Sunny Backup set

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leeelson
leeelson Registered Users Posts: 18 ✭
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
Sorry if this has already been covered, but the search engine seems quite crude:confused:

I've seen a spec sheet for something called "Sunny Backup Set" and it looks interesting. All links on the web seem to be European. Does SMA sell this in the US? Any references?
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,439 admin
    #2
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    Re: Sunny Backup set

    I have not seen anything here like that--that I recall.

    Using Google (note the "site:" tag limits Google search to that website--Works very well for me here):
    • Sunny Backup Set site:wind-sun.com
    Only your post seems to come up.

    There is the whole Sunny Island System which may the equivalent. One component here:

    http://www.solar-electric.com/smasunnyisland.html

    Perhaps somebody else here has more information

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • leeelson
    leeelson Registered Users Posts: 18 ✭
    #3
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    Re: Sunny Backup set
    BB. wrote: »
    I have not seen anything here like that--that I recall.

    Using Google (note the "site:" tag limits Google search to that website--Works very well for me here):
    • Sunny Backup Set site:wind-sun.com
    Only your post seems to come up.

    There is the whole Sunny Island System which may the equivalent. One component here:

    http://www.solar-electric.com/smasunnyisland.html

    Perhaps somebody else here has more information

    -Bill

    Thanks for the Google tip.

    The Sunny Island appears to be an off-grid inverter with the ability to control a GT inverter whereas the Sunny Backup is a simpler box that can be added to a GT system that enables it to function when the utility is absent, via batteries, generator or PV.
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  • jagec
    jagec Solar Expert Posts: 157 ✭✭
    #4
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    Re: Sunny Backup set

    Hmm, from what I can find the Sunny Backup system IS basically the Sunny Island. The price is the same, the system layout is the same, and it does the same thing. It's a high-wattage TSW inverter with the capacity to interface with existing Sunny Boy inverters to essentially turn a grid-tied system into an off-grid system when the power goes out.

    The Sunny Island isn't actually an off-grid inverter, as it has no DC inputs for solar/wind, just the battery bank. You still need to buy an AC inverter for your generation systems. But the Island can interface with this inverter and form a "mini-grid", shuttling power to & from the batteries as needed to keep them topped up and the grid active.
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  • RCinFLA
    RCinFLA Solar Expert Posts: 1,484 ✭✭✭✭
    #5
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    Re: Sunny Backup set

    http://forum.solar-electric.com/showthread.php?t=13535
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  • stephendv
    stephendv Solar Expert Posts: 1,571 ✭✭
    #6
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    Re: Sunny Backup set

    The Sunny Backup Set is currently only available in some countries not including the US, and it consists of 3 components:
    - A slightly modified sunny island (Different firmware in order to control the switch box)
    - An automatic transfer switch that complies with German regs
    - A set of OPzV Gel batts (optional)

    Details about it here: http://www.sma.de/en/products/backup-systems/sunny-backup-system-m-l-xl.html

    The feed in system in most of Europe is that you have to have 2 meters, one for generation and one for consumption. All produced PV energy is sold to the grid through the one meter and all consumed energy is bought from the electrical company through the other meter - there is no net metering. Hence the reason for the auto switch box.
    Victron have a similar switch available which works with any bidirectional inverter: http://www.victronenergy.com/solar/solar-switch/

    AFAIK, you wouldn't need this in the US since you can just use a sunny island to feed the grid through the internal transfer relay (Best to check with SMA america first, before relying on my shoddy memory ;) )
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