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--></style></head><body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">All –</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">On a related note to the one-day battery backup install, you may have seen Solarcity’s description of their battery backup offering. They are keeping the critical loads and scope very limited:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.solarcity.com/residential/backup-power-supply">http://www.solarcity.com/residential/backup-power-supply</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#cccccc;background:#333333">SolarCity will provide backup power for up to four (4) electrical circuits rated at 120 VAC and up to 20 amps each. The battery backup system can power up to 1,900 watts of backup loads at any given time. Typical backup loads include refrigerators and other kitchen equipment, lights, outlets that power computers, phones and Internet routers, and home security systems. We will never offer backup to circuits greater than 20 amps including most pool pumps, well pumps, electric heaters, electric water heaters, air conditioners, and hot tubs. Eligible loads must be located in the same electrical panel being used to connect your solar PV system at the time we install. If we cannot provide backup power to the four (4) 20 amp, 120 VAC circuits that you request due to access or electrical constraints, you may cancel your battery backup installation at no cost to you. Financing terms vary by location and are not available in all areas. For Lease and PPA backup battery customers, $1,000 deposit due upon contract signing. Balance of $4,000, exclusive of taxes and fees, due upon installation. Taxes and fees vary by location. SolarCity Corporation will repair or replace broken warranted components.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Best,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">August</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #b5c4df 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> RE-wrenches [mailto:<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Steve Bell<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, June 03, 2015 1:42 PM<br><b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Morningstar new battery backup , more comments and opinions</span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div><p class="MsoNormal">Hello William,</p><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">I had not seen the video prior to your posting. I totally agree that a one day install of a complete battery back-up retro-fit is completely unrealistic. Perhaps 4 to 7 days, depending on the complexity and size of the retro-fit. Yes, one day might suffice to install and wire just the TS-MPPT-600-TR, but creating a sub-panel, installing and wiring the battery-based inverter and the battery bank will require significantly more time.</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">I have spoken with our marketing department, and they will be addressing this misrepresentation. </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">I believe all our printed literature for the TS-MPPT-600 is accurate and does not contain any misrepresentations.</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">I am sorry for the unrealistic expectation that the video currently creates. Unrealistic expectations are never good for the industry.</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Respectfully,</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Steve Bell </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Technical Support </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Morningstar Corporation</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:sbell@morningstarcorp.com">sbell@morningstarcorp.com</a></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.morningstarcorp.com">www.morningstarcorp.com</a></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div><p class="MsoNormal">On Wed, Jun 3, 2015 at 9:03 AM, <<a href="mailto:william@millersolar.com" target="_blank">william@millersolar.com</a>> wrote:</p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Chris:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">The market Morningstar is going for is the customers with non-battery, grid-tie only inverters. If you then add the Morningstar product and a whole lot of other items and a lot of labor, you can have battery backup. If you already have a complete GTBB system, such as you describe in your home, you cannot benefit from this product.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I viewed the demo video and I find it disingenuous. The block diagram presented shows a battery bank, a batter inverter and a critical loads sub-panel. The verbal description they offer of this system and interconnection is: “some wiring.” This is a vast understatement in most cases. Adding a sub-panel and segregating loads is major surgery in a majority of homes, not to mention creating a safe storage container for batteries, interconnecting 600VDC PV feeders, AC Feeders, etc., etc. To pre-bias the customer by saying such a project can be completed in one day makes it really hard to present a realistic bid for what can be a pretty significant project. I liken this to the Tesla hoopla about how easy it is to screw a small box to your garage wall and you will have endless power without reliance on the grid. It’s a lot of over-simplification to sell product, and a disservice to the installing community.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I’d like to see a response from Morningstar on this point.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">William Miller</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> RE-wrenches [mailto:<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Chris Mason<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, June 03, 2015 5:03 AM<br><b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Morningstar new battery backup , more comments and opinions</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style> </p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style>I'm having trouble understanding the application for this product. I have the tristar 600V CC in my own home.</p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style>If I want to have backup and also export to the grid, the Outback radian does that without the need to change anything over. WHy would you want to have the Radian as a backup AND have a grid tied inverter, and have to change over a manual switch to provide power to the CC? What am I missing?</p></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style> </p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style>On Tue, Jun 2, 2015 at 4:46 PM, Tom Lane <<a href="mailto:tom@ecs-solar.com" target="_blank">tom@ecs-solar.com</a>> wrote:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">I would appreciate more opinions and comments on the new Morningstar Controller for Grid connected systems . I developed a simple transfer switch back for this type of application back when Grid Connected systems were 48 volts . This seems like a great idea for high voltage Grid Connected System . Tom</p></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><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></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div></body></html>