[RE-wrenches] Large lithium chargers

[Nick A Lucchese]

Good morning Jay,

I didn’t know that the MC wasn’t UL listed, didn’t come up for my system last year. It’s quite the enclosure. I too originally thought they were discontinuing it but I don’t believe that’s the case anymore but maybe there’s new information regarding that. I had heard they are sticking with the Islands since it’s proven and robust and they’ve got nothing else until they release a 3 phase 30 KW product at some point soon. Maybe that’s the solution you’re waiting for (speculated solutions woohoo). SMA’s willingness to work on closed loop communications with Blue Planet and others was supposedly proof the Islands were going to be around for awhile. I had to wait many months for the piggyback cards after they said they were discontinued then the tune changed some time later. I don’t see the MCB on my usual distributors sites so perhaps they really are gone.

Looks like many of the 6048 Islands went for a bit under $2k at the recent auction so in the end might be about the same price offered by distributors.

Enjoy the weekend, Nick


> On Dec 3, 2021, at 7:39 AM, jay <jay.peltz at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> HI Nick,
> 
> Thanks for the idea.  I didn’t consider theSMA/ SI/MC because at this point its a legacy product and I wouldn't want to have to deal with potential lack of parts, technical support  or warranty should something go wrong. 
> 
> Also my understanding is that the MC box for larger systems isn’t UL listed?
> 
> I think my buddy is probably going with Sol-Ark’s.  He’s done a few large ones already and has an understanding of most of the bugs and work arounds.  
> 
> Its why he wants external chargers as he has had some real issues with inverters turning off on generator shut down.  Sol-ark is working on some kind of fix, but its a known issue. 
> 
> thank
> 
> jay
> 
> 
> 
>> On Dec 3, 2021, at 12:35 AM, Nick A Lucchese <lucchesesolar at me.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello Jay,
>> 
>> This was my same dilemma I posted about recently although not 208. Have you considered SMA Islands in a Multicluster system? I did one last year and other than tracking down a mis-wire on the CT’s in the Multicluster box it’s been working extremely well. Do you know what brand of batteries yet? Blue Ions are closed loop communications with the Islands now so it works beautifully. There’s some reasonable deals on many of the Sunny Island 6048’s right now from the DC Solar auctions too. One of the last ones just ended yesterday actually. It would likely be easy to find many at 25-33% less than the old distributor’s pricing.
>> 
>> Would love to hear what you decide to do with this. Best of luck, Nick
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On Dec 2, 2021, at 7:53 AM, Jay <jay.peltz at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi all
>>> 
>>> Sorry I guess I didn’t explain the clients wants well enough
>>> 
>>> 1. 90-100kwh+ 48 vdc lithium battery 
>>> 2. 208 3 phase AC generator powering 48v nominal battery chargers.
>>> 208-3phase as that is the house/EE design voltage. 
>>> 3. AC generator because it’s back up if the inverters fail, so no DC generator. 
>>> 4. Client doesn’t want any drop outs or have to reset clocks etc during generator/inverter- charging/switchover.
>>> 5. Inverter size is not decided yet, probably 40-80kw. 
>>> 6.  Generator size isn’t specified yet, but given the loads 60-125kw probably. 
>>> Size would be based on battery charging or max ac load which ever is larger. 
>>> 
>>> That leads me external chargers. 
>>> 
>>> I’m looking for large programmable battery chargers for lithium batteries powered from a 208-3phase ac generator in the 60-125 kw size range. 
>>> 
>>> Thanks
>>> 
>>> Jay
>>> 
>>