<html><body><span style="font-family:Verdana; color:#000000; font-size:10pt;"><div>William,</div><div><br></div><div>The start voltage is 285v from what I see<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> covered on the specifications in manual.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Data sheets are not specifications, I have seen many a error on these over the years.</span></div><div><br></div><div>This voltage is way low regardless if the start voltage was 220v.</div><div>By the time the PV voltage gets dragged down when finding the VMPP it is going to be down near the low end of the range anyway.</div><div><br></div><div>I always like to see the VMPP up near the top of the VMPP point(but not to high!).</div><div>This means less current, which means less heat, which means longer life.</div><div><br></div><div>Looks like the is either a PV problem or a bad design in the first place.</div><div><br></div><div>Louis Segarra</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>
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-------- Original Message --------<br>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA Micro-grid<br>
From: William Miller <<a href="mailto:william@millersolar.com">william@millersolar.com</a>><br>
Date: Tue, April 23, 2019 11:40 am<br>
To: Harry Mahon <<a href="mailto:Michael.Mahon@sma-america.com">Michael.Mahon@sma-america.com</a>><br>
Cc: RE-wrenches <<a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>><br>
<br>
<div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr">Mike:</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Thanks for the reply. Good information. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">The AC system is 208. The data sheet indicates that for 208 the PV startup is 220. Today we have 260 VDC. That should be enough!?</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">I checked EMT he AC frequency in case it was on shift mode. It is right at 60.00. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Still in waiting mode. I had always thought \u201cwaiting\u201d was for grid reconnect timeout...</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">William</div><div dir="ltr"><br>On Apr 23, 2019, at 8:47 AM, Harry Mahon <<a target="_blank" href="mailto:Michael.Mahon@sma-america.com">Michael.Mahon@sma-america.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite" style="border-left: blue 2px solid; margin-left: 8px; padding-left: 8px;"><div dir="ltr"> <style>
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</style> <div class="WordSection1"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">William \u2013 <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Waiting mode means the DC voltage is below the inverter start. For SB 4000-12, that would be 285 VDC (and will work to 250VDC once that is hit).<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">If you knock on the inverter lid, the display will cycle and you will see the DC voltage displayed.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">If the yellow LED is not on, this should not be an AC side issue.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">I do not think the \u201cBackup Mode\u201d parameter would be the cause, but if the voltage check shows well above PVstart, it would be worth a call to service. If the inverter was left in on grid mode, then it will work when the SI is creating a micro-grid with frequency within UL1741 limits. If the system is off-grid, I would think the SB would have been set to off-grid mode rather than enabling Backup Mode to \u201con all\u201d that allows switching from on-grid to off-grid parameter sets by RS485 command.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Best-<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Mike<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></div> <div> <div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b>From:</b> RE-wrenches <<a target="_blank" href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>William Miller<br> <b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 22, 2019 6:54 PM<br> <b>To:</b> RE-wrenches <<a target="_blank" href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>><br> <b>Subject:</b> [RE-wrenches] SMA Micro-grid<o:p></o:p></div> </div> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Friends:</span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">I am working on an AC coupled SMA system in an off-grid setting. We have an SB4000-12 that was disconnected for a number of years and we reconnected it. The inverter is stuck in the waiting mode and will not generate power. The Sunny Islands and Sunny Boys are connected via an RS485 communication system. </span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">I suspect there is a programming step I have not yet accomplished. I recall some years ago I programmed the other Sunny Boys for off-grid operation. I can\u2019t find anything in any of the manuals about how to check the programming. I also suspect SAM tech support talked me through this and the information may not be published.</span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Does this ring a bell with any of you? Any advice? </span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Thanks in advance.</span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">William Miller</span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Miller Solar</span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422</span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">805-438-5600</span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a target="_blank" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.millersolar.com%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cmichael.mahon%40sma-america.com%7C59a1c2198b064ed1b3bc08d6c78ee97e%7Ca059b96c28294d1188374cc1ff84735d%7C0%7C0%7C636915813958522418&sdata=W47QM7stduVoV8b52f%2BRTpxb%2Fc9vsceehFWW9tomvYQ%3D&reserved=0">www.millersolar.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">CA Lic. 773985</span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Quote of the day: \u201cIf there is a job you hate, get really, </span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">really good at it. Maybe you will hate it less.\u201c W. Miller</span><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></div> </div> </div></blockquote><hr>_______________________________________________<br>
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