[RE-wrenches] GT w/ BB

Mon Sep 18 15:36:22 PDT 2023

Jay,
I'd like to design for 60kw supply and 100kWh battery. I think I'm going to
try the Discover rack mount set up rather than AES's and custom bussing.
Jason,
That's exactly what I was thinking, if I go the Sol-Ark route. Last time I
ordered custom panelboards like that, they were six months out.

On Mon, Sep 18, 2023 at 1:18 PM Jay via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> If 40kw is the peak and then there are new added loads, what 50-60kw?
>
> If it was me I’d be designing the inverters to handle the 50/60 kw with
> future expansion capabilities beyond that.
>
> Then how much kWh of storage are you going to need or maybe are planning
> for?
>
> At some point maybe looking at a larger single inverter with high voltage
> battery vs 48v?
> I’m not sure if there are any 120/240 versions yet.
>
> Jay
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sep 18, 2023, at 12:36 PM, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
> 
> I like the Sol-Ark idea having had a few dual-unit successes recently. In
> terms of combining them, the Sol-ark manual has a good triple unit wiring
> diagram on page 53. You would have to use two 400A panelboards with three
> 200A breakers for each to follow this diagram. However, I don't see the
> point of a combining load center on the load side of the paralleled units.
> The Sol-Arks each have a 200A integrated load breaker, so why not just
> combine the outputs in a multi-tap connector or busbar? I think there is a
> code-compliant way to make that work, but I haven't studied it with three
> units.
>
> I would definitely ditch the SolarEdge inverters and just make it DC
> coupled to the Sol-Arks. You don't need these to be a failure point in the
> system, and the AC coupling will reduce the energy production in backup
> scenarios.
>
> It sounds like you would have to get the six 200 feeders out of the
> meter/main and into a new panelboard on the load side of the Sol-Arks. So
> that's another required load center.
>
> And if money is truly no object, I would consider a manual transfer switch
> to bypass the inverters for service. I'm afraid to look up what a 400A DPDT
> switch costs.
>
>
> Jason Szumlanski
> Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
> NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
> Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
>
>
> On Mon, Sep 18, 2023 at 1:14 PM Michael Morningstar via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
>> I've been asked to build a back up system for a grid connected estate. We
>> haven't done many of these and I thought it best to ask those who have some
>> questions before I go about reinventing the wheel.
>>
>> Here's the existing infrastructure.
>> 1) 400amp Metered Main Distribution Panel with six 200amp feeders to
>> various sub-panels on the property
>> 2) 400amp ATS and 100kw Kohler rapid response generator
>> 3) 20kw ground mount array with (2) SE Inverters located at the array.
>> Feeder from array is 1,000 ft to Service. Six years old and wiring is janky.
>> 4) Data logging for the last year shows peak demands of almost 40kw. This
>> could increase as several of formerly vacant  guest residences could be
>> occupied.
>>
>> My go to is almost always Schneider, however in this instance when I
>> looked into a quad stack, or more It seems like some type of controller is
>> needed to prevent imbalanced current passing through the relays during
>> transfer. That left me a bit concerned. Has anyone successfully stacked 4
>> or more XWPROs?
>>
>> Then there is the matter of AC or DC coupling? I really want no part in
>> having anything to do with SE. The inverters are already looking pretty
>> weathered taking the brunt of the prevailing winds and storms (they are
>> mounted to one of the ground mount poles). Seems like a great waste to pull
>> out the 4/0 feeders and replace strings. My other hesitancy with AC
>> coupling is that we would lose PV monitoring and control.
>>
>> I've also considered Sol Ark 15's, like three of them. We've got some SA
>> systems under are belt now and the only thing I can say that I like is the
>> speed of installation and the 200amp pass through. Other than that, they
>> leave me uninspired. One very large system continues to have glitches that
>> SA just shrugs their shoulders about. If we were to do three 15's, *what's
>> the preferred combining method?* All that I can come up with is a custom
>> 400a panelboard w/ three 200a breakers.
>>
>> Price is not a consideration for this project. The new owners of this
>> property (which is plagued with outages) have tasked me with building
>> something that is ultra reliable and good take over in a situation where
>> the grid is no longer available.
>>
>> Any suggestions or tips are appreciated.
>>
>> Michael
>>
>> --
>>
>> Michael Morningstar
>>
>>
>> Morningstar Electric
>>
>> PO Box 1494
>>
>> Mount Shasta, CA 96067
>>
>> 530-921-0560
>>
>> mjmorningstar at gmail.com
>>
>>
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-- 

Michael Morningstar

Morningstar Electric

PO Box 1494

Mount Shasta, CA 96067

530-921-0560

mjmorningstar at gmail.com
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