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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>PS – What’s of battery life like in the Seaward products, in particular when using the wireless irradiance meter? I have a Fluke 233 w/ detachable remote display. It has a range of about 30 ft. Trouble is every time a pull it out after a couple weeks of being turned off the batteries are always dead……<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Kirk Herander<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>VT Solar, LLC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>dba Vermont Solar Engineering<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>NABCEP<sup>TM </sup>Certified Inaugural Certificant<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>NYSERDA-eligible Installer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>VT RE Incentive Program Partner<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>802.863.1202<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><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-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Kirk Herander<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 13, 2013 5:39 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'RE-wrenches'<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Seaward Solarlink<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Thanks Bill. It was your excellent HP article which turned me on to Seaward products, as applied to full-blown evaluation. I am doing larger and more commercial arrays now and this testing is a logical step up in professional commissioning. Sure beats the basics using my old Fluke. Now the hand-held IR thermal imager, at $6K, is a little harder to justify.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Kirk Herander<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>VT Solar, LLC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>dba Vermont Solar Engineering<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>NABCEP<sup>TM </sup>Certified Inaugural Certificant<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>NYSERDA-eligible Installer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>VT RE Incentive Program Partner<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>802.863.1202<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><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"'> <a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a> <a href="mailto:[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org]">[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org]</a> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Bill Hoffer<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 13, 2013 5:03 PM<br><b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Seaward Solarlink<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Kirk<br><br>Good to check out, it is a fair amount of money, but being able to safely do Isc on a full series string, megging, grounding continuity and DC power, it is a handy tool to have. <br>I have been using one for over a year now and have been very happy with it. It is relatively quick to use once you get used to it and gives me a lot of confidence in the final install knowing that the ground continuity is sound, strings are in good shape ( no bad modules or connections ) and the array has been safely meg tested ( shorted leads vs , - to Ground and + to ground). Make sure you get the PV150 with extra memory and RF capability with the 200R irradiance and cell temp meter. Clamp on meter is good to, with the PV T leads attached will calculate DC power into Inverter. <br><br>I actually like their single phase Solar Power meter too , since it will do kW AC, makes short work of doing Inverter performance validation. It also does PF , Harmonics and will detect phase order for a 3 phase motor. Pretty nice, seems most power meters are in the $6k range and start at 3 phase, so for $500 bucks I think it is a good value.<br><br>Keep in mind that the Seaward is designed for European installs where they usually have MC4 connectors at each inverter location, so the PV connectors supplied are MC4 and Sunclips. I have adapted the sunclips to Banana stlye connectors so I can use standard off the shelf 20 amp 1000 VDC test leads and banana clip extensions. Easy to also use MC4 adapters to any other standard connectors. I wish we used MC4's to the inverters, it would speed up commissioning alot! Sometimes it is a challenge to adapt combiners or inverter disconnects to make a spot to use as a test lead when there is no where to clamp on. Hopefully as commissioning of larger installs becomes commoner we will see those manufacturers making a test spot more accessible!<br><br>Also beware that the Megger only really works for PV Strings and if you need to meg wire or motors you will need a standard $500 Megger, I like the Fluke 1587 because it has other common meter funtions. Frankly I do not like megging a PV string using a megger, to me the Seaward is a lot faster and gives me more useful information all at once ( Voc Isc, Insulation resistance, irradiance, Cell temp).<br><br>I also do training in commissioning testing through Solar Energy International ( PV351lab) that allows you to use all the advanced tools available for commissioning and troubleshooting on live systems in their lab yard. Well worth it to get a chance to play with the tools before you put hard cash down on it. I also consult independently to train installation crews in the operation of the Seaward, so you can contact me off list if you wish to discuss that.<br><br><br>I would not do a larger commercial or utility scale project without the PV150 as a minimum commissioning tool. Curve tracing Thermal cameras are overkill unless you have module failures to track down or Bankability commissioning requirements for them. Often they are much more dependent on conditions than the preliminary Seaward tests.<br><br>Highly recommend Seaward as a company and their tool, Great support and product! Hukseflux recently released a similar tool that just came out for a little less, but I have not had a chance to evaluate it yet or have I heard from anyone using it yet.<br><br>Good Luck<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 1:25 PM, Kirk Herander <<a href="mailto:kirk@vtsolar.com" target="_blank">kirk@vtsolar.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Hello,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Can anyone provide user feedback on the Seaward PV test/commissioning equipment? I’m thinking of making the $2K investment in their Solarlink kit. Thanks.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Kirk Herander</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>VT Solar, LLC</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>dba Vermont Solar Engineering</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>NABCEP<sup>TM </sup>Certified Inaugural Certificant</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>NYSERDA-eligible Installer</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>VT RE Incentive Program Partner</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><a href="tel:802.863.1202" target="_blank">802.863.1202</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>_______________________________________________<br>List sponsored by Home Power magazine<br><br>List Address: <a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><br><br>Options & 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://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</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 participant bios:<br><a href="http://www.members.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">www.members.re-wrenches.org</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br><br clear=all><br>-- <br>Bill Hoffer PE<br>NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™<br>Sunergy Engineering Services PLLC<br>2504 Columbia Ave NW<br>East Wenatchee WA 98802-3941<br><a href="mailto:bhoffer@sunergyengineeringservices.com" target="_blank">bhoffer@sunergyengineeringservices.com</a> Cell:(509)679-6165<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>