[RE-wrenches] SPI 2014

Wed Oct 29 12:24:09 PDT 2014

Thanks for the response David, this is what I was kind of expecting.

I was hoping for some sort of "magic box" that attached to the first, and
last module in the string, and would shut the string down if it lost signal
from the inverter. Similar to how solar edge works, but with only 1-2
units/string. 

I like Solar Edge, but we try very hard to offer US made equipment as our
primary offering. Right now it seems that 690.12 is just increasing the US
made premium, to the point where I don't imagine US inverters will be even
5% of our residential installation base next year when 2014 NEC hits the
majority of our jurisdictions. Makes me sad.

With Regards,

Daniel Young, 

NABCEP Certified PV Installation ProfessionalTM: Cert #031508-90

NABCEP Certified Solar Heating InstallerTM: Cert #SH031409-13

From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On
Behalf Of David Brearley
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2014 2:26 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] SPI 2014

Daniel,

Here's some of what I learned about solutions for 690.12.

Residential rapid shutdown

SMA's TL-US series inverters can meet the 10 second requirement in 690.12
without further mediation. Therefore you can meet 690.12 with these string
inverters by adding a ground-level rapid shutdown controller (an e-stop
button) and a rooftop rapid shutdown box (a pass-through wiring box w/
contactors to open each source circuit conductor.) 

While SMA may be working on an in-house solution for these components,
Bentek solar has a third-party solution that will be available very soon:

http://www.bentek.com/solar-products/disconnect-systems/rapid-shutdown-syste
ms/

This same product works w/ ABB UNO-series inverters, which can also meet the
10-second requirement w/out additional mediation. 

It sounds like these products will run about $700 in the short-term, but are
expected to sell for less than $500 as demand scales.

Commercial rapid shutdown

Many companies are leading with low-profile inverter skids that allow
3-phase string inverters to be located on a commercial rooftop w/in the
array field. In some cases, these mounting products are offered from the
inverter company (AE), but there are also many third-party providers
(SolarBOS, Bentek, etc.) w/ solutions for ABB inverters, SMA inverters, etc.

The motivation to put string inverters on commercial rooftops is largely
driven by the cost of arc-fault & rapid shutdown enabled combiners. If you
want to use a central inverter, it looks like you'll have to spend 2X as
much money on your source circuit combiners as you are now in order to meet
these code requirements.

David Brearley

Senior Technical Editor, SolarPro magazine

NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional

david.brearley at solarprofessional.com

Direct: 541.261.6545

Check out this AMAZING music video tribute to SolarPro:
http://bit.ly/1qfMCCh

On Oct 29, 2014, at 12:45 PM, re-wrenches-request at lists.re-wrenches.org
wrote:

From: "Daniel Young" <dyoung at dovetailsolar.com>

Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] SPI 14 Post Show Request for Comments

Date: October 29, 2014 9:34:48 AM CDT

To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>

Reply-To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>

I too am interested. Especially after the teaser from SMA that they would
unveil their solution to the 2014 NEC 690.12 fiasco at the show. I see
nothing on SMA's website as of yet.

With Regards,

Daniel Young, 
NABCEP Certified PV Installation ProfessionalTM: Cert #031508-90
NABCEP Certified Solar Heating InstallerTM: Cert #SH031409-13

-----Original Message-----
From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On
Behalf Of Bill Loesch
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2014 8:21 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] SPI 14 Post Show Request for Comments

Gentlemen & Ladies,

Anyone who went to the LAS show have any comments? Hopefully, not everything
that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Thanks for sharing,

Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar
314 631 1094

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