Re: [RE-wrenches] Sunny Island Battery Disconnects

[dan]

Forgive me, I haven't read all the posts, not sure if I'm on the mark.. I did a project a while back using two old Trace DC boxes. Two large frame breakers in each box. Each string has it's own trimetric. Seems the marine industry has been doing something similar for years. They even have automated multi bank control panels. more recently we set up a four string bank with two 500A Blue Sea switches. Seems there are switches with diodes that prevent string cross current as well. Sure would be nice to see a similar product available for Off Grid. (boB). Might be worth a cruz thu the archives. Good luck. db

Dan Brown
Foxfire Energy Corp.
Renewable Energy Systems
(802)-483-2564
www.Foxfire-Energy.com
NABCEP #092907-44

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Sunny Island Battery Disconnects
From: Ray Walters <r...@solarray.com>
Date: Fri, February 07, 2014 8:55 pm
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>

I'm working on something similar.  I think the Flex 1000 is the only reasonable choice that can handle more than 2 of the large format DC breakers.  Midnite has the more expensive MNBCB -1000 Battery Combiner box,  but there just isn't enough documentation to figure out what it can and can't do.
R.Ray Walters CTO, Solarray, Inc Nabcep Certified PV Installer, Licensed Master Electrician Solar Design Engineer 303 505-8760 On 2/7/2014 6:29 PM, will...@millersolar.com wrote:

Friends:

 

I am reworking an installation with 3 Sunny Island inverters.  The battery leads have no disconnecting means or OCP.  I have been looking for sensible hardware to provide this and I have found some options.  I am interested in any input on these or ideas I have not discovered.

 

1.       SMA BATFUSE.  I am having trouble deciding which one is right for a 3 SI install.

a.       The B.003 appears to have fuse positions for the positive and the negative leads.  I am fairly darn certain I don’t want fuses in the negative leads of a negative bonded system, and although this is my first SI install, I am pretty sure this is negative bonded.  Am I missing something here? 

b.      The B.001 has only positions for two fuses as far as I can see from the manual.

c.       So it looks like neither will work for me.  Does anyone have any experience and/or wisdom here?

2.       Midnite Solar E-panels:

a.       The regular panel has DC and AC components.  I want to control the AC elsewhere so I could order three slave units.  The Midnite unit mounts right under the inverter but I would prefer to have the OCP closer to the batteries.

3.       Outback:

a.       We could purchase an Outback FX1000 and install three breakers in it.

4.       Breaker Size:

a.       I have started to read the manual but I have yet to find out what size breaker fuse is recommended.  Have I just not found it yet?

b.      Also, I have not found a specification for battery cable size.  Am I blind?

 

Thanks in advance.  I really appreciate the help I receive here.  I try to give as well as receive.

 

William

 

 

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