[RE-wrenches] RSD Troubleshooting Help

Mon Jun 21 17:55:26 EDT 2021

Wrenches
Can you slit the array in half more or less as a process of elimination,
I've used fire raptor and we had a glitch unit and it was pretty easy once
we split up the array.
Jerry
NABCEP PV Inspector

On Mon, Jun 21, 2021, 2:45 PM rick at solshineenergy.com <
rick at solshineenergy.com> wrote:

> I’m going to try the thermal camera trick before resorting to lifting
> modules.
>
> rick brown
> SolShine Energy Alternatives, LLC
> Electrical & Solar Contracting Services
> www.SolShineEnergy.com
> Check, Virginia 24072
> O: 540.235.3095
> M: 540.808.9502
>
> VA Class A Contractor Lic# 2705147660
> VA Master Electrician Lic# 2710062762
> VA Alternative Energy Systems Installer
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional 110112-21
>
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 21, 2021, at 5:42 PM, Jeremy Coxon <jcoxon at sunwindpowerinc.com>
> wrote:
>
> We are going through a similar scenario right now with APSmart RSD’s and
> a SMA 7.0 that will start up and run, then the next day no start up at
> dawn.  Perform a hard reset on inverter and array starts up, runs all day,
> then the next morning we’re back to doing a hard reset to get array to
> start up.
>
> Very simple system 2 strings of 12, voltages at inverter around 8V
> (12x0.7=8.4V) - short run with oversized conductors means very small
> voltage drop thankfully.  SMA says we need to be on site to troubleshoot,
> but without the little APS RSD Eye, I’m thinking they’re just going to say
> it’s not their problem.  APS’s troubleshooting guide basically says lift
> each panel to find the problem.  Not a happy camper!
>
> Jeremy Coxon NABCEP
> Certified MWBE
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 21, 2021, at 12:43 PM, "rick at solshineenergy.com" <
> rick at solshineenergy.com> wrote:
>
> Carl,
> That’s very helpful. We’ll check each module and report back.
>
> rick brown
> SolShine Energy Alternatives, LLC
> Electrical & Solar Contracting Services
> www.SolShineEnergy.com
> Check, Virginia 24072
> O: 540.235.3095
> M: 540.808.9502
>
> VA Class A Contractor Lic# 2705147660
> VA Master Electrician Lic# 2710062762
> VA Alternative Energy Systems Installer
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional 110112-21
>
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 21, 2021, at 12:15 PM, Carl Adams <cadams at sunrocksolar.com> wrote:
>
> 
> Rick,
> I was recently troubleshooting a similar problem.  Open circuit voltage on
> all strings was as expected but under load one string was showing almost no
> power.  Tracked this down to a failed APSmart device which had clear signs
> of thermal damage.  Pictures 1.1 and 1.2.  .
> A second failed unit some months later had a thermal failure and this one
> toasted the module.  Picture 2.1.
>
> These devices can make it difficult to do any meaningful string level
> testing.  The devices output a nominal 0.7 volts in open circuit
> conditions.  That documentation says this voltage reading is *+* 25%, so
> in theory you could have a number of devices which were not working and
> your string voltage would not indicate that.
>
> APSmart does make a test device which can help you verify the
> functionality.  The device is called  RSD-EYE+ Detector.  You can contact
> YI Kang , *APPLICATION & TECHNICAL SUPPORT MANAGER,*
> *MLRSD *at APSmart for additional information.    737.218.8486
> <FailedAPSmart1.2.jpg>
>
> <FailedAPSmart2.1.jpg>
>
> <FailedAPSmart1.1.jpg>
>
> With Kind Regards
> Carl Adams, President
> SunRock Solar, LLC
> 513.290.9072 (mobile)
> 513.766.6025 (office)
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 21, 2021 at 11:55 AM Lloyd Hoffstatter <
> lloyd at sunstruckconsulting.com> wrote:
>
>> Rick,
>> I would check with SMA to make sure you have the latest firmware.
>>
>> Best regards,
>> Lloyd
>>
>> Lloyd Hoffstatter
>> Sunstruck Consulting
>>
>> Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> on
>> behalf of rick at solshineenergy.com <rick at solshineenergy.com>
>> *Sent:* Monday, June 21, 2021 11:42:36 AM
>> *To:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
>> *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] RSD Troubleshooting Help
>>
>> Wrenches,
>>
>> I’m in need of some troubleshooting help on a newly installed system with
>> rapid shutdown. System consists 2 SMA SB5.0-1 SP-US-41 (RSD version), RSD
>> devices are APS RSD-S-PLC. Each SB is configured with two strings of 9.
>> Modules are REC Alpha 360s.
>>
>> This system was fully functional for about 1 week before things went
>> awry. Initial symptoms were that one of the two strings read 0V 0A on the
>> display while the other read ~315V, 5A. The RSD devices output ~700mV each
>> when in the off mode (a nice verification feature). I’m reading the correct
>> voltage - 6.75V - on both strings when in off mode. Once the Sunny Boy
>> comes on line I’m reading around 10V on the faulty string and the correct
>> voltage - ~315V - on the other string.
>>
>> The above seems to indicate that each RSD is getting sufficient DC
>> voltage from the module. Short of pulling each module and doing a visual
>> check what else can I look at? How do you isolate a faulty RSD device?
>>
>> And as luck would have it, everything is functional at the moment.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> rick brown
>> SolShine Energy Alternatives, LLC
>> Electrical & Solar Contracting Services
>> www.SolShineEnergy.com
>> Check, Virginia 24072
>> O: 540.235.3095
>> M: 540.808.9502
>>
>> VA Class A Contractor Lic# 2705147660
>> VA Master Electrician Lic# 2710062762
>> VA Alternative Energy Systems Installer
>> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional 110112-21
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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