[RE-wrenches] SolarEdge Optimizer - Was: Tigo and SMA AFCI - Was: AC coupled, grid-tied Sunny Island - contactor & bypass

[Richard L Ratico]

SolarEdge makes an optimizer / inverter system. We just installed one. Our
clients are happy. So are we. 

Don't know if you can AC couple the inverter. Their website says they are about
to release a version of the optimizer that will work with other manufacturer's
inverters.

Dick Ratico
Solarwind Electric

--- You wrote:
On 6/5/2013 3:33 PM, SunHarvest wrote:
> Just an FYI for anyone wanting to use Tigo optimizers with SMA 
> inverters incorporating AFCI -
> According to SMA the Tigo optimizers will not operate with the SMA 
> inverters. They didn't go into detail. They just said the AFCI feature 
> of the Sunny Boy is not compatible with Tigo. After further discussion 
> they acknowledged that disabling the AFCI feature in the Sunny Boy 
> would allow compatibility with the Tigo optimizer. Awesome.
> After talking this over with Tigo they came to the same conclusion but 
> neither company seemed too happy or confident in the marriage. Awesome.
> Eric Stikes
> SunHarvest
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *
>
>     Wrenches,
>     Here's an update on this configuration (20kW Enphase, AC coupled to
>     Sunny Islands) you should know about:
>
>     Enphase will not support and warranty the use of their micro inverters
>     in an AC-coupled installation with battery-based inverters. Enphase
>     approved this verbally with us in design, but balked when we asked
>     them to back it up in writing. Their issue/point is that AC-coupling
>     violates the UL1741 listing.
>
>     Thus, we're revising the design to use Sunny Boy string inverters. Our
>     customer would still like the module-level monitoring and optimization
>     offered by the micro-inverters (there is some shading issue), so we're
>     considering using string optimizers. We have not used string-
>     optimization, yet. It looks like the leading options are Solar Magic
>     and Tigo.
>
>     Any preferences, cautions, or advice with choosing and using
>     optimizers would be appreciated.
>
>     Thanks,
>
>     -Kelly
>
>     Kelly Keilwitz, P.E.
>     
--- end of quote ---