[RE-wrenches] GFCI? was DC to DC Converters
Ray Walters
ray at solarray.com
Mon Mar 28 20:19:57 PDT 2016
Hi Dan;
Yep, GFCIs an be a pain, but I really haven't had trouble in several
years. This is for a stand alone PV powered ATM machine, so it sees a
lot of public interaction. I wasn't keen on not having GFCI
protection. I was actually going to ask the list's opinion on this: to
GFCI or not to GFCI, that is the question.
R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760
On 3/28/2016 5:21 PM, Dan Fink wrote:
> Ray;
> I've even had problems with Magnums and Outbacks not working with
> certain GFCI outlets.I usually just avoid installing GFCIs in tiny,
> remote off-grid systems designed for a specialty application with no
> electrical inspector involved or required. GFCIs cause all kinds of
> mischief with equipment and are a phantom load. I put them in the same
> league as hard-wired 120VAC smoke detectors off the grid.
>
> Exeltech inverters are certainly the most quiet RFI-wise, but the low
> efficiency, $ and no-load draw are a bummer.
>
> With William's application, I'd avoid the inverter entirely and go DC,
> then you have no GFCI or AC codes. If the sat link DC input specs
> allow 36VDC input, you have many off-the shelf options available for a
> boost/buck power supply from 24VDC. Digikey even.
>
> Dan Fink
> Adjunct Professor of Solar Energy Technology, Ecotech Institute
> IREC Certified Instructor™ for:
> ~ PV Installation Professional
> ~ Small Wind Installer
> Executive Director, Buckville Energy
> NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers™
> 970.672.4342 <tel:970.672.4342>
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 4:47 PM, Ray Walters <ray at solarray.com
> <mailto:ray at solarray.com>> wrote:
>
> What about building a 30 vdc system (5 x 6v batteries in series)
> and adjust the settings on a Midnite Classic to work with that?
> How tight does the 30 vdc output need to be?
>
> On inverters, I've had trouble with the Suresine, basically not
> working with GFCI outlets.
> I keep trying different models of GFCIs, but they keep randomly
> tripping on 2 different systems.
> Morningstar's list of "approved" GFCIs doesn't list any currently
> manufactured models, while calls to their tech support yields "Oh,
> that shouldn't be a problem, it should work with all GFCIs..."
> Way too many free trips out trying to fix this, so I may have to
> abandon GFCI protection, or replace the inverters.
> My suggestion for that small load: Exeltech 125. Better than grid
> waveform, and I recently pulled one out of corroded outdoor
> enclosure almost 15 years old: it looked terrible, but was still
> working fine. It would also be lower cost and fit in a smaller
> enclosure.
>
> R.Ray Walters
> CTO, Solarray, Inc
> Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
> Licensed Master Electrician
> Solar Design Engineer
> 303 505-8760 <tel:303%20505-8760>
>
> On 3/28/2016 2:24 PM, Dan Fink wrote:
>> Hi William;
>> 30VDC is kind of odd, but 36VDC is common. The folks at Solar
>> Converters might be able to fix you up with a custom one, or
>> perhaps 36V is within the sat unit's input range.
>> As for the inverter, I've never gone wrong with the Morningstar
>> SureSine. Slick little unit.
>>
>> Dan Fink
>> Adjunct Professor of Solar Energy Technology, Ecotech Institute
>> IREC Certified Instructor™ for:
>> ~ PV Installation Professional
>> ~ Small Wind Installer
>> Executive Director, Buckville Energy
>> NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers™
>> 970.672.4342 <tel:970.672.4342>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 1:44 PM, William Miller
>> <william at millersolar.com <mailto:william at millersolar.com>> wrote:
>>
>> Friends:
>>
>> I am designing a satellite data interface for a large
>> off-grid system for a state highway department facility. We
>> will be using the Outback Optics data capabilities along with
>> equipment manufactured by Control by Web.
>>
>> I’d like to run the satellite system on a battery power
>> source so I can hope to use it when we need it most, when the
>> power is down. We have a separate 24 volt battery bank
>> remaining from a previous generator control system. The
>> satellite system operates on 30 VDC at 2 amps.
>>
>> My first choice is to find a DC to DC converter from nominal
>> 24 volts. Do any of you know of one that you could recommend?
>>
>> My second choice is to use a small inverter. Can anyone
>> suggest one at this small wattage? I don’t know how good the
>> power supply is at rejecting waveform distortion so I presume
>> an inverter needs to be somewhat close to a sine wave.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> William Miller
>>
>> Gradient Cap_mini
>> Lic 773985
>> millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/>
>> 805-438-5600 <tel:805-438-5600>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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