[RE-wrenches] SMA Secure Power Supply
Daniel Young
dyoung at dovetailsolar.com
Tue Sep 3 08:18:59 PDT 2013
For the well pump, you could get a small auto transformer to give you 240V
out of the 120V output. I have no idea how the ne TL-22's will handle the
pump though.
We've installed one 3kw unit thus far and are impressed. We've only powered
small items thus far, dewalt battery chargers, box fans, laptop chargers, no
issues there. We plan to experiment a little, trying to power a newer model
refrigerator off an extension cord. Also possibly a shop vac, to see if the
motor surge trips the SPS into some sort of fault condition. Will follow-up
on those if/when we decide to go there.
As for installation feedback, the units are easy to mount and the wiring is
straight forward when you read the manual first. The AC output comes off the
inverter angled slightly towards the wall, so you either need to use flex,
or bend your pvc/emt/grc to bring the conduit run back in line with the
mounting wall. The SPS is not a part of the inverter package, you must go
buy whatever components you want for setting up the SPS. We used a double
gang box, with a simple 15A light switch and duplex outlet, so it's no big
deal to walk into any supply house and get what you need on the fly if you
forgot to put it on the truck. It may be harder to get everything if you
need to mount the SPS outdoors, making sure everything is rated for the
purpose.
The DC connection between the DC disconnect and the inverter is only a 3
wire cable, which in counter intuitive at first for a system with 2 separate
DC MPPT circuits. But they bring the negatives of both circuits together
before going to the inverter (this is what I surmised after examining the
PCB inside the DC disconnect).
One thing that some installers may miss, especially if they don't read the
manual is that by default all the rotary dials that set the country,
language, grid-tie requirements, and communications ID# are set to 0-0-0. In
the US we need to change these to the appropriate settings based on your
preferences. The manual states that the setting are locked in after 10
operating hours, and an SMA code must be entered to change the setting after
that. The manual indicates that these settings may already be the "default"
for the inverter, requiring no changes, but when calling SMA tech support
for our first install they made it sound like we needed to use the rotary
dials to confirm the correct language, grid settings, etc.
Other things to note:
- The new TL-22's require a neutral in all cases, unlike their
transformer based cousins. This makes them incompatible with 240V 3ph high
leg delta grid installations. (you can install them only on the 2 legs that
are used for split phase 240/120v making an imbalanced installation, which
may not matter depending on the size of service vs the array).
- The inverters include DC surge suppression in the DC Disconnect
that is easily serviceable. This is a nice feature during a tightly budgeted
install. But we typically will install the midnight solar arrestors as well,
so we have a visual indication that the system is protected.
- They are ridiculously quiet. (The spec sheet indicates this with
around 25db sound levels) When standing 2ft in front of the inverter it
cannot be heard (at least by me) during operation (grid-tie and SPS modes).
If fact I could hear the mechanical kWh meter we installed to track it's
production ratcheting away clearly, but nothing from the inverter. The
inverter will make several "clicks" during the first 30 sec of startup when
the grid is turned on. I suspect this is the AFCI and other safety features
doing self checks before connecting to the grid. I have not been around the
inverter at dawn to see if these clicking noises happen every morning when
the array hits the startup voltage though.
- If you turn the SPS on when the grid is up, it will not activate
and the inverter will continue to grid-tie. If you want to use the SPS
outlet, then you need turn the AC breaker off before hand, simulating an
outage.
That what I have after a 1 week runtime. If anything else of note appears,
I'll try to post it here on the wrench list.
Daniel Young,
NABCEP Certified PV Installation ProfessionalTM: Cert #031508-90
NABCEP Certified Solar Heating InstallerTM: Cert #SH031409-13
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Steve
Jefferson
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2013 5:57 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA Secure Power Supply
Sorry, but running the SPS in series to create 240VAC is not possible.
Thanks
SMA America, LLC
Steve Jefferson
Supervisor, Service Line
6020 West Oaks Blvd, Suite 300
Rocklin, CA 95765 - 3714
U.S.A.
Tel: +1 916 625 0870
Fax: +1 916 624-2445
Service Line +1 877 697 6283 (Toll Free)
Email: steve.jefferson at sma-america.com
www.SMA-America.com <http://www.sma-america.com/>
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From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of James
Gustafson
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2013 2:44 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA Secure Power Supply
Hello Solar Folk,
I'm wondering if it is possible combine the secure power source outputs of
two SMA SBTL-22's in series to run a 240v load, like a small well pump. Does
anyone have any ideas about the feasibility of this concept?
Thank You Much,
Djibril
On Mon, Jul 22, 2013 at 5:46 AM, Carl Adams <swingjunkie at gmail.com> wrote:
Nick,
I guess I don't see this as a weakness but rather operating as designed. If
the design intent was to allow the grid tied solar array to provide a
limited power source during a grid outage, during daylight hours, with no
batteries required, it seems this hits the mark.
I know these units went through some beta testing early this year, so I
would still appreciate any feedback from any wrenches who have actually
installed them.
With Regards
Carl Adams
SunRock Solar
From: Nick Soleil <nsoleil at enphaseenergy.com>
Date: Fri, Jul 19, 2013 at 9:45 PM
Subject: Fwd: [RE-wrenches] Fwd: SMA Secure Power Supply
To: Carl Adams <swingjunkie at gmail.com>
I understand that is a good selling point, but the major weakness is that it
won't work at night and only will provide the amount of power that is
available from the sun, so not so good for stormy conditions.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Carl Adams <swingjunkie at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jul 19, 2013 at 12:48 PM
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Fwd: SMA Secure Power Supply
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Hello Wrenches,
I'm considering the new SunnyBoy SB3,4,5000 TL-22-US inverters for upcoming
projects. The new secure power supply feature seems like a good selling
point. At this point I am most interested in field experience from those
who have already installed these units.
Here is what I have learned from reading up a bit.
My initial impression was that the electrical switch and outlet shown in the
tech bulletin, youtube video, and discussed in webinars I have seen, was an
actual "hardware product option". This is not the case. It is
functionality available in the unit as points of connection. The intent is
for the installer to pickup the necessary switch and outlet at the local
supply house and make the connections.
One other thing I learned is that between early marketing and product
availability the "functionality" name was changed from "Emergency Power
Suppy (EPS)" to "Secure Power Supply (SPS)" due to NEC code issues.
Another point of confusion for me was in reading the SB3k - 5kTL
installation manual. In the manual, the discussion of the SPS uses the term
"miniature circuit breaker". My initial thought was this reference was to
the backfed circuit breaker for the inverter, or a separate circuit breaker
integral to the inverter. Not the case, just bad translation from German to
English. The reference, is to the off the shelf switch, the installer is to
use to field install the SPS.
Hope this is helpful, and again I'd like to here from those of you who have
already deployed these units.
Carl Adams
SunRock Solar
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