Wrenches I don't think enphase has any real surge capability at all, also there is a inverter response time, (how fast the inverter ramps in up in ms) and you need to confirm it will start both during the day and at night to see if it can drive through. Jerry
On Thu, Oct 15, 2020, 11:02 AM <d...@energysolarnow.com> wrote: > With help and a site visit from Adam of Enphase tech support this Ensemble > system was successfully brought through commissioning. We had to do a > battery black start after it discharged over the weekend. > However, functional testing brought up another issue-- in off grid mode > the well pump consistently kicks off the two Encharge3 batteries, > presumably from inrush current. This is a 3/4 Franklin pump that apparently > lacks any capacitor soft start. It is on a 20 amp 2-pole breaker. We > measured the operating current at something like 6 amps; the inrush current > is likely a multiple of that. The soft starters from Hyper Engineering > recommended by Enphase are made for HVAC units with more accessible wires > for compressor and fan. This well pump has only two wires. > Can anyone recommend a soft starter or variable frequency drive (VFD) > starter for a two-wire well pump? > > Thanks > Don Barch > Energy Solar > > -------- Original Message -------- > > Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2020 18:12:39 -0700 > From: Louis Woofenden <lo...@woofenden.net> > To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Commissioning issues with Enphase Ensemble > Message-ID: <12123009-ea4a-ffdc-f927-8e0ac3891...@woofenden.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; Format="flowed" > > > Hi Don and Wrenches, > > 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 > > d...@energysolarnow.com <mailto:d...@energysolarnow.com > <d...@energysolarnow.com>> > > > -- > Louis Woofenden > Engineering Director > Net Zero Solar, LLC > 101. W. 5th St., Tucson, AZ 85705 > Arizona ROC #248710, 259756, 259521 > > Phone:520.207.4053 <tel:520.207.4053>Ex. 3 > Cell:520.237.5040 <tel:520.237.5040> > Fax:520.203.7230 <tel:520.203.7230> > > NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > >
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