Faults on new system just installed lastweek

[SolarCity]

If I remember correctly, the display on the inverter will show what voltage the inverter is producing rather than what the grid voltage is. The grid voltage will be slightly lower than this. If the grid voltage goes over 253v then the inverter will cut out.

 

[Richchad]

If I remember correctly, the display on the inverter will show what voltage the inverter is producing rather than what the grid voltage is. The grid voltage will be slightly lower than this. If the grid voltage goes over 253v then the inverter will cut out.

I took the ac voltage from the Spot Values on AC side on sunny Explorer, haven't seen it change much other than a few decimal points up or down but then haven't been watching it continuously...

Thanks for all your input everyone, has been most helpful, still waiting to hear when electrician will be coming back, will update with results, which hopefully will be good news..!

 

[edexlab]

I currently have this same problem with a 4000Tl and sanyo 245 panels nothing wrong with the setup I've fitted lots of these.
cable run is approx 3mtrs and (6.0mm cable, array earth rod has good reading 45 ohms and Ze was 0.30 ohms on TNC/S ) from supply cutout but the property is quite rural and at the end of the line neighbouring a couple of farms
while commissioning Grid disturbance came up on screen and so put the meter on and noticed the voltage fluctuating a fair bit, anyway I'll have to wait and see what Dno will/or can do about it , I'm not sure adjusting the Taps will be enough to sort it.

 

[Richchad]

I currently have this same problem with a 4000Tl and sanyo 245 panels nothing wrong with the setup I've fitted lots of these.
cable run is approx 3mtrs and (6.0mm cable, array earth rod has good reading 45 ohms and Ze was 0.30 ohms on TNC/S ) from supply cutout but the property is quite rural and at the end of the line neighbouring a couple of farms
while commissioning Grid disturbance came up on screen and so put the meter on and noticed the voltage fluctuating a fair bit, anyway I'll have to wait and see what Dno will/or can do about it , I'm not sure adjusting the Taps will be enough to sort it.

I haven't seen any array earthing rod fitted to my installation, just twin & earth runs from inverter to CU, when is it applicable, house was built 15 years ago if that gives any clues?

 

[SolarCity]

You're probably on a TNCS system which means that the installer probably should have installed an earth rod. This WON'T be the reason why your system is playing up and your installer could probably give a pretty good reason why he hasn't used one. The earth rod/no earth rod debate is still going on and I wouldn't criticise the installer for not installing one.

 

[solarsystems]

just a thought..... how many stings has he brought from the array?

 

[Richchad]

You're probably on a TNCS system which means that the installer probably should have installed an earth rod. This WON'T be the reason why your system is playing up and your installer could probably give a pretty good reason why he hasn't used one. The earth rod/no earth rod debate is still going on and I wouldn't criticise the installer for not installing one.

Thanks for that, glad it isn't something else I have to worry about..

 

[Richchad]

just a thought..... how many stings has he brought from the array?

I believe it is 2 strings, not sure how I can tell, there is two sets of cables coming through the roof to the inverter, however I notice that on the inverter when the display graphic automatically switches between strings nothing shows on one of them..?

Can I tell from Sunny Explorer and what difference would it make?

 

[dansk]

that sounds reverse polarity on one string, and would explain it cutting out etc. I don't have experience of sma inverters so don't take my advise as gospal.

 

[Richchad]

that sounds reverse polarity on one string, and would explain it cutting out etc. I don't have experience of sma inverters so don't take my advise as gospal.

If that was the case, wouldn't it show a permanent fault, had 3.7kw yesterday before it cut out... but then what do I know.........

 

[dansk]

Proberly.

 

[Graeme Harrold]

mmmm sound more like he has plugged both strings into one side of the inverter. The 4000TL has 2 inputs for each tracker.............

 

[Richchad]

mmmm sound more like he has plugged both strings into one side of the inverter. The 4000TL has 2 inputs for each tracker.............

Yes that is what I thought, there doesn't seem to be any difference on Sunny Design when you select both strings on one input or two, although the annual energy yield increases slightly with both strings in one input.... not sure what difference this makes and if I should request the electrician to connect to both inputs?

Earlier I said there were two wires coming through the roof, just looked again and it is in fact 4 wires, but I guess that is still just 2 strings, they run to two isolators, then to inverter.

Just read this in the installation instructions..
When connecting just 2 identical strings, it is more efficient to connect these to only one input zone also.
Exception: shaded strings or if the total input current is more than 15 A.

No shading on the roof and assume current will not exceed 15amp? So seems it is best in 1 input.

 

[Eco Deal]

16A ..... has the electrician also set the inverter to G83 ?

 

[Richchad]

16A ..... has the electrician also set the inverter to G83 ?

I haven't asked the electrician yet, still waiting to hear from him, but I did ask the installers and they said it was, not sure how they knew as didn't open inverter to check dials, or is there another way to tell.

 

[Graeme Harrold]

It the front cover did not come off, the inverter IS NOT set to the UK......Its also not very easy getting the MC4's in. When the front is off they can set the country dials (2 off) and also get the comms set as well. As it stands you can only connect 1 device to the inverter......All my SB4000's come with a SunnyBeam Display...............

 

[Richchad]

It the front cover did not come off, the inverter IS NOT set to the UK......Its also not very easy getting the MC4's in. When the front is off they can set the country dials (2 off) and also get the comms set as well. As it stands you can only connect 1 device to the inverter......All my SB4000's come with a SunnyBeam Display...............

Maybe I didn't make it clear, when I asked the installers later about right setting they didn't remove the cover to tell me it was on right setting, but the electrician may set it when installing and I do have sunnybeam so he would have to enable bluetooth, as this is a TL4000, so probably has set right country I would have thought.

 

[Richchad]

Well just heard from the electrician, and he said the 2.5mm cable on a 20 metre run is just fine as system won't go above 15amps and says the fault is with the inverter and ordered up a replacement.

I quoted the AC cable installation instructions to him and he said they are just allowing for the max the 4000Tl can push out and that he has done plenty with 2.5mm and has had them approved by somebody he mentioned but can't remember...

So I suppose I have just got to let him replace the inverter and see what results we get then...

 

[Eco Deal]

If the inverter has been on for more than 10 hours of feed in time it will be set now and require a grid guard code from SMA oliceman:

but I dont think this will cause tripping it must be the wiring on the A.C , if you have a 4KW system then the strings should

be 10 & 6 one in port A and other in port B .oliceman:

 

[Richchad]

If the inverter has been on for more than 10 hours of feed in time it will be set now and require a grid guard code from SMA oliceman:

but I dont think this will cause tripping it must be the wiring on the A.C , if you have a 4KW system then the strings should

be 10 & 6 one in port A and other in port B .oliceman:

As I mentioned earlier it ...
Just read this in the installation instructions..
When connecting just 2 identical strings, it is more efficient to connect these to only one input zone also.
Exception: shaded strings or if the total input current is more than 15 A.

No shading on the roof and assume current will not exceed 15amp? So seems it is best in 1 input.

So not sure why you think 10 & 6?