[RE-wrenches] Sunny Island Battery Disconnects

Mon Feb 10 12:19:07 PST 2014

Hi All;

SOme of you contacted me off list for more info.
I tried to send the spec sheet and contact info on the 3 pole Class T 
disco, but got rejected because the file size was too big.
Here's a link to bolt switch: http://www.boltswitch.com/products.html
CLick on Open switches, then pick bulletins 129, 130, and 130 A those 
are the sizes most of us will be interested in.

R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760

On 2/9/2014 2:26 PM, Ray Walters wrote:
> Here's the spec sheet on the 400 amp , 3 pole model.
> R.Ray Walters
> CTO, Solarray, Inc
> Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
> Licensed Master Electrician
> Solar Design Engineer
> 303 505-8760
> On 2/8/2014 8:15 AM, Allan Sindelar wrote:
>> Dick and William,
>> Dick may be onto a solution worth investigating further.
>>
>> Boltswitch made the Class T pull-out disconnects used in the early 
>> Ananda/APT Powercenters in the 1990s. By around 1997 or so APT went 
>> to their model 4B, which used the Heinemann GJ-type large breaker 
>> that has remained in use as an inverter breaker to this day. There 
>> were two physical sizes of class T fuses commonly used in our 
>> industry back then: the smaller was offered in 110A and 200A sizes 
>> and the larger in 300A and 400A ratings, although many other amp 
>> ratings were available from fuse manufacturers. The pullout was a 
>> fine approach - very well made, positive indication of closed or 
>> open, etc. The 300-400A Boltswitch units used in the larger APT 
>> Powercenters used a two-pole disconnect in which the two active 
>> circuits used two of three poles in the base Bakelite molding, 
>> suggesting that the same molding had been originally developed for 
>> three-phase AC.
>>
>> While I have not searched for it, it is likely that a three-phase 
>> Boltswitch pull-out disconnect to fit 3 200A (or 175A to allow 2/0 
>> cable) is available by order from a supply house. It would likely be 
>> quite expensive, but not necessarily more so than other solutions 
>> being suggested here. The other unknown is whether a simple NEMA 1 
>> enclosure is available to fit it.
>>
>> 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, *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/>
>>
>> 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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>>
>>
>>
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