[RE-wrenches] Replacing grounded inverters

August Goers august at luminalt.com
Tue Jul 26 07:48:16 PDT 2016


The system we are dealing with has BP SX3 150S modules, made in India.  I
can’t figure out what year they were made, one serial number is 2011107
2008358. We have two new SMA 5000TL-US-22 inverters.



The arc fault errors happen relatively quickly after startup – they run for
about 5 to 10 minutes and then trip off. We’ve played around with the
strings and isolated one that is particularly bad, but the others all cause
arc faults too.



This is the trouble with servicing old systems.



Best, August



*From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] *On
Behalf Of *jay
*Sent:* Friday, July 22, 2016 7:32 AM
*To:* RE-wrenches
*Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Replacing grounded inverters



Oh boy.

Which BP models.

I mean those things have had lots of trouble.



jay

peltz power

On Jul 22, 2016, at 8:23 AM, August Goers <august at luminalt.com> wrote:



Glen,



It’s interesting you mention that you’re having AFCI issues with new TL
inverters and old modules. We are too. We have a particular system with BP
modules where we’re trying to figure out if we have a warranty claim
situation. We’ve cleaned up all the DC-side wiring and still the Sunny Boy
is tripping with AFCI errors. We think it is either corroded traces in the
modules or perhaps bypass diode issues in the module j-boxes. More to come.



August



*From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] *On
Behalf Of *Glenn Burt
*Sent:* Friday, July 22, 2016 5:08 AM
*To:* RE-wrenches
*Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Replacing grounded inverters



If you read some of the proposed changes for the 2017 NEC, it is looking
life there will be no problem replacing isolated inverters with
non-isolated versions. In fact the proposed wording seems to allow either
USE, or PV wire to be used with non-isolated inverters explicitly going
forward.
It made me feel better about doing recent replacements.
I'm having more trouble with the TL inverters and AFCI issues on older
systems, however.
------------------------------

*From: *Gary at Santa Ynez Valley Solar <Gary at SYVSolar.com>
*Sent: *‎7/‎21/‎2016 21:43
*To: *re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
*Subject: *[RE-wrenches] Replacing grounded inverters

We are all facing having to replace the old transformer based inverters
when they run out. Really difficult to find replacements. Against code to
replace with transformer less ones. I wonder if a DC/DC transformer could
be installed just ahead of the transformer less inverter for isolation
purposes? Not clear on the concept.





Gary





Gary Gordon





   www.SYVSolar.com <http://www.syvsolar.com/>

   PO Box 688

   Santa Ynez, CA  93460

   805 688-1213

   NABCEP Certified Installer

   CA Licensed Solar Contractor



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