Solectria Renewables PVI13KW Installation And Operation Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Solectria Renewables Manuals
  4. Inverter
  5. PVI 13KW
  6. Installation and operation manual

Solectria Renewables PVI13KW Installation And Operation Manual

Commercial, grid-tied photovoltaic inverter
Hide thumbs Also See for PVI13KW:
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

Download this manual
PVI13KW
Installation and Operation Manual
PVI13KW
INSTALLATION AND OPERATION MANUAL
Commercial, Grid-Tied Photovoltaic Inverter
© 2005, Solectria Renewables LLC
Subject to Change
DOC-020028 rev 006
1

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the PVI13KW and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Related Manuals for Solectria Renewables PVI13KW

Summary of Contents for Solectria Renewables PVI13KW

  • Page 1 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual PVI13KW INSTALLATION AND OPERATION MANUAL Commercial, Grid-Tied Photovoltaic Inverter © 2005, Solectria Renewables LLC Subject to Change DOC-020028 rev 006...

  • Page 2: Important Safety Instructions

    IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS This manual contains important instructions that shall be followed during installation and maintenance of the PVI13KW Inverter. To reduce the risk of electrical shock, and to ensure the safe installation and operation of the inverter, the following safety symbols are used to indicate dangerous conditions and important safety instructions.
  • Page 3 PVI13KW unit as well as the PV modules. • Connection of the PVI13KW to the electric utility grid must be done after receiving prior approval from the utility company and performed only by qualified personnel.

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual Table of Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………..………… 5 Installation…………………………………………………………………..……….. 6 Checking for Shipping Damage…………………………………...………. 6 Inverter Mounting.……………………………………………..………….. 6 Electrical Connection and Connection to Electrical Utility Grid. ………… 11 Commissioning the Inverter PV System …………………………………………….. 18 Power, GFDI and Error LED Indicators …..…………………………………..….…. 19 Troubleshooting &...

  • Page 5: Introduction

    The PVI13KW is a commercial, 3-phase grid-tied PV inverter designed to be inter-connected to the electric utility grid. With this manual the PVI13KW can be installed and operated safely. This installation guide is used as reference for the commissioning and as a guideline on how to use the inverter most effectively.

  • Page 6: Installation

    Installation and Operation Manual 2 Installation WARNING: Before installing the PVI13KW, read all instructions and caution markings in this manual and on the PVI13KW as well as on the photovoltaic modules. WARNING: Electrical installation shall be done in accordance with all local electrical codes and the National Electrical Code (NEC), ANSI/NFPA 70.
  • Page 7 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual Notes regarding mounting and placement of the inverter. Criteria for device mounting: • Because the power electronics is in an IP65 sealed enclosure within the NEMA 3R main enclosure, the inverter can be mounted outdoors.
  • Page 8 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual • The cooling air exhausts at the bottom of the unit. Nothing should block the 2” clear space under the enclosure defined by the 2” tall mounting feet. • A minimum distance of 10 inch (250mm) must be clear above the inverter for ventilation.
  • Page 9 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual Fig. 2.2a PVI13KW Mounting Diagram DOC-020028 rev 006...
  • Page 10 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual Fig. 2.2b PVI13KW Mounting Diagram Mounting Details Using the mounting diagram Fig. 2.2 (a & b), choose whether floor/roof, wall or stand mounting will be used. The inverter includes mounting feet for attachment to floors, roofs/roof plates/roof pans or stands.

  • Page 11: Electrical Connection And Connection To Electrical Utility Grid

    PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual NOTE: Always use all 4 mounting tabs if wall mounted. NOTE: The nearly 380 lb. weight of the inverter will exert as much as 100 lbs. per bolt on the 4 wall mounts. Tension on the top bolts could also be 100 lbs.
  • Page 12 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual indicators Main enclosure with integrated inverter, transformer Fused AC filters and contactor Disconnect disconnect with fused PV combiner (if equipped) Warning Label Nameplate, specs. and ETL, Cooling Air UL1741 In take Certification label Fig. 4 “Integrated Inverter Package”...
  • Page 13 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual installations) for each positive lead of each PV string. Connect to each fuse and torque screws to 12 in–1b (1.3Nm). This fuse and wire rating must be compatible with PV module fuse and short-circuit current rating per NEC 690. (A maximum of 8 AWG copper wire can be used.) The negative PV string connections are made to...
  • Page 14 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual To disconnect the inverter from the building/utility grid, turn off the DC disconnect, then the AC disconnect. Turn off the AC 3-phase building/utility breaker if needed. Connection to dedicated 208V AC, 45A 3-phase circuit. 8-2 AWG copper wire.
  • Page 15 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual PV ground/frame PV negative (-), up connections 14-4 to 7 connections AWG copper 12-8 AWG copper wire wire torque to 35 in- lb. Example PV positive (+) up to 7 customer/installer connections (12 in- lb) 12-8 knockout, connector &...
  • Page 16 Connection Wiring To Electrical Utility Grid The PVI13KW must be connected to the grid with 3 conductors and an AC equipment grounding conductor. A 50A breaker is recommended for the dedicated PV system circuit breaker for the 208VAC version.
  • Page 17 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual Connection of the PV-panels to the DC disconnect enclosure with or without integrated fused PV combiner WARNING: Follow PV module manufacturer’s directions. PV-arrays produce electrical energy when exposed to light and could create a hazardous condition.

  • Page 18: Commissioning The Inverter Pv System

    Turning on the inverter: • Turn on the dedicated 3-phase circuit breaker on the building electrical panel • Turn on the PVI13KW inverter’s 3-phase AC disconnect • Turn on the PVI13KW inverter’s DC disconnect • Watch the LED indicators for initialization (all three LEDs on) •...

  • Page 19: Power, Gfdi And Error Led Indicators

    The inverter operates automatically without the need for user interaction or maintenance. The PVI13KW automatically starts back feeding 3-phase AC power into the grid every morning as the sun rises, as soon as sufficient DC voltage and PV power is available. The inverter DSP runs through various checks before going online with the grid and feeding power into the grid.
  • Page 20 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual Fig. 8 View from right -hand side of inverter above DC (PV) disconnect Description of LED symbols used to indicate LED status in this manual LED Off LED flashing (25% on, 75% off) LED on once per second...
  • Page 21 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual LED indicator Operating condition Description green: standby (night) input voltage < 300 VDC yellow: red: green: initialization unit is being initialized yellow : red: green: stop input voltage low <325V yellow: red: green: stop input voltage high >...

  • Page 22: Troubleshooting & Opening The Main Enclosure

    Installation and Operation Manual 5 Trouble Shooting The PVI13KW is designed, produced and rigorously tested for long life and reliability in a wide range of climate conditions, voltage and power levels. With a properly shipped, sited, mounted, wired and tested installation, the integrated PVI13KW inverter unit should give many years of trouble- free and maintenance- free service.
  • Page 23 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual Unit over heating, power derating, or unit not putting out power • Check insect screens in front louver grill on main enclosure door for clogging from dust, pollen and debris. The louver/grill can be removed with 8 Philips screws holding it on...
  • Page 24 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual DMGI245 LED indicators (behind fan) 3 phase, fused & GFDI circuit (NEMA 4) Automatic AC disconnect cooling fan DC disconnect PV connection with or without Fused PV Combiner GFDI Fuse 3A AC voltage sense fuses 0.1A...

  • Page 25: Warranty Information And Liability

    Duration of a Solectria Renewables Warranty Period: The warranty period is 60 months from the date of purchase of the PVI1800, PVI2500, PVI13kW or PVI60KW, PVI77KW and PVI90KW by the end user or 64 months after the delivery date from Solectria Renewables to installer, dealer, distributor (merchant) whichever is shorter.
  • Page 26 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual What will Solectria Renewables do? Solectria Renewables will, at its option, repair or replace the defective product free of charge, provided that you notify Solectria Renewables of the product defect within the Warranty Period for your product, and provided that Solectria Renewables, through inspection, establishes the existence of such a defect and that it is covered by the Limited Warranty.
  • Page 27 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual These warranties do not apply to and Solectria Renewables will not be responsible for any defect in or damage to: a) The product if it has been misused, neglected, improperly installed, physically damaged or altered, either internally or externally, or damaged from improper use or use in an unsuitable environment;...

  • Page 28: Return Material Authorization Policy

    PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual Exclusions of the Policy: If your product is a consumer product, federal law does not allow an exclusion of implied warranties. To the extent you are entitled to implied warranties under federal law, to the extent permitted by applicable law they are limited to the duration of this Limited Warranty.

  • Page 29: Technical Data

    7 Technical Data Technical Information and specifications – see appendix for complete PVI13KW data sheet Input (DC) from PV array: • Maximum open circuit voltage of PV array: 450V DC WARNING: NEC 690-7 must be followed to calculate the maximum number of PV modules allowed for a maximum inverter open circuit voltage (OCV) of 450V DC in extreme cold temperatures for the installation location.
  • Page 30 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual at 50 deg C at 20 deg C at -20 deg C Voltage (VDC) Fig. 10 Example representative PV module voltage – current characteristic at various cell temperatures DOC-020028 rev 006...
  • Page 31 Ground fault interrupt Output to AC grid connection: The PVI13KW is designed to feed power into a standard 60Hz, 3-phase 208V AC utility service or 208V AC provided within a facility by a step down transformer of not less than 15kVA. As required by NEC, there must be a dedicated 3-phase circuit breaker for the PV inverter connection.
  • Page 32 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual Output (AC) specifications for PVI13KW Inverter: Nominal and Maximum output power 13.2 kW AC 13.2 kW AC Operating voltage range 208V +10%/- 12% 480 +10%/-12% Operating frequency range 59.3 to 60.5 Hz 59.3 to 60.5 Hz...
  • Page 33 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual “strike” voltage DC (PV) Voltage (VDC) Fig. 11 Output power of PVI13KW DC (PV) Input Voltage (VDC) Fig. 12 Maximum continuous DC current input for PVI13KW DOC-020028 rev 006...
  • Page 34 15.00 AC Power (kW AC) Fig. 13 PVI13KW peak efficiency plot at 320VDC input and 25C ambient temperature. (peak efficiency values were measured with a 3% accurate power meter setup and do not include any losses caused by long wires and transitory phenomena, i.e.

  • Page 35: Appendices

    PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual Appendix A – PVI13KW Data Sheet Link: http://www.solren.com/downloads/PVI_13KW.pdf DOC-020028 rev 006...
  • Page 36 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual DOC-020028 rev 006...

  • Page 37: Appendix B: Example String Sizing

    Appendix B – Example PV string sizing chart(s) Link: http://www.solren.com/downloads/PVI_13kWString.pdf PV Module String Sizing for use with Solectria Renewables PVI13KW PV inverter. Note that these are suggested configurations only. Verify all the actual site temperature extremes and conditions will yield voltages and power levels within the specifications of the inverter and other components used in the system.
  • Page 38 Power @ MPT (STC) 7680 8960 10240 11520 12800 14080 15360 Inverter Used PVI13KW PVI13KW PVI13KW PVI13KW PVI13KW PVI13KW PVI13KW Module Manufacturer BP Solar Module Model BP 3160 24V module Voltage @ MPT 35.1 VDC Current @ MPT 4.55 ADC Current, short circuit 4.8 ADC...
  • Page 39 PVI13KW PVI13KW PVI13KW PVI13KW PVI13KW PVI13KW PVI13KW PVI13KW * for 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 (parallel) string con nections, or an external fused PV combiner should be used. ** 450 VDC is the maximum allowed open circuit voltage that can be applied to the inverter, so this configuration should be used only in regions that do not reach this high a voltage at the lowest extreme temperature which occurs.

  • Page 40: Appendix C: Contact Info And Authorized Distributors, Dealers And Installers

    PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual Appendix C - Contact Information Solectria Renewables LLC 360 Merrimack Street Building 9, Floor 2 Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA Tel: 978.683-9700 Fax: 978.683-9702 Email: inverters@solren.com Website: www.solren.com Authorized Distributors/Dealers/Installers/Designers: www.solren.com CSG Services Massachusetts SolSource Energy Attn: Dan Porrazzo...

  • Page 41: Appendix D: Ul 1741 Listing Letter

    PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual Appendix D – ETL early use letter DOC-020028 rev 006...
  • Page 42 PVI13KW Installation and Operation Manual DOC-020028 rev 006...

Table of Contents