[RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark AC Coupling Issues

Thu Jan 20 09:41:47 EST 2022

Vince, Although you have an AC bussed connection, the issue may not be the opposite as ours. In Our case the battery buss voltage goes high when the solar array is enabled. If you are also experiencing DC buss excursions you can trigger frequency shifting. If you haven't already done so, I suggest that you closely monitor the battery voltage when the solar array is charging both with and without the Radian AC bussing connected.

Pieter

From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> On Behalf Of Vince McClellan
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2022 11:16 PM
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark AC Coupling Issues

Thanks Pieter

We seem to have the opposite problem from what you are experiencing. Our freq-watt regulation of the Radian inverter by the Sol-Ark inverters seems to be actuated by the DC power from the solar array that is DC connected to the Sol-Ark inverters. It is supposed to be actuated by the SOC of the Blue Ion batteries, but that is inconsistent at best. We can turn the DC power from the solar array on on the master inverter, but when we try using the MPPT channels on the two other inverters it briefly actuates the freq-watt function of the Sol-Ark disconnecting the Radian inverter. 

Vince McClellan

Energy Design

NABCEP PV Installation Professional

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On Wed, Jan 19, 2022 at 8:20 PM Pieter Huebner <pieter at offgridenterprises.org <mailto:pieter at offgridenterprises.org> > wrote:

Vince, For what it is worth:

We have also been working on similar issues when using multiple Solark inverters connected in parallel. The issue has been that parallel Solark inverters don't seem to be able to properly regulate the battery charge voltage. Although Solark technical support has been outstanding, and with their help we have diminished the severity but not solved the issue.  For the sites that we currently have deployed for the interim we had to resort to turning down the charge voltage set points in order to protect the Lithium batteries. and avoid BMS shutdowns. We have a client with an existing outback system and were planning to expand the existing system using AC bussed Solark 12K inverters with additional battery and solar capacity (the site is 100% off grid, and has evolved into a micro grid), but are now going a different direction. Although we have not yet attempted an AC bussed Solark system, I suspect that the issues you are having are related to the battery voltage regulation problem we have experienced.

Pieter

From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> > On Behalf Of Vince McClellan
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2022 5:16 PM
To: RE-wrenches <RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> >
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark AC Coupling Issues

Is anyone on the list familiar with AC coupling Sol-Ark inverters?

We haven't been able to AC couple an existing Outback Radian system to a new system that we built with 3, Sol-Ark 12K inverters and 3, Blue Ion batteries. Each time we have tested the system the Sol-Ark inverters accept the power from the Radian inverter until we turn on the DC power from the new solar array to the Sol-Ark inverters. As soon as there is significant DC power coming from the solar array the Sol-Ark inverters freq-watt turns on for a brief second and disconnects the Radian inverter even when the Blue Ion batteries are below the programmed state of charge threshold. If we don't turn on the DC power from the new solar array the Radian will connect and stay connected. 

We have been working with Sol-Ark for several months now to get this system to accept the incoming power from the Radian without freq-watt kicking in on the Sol-Ark inverters and disconnecting the Radian inverter. Sol-Ark has sent two software revisions to the Sol-Ark inverters and we are still experiencing the same problem. 

Can anyone think of what we might be missing and where to direct our troubleshooting efforts next? 

Thanks, 

Vince McClellan

Energy Design

NABCEP PV Installation Professional

p.  <tel:(541)%20485-8122> (541) 485-8122  f.  <tel:(541)%20338-8202> (541) 338-8202

  <https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1HcXK0FTsJsEFDvKv-POVulmqJD3Ikpz4&revid=0B2VUQDDTFCz_aVNUUUNDRkNRUCtjc1oyZ3JFY2NvNWlJVGpvPQ> 

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