Grid tied installation checklist

quique
quique Solar Expert Posts: 259 ✭✭
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
Hi guys,

Im getting a Fronius grid tied inverter tomorrow and I will begin prepping for the install this weekend. I was just wondering, is there anything you guys suggest in the way of a checklist, before I connect the unit to the grid? Not so much on the PV side but more in the grid side? Things I can check for in the incoming lines to make sure everything is in order?
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,642 admin
    #2
    Re: Grid tied installation checklist

    Actually--Hooking your GT inverter is just like connecting the loads... Your black/red/white/green wires all connected and checked with a meter (120 from black to white, red to white, each hot to ground... And ~240 VAC black to red). That is about it.

    Check the nominal line voltage (usually around 240-248 in my area), and make sure when the GT Inverter is running at noon time full sun, that you don't see much above ~255 VAC--The closer you get to ~260 to 264+ VAC, the bigger the chance the GT inverter will shut down due to over voltage (anti islanding protection).

    The longer the 240 VAC wire run, the higher the "voltage rise" can be. Also, in some areas, the utility might run the line voltage a little hot (by accident or on purpose). In come cases, you can get the utility to bring the voltage closer to "nominal".

    -Bill

    PS: Should add that the GT inverter needs good air ventilation and is protected against full sun (hot electronics are not happy electronics).
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • peakbagger
    peakbagger Solar Expert Posts: 341 ✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Grid tied installation checklist

    The fronius manual is pretty good and tells you what you need to know. The grid voltage is another story, it may high some of the time or only occasional so its worth taking it several times over the course of a day. Utilities really hate PV systems on rural lines as they may have to spend a bit of time figuring out where the transient voltage spikes occur and how to stop them. My friend had to call Fronius and widen out the voltage range to get his running all the time.
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