ac coupled systems growing market segment can be confusing! can be complicated! numerous ways to go...
TRANSCRIPT
AC COUPLE
AC Coupled Systems
• Growing market segment• Can be confusing!• Can be complicated!• Numerous ways to go• MidNite has taken most of the mystique
out of the equation
Before we show how to make AC coupling easy, let’s see just what AC coupling is
Why AC Couple1. a way to use those expensive grid tie
solar panels during a power outage2. Provides limited power during a power
outage3. Allows the installer to go visit their grid tie
customers with something useful to sell
What is AC Couple• AC Coupling is a controlled back feed to a
battery based inverter• A back feed is hooking up AC to the output
of an inverter• Normally when you back feed an inverter,
they blow up (try it sometime, smile)• AC coupling is a synchronized back feed• The grid tie inverter shifts frequency to
match the battery based inverter before connecting. This makes it ok to do
AC Coupling of inverters
• Battery-less grid tie inverters require a grid to be connected before they will turn on. The grid must meet certain voltage and frequency parameters.
• You have all heard about anti-islanding requirements that the inverters must meet
• Battery based sinewave inverters can meet these requirements
• Inverters do not need to be grid tie listed
AC Coupling of inverters
• Not all battery based sinewave inverters are capable of backfeed.
• Your choices in North America are:• SMA Sunny Island• Outback FX, VFX and Radian• Magnum PAE series• Schneider XW series
SMA Sunny Island
AC Coupling of Inverters
• The Sunny Island and Sunny Boy communicate with each other to insure proper battery charging during a power outage.
• No other inverter combination can claim this
SMA Sunny Island
Since the Sunny Boy output is
240VAC and the Sunny Island
input is 120VAC, a step down autoformer is
used
SMA Sunny Island
Notice that the output of the SB connects to the output of the SI
The autoformer changes 240V to
120V
SMA Sunny Island
The SI inverter has only one AC
input. We provide an
optional ATS that5 fits inside
our SMA E-Panel
The Sunny Island/Sunny/
Boy combination was designed to be AC Coupled
They thought of everything
(from a European point
of view)
SMA in Germany still has problems with the US
NEC code. The Sunny Island is
not easy to install to meet
code
SMA had been requesting that MidNite Solar make them an
E-Panel for years. We finally
did
We did not realize how big a deal this was
going to be!
The pre-wired system shown
here is as plug and play as they come
The top piece is the autoformer
Battery box and cabling is included
and drop ships where you want it
E-Panel with ATS
option installed
All SMA E-Panels
come wired for 240VAC
(2 SI inverters)
E-Panel shown with AC bypass switch, 500 amp shunt
and sub panels
breakers installed
Dual systems do not require an autoformer
Need a large AXC coupled system?
We even designed a 1000 amp battery combiner for this system
SMA AC Coupled systems
• SMA AC Coupled solutions for 1 to 4 inverters
• 4,500 watts to 24,000 watts• Purchase pre-wired and tested or parts• Remember those tech service people we
mentioned? You may need to involve them on your first system.
Enphase AC Coupled systems
• Enphase systems are pretty much the same as all others
• When using a Magnum PAE inverter, you must limit the PV array to less than 4000 watts.
• Failure to do this will result in inverter failure
• Magnum is the easiest for Enphase AC coupling
This exact
system is now on our
price list and
available for order
The disco combiner is
there for reference only
We do have a three string AC disco combiner
The Grid Tie inverter
shown can be Enphase or any 240VAC grid tie up to 4000 watts of actual output
Since the two different
inverters have no
communication, we install a SSR
to knock the grid tie off line
as required
This is a pictorial wiring diagram
Uncontrolled battery charging
• Magnum and OutBack inverters charge batteries from AC connected to their outputs
• The inverters sense circuits that control charging are on the AC inputs not the output, therefore cannot control charging
• These inverters charge wide open and cannot taper off.
• A relay is required to disconnect the GT
Uncontrolled battery charging
• SMA has controlled battery charging and tapers off as the batteries get charged
• This requires that the AC coupled system is comprised of a Sunny Island and Sunny Boy. They were designed to work together.
• No external relay required
Uncontrolled battery charging
• Schneider WX shifts frequency to knock the grid tie inverter off line for 5 minutes.
• The XW does this with any brand grid tie inverter, but battery charging does not taper off.
• No external relay required
Uncontrolled battery charging
• OutBack inverters do not taper off like the SMA, nor do they shift frequency like the XW
• You must add an external relay between the grid tie inverter and the battery based inverter
• The OutBack aux output can supply the power & control to drive an external relay
Uncontrolled battery charging
• Magnum inverters do not taper off like the SMA, nor do they shift frequency like the XW
• You must add an external relay between the grid tie inverter and the battery based inverter
• The Magnum router can supply the control to drive an external relay, but not the power
The solid state relay eliminates battery over charging
Hook up the output from your grid tie inverter here
Hook up the sub-panel hereThis is the AC output of the
inverter
Hook up the mains utility connection here
Hook up the neutral and ground connections from the main
distribution panel here
4000 watt limit
• This limit only applies during power outages
• We have another method that allows larger arrays, but reduces the array power during outages
• This is a radical modification, but works
A solid state relay is placed inside the combiner to reduce quantity of strings
This is a self contained pre-wired AC coupled system
All wiring is behind the breaker panel
All required over current and disconnects are in place, wired
and tested
Multiple battery configurations available. Shown is just one
The enclosure
for this system is
made from aluminum
and is suitable for
outdoor locations
Nice looking AC coupled addition
to an existing grid tie system
OutBack and Schneider
• 2 OB inverters are required for AC Coupling.
• OB offers superior regulation during outages and has a built in aux circuit
• Schneider offers a good inverter for AC coupling. The XW will shift frequency to knock the GT offline
Install responsibly, always use protection
The MidNite kitty