[RE-wrenches] SolArk and Tigo compatibility

[Bradley Bassett]

The issue as I see it is that the Tigo RSS Transmitter and the APsmart
transmitter are both rated to draw up to 800ma. The 12VDC output of the
Sol-Ark inverters is limited to 100ma. Since some have used this
successfully I suppose that means that either these transmitters don't
really use more than 100ma, or the 12VDC output of the Sol-Ark can actually
handle more than that, or some combination of both. If I owned a Sol-Ark
I'd test this to see what the answer is, but alas I do not. I design
systems using a 48VDC to 12VDC power supply (Online Components has a
Mean-Well device for a reasonable price, sorry no link from here) and a
fairly rare IMO shutdown button (we have that) that has both NO and NC
contacts. This is needed because to shut down the Sol-Ark inverter requires
a NO contact that closes on initiation which is quite rare in RSD
initiators. And you do still need to shut down the inverter as well as the
RSD devices so that it does not continue to feed voltage back into the PV
circuits (I think). This also shuts down the AC output of the Sol-Ark which
tends to make the inspector happy. Since it also shuts down the inverter,
that limits the battery to its own circuits, does this count as a battery
disconnect also?? I'm seeing some inspectors calling out for battery
disconnects which is much more problematic.

Brad Bassett
AEE Solar

On Wed, Nov 16, 2022 at 4:27 PM Jerry Shafer via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> Wrenches, Christopher
> I have done quite a few and per solark have always connected in the
> inverter with no issues, Now with that connecting to the output side it
> would do much the same work until it did not then shut off the modules.
> Fun times
>
> On Wed, Nov 16, 2022 at 6:33 AM Christopher Warfel via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
>> Hi, We are doing our first system with these two devices. The inverter is
>> SolArk 12P (mutimode) and the Tigo product for RS is the TS4F.  Tigo has me
>> a little bit walking in circles.
>>
>> I told them that SolArk says not to use the 12VDC RS output terminals for
>> connecting the transmitter.  I gave them the attached drawing which they
>> ask for, which shows the transmitter connected to a 120VAC/12VDC breaker
>> which they supply.  They told me to wire the 120VAC source to the main
>> service panel so the array would shut down on loss of power. I told them
>> that is exactly NOTwhat I wanted to happen as that would stop the battery
>> charging when there is a loss of utility power. I said I wanted the 120VAC
>> source to be the back up loads panel. After about a week of calls and
>> emails, I got an email back saying to use the SolArk 12VDC terminals for
>> RS.  I just emailed them a screen shot of the SolArk manual that says not
>> to do that.
>>
>> At this point, I am asking anyone on the list to let me know how they
>> wired the transmitter successfully. Thank you for any guidance, Chris Warfel
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>                                          Christopher Warfel
>>                      ENTECH Engineering, Inc.
>> PO Box 871, Block Island, RI 02807
>>                                                             401-466-8978
>> <http://entech-engineering.com>
>>
>>
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