[RE-wrenches] Quantifying power quality

[Chris Mason]

A Sunny Island that switches to and from grid power probably does not
transfer smoothly enough to protect sensitive equipment, but if it is
online all the time, using solar to charge the batteries, I would not
bother with a UPS.

On Sun, Oct 12, 2014 at 11:27 AM, <toddcory at finestplanet.com> wrote:

> perhaps i am not understanding the set-up, but why feed a ups with a ups?
> doesnt the sunny island already provide ups capabilities for the loads
> connected to it?
>
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>
> todd
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> On Sunday, October 12, 2014 7:40am, "Tump" <tump at swnl.net> said:
>
> Thats the best fix I've heard yet!
> Document then DUMP IT! With the power logger you would also be able to
> capture the transition from utility to SI for your home auto gusto see if
> he is able to accept the power quality too.
>  On Oct 12, 2014, at 10:24 AM, Chris Mason wrote:
>
> I recently worked on a Sunny Island/Sunny Boy system in a nearby island,
> that powered and protected a complete Home Automation system, including the
> airco system keeping it cool. I had to restart the Sunny Islands to sort
> out a COMS problem, which revealed some IT issues. It turns out the Sunny
> Island system had kept it all running smoothly for about four years without
> an issue so no-one had realized some of the firmware was crunched. I would
> get rid of the UPS altogether and that ends the problem.
>
> On Sun, Oct 12, 2014 at 8:01 AM, Tump <tump at swnl.net> wrote:
>
>> I have in the past have used the Fluke power logger 1735 , It will
>> monitor 1/3 phases voltages spikes/dips in V, A, Hz , +++ AND one is able
>> to print out a time line of all the "occurrences" that may trip the UPS. I
>> rent this from some folks in Texas quite reasonable ~ $230/month or weekly
>> too. NO MORE finger pointing!
>>  I found that when the generator was charging the batteries, the UPS's
>> acceptable voltage window was below the limits and began beeping, due to
>> the poor voltage regulation of the gen under hi load/charging conditions.
>> Are you able to log the Hz as well as the voltages? The ups sometimes
>> have very close voltage windows that they work within. The SI/SB's power
>> quality should NOT be the issue. With this power logger one is able to see
>> a time line and figure out what it operating at the time of "fault/beep"
>> utility power or generator power. Contact me off list for rental contact
>> info or if you would like to see what the graphs look like. Tool is easy to
>> use and VERY informative.
>>  On Oct 12, 2014, at 1:21 AM, William Miller wrote:
>>
>>   Friends:
>>
>> I am still having a pi$$ing match with the company that installed the
>> expensive home entertainment system for a client over the issue of power
>> quality.  The UPS beeps frequently and the AV system crashes now and then.
>> The lead installer has copped an attitude and is blaming the Sunny Island /
>> Sunny Boy / Generac system for the AV system problems.  The UPS emails
>> reports in flurries that indicate a “power failure” has occurred.
>>
>> I have a Dataq data acquisition system sampling at a rate that allows me
>> to see the individual cycles on the system output on one of three phases.
>> During the time that a power failure is reported to have occurred each and
>> every cycle looks great.  I know this is not a definitive test of power
>> quality so I upped my game.  I bought a Fluke VR1710 power monitor and I am
>> recording power quality from the same receptacle that feeds the UPS.
>>
>> I have some log files from the Fluke Power Log software but the
>> instructions are not that great and I don’t know how to interpret the
>> data.  Do any of you have any experience with this software and could
>> possibly advise me?
>>
>> In a more general sense, how good is power to be called “good”?  I have
>> done some research and the industry material is a bit overwhelming.  Does
>> anyone have a short answer?
>>
>> And lastly, even though the UPS is beeping, if it is doing what it is
>> designed to do, the power quality should not be an issue because the UPS
>> corrects for any problems.  (Actually the UPS was beeping—the best move in
>> this situation was to mute the annunciator so at least the homeowner is not
>> hearing the beeper.)
>>
>> I know others of you are dealing with the same problems because it came
>> up on this forum.  I am interested in an approach that verifies the Sunny
>> Islands are producing adequately good power, or not, so I can either
>> address the problem or get the AV guy off my rear end.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> William
>>
>>
>> <image002.jpg>
>> Lic 773985
>> millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/>
>> 805-438-5600
>>
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>>    *Tump at swnl.net*               *www.SWNL.net*
>>                  Solarwinds Northernlights
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>> <610-517-8401>                              *
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>
> --
> Chris Mason
> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™
> Solar Design Engineer
> Generac Generators Industrial technician
>
> www.cometsolar.com <http://www.cometenergysystems.com/>
> 264.235.5670
> 869.662.5670
> Skype: netconcepts
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>    *Tump at swnl.net*               *www.SWNL.net*
>                  Solarwinds Northernlights
> *       Serving Mid Coast Maine & Northern California*
> *                         207-832-7574 <207-832-7574>   Cl. 610-517-8401
> <610-517-8401>                              *
>                               *Blair "TUMP" May*
>
>
> *               ********  MAINE'S CHARTER ******** *                   *
> NABCEP    "Certified PV Installer"*
>
>
> *                 ********  MAINE'S CHARTER ********          **
> Trace Xantrex "Certified" Dealer / Installer"*
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-- 
Chris Mason
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™
Solar Design Engineer
Generac Generators Industrial technician

www.cometsolar.com <http://www.cometenergysystems.com>
264.235.5670
869.662.5670
Skype: netconcepts
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