[RE-wrenches] KD135 source?

Wrenches, A distributor told me today that Kyocera is currently out of KD135s, backordered until next month. With relatively few good 12V modules available these days, anyone know of a good distributor with KC125, KC130, or KD135s in current stock? Thank you, Allan --

[RE-wrenches] Service Magic update request

Wrenches, There was a thread last year about Service Magic's lead generation "service". At that time, the strongest message I heard was not to let them in, because their leads are seldom good and you can't get rid of them. I don't think that I recall a single positive review of them on this lis

Re: [RE-wrenches] overfeed 7kW gridtie inverter or drop a mod per string?

Im sorry, I meant to write “11 modules per string” below.. Been a long day.. From: Jim MacDonald Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 7:41 PM To: RE-wrenches Cc: Jason Szrom Subject: RE: [RE-wrenches] overfeed 7kW gridtie inverter or drop a mod per string? SB8000US only good for 480 Vac, we’re tying in

Re: [RE-wrenches] overfeed 7kW gridtie inverter or drop a mod per string?

SB8000US only good for 480 Vac, we’re tying in at 208. 11 strings has been calc’d to be OK (<600vdc) for record low -4 fahrenheit (-20 celsius). I think the big concern as mentioned is getting the Voc high early in the AM to wake the inverter up, also maintaining the Vmp later in the day to kee

Re: [RE-wrenches] clamp on ground impedance tester

I believe the concrete vault is an F-8 with about a 10" dia round concrete lid marked ground, or sometimes we'll just grab an irrigation round vault with the green lids if it's not going to be looked at too closely. Sincerely, Chris Worcester Solar Wind Works NABCEP Certified PV Installer Pho

Re: [RE-wrenches] clamp on ground impedance tester

Great idea. What do you use, specifically? Seems like a 4" PVC female adapter with screw in plug would work. R. Walters r...@solarray.com Solar Engineer On Apr 19, 2010, at 3:40 PM, Chris Worcester wrote: > We have been installing the grounding electrodes in small round cement or > plastic

Re: [RE-wrenches] overfeed 7kW gridtie inverter or drop a mod per string?

The temperature correction is the concern.  I have heard lots of stories of inverters dieing when it gets to cold.  Look in the code book 690.7 at the temperature correction table.  Go to weather.com and find your record low temperature.  Find you Tc factor and will your senerios work?  I have h

[RE-wrenches] Experience in Africa? 1 panel 1 battery etc?

Hi All, I'm doing some consulting for a group bringing small PV to Africa. Who are best contacts in our circles from SELF or SELCO or equivalent that I can talk to with field experience with charge controls, batteries etc in hot arid climates and need for cultural sensitivity. I'm looking fo

Re: [RE-wrenches] overfeed 7kW gridtie inverter or drop a mod per string?

Many times we switch to another module manufacturer as one will not fit or another inverter manufacturer. PVPowered has a more relaxed window and we have had fine success with them when SMA does not fit. Cold is the dictator and the 600 VDC threshold. Thanks, Dana Orzel Great Solar

Re: [RE-wrenches] clamp on ground impedance tester

We have been installing the grounding electrodes in small round cement or plastic vaults as a great way to inspect the connections but reduce the hazard. Sincerely, Chris Worcester Solar Wind Works NABCEP Certified PV Installer Phone: 530-582-4503 Fax: 530-582-4603 www.solarwindworks.com

Re: [RE-wrenches] overfeed 7kW gridtie inverter or drop a mod per string?

Is using the SMA SB 8000US out of the question? http://www.sma-america.com/en/products/solar-inverters/sunny-boy/sunny-boy-5 000us-6000us-7000us-8000us.html On 4/19/10 3:37 PM, "Jim MacDonald" wrote: > For a straight grid-tie system@ 10 degree tilt, 180 azimuth, zero/little > shade, NYC avg 4.

[RE-wrenches] overfeed 7kW gridtie inverter or drop a mod per string?

For a straight grid-tie system@ 10 degree tilt, 180 azimuth, zero/little shade, NYC avg 4.29 kWh/m²/day. Feed an SMA7000 with (3) strings of 11 Suntech STP275's [9.075 kWdc] Or Do strings of 10, so itd be 8.250 kWdc into the 7 kWac inverter. Strings of 11= 491.7 Voc; 386 Vmp Strings of 10= 447 V

Re: [RE-wrenches] Lorentz Sub Pump

Wrenchers, Looking for advice on the following pump. Lorentz PS600-HR04H-1-48B with power pack option and controller. I will be doing an off-grid system for a homeowner who already who had purchased this pump, in fact it is down the well already, although not working, or even wired to anyth

Re: [RE-wrenches] Modules with PV wire

Hello, Marv & all~ I assumed that "pv wire" versus regular XLPE wire was non-relevant for the Enphase inverter architecture. Did that change...or will it change in the near future? If I'm asking before Enphase is ready to answer that's OK, but kindly post an update to this topic when the time is

[RE-wrenches] Modules with PV wire

Esteemed wrenches, Any assistance here would be greatly appreciated. Does anybody know of a comprehensive list that tells what modules have PV wire and which ones have only USE2?  The thought of contacting every PV module manufacturer and extracting this information from them is very daunting

Re: [RE-wrenches] low cost DAS systems

Here is another widget that might be worth looking at. It seems to be priced around the TED option, but may have more bling. -Glenn Burt From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Philip Boutelle Sent: Tuesday, April 13,

Re: [RE-wrenches] clamp on ground impedance tester

Hi Drake; I have kids, and I agree with you; an exposed ground rod would be a nasty thing to land on. I always had a fear of falling on one with my knee (ugh!), however, I have had inspectors require 4" of ground rod above grade. (most installs in New Mexico I see keep the connection above grad

Re: [RE-wrenches] Apollo T80HV

We have had a regular Apollo T-80 for quite a while, and the energy monitor in it works very well. Our system also has an E-meter, and they generally agree. If they don't agree perfectly, in my opinion the Apollo is more accurate (as the Apollo monitor does re-set to full when the charge contro

Re: [RE-wrenches] Apollo T80HV

Hello I have used the T80HV and no problems.  HOwever I am not as close to the limit as you are.  My app exceeded the T80 and Flexmax 80 voltage limits, it has been awhile and I do not remember the exact specs.   I also just accept the data it presents, I have no indication that it is inaccurat

Re: [RE-wrenches] PVWatts Module Temperature Coefficient (was Enphase derate)

It seems to be -0.5%/degC: http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/calculators/PVWATTS/moreabout.html Original Message Subject: [RE-wrenches] PVWatts Module Temperature Coefficient (was Enphase derate) From: Joel Davidson To: RE-wrenches Date: 2010/4/18 12:23 Wrenches, PVWatts does

[RE-wrenches] PVWatts Module Temperature Coefficient (was Enphase derate)

Wrenches, PVWatts does not accurately predicate Unisolar and Sunpower module performance because it uses a generic single crystal silicon solar module power temperature coefficient (I think -0.4% per degree C). Does someone have the technical paper that specifies PVWatts module temperature coeff

Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Coupled Issues

Jeff- The Sunny Boys can be reprogrammed into "off grid" mode so they can work between 56-64 Hz, but I believe you need both a service cable and a call to SMA tech support to make that happen. They then note in their system that that inverter's been adjusted to no longer meet UL 1741. Jeff Yag