[RE-wrenches] Sunny Island Battery Disconnects

Mon Feb 10 08:36:37 PST 2014

Jason.....those switches are not over current protection devices unless
outfitted with fuses....you would have to use a big disconnect  with big
fuses in order to work with a battery bank....as the current to and from
the batteries could be quite significant....Additionally the bulletin you
mention when the terminals are wired in series is only when the voltage is
expected to be above 250VDC up to 600VDC...
Cheers,

Sunny Regards,
Kirpal Khalsa
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
Renewable Energy Systems
www.oregonsolarworks.com
541-218-0201 m
541-299-0402 o

On Mon, Feb 10, 2014 at 5:52 AM, Jason Szrom <jszrom at solaresystems.com>wrote:

> Hi William,
>
> I don't have a lot of experience with battery OCPD, but I did have a
> project where we used a Square D heavy duty safety switch to protect a
> negative grounded 600VDC battery string. All of the heavy duty switches are
> AC and DC rated (H363, H364, H365...).
>
> For DC applications, go here:
> http://www.schneider-electric.us/sites/us/en/support/documents-downloads.page
>
> And search for bulletin number 3110DB0401. This shows that the switches
> are listed for DC use if 2 poles are wired in series.
>
> You are correct that a grounded conductor can never have OCPD unless the
> OCPD opens both the grounded and ungrounded wires at the same time (NEC
> 240.22). This could only be accomplished with a multi-pole circuit breaker
> and there aren't many around rated for 600VDC.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jason M. Szrom, PE
> Engineering Supervisor
> Solar Energy Systems, LLC
> 718-389-1545 x13
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:
> re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Ray Walters
> Sent: Sunday, February 09, 2014 4:22 PM
> To: RE-wrenches
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Sunny Island Battery Disconnects
>
> Yes, they make a 3 pole class T fused disconnect.  You could have 3
> strings fused separately and then combined in a single pull disco, UL
> listed too. I even have one here, or I can provide their contact info.
>
> R.Ray Walters
> CTO, Solarray, Inc
> Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
> Licensed Master Electrician
> Solar Design Engineer
> 303 505-8760
>
> On 2/8/2014 6:59 AM, Richard L Ratico wrote:
> > Ray,
> > Way back in 2002, you mentioned using Boltswitch products for battery
> string
> > fusing
> > immediately outside the battery box. Might one of these be a partial
> solution
> > for William?
> >
> > Dick Ratico
> > Solarwind Electric
> >
> >
> > --- You wrote:
> > I'm working on something similar.  I think the Flex 1000 is the only
> > reasonable choice that can handle more than 2 of the large format DC
> > breakers.  Midnite has the more expensive MNBCB -1000 Battery Combiner
> > box,  but there just isn't enough documentation to figure out what it
> > can and can't do.
> >
> > R.Ray Walters
> > CTO, Solarray, Inc
> > Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
> > Licensed Master Electrician
> > Solar Design Engineer
> > 303 505-8760
> >
> > On 2/7/2014 6:29 PM, william at millersolar.com wrote:
> >> Friends:
> >>
> >> I am reworking an installation with 3 Sunny Island inverters.  The
> >> battery leads have no disconnecting means or OCP.  I have been looking
> >> for sensible hardware to provide this and I have found some options.
> >> I am interested in any input on these or ideas I have not discovered.
> >>
> >> 1.SMA BATFUSE.  I am having trouble deciding which one is right for a
> >> 3 SI install.
> >>
> >> a.The B.003 appears to have fuse positions for the positive and the
> >> negative leads.  I am fairly darn certain I don't want fuses in the
> >> negative leads of a negative bonded system, and although this is my
> >> first SI install, I am pretty sure this is negative bonded.  Am I
> >> missing something here?
> >>
> >> b.The B.001 has only positions for two fuses as far as I can see from
> >> the manual.
> >>
> >> c.So it looks like neither will work for me.  Does anyone have any
> >> experience and/or wisdom here?
> >>
> >> 2.Midnite Solar E-panels:
> >>
> >> a.The regular panel has DC and AC components.  I want to control the
> >> AC elsewhere so I could order three slave units.  The Midnite unit
> >> mounts right under the inverter but I would prefer to have the OCP
> >> closer to the batteries.
> >>
> >> 3.Outback:
> >>
> >> a.We could purchase an Outback FX1000 and install three breakers in it.
> >>
> >> 4.Breaker Size:
> >>
> >> a.I have started to read the manual but I have yet to find out what
> >> size breaker fuse is recommended.  Have I just not found it yet?
> >>
> >> b.Also, I have not found a specification for battery cable size.  Am I
> >> blind?
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance.  I really appreciate the help I receive here.  I
> >> try to give as well as receive.
> >>
> >> William
> >>
> > --- end of quote ---
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