[RE-wrenches] Question re Midnite surge arrestors

[Ryan]

Allan
The MNSPD115 is designed for low voltage. As you pointed out 90VAC or 
less. So there is a chance it was conducting some and causing the 
Outback to stay awake. The Proper use of the MNSPD115 is for Low voltage 
control circuits and the likes.

In the case of 120VAC or 120/240VAC the MNSPD300 is the proper choice.

I apologize for the confusion and promise to look over the website and 
literature asap.

Ryan


On 8/13/2013 2:22 PM, Allan Sindelar wrote:
> Ryan,
> I may have found the answer to my original post, but it raises more 
> questions.
>
> I wrote that these were MV units (MNSPD300), but I checked with my 
> lead tech and learned that in both cases he used LV units (MNSPD115). 
> Could this be the reason? He told me that he has used the LV with 120V 
> inverters and the MV with 120/240V inverters. The instruction manual 
> states that the LV units are designed to be used on nominal 90VAC and 
> 115VDC circuits, and have a Maximum Continuous Operating Voltage of 
> 180V. The manual states: "The MidNite Solar SPD voltage rating should 
> be chosen according to the nominal voltage of the system. Do not 
> install an SPD with Maximum Continuous Operating Voltage (MCOV) below 
> the nominal voltage of the system; this will deteriorate the SPD and 
> making it unavailable when you most need it." If this is true, then 
> the LV (with its 180 MCOV) should be fine at 120VAC. The instructions 
> are confusing: should we use an MNSPD115 or an MNSPD300 with 120VAC 
> output? And in this case, could this be the cause of the 
> failure-to-sleep problem?
>
> If we should be using the MNSPD300 with 120VAC inverter output, then 
> the description on the Midnite website is confusing at best. It states 
> that the MNSPD115 "is designed for both AC and DC systems and provides 
> protection to service panels, load centers or where the SPD is 
> directly connected to the electronic device requiring protection." But 
> service panels and load centers seldom if ever carry AC at less than 
> 90VAC, the nominal rating of the MNSPD115. Please clarify all of this!
>
> Thanks, Allan
>
> On 8/13/2013 11:28 AM, Ryan wrote:
>> Allan
>> That is not expected behavior. Which model of SPD are you using?
>>
>> Ryan
>>
>>
>>
>> On 8/13/2013 1:08 PM, Allan Sindelar wrote:
>>> Wrenches,
>>> Very seldom do inverters in off grid systems ever go to sleep 
>>> anymore, given the increase in phantom electronic loads and greater 
>>> customer expectations. Coupled with lower module prices, we usually 
>>> size larger arrays and inverters remain on continuously. However, we 
>>> also service and upgrade many existing systems, and some customers 
>>> still want their inverters to go into search mode. They typically 
>>> either have gotten used to a more energy frugal lifestyle over many 
>>> years, or (to their credit) choose to buck the system and live with 
>>> a lighter energy and resource footprint.
>>>
>>> Twice in recent months we have added Midnite MNSPD MV surge 
>>> arrestors to the AC output of smaller systems and discovered that 
>>> the inverters will no longer go into search mode. It doesn't appear 
>>> to make any difference where the search watts threshhold is set. One 
>>> system used a 24V Outback FX2524T (with current boards following a 
>>> nearby lightning strike) and the other used a Magnum MS2812. In the 
>>> former case, we defeated the search (against the customer's 
>>> preference, as she liked the total silence once her day was done). 
>>> In the latter, the customer rejected and we removed the surge 
>>> arrestor once it became clear that the inverter wouldn't sleep.
>>>
>>> Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a fix for it? Robin, can 
>>> you chime in here (off list if necessary; I'll carefully post your 
>>> response)?
>>>
>>> Thank you,
>>> Allan
>>> -- 
>>>
>>> *Allan Sindelar*
>>> _Allan at positiveenergysolar.com_ <mailto:Allan at positiveenergysolar.com>
>>> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
>>> NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
>>> New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
>>> Founder and Chief Technology Officer
>>> *Positive Energy, Inc.*, a Certified B Corporation^TM
>>> 3209 Richards Lane
>>> Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
>>> *505 424-1112 office 780-2738 cell*
>>> _www.positiveenergysolar.com_ <http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/>
>>>

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