[RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark install

Thu Apr 14 12:15:01 EDT 2022

Kirk:

I feel your pain.  This is a big problem that we discovered with the first
GSLC we installed.  We ordered it prewired and it was a mess.  We broke the
tab off of one of the AC breakers by too much wire stress.  We had to come
up with a work-around for this problem.  I will describe it below in hopes
you find some use for this procedure.

You can skip installing AC breakers in the GSLC and that frees up a lot of
room.  To make this work you need to supply an outboard breaker panel for
Generator fed circuits and another for Inverter fed circuits.  The AC leads
run straight through the GSLC without landing.  You can remove all of the
AC buss bars.

If you want bypass capabilities you need to provide for this in the
inverter fed-panel.  Most breaker manufacturers provide interlocks for two
breakers.  If you want more interlock capabilities you need to make a
custom interlock.  Let me know if you want more information on that process.

For the PV leads, we cut off the bottom tab that holds the dead front and
replace it with a hinge.  We lower the dead-front for wiring.  The PV leads
all come up the back of the dead-front and hinge at the bottom.  See
attached photo.

I hope this information helps.  The Radian is a good product in my opinion
and it is worth the effort to get around the limitation.

William Miller

Miller Solar

17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422

805-438-5600

www.millersolar.com

CA Lic. 773985

*From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] *On
Behalf Of *Kirk Herander via RE-wrenches
*Sent:* Thursday, April 14, 2022 8:30 AM
*To:* RE-wrenches
*Cc:* Kirk Herander
*Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark install

I feel the same way about the Outback Radian GSLC box, once it's fully
wired there's no room whatsoever, and sometimes you have to remove
breakers and layers of wiring to re-access things for debug. Don't know how
it meets code and ETL approval  for wire space.

On Thu, Apr 14, 2022 at 11:20 AM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

This problem is not limited to one manufacturer. One example is the Enphase
smart controller. While the small holes are big enough for #6 ground and
neutral, you have to strip the wires perfectly and have the hand of a heart
surgeon to get them in there. And conduit entry is a royal pain because the
enclosure is tapered on the bottom and sides.

Fortunately, all of these manufacturers seem to be making strides to make
the roof installation easier. A little more attention to the electrical
enclosures would be appreciated.

Jason Szumlanski

On Thu, Apr 14, 2022, 10:30 AM Dana Orzel via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

We have done one Solark installation & I was shocked as to the lack of
ground wire landing terminals & space. We added a 12126 metal box below to
ease the # of entrances to two 11/4”.

 I jumpered a # 8 to a second ground bar to allow for additional landing
locations. I called Solark to question this & the response to the question
was “yeah we have heard this from other installers “.
End of call.

Dana Orzel

C: 208.721.7003

E- dana at solarwork.com

On Apr 13, 2022, at 8:21 PM, Maverick Brown via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

Ron

The Sol-Ark has two MPPT channels and has two separate landing spots for
each MPPT channels. Each landing pair needs matching strings. 8 AWG wire
barely fits so the Sol-Ark PV terminals so they may only be rated for
10AWG.

I’m assuming you have a ground array  The most common stringing method
would be to use a trench with conduit and THHN wire. You could also sleeve
a direct-burial cable into the ground.  Calculate the voltage drop over the
distance to make sure 10AWG is adequate. If not, then make a junction, like
a MidNite or Outback combiner or an IMO switch at the array to get up the
right wire size, with an added MidNite Surge Protector or EMP shield
device. If it’s a long distance (larger wire size), add another combiner at
the inverter building entrance to get back to 10 AWG.

https://practicalpreppers.com/product/imo-4-pole-16-amp-dc-disconnect/

Also, The Sol-Ark sizing guide helps with string calculations.

https://www.sol-ark.com/solar-panel-sizing/SolarPanelSizing.html

Contact me off list with additional questions.

Maverick Brown
Off-Grid Solar Commander since 2006
*Maverick Solar Enterprises, Inc.*

* • Solar Commander Remote Power*

* • SunFlow Systems Cathodic Protection *maverick at mavericksolar.com
512-460-9825

On Apr 12, 2022, at 9:42 PM, Ron Young via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

Hi Wrenches, trying to wrap my head around a first time Sol-Ark install.
Because the max DC voltage is 500v at 18a  and the PV I’m using is 40v DC
each I will have to create three strings each 480v. What would be the best
choice for a home run wire? I’ve always used smaller strings with micro
inverters, a combiner at the array and a single Teck home run cable but the
string inverter presents a different scenario and it looks like I’ll need
to use three home run cables, one for each string.

Ron Young

earthRight Products - Solareagle.com
Alternative Energy Solutions ~ Renewable Energy Products

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-- 

*Kirk Herander / **kirkh at vermont.solar <kirkh at vermont.solar>*

*Owner|Principal, VT Solar, LLC*

*Celebrating our 31st Anniversary 1991-2022!!*

*www.vermont.solar*
<https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.vermontsolarnow.com&data=02%7C01%7C%7C9f0330d75a244870112408d685311841%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636842843233477645&sdata=0NjyuKeQbEK6245SNnk8X4XnP9Q%2B%2BqtvcALkdDghvk4%3D&reserved=0>

dba Vermont Solar Engineering

802.863.1202
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