<div dir="ltr">Hi William,<div><br></div><div>I want to talk directly to your problem at hand. I think installing the shunt and properly calibrating it, will fix this system . In a DC coupled system with a Sunny Island, it is imperative that you use a shunt, unless you are using the Midnite charge controllers with the communications to accurately report all charging (or the non-UL listed SMA charge controllers). There are so many functions and calculations that the Sunny Island performs that needs accurate SOC calculations. All of the shutdowns that you are seeing are resulting from faulty SOC measurements. I wouldn't believe the reported state of health either, because it is using the faulty SOC measurements. Don't believe state of health until you have a couple of months of operation with the shunt.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Right now, with the system as is, it isn't accounting for the charge coming from the charge controller(s)</b>. It is shutting down because its only accounting for AC power processed through the Sunny Island. I once had a Sunny Island system with an improperly calibrated shunt and it acted just as you describe, strange shutdowns, bad SOC output etc. After I got it calibrated, it has worked flawlessly.</div><div><br></div><div>Take your time when you are calibrating the shunt. Follow the (odd) directions perfectly and it should work. Verify Sunny Island readings match your DC clamp meter and you should be good.</div><div><br></div><div>As far as SMA not having a BOS solution, its true, and you can tell that it is not in their expertise. I like the Midnite cabinets that are made for the Sunny Island. They are pricey but look sharp and are functional.</div><div><br></div><div>And yes, the Sunny Island documentation is very strange and incomplete and could use a serious revision. Some of the information must be lost in translation.</div><div><br></div><div>Good Luck!</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Feb 11, 2015 at 9:40 PM, Ray Walters <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ray@solarray.com" target="_blank">ray@solarray.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<div>Hi William;<br>
<br>
Yes I'm getting too old to let manufacturers off the hook
anymore. They just don't pay me enough (wink, maybe if I ever was
compensated for service calls?) <br>
Unfortunately I have had the exact same experience with SMA's
phone tech support. I was having setup issues that were not
covered in the manual and they acted like I was an idiot. They
walked me through it and I got it working , and then after I asked
"where does it say that in the manual?" I then recited several
verses from their manual that bolstered my faulty reasoning. He
finally mellowed out a bit, realized I was somewhat knowledgable,
and admitted it wasn't in the manual, and that they needed to
update it. (hmmm...) <br>
Ultimately, I can deal with the attitude as long as they answer
the phone and can fix the problem; it's better than someone being
super nice but just wasting your time. Of course both fixing the
problem and being friendly would be even better.<br>
<br>
Attention SMA tech support: William, I, and many on this list
were installing off grid systems when you were still fudging in
your diapers. We read the manual first, and only call when we
still can't figure it out. We're the ones out there in the woods
trying to make SMA equipment work while the nervous customer looks
over our shoulder. <br>
Respect.<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
<pre cols="72">R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
<a href="tel:303%20505-8760" value="+13035058760" target="_blank">303 505-8760</a></pre>
On 2/11/2015 5:44 PM, <a href="mailto:william@millersolar.com" target="_blank">william@millersolar.com</a> wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Friends:<u></u><u></u></span></p><span class="">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u><u></u></span>
<p style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span>6.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">I
have had a difficult time working with most of the phone
support technicians at SMA. From the very beginning most of
them have presented an attitude of arrogance and
condescension. I have had the quality of my work called
into question without any evidence to support that
position. I have experienced long delays in receiving
replies. I have seen technicians present incomplete
diagnoses. Fortunately Scoey Wildey of SMA was in town
while we were rebuilding a commercial Sunny Boy system and
he came and inspected our work and could vouch for it. I
have found one highly professional, competent person at SMA
who used to be in tech support who will take my calls. I’d
like to give him credit but I don’t want to share him.
Also, Steve Jefferson and Scoey Wildey have intervened on my
behalf on a few occasions and I am grateful to them.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span>7.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">I
am wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience
with SMA tech support. If it is not just me, maybe several
of us could contact SMA management and ask that they augment
the training of the phone support crew. I am sure they are
capable of improving on their skills, both technical and
interpersonal. We all know people in the industry that
stand above the rest in professional demeanor, Rick Cullen,
for example. I try to emulate his always-available,
always-helpful, open-minded approach to dealing with people
and challenges. We should expect this of all manufacturer’s
representatives.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Thanks
to any of you who are willing to review my many questions
and offer suggestions or comments.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sincerely,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">William
Miller<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
</span></div>
<br>
<fieldset></fieldset>
<br>
<pre>_______________________________________________
List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
List Address: <a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>
Change listserver email address & settings:
<a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a>
List-Archive: <a href="http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html" target="_blank">http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html</a>
List rules & etiquette:
<a href="http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm" target="_blank">www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm</a>
Check out or update participant bios:
<a href="http://www.members.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">www.members.re-wrenches.org</a>
</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
</div>
<br>_______________________________________________<br>
List sponsored by Redwood Alliance<br>
<br>
List Address: <a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><br>
<br>
Change listserver email address & settings:<br>
<a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><br>
<br>
List-Archive: <a href="http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html" target="_blank">http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html</a><br>
<br>
List rules & etiquette:<br>
<a href="http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm" target="_blank">www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm</a><br>
<br>
Check out or update participant bios:<br>
<a href="http://www.members.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">www.members.re-wrenches.org</a><br>
<br>
<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div><br></div><div><font color="#305A78" face="'times new roman', serif"><br></font></div><div><br></div>Mac Lewis<br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;color:rgb(255,153,0)"><b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><p align="left"><font color="#000000" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:small"><span style="font-family:arial;font-weight:normal;color:rgb(48,90,120)"><font face="'times new roman', serif">"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." </font><span style="font-weight:700;color:rgb(104,104,104)"><font face="'times new roman', serif">-Sócrates</font></span></span></span></font></p></font></b></span></div>
</div>