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Has anyone figured out a work around the rapid shutdown problem that kills my inverters Secure Power Option? We all know the RSD adds very little in safety. Inverters are suppose to have anti-islanding per the code anyways. I understand that the RSS transmitter has to be powered up somehow to trigger the RSD devices on the panels to allow power to flow. SMA is silent on this due to liability. Yes, there has to be some common sense that the main panel has to be manually separated from the grid for safety purposes. I bought the Sunnyboy for the Secure Power option only to find out that this new rule of RSD torpedoed that. If the whole grid goes down due to foreign hackers in a war situation, who cares about RSD? I’m more worried about my $500 worth of meat in the freezer going bad and my family going hungry.
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Ret. System Dispatcher PG&E San Francisco -
So, does SMA still officially support SPS in regions with RSS requirement? -
Why would you want a fireman on your roof with 500+ DC volts near him? Great safety feature for the fireman. Better than the option LET IT BURN!!Comment
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No, they do not support SPS on their current inverters. I haven’t talked to them yet as during install, the installer hung on hold for 55 mins trying to talk to someone with another problem. Short on employees due to Covid etc. As far as the fireman on my roof, using the SPS would only happen in an absolute emergency in which I would have to be home to manually turn it on and could just as easily turn it off in the case of fire. How about all of the 1000’s of installed systems in the US that don’t have RS? Are you going to demand that they update their systems with expensive RS hardware? I think not.Ret. System Dispatcher PG&E San FranciscoComment
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BobDude those 1000,s would be grandfathered just like when GFI or AFCI protected outlets became mandated in homes. Heck once upon a time you didn't even ground outlets. Doesn't mean you don't try and improve safety.Comment
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That's not what RSD is for. It's to prevent electrocution of firefighters.
?? Of course not - no more than we are going to require classic 50's cars to have catalytic converters, seatbelts and airbags.How about all of the 1000’s of installed systems in the US that don’t have RS? Are you going to demand that they update their systems with expensive RS hardware?
Things improve with time.
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I wouldn’t remove the RS devices on the panels. I would either setup a fake 240 v injection into the main panel to simulate the grid hot with the main bkr open or simulate the “on” signal the inverter sends to the RS devices to again fake out the devices. Again, the system would first absolutely be separated from the grid to prevent back feed.Ret. System Dispatcher PG&E San FranciscoComment
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I think maybe I haven’t presented my problem in the right context. At my last home in Nevada, I designed and installed myself a ground based array with a Trace SW-4048 inverter. I had a 10kwh battery bank. If the power went out, and it did on a regular bases for days, the inverter could output its full 4kw to a separate sub panel that had all my critical circuits wired to. This included frig, freezers, minimal lighting etc. When I moved to Phoenix I also wanted the same functionality.
Obviously, now I’m 72, I’m not going to install my system like I did in Nevada but I want to be self reliant on power.
With that said, when I contracted to have a 8.8 kw system installed I requested the Sunnyboy 7.0 with the Secure Power option that will output 2 kw to a single duplex receptacle. Unfortunately the installer did not realize that option would not work with the required rapid shutdowd devices mounted on each panel.
So here I sit with 8.8 kw worth of power I can’t access in an extreme emergency. The installed blame’s the NEC and I’m in the middle.
I only want to provide for my family in a situation when power could be out for an extended period of time. In these times of uncertainty, you would want to do the same. Worrying about a house fire and safety of fireman would be my first priority in normal times. These are not normal times. When the sh*t hits the fan, the dynamics change dramatically. You might think the same.Ret. System Dispatcher PG&E San FranciscoComment
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Good luck introducing a fake 240V into the panel to simulate the grid. From what I have heard there isn't any hardware that will work well. The best condition is that it will not work the worst it will burn something up.
Why can't people just believe that if the grid is down their pv system will not produce anything unless they have a hybrid inverter and batteries.Comment
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If I'm worried about power being out for an extended time a generator is the only reliable alternate source of power. You just cannot count on there being sun to recharge the batteries. Just last week our weatherman commented that we have had 9 days without sun. Granted SW USA it's unlikely but days and days of smoke from fires are not out of the question.Comment
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Good point. Unfortunately smoke is not the only thing that can block the sun and reduce power production.
I have always supported solar but will continue to post that we must have a collection of different power generators and until someone comes up with a renewable source for 100% 24/7/365 supply I will say we still need both fossil fuel and nuclear power generators. But some people may be lucky enough to get 100% power from renewables. I don't think everyone will be so lucky.Comment
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In ILL we are heavily into nuke, the only real obstacle to going 100% is
political. I certainly think the 70s designs need total rework, thorium
would be ideal. We are always going to need some fossile fuels, need
to restrict it to vehicles and temp portable apps. Bruce Roe
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