Thanks for that advice, Louis. Next time I will start the necessary downloads first.
This week with a site visit from Enphase tech support we determined the Enpower switch was stuck in an unknown state. This
was resolved successfully, and now the Enpower switch and Encharge
batteries are commissioned and functional. Their status and power flow
can be seen on Enlighten.
During
functional testing we determined that a major cause of the system going
down when off-grid is that the well pump turn-on surge is too much for
the two Encharge3 batteries.
This issue should be able to be solved by a motor soft starter. Enphase recommends SureStart from Hyper Engineering. These are made for larger A/C units with access to separate fan and compressor windings so are not appropriate for this two-wire 3/4 hp well pump.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a suitable soft start rated at something like 8 amps load, 16 amps surge?
Don Barch
Energy Solar
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Commissioning issues with Enphase Ensemble
From: Louis Woofenden <lo...@woofenden.net>
Date: Thu, October 01, 2020 3:54 pm
To: d...@energysolarnow.com
Hi Don,
I have commissioned four new Ensemble systems over the past two weeks. All storage additions to existing PV systems with Enphase microinverters. Although there are parts of the process that are a bit clunky, we have not had the problems you mention. I followed the instructions in the tech brief "Ensemble Commissioning via Installer Toolkit 3.0," linked at https://enphase.com/en-us/certification-support-program-guidelines (direct link to the PDF is https://enphase.com/sites/default/files/Tech%20Brief%20-%20Ensemble%20Commissioning%20via%20Installer%20Toolkit%203.0.pdf).
My experience is that each of the four Enpower microgrid interconnection devices we've installed started up in passthrough mode, so if input breakers are on in the MID, backup loads have had power before commissioning is completed, and power has remained on for those backup loads even after we turned off the PV and ESS disconnects to wait for utility PTO after doing commissioning and functional testing.
It did take us some time to do the Envoy software update before commissioning, and the system does require a second trip for functional testing after the Encharge battery software updates have been done (up to 12 hours). I haven't stuck on site for the Encharge/Enpower software updates, but it looks like they are taking 4-6 hours for us, based on percentage done by the time I've left the site (system sizes from 10.08 kWh to 20.16 kWh). Yeah, it's a second trip. I've used the trip to meet with electrical inspectors for these first systems.
One "trick" I've used on the Envoy software update is that you once you scan in the serial numbers of each Enpower & Encharge with the installer toolkit and plug in the cell modem and wireless communications kit, the installer toolkit will allow the Envoy software update to work, and you can get it taken care of early in the day, while still hanging boxes, running conduit, etc.
I would agree that there are definitely parts of the new installer toolkit that aren't intuitive. I missed the "edit" button on the devices page for a bit (which is not mentioned in the tech brief), and couldn't figure out how to increase the device count, for example. I also had to try the Envoy update twice for some of these systems, as it threw an error code the first time around, so for some of the systems it took closer to 45-50 minutes to get the Envoy software update done.
Hope the next one goes more smoothly for you! New products, new challenges, I guess.
Best,
Louis Woofenden
d...@energysolarnow.com wrote on 9/30/20 2:59 PM:
Wrenches-I'm having a lot of difficulty commissioning my first Enphase Ensemble installation. This is on a pre-existing microinverter installation. Have been on the phone with tech support several times; each time they forward a Tech Brief about commissioning that has different and slightly conflicting instructions. It seems the order of turning on each box is critical. Because of already-obsolete software that they ship with, the software must be updated before activating the Envoy, Enpower, and Encharge or they will not work.And for some reason the Envoy must have both Wifi and cell connection before even starting commissioning, but the slower cell connection is used for software download so it takes up to 12 hours.This commissioning must be done on-site using their latest version of Installer Toolkit on a smart phone. Sure, there are buttons in Enlighten's Activation page to add an Enpower and Encharge, but these do not work "yet".Enphase tech support says they are working on making this a single-day process rather than the current multi-day commissioning. This does not even count the actual hardware installation time.I would advise anyone against moving any loads to a new subpanel before the entire system is commissioned and operating.As of now I have an Enpower that mistakenly thinks it is off-grid when the grid is present, so it has told the Envoy to shut down the PV microinverters and batteries. These are relay controlled, therefore it is not possible to have them connected without software control. It has already committed the major crime of shutting down the backed-up loads while the grid is still present. Enphase is working on it, but seem to be developing software on the fly. I suppose their integration process has been hit hard by pandemic distancing, and they are all working remotely.Has anyone else had a successful experience commissioning an Ensemble?I'd like to hear about the doos-and-don'ts.Don Barch
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--Louis Woofenden
Engineering Director
Net Zero Solar, LLC
101. W. 5th St., Tucson, AZ 85705
Arizona ROC #248710, 259756, 259521
Phone: 520.207.4053 Ex. 3
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