[RE-wrenches] Generator choice for Sunny Island

[Chris Mason]

To my limited mind, the whole 120V sunny island setup is a disaster. Why
not install a DC coupled 8KW Outback Radian and solve all your problems.
USe any 240V generator, although finding a 2 wire start gasoline unit may
be hard. I would use a Nexus controller generac propane generator with
propane tank, all mounted on the container. I would never design anything
to use gasoline, it's too dangerous.

On Fri, Jun 16, 2017 at 7:19 AM, Matthew Sirum <matthewsirum at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Greetings August,
>
> Great thoughts and comments from Brian!  I would also suggest speaking
> with the generator manufacturers' tech/engineering folks regarding the
> 120VAC configuration and to confirm 2-wire start set up once you have
> a brand and model or two in mind.  Generator parts and service
> availability in the region of the project may also drive brand
> selection.  If you need to maximize the inverter's battery charging
> capabilities (depending on battery system charging requirements) you
> may end up needing to look at generators in the 7.5 kW to 8.0 kW
> capacity range to allow for headroom in generator output loading.
>
> Also; I am curious how you arrived at an AC coupled design for this
> project.  I do not know any of the details or specific projects goals
> you are working with, but I would potentially consider a DC coupled
> system design...  DC/DC charge controller(s) would keep the battery
> system charged (and any DC loads operable) even if the Sunny Island
> and/or Sunny Boy(s) have a failure or is taken offline.  If most of
> the AC loads are 120VAC I would consider keeping the inverter AC
> output circuit 120VAC and install a dedicated transformer solely for
> the 240VAC load....  Or perhaps consider a 120/240VAC inverter model.
> Depending on the overall situation a DC coupled system could be more
> resilient.  The dedicated transformer for the 240VAC load could also
> potentially help make the system more robust.  Also; I have spoken
> with a number of folks who have told me they wish the Sunny Island had
> more/better features for generator integration.  I'd like to hear more
> from those who have plenty of experience designing and installing
> systems with Sunny Islands and generators to learn what the current
> thoughts and issues are.
>
> I hope some of these thoughts may be helpful.
>
> Best regards,
>
> ----MATT
>
> Matthew Sirum
> P.O. Box 1227
> Greenfield, MA 01302-1227  USA
> phone: +1.413.773.0611
> email: MatthewSirum at gmail.com
>
>
> --------  Original Message Below --------
>
> [RE-wrenches] Generator choice for Sunny Island
> August Goers august at luminalt.com
> Thu Jun 15 09:02:41 PDT 2017
>
> Hi Wrenches, especially those of you who work on off-grid projects,
>
> We have an upcoming off-grid project where we will be powering a storage
> container with electronics in it. The loads are mostly 120 volt but there
> is a 240 volt heat pump that might occasionally run. We’re AC coupling the
> Sunny Island with a Sunny Boy PV inverter. So, we’ll be installing a
> Outback PSX-240 autoformer to bump the Sunny Island’s output from 120 to
> 240 volt.
>
> We need to select a generator for backup. We need a two-wire electric start
> (in order to be controlled by the Sunny Island) and preferably a generator
> that is okay just running 120 volt loads since the Sunny Islands input is
> only 120 volt. Something in the 3 kVA -7 kVA range should be fine.
>
> Does anyone have experience or ideas about what kind of two-wire start
> generator we might select?
>
> Thanks,
>
> August
>
> Luminalt
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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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