optimization
>     offered by the micro-inverters (there is some shading issue), so we're
>     considering using string optimizers. We have not used string-
>     optimization, yet. It looks like the leading options are Solar Magic
>     and Tigo.
>
>     Any preferences, cautions, or advice with choosing and using
>     optimizers would be appreciated.
>
>     Thanks,
>
>     -Kelly
>
>     Kelly Keilwitz, P.E.
>     Principal
>     Whidbey Sun & Wind
>     Renewable Energy Systems
>     NABCEP Certified PV Installer
>     WA Electrical Administrator
>     987 Wanamaker Rd.
>     Coupeville, WA 98239
>     kelly at whidbeysunwind.com
>     PH & FAX: 360.678.7131
>
>     *
>
>
>
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