My memory was that there was a software switch that shut off the frequency shift which is specifically used to attempt to control AC coupled inverters, but I could be mistaken - it's been a couple of years since I programmed a SI. In any case, the unstable frequency doesn't sound like a feature. Let us know what you find... Howie
On Tue, Sep 19, 2017 at 9:53 AM, August Goers <aug...@luminalt.com> wrote: > Thanks for the input. Jerry and Howie, you may be referring to the Sunny > Island's automatic frequency synchronization mode. This allows the Sunny > Island to adjust the frequency to keep clocks accurate. The setting is > 250.11 AfraEna and we already have that disabled. My understanding is that > the Sunny Island will boost frequency if it purposely wants to kick the > inverters off if the batteries are full or if the Sunny Island is > overloaded with too much power. In our case, we're just seeing a very > unstable voltage and frequency. I have the service codes for the ABB > inverters and I'm going to test those out today to see if widening the > voltage or frequency parameters make any difference. Regardless, it doesn't > seem like a good idea to leave the system as-is if the voltage and > frequency are not stable. > > August > > > > On Mon, Sep 18, 2017 at 7:27 PM, Howie Michaelson < > howie.michael...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> To follow up on Jerry's note,if the SI is shifting to regulate the >> incoming charge from the AC coupled inverter, and you don't want this to >> happen, I believe there is a software switch that will turn this feature >> off. >> And Jerry, have you seen the SI replacement you referred to? Can you say >> anything else about it? >> Howie >> >> Howie Michaelson >> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™ >> Sun Catcher, LLC >> Solar Energy Systems Sales and Service >> VT Solar Electric Incentive Partner >> 802-272-0004 <(802)%20272-0004> >> >> On Sep 18, 2017 10:14 PM, "Jerry Shafer" <jerrysgarag...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> Luminalt >> As l recall the SI will move the freq around to regulate the SMA >> inverter, not having a SMA it may be attempting to force the inverter down. >> You can widen the freq programming on the ABB inverter to prevent the shut >> down but this will not prevent the volts from bouncing around, you may want >> to adjust the inverter AC volts to get past the wave.. FYI, SMA will >> shortly have a replacement for the SI thats 240 vac and alot smarter too. >> Jerry >> >> On Sep 18, 2017 1:26 PM, "Peter Giroux" <pgir...@mindspring.com> wrote: >> >>> August >>> >>> We had something similar happen a few years ago on an AC coupled >>> application using a 5048 Sunny Island ( with transformer ) and a Sunny Boy >>> 7000. In a grid down scenario the Sunny boy dropped off line. After a few >>> calls with SMA sharing the error codes it turned out the Sunny Island was >>> not delivering 60 hertz, not even 59, so we had to reprogram the Sunny Boy >>> to recognize and run on 57 hertz. >>> >>> SMA was gracious enough to share the "magic code " and walk me through >>> the programming. Once the Sunny Boy was reset to operate on the lower hertz >>> range everything worked great. You may have a similar situation, not sure >>> if the ABB folks will help with the hertz adjustment but you should give it >>> a try before springing for a sunny boy. >>> >>> Peter Giroux >>> ASAE >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> *From:* August Goers <aug...@luminalt.com> >>> *To:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> >>> *Sent:* Monday, September 18, 2017 5:48 PM >>> *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Sunny Island grid tie battery back and backup >>> stability issues with ABB >>> >>> Hi Wrenches - >>> >>> We have an ~3 year old grid tied battery backup system with a SMA Sunny >>> Island 4548 and Power-One (now ABB) PVI-5000 inverter. There is also an >>> Outback PSX-240 to boost the Sunny Island voltage to 240 volts. >>> >>> We recently returned to the site for an annual service call and tested >>> the system by simulating a power outage. The Sunny Island kicked in just >>> fine and provided stable voltage for the backup loads. However, the ABB >>> tries to connect and immediately we see that voltage and frequency of the >>> Sunny Island grid start to rapidly fluctuate. I have a feeling that my >>> Fluke meter is not capturing the fluctuations properly, but I was seeing >>> voltage fluctuate in the 238 to 242 volt range and frequency rapidly >>> fluctuate between 59 and 61 Hz. >>> >>> The ABB connects for a minute or two and then gives us a grid out of >>> range error. This occurs when we have lots of irradiance and also under >>> relatively low light conditions. I've already been on the phone with SMA >>> tech support several times and verified that all the Sunny Island settings >>> are good. >>> >>> Has anyone else seen this type of instability issue and did you find a >>> fix? We might need to install a Sunny Boy. >>> >>> >>> Thanks, >>> >>> August >>> >>> *August Goers* >>> >>> Luminalt >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>> >>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re >>> -wrenc...@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out or update participant bios: >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>> >>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re >>> -wrenc...@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out or update participant bios: >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re >> -wrenc...@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re >> -wrenc...@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches. > org/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > >
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