<div dir="ltr">To my limited mind, the whole 120V sunny island setup is a disaster. Why not install a DC coupled 8KW Outback Radian and solve all your problems. USe any 240V generator, although finding a 2 wire start gasoline unit may be hard. I would use a Nexus controller generac propane generator with propane tank, all mounted on the container. I would never design anything to use gasoline, it's too dangerous.</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Jun 16, 2017 at 7:19 AM, Matthew Sirum <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:matthewsirum@gmail.com" target="_blank">matthewsirum@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Greetings August,<br>
<br>
Great thoughts and comments from Brian! I would also suggest speaking<br>
with the generator manufacturers' tech/engineering folks regarding the<br>
120VAC configuration and to confirm 2-wire start set up once you have<br>
a brand and model or two in mind. Generator parts and service<br>
availability in the region of the project may also drive brand<br>
selection. If you need to maximize the inverter's battery charging<br>
capabilities (depending on battery system charging requirements) you<br>
may end up needing to look at generators in the 7.5 kW to 8.0 kW<br>
capacity range to allow for headroom in generator output loading.<br>
<br>
Also; I am curious how you arrived at an AC coupled design for this<br>
project. I do not know any of the details or specific projects goals<br>
you are working with, but I would potentially consider a DC coupled<br>
system design... DC/DC charge controller(s) would keep the battery<br>
system charged (and any DC loads operable) even if the Sunny Island<br>
and/or Sunny Boy(s) have a failure or is taken offline. If most of<br>
the AC loads are 120VAC I would consider keeping the inverter AC<br>
output circuit 120VAC and install a dedicated transformer solely for<br>
the 240VAC load.... Or perhaps consider a 120/240VAC inverter model.<br>
Depending on the overall situation a DC coupled system could be more<br>
resilient. The dedicated transformer for the 240VAC load could also<br>
potentially help make the system more robust. Also; I have spoken<br>
with a number of folks who have told me they wish the Sunny Island had<br>
more/better features for generator integration. I'd like to hear more<br>
from those who have plenty of experience designing and installing<br>
systems with Sunny Islands and generators to learn what the current<br>
thoughts and issues are.<br>
<br>
I hope some of these thoughts may be helpful.<br>
<br>
Best regards,<br>
<br>
----MATT<br>
<br>
Matthew Sirum<br>
P.O. Box 1227<br>
Greenfield, MA 01302-1227 USA<br>
phone: +1.413.773.0611<br>
email: <a href="mailto:MatthewSirum@gmail.com">MatthewSirum@gmail.com</a><br>
<br>
<br>
-------- Original Message Below --------<br>
<br>
[RE-wrenches] Generator choice for Sunny Island<br>
August Goers august at <a href="http://luminalt.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">luminalt.com</a><br>
Thu Jun 15 09:02:41 PDT 2017<br>
<br>
Hi Wrenches, especially those of you who work on off-grid projects,<br>
<br>
We have an upcoming off-grid project where we will be powering a storage<br>
container with electronics in it. The loads are mostly 120 volt but there<br>
is a 240 volt heat pump that might occasionally run. We’re AC coupling the<br>
Sunny Island with a Sunny Boy PV inverter. So, we’ll be installing a<br>
Outback PSX-240 autoformer to bump the Sunny Island’s output from 120 to<br>
240 volt.<br>
<br>
We need to select a generator for backup. We need a two-wire electric start<br>
(in order to be controlled by the Sunny Island) and preferably a generator<br>
that is okay just running 120 volt loads since the Sunny Islands input is<br>
only 120 volt. Something in the 3 kVA -7 kVA range should be fine.<br>
<br>
Does anyone have experience or ideas about what kind of two-wire start<br>
generator we might select?<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
<br>
August<br>
<br>
Luminalt<br>
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</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr">Chris Mason<div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><span style="font-size:13px">NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™</span></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34)">Solar Design Engineer</span></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><span style="font-size:13px">Generac Generators Industrial technician</span></div></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><span style="font-size:13px"><br></span></div><div><a href="http://www.cometenergysystems.com" target="_blank">www.cometsolar.com</a></div><div>264.235.5670</div><div>869.662.5670</div><div>Skype: netconcepts</div></div></div>
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