sunny boy inverter?

[J.P.M.]

My experience in construction, especially when dealing with multiple agencies, is that very few of them give you all the information you need for your project because they operate in silos. Sadly, even within a few cities I have seen a complete disconnect between public works and the building and planning departments, causing developers who don't know those requirements to be faced with unnecessary delays and cost over runs.

I think the value of forums like this is the knowledge sharing and problem solving that comes from multiple perspectives. You don't usually get that from entities that provide approval for a project.

And one of the drawback to forums such as this is the lack of vetting that allows misinformation - some of it unsafe and dangerous - to get through.

The gov. bodies you describe are bureaucracies. If the first rule of any bureaucracy is to preserve itself, there is no real incentive to help anyone. What do you expect ? Think cynically and expect the worst from them. You'll rarely be wrong. If you are wrong, the worst result is you'll be pleasantly surprised.

But that's from only one perspective.

[Ampster]

you are exactly right ampster, and this install is over a patio/porch area.

That should remove the issue of RSD. Sorry to be an alarmist, but the RSD requirements often limit one's options.

[mudhole]

I finally got through to the building code/inspection unit of our local municipality, they said that they just follow the most recent nec codes and i dont need anything from them if JEMC connects it to the grid. so now i need help with what to get, here is the spec sheet for the sma 5.0 -41 inverter(i did notice that use of the t-4 optimizer is NOT compatible if i want to use the emergency 2kw), i see a lot of opportunities to get solar panels at around 0.50$/watt, from my thought, the efficiency doesnt matter since i am not limited by space, the temperature efficiency would matter a lot probably here in georgia. they all seem to be about the same 10-12 years product warranty, 25 year output warranty. thoughts?

[mudhole]

specs for sunny boy inverter 5.0-46

https://webosolar.com/product/sma-sunny-boy-5000w-inverter-sb5-0-1sp-us-41/?utm_source=Google%20Shopping&utm_campaign=All%20Products%20Google%20Merchant%20&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=1893&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1Iv0BRDaARIsAGTWD1vMGZSfFR7SHZTk0l7pFr4U5A7d5SI0SqsJKov5lNz8GC62vt0WjZMaAqNaEALw_wcB#tab-wcpoa_product_tab

specs for possible solar panels

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/legacy.portalsolar.com.br/Content/EditorImages/files/Placa%20Solar%20Canadian%20Solar%20-%20Modelo%20CS6P-265P%20-%20265Watts.pdf

[Ampster]

I reread this thread to make sure I understood your original goals. I am not familiar with the details of that SMA inverter but that circuit has always intrigued me. If your goal is to keep your freezer cold with available solar power then it looks like a good option. I would not call it a hybrid inverter because you can never add batteries and that circuit has to be switched on and off manually. The only other question I have is whether you have any shade and need optimizers? I did not see any reference to shade and I think the optimizer issue was with regard to the non existent RSD requirement.
My needs are different and that is why I spent considerably more on a true hybrid inverter and I already had the batteries. SMA has a good reputation for value.

[mudhole]

shade should not be an issue, i have full sun currently from maybe 1030-630, and yes the optimizers where all in reference to RSD, which is not an issue if over a porch area?? (also the inverter literature said the emergency circuit doesnt work with optimizers, or maybe just the specific one.

[mudhole]

I reread this thread to make sure I understood your original goals. I am not familiar with the details of that SMA inverter but that circuit has always intrigued me. If your goal is to keep your freezer cold with available solar power then it looks like a good option. I would not call it a hybrid inverter because you can never add batteries and that circuit has to be switched on and off manually. The only other question I have is whether you have any shade and need optimizers? I did not see any reference to shade and I think the optimizer issue was with regard to the non existent RSD requirement.
My needs are different and that is why I spent considerably more on a true hybrid inverter and I already had the batteries. SMA has a good reputation for value.

so the 7.7kw sunny boy has 3 mppt inputs, here is my question, do you want to match the mppt input voltages? or does that not matter as long as either input is within the inverter specs?

[solarix]

All three SMA inputs are independent and the MPPT voltages don't have to match. Just one array string per input however. Can "overload" the inverter quite a bit by having each string face a different direction. Its not uncommon for me to design twelve 320w panels on each string which is 11.5kW but never exceed the max power of a 7.7kW inverter.

[mudhole]

All three SMA inputs are independent and the MPPT voltages don't have to match. Just one array string per input however. Can "overload" the inverter quite a bit by having each string face a different direction. Its not uncommon for me to design twelve 320w panels on each string which is 11.5kW but never exceed the max power of a 7.7kW inverter.

thanks, that makes perfect sense!!

[Ampster]

......... Its not uncommon for me to design twelve 320w panels on each string which is 11.5kW but never exceed the max power of a 7.7kW inverter.

Do TOU rates affect the orientation of some of those designs?

[solarix]

Oh yes, TOU rates are a big factor. With high afternoon rates, you will get about 10% less power with a west facing string, but the new APS rates here in AZ are 250% more after 3pm (winter and summer now...)

[mudhole]

just making sure there isnt a problem coupling these panels https://www.q-cells.com/au/main/prod...utility02.html with the sunny boy inverter -41

[solarix]

I like Q-cells and this model is excellent. Can even skip-wire the leads which will save you on wire and voltage drop.

[mudhole]

thanks, i will be asking what skip wiring is once they come in, LOL

[mudhole]

how do these panels stack up to the Q cells? Canadian Solar CS6U-335P