[RE-wrenches] Sunny Island AC-Coupled system integration with Fortress E-Vault

Tue Oct 24 09:56:38 PDT 2023

William,

The charge controllers could operate in open loop, while the SMA did close the loop. Open loop works really well for charge controllers.

I question if the closed loop communication was really working correctly if the SI is reporting 50% SOC when the batteries are reporting 95%… The SI should be getting its % info from the batteries…

My thoughts are that the inverter needs to start frequency shifting at a lower voltage. If the closed loop communication isn’t working correctly, you could try setting a lower absorb and float voltage…

I’ve had bad luck using open loop Lithium with SMA…

If you were to consider switching out the inverters, consider putting in Fortress Envy inverters.

-Kienan

Green-Go Solar Wholesale Distribution LLC

kienan at dist.solar

maxfieldsolar at hotmail.com<https://maxfieldsolar@hotmail.com/>

(801) 631-5584(Cell)

www.distribution.solar

On Oct 24, 2023, at 9:20 AM, Chris Sparadeo via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

Hi William,

That’s an interesting idea to have close loop comms with two separate manufacturers at the same time. In theory I think this could work,  but unfortunately, I don’t think SMA and Schneider share the same protocol # for the eVault. I believe SMA uses protocol #2 and Schneider uses #5.

Kindly,

Chris

On Tue, Oct 24, 2023 at 10:40 AM MDElectricSolar via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:
I would tear all the sunny boys and sunny islands out and install two 15 kW Sol-Arks,  problem solved. DC coupled. I've done this several times now for existing clients (mostly connected to the grid) but it is so much cleaner and more compact and effective.

Michael D Nelson
MD Electric & Solar, Inc.
707-684-0064 mobile
707-884-1862 office
www.mdelectricsolar.com<http://www.mdelectricsolar.com>
www.facebook.com/mdelectricandsolar<http://www.facebook.com/mdelectricandsolar>

On Oct 24, 2023, at 7:31 AM, William Miller via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:

Friends:

This situation is as yet unresolved.  It is complicated enough I created a web page<https://millersolar.com/MillerSolar/case_studies/36_SIFortress/36_SunnyIslandFortressIntegration.html> to describe the scenario so I did not have to explain it over and over.  I submitted this to Fortress tech support.  They said they had likely not tested the Fortress compatibility with SI in an AC-Coupled system.

While Fortress technicians and/or engineers ponder the situation I am brainstorming solutions.  One idea is to convert to a DC coupled system.  DC Charge controllers will have intrinsically better voltage control.  The charge controller most likely suitable is the Schneider 600 volt 100 amp unit.  I would need two of them.  It is compatible with the existing string wiring.  In researching it many questions came up about that product’s suitability.  There is an integration guide for a Schneider system and Fortress but this would be a mixed system of Schneider and SMA.  Would I be able to apply closed loop communication to both systems?  Could the charge controllers work in open loop?  Has anyone tried anything like this?

I will keep you apprised.

William Miller

Miller Solar
17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422
805-438-5600
www.millersolar.com<http://www.millersolar.com/>
CA Lic. 773985

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