where to place the TIGO RSS Transmitter (rapid shutdown)?

So, you run the DC wires (either the - or +) through the TIGO "core"...can the TIGO Transmitter be installed inside the Inverter?

What is the limitation on how far the TIGO transmitter can be from the panel arrays?

Great questions, did you ever get your answers ? I’m in need of the rss transmitter and have some questions about it, like where to mount it, do you need to run all positive wires in strings through the core, if you have 3 strings per inverter, do you get the dual core model so you can split the cores and run 3 strings through each core ? Thanks

Manual:


Some quotes:

"One transmitter can support up to ten strings with one core and up to twenty strings with two cores."

"Pass up to ten negative string conductors through a transmitter core."

"Two cores may be used in series to amplify the RSS signal from a single transmitter. This may be appropriate with home run strings between 300 m (1000 ft.) and 500 m (1650 ft.) and in other special cases."

Mike C.

Tigo sells the RSS transmitter as a kit with 12V DIN rail power supply and plastic box. If this box is used, it has to be mounted on the outside of the house, because PV boxes needs to be made out of metal if used inside!

I've placed this box right at the outside wall, where the solar wires from the roof running through the wall. The conduot which enters the house needs to be metal, but the outside could be PVC conduit. In this case it's like a PV wall-throug-box combined with the RSS transmitter.

You can parallel both CT's and run EITHER all positive OR all negative wirea of all strings through both cores to improve signal quality. To reduce noise and improve signal, you should twist the solar wires over the complete lenght (there is a hint in the manual about twisted-pair).

Tomorrow I can add an additional picture withe the finished installation (don't have it on hand right now).

Btw. This RSS transmitter is working great and I have no issues with 21 of these TigoTS4-A-2F (even with the current heat wave... yesterday we had 118 Fahrenheit... and much more on the roof in the sun, for sure)

The TIGO transmitter usually can't be installed inside the inverter due to potential interference and space constraints. It’s best to keep the transmitter within about 50 feet of the panel squishmallows arrays for optimal signal strength.

There are many inverters that come with a Tigo transmitter pre-mounted inside the inverter. My GoodWe has a Tigo transmitter pre-installed inside the inverter and it works great.

Thanks for the replies, a pre installed transmitter would be nice. I have 2 sol ark 15k’s in my basement and my rooftop solar panels are on a barn that is approximately 150’ away. I used signature solar for everything except inverters and didn’t know anything about needing a transmitter until yesterday when we fired up the system and didn’t get any response from the array. Wondering if I can mount the transmitter in basement with sol arks or does it need to be closer to panels in barn ? I don’t have extra wires pulled if it needs to go at barn location and then back to sol arks. I have 6 strings, 3 going into each inverter, trying to figure out best way to proceed.

I think you'll be fine on the distance if you mount it in the basement. Worse case you may have to use two cores in series to get a strong enough signal, but I suspect one core will be adequate.

Here’s a couple pics that might help explain my setup, sol arks in basement and junction box pic is in barn. Thanks

jmckee2725 said:

Wondering if I can mount the transmitter in basement with sol arks or does it need to be closer to panels in barn ?

Click to expand...

I don't think location matters at all.
Transmitter uses transformer to drive current in the wire. Relatively low frequency, not a propagating wave that diminishes with distance; it is a current loop.

Excessive length is extra wire resistance, reducing current, so PV wire going through two in series would boost that:

mciholas said:

Manual:

"Two cores may be used in series to amplify the RSS signal from a single transmitter. This may be appropriate with home run strings between 300 m (1000 ft.) and 500 m (1650 ft.) and in other special cases."

Click to expand...

I think PV wire wrapped around core to pass through twice, or PV+ and PV- (one looped around for opposite direction, NOT same direction which would be common mode) should also boost the signal. With each string going through core twice I'd think limit of 5 strings not 10.

Current flows in a loop through wire, through PV panel, back through other wire, across MPPT input capacitor back to first wire.
I'd expect different inverter MPPT capacitor frequency response of different brands to affect performance.

jmckee2725 said:

Thanks for the replies, a pre installed transmitter would be nice.

Click to expand...

Some inverters have the Tigo RSS transmitter embedded in their design (EG4 18KPV does, I think). I don't believe the So-Ark does.

jmckee2725 said:

I have 2 sol ark 15k’s in my basement and my rooftop solar panels are on a barn that is approximately 150’ away.

Click to expand...

Sol-Ark gives guidance in their manual:


Page 22.

There are some issues with their guidance, however, when it comes to the Tigo RSS.

First, they show it being powered by the 12 VDC output of the inverter, but the Sol-Ark 12 VDC is rated for 100 mA and the Tigo RSS requires a 1 amp supply. So the Tigo RSS cannot use the inverter 12 VDC output. This means you must use the external power supply powered by the LOAD service panel.

Second, they show the induction coil on the positive lead of the PV wires and Tigo shows it on the negative lead. I'm not sure it really makes a difference, but I would go with Tigo's guidance.

Sol-Ark guidance:

jmckee2725 said:

Wondering if I can mount the transmitter in basement with sol arks or does it need to be closer to panels in barn ?

Click to expand...

In the basement would be the best setup, I would think. The distance is not an issue, it is not a radio transmitter but a powerline transmitter that induces the signal on the PV wires.

jmckee2725 said:

I don’t have extra wires pulled if it needs to go at barn location and then back to sol arks. I have 6 strings, 3 going into each inverter, trying to figure out best way to proceed.

Click to expand...

Buy a single coil transmitter, a 12 1+ amp power supply, and run the negative PV leads through the coil and connect the power supply to the LOAD panel. Mostly like the diagram above except I'd run the negative PV leads through the coil.

I would not wrap the wires twice, or wrap both the positive and negative wires, I would follow Tigo's guidance here.

Mike C.

fmeili1 said:

Tomorrow I can add an additional picture withe the finished installation (don't have it on hand right now).

Click to expand...

Here are the additional pictures.





If you are using 2 CT's in parallel for the same wires/strings (to improve signal strength), the need to be connected in the same direction!