Sol-Ark 15K All in One Inverter Released.

Tulex said:

These things are HUGE! Is there any reason a 200 amp breaker box can't be used? Why fused, the panel box I would be taking it out of is a breaker.

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I went through this issue late last year. The installer used a 200 amp breaker as an external AC disconnect. He had been doing this for more than a decade. Some engineers at Eversource retired and suddenly this was unacceptable. My installer fought their decision for 6 weeks then replaced the disconnect with a visible (knife) switch. Got PTO December 29.

You may find one cheaper on eBay searching for 200A safety 3R.
The "heavy duty" switches rated 600VDC are going to be larger and more expensive. A 2-pole 120/240VAC one should be more reasonable.

Most eBay listings I see are non-fused.
Fuse vs. breaker is not going to be mandatory, just a difference in protection (some equipment can fail, but not hazardously so long as rated for a particular fault current.)
Safety switch vs. breaker gives visible isolation, may be same gap clearance, maybe longer "creepage" over surface of insulator which could get burned and have carbon.

It seems that interlocked breakers have been allowed for generators. Maybe utility requires safety switch for inverters because they are electronic and software devices, and being deployed in massive quantities. More opportunities for malfunction.

Might as well just follow utility preference and best practices.
I will have 200A breaker first, and fast fused disconnect before PV. Surge arrestors after that.
I may try to add fuses for whole house in addition. (class T holders in the main breaker box.)

Another question. What is different with the 15K than other inverters that I've looked at is that the main panel becomes your backup panel when on generator, or any power source for that matter. So, no critical load panel to size to your generator. I'm guessing that's where the Smartloads-14 comes into play. I noticed that Engineer775 (I think) left the Generac 7000 SMMs in place in one of his installs. They work by sensing a change in frequency. Is the generator going through the 15K direct pass through? If not, will the 15K let it drop frequency, or is that just going to happen regardless of how it goes through? And for battery back up too? Will frequency drop as batteries get low, like before it gets to a cut off point?

Tulex said:

Another question. What is different with the 15K than other inverters that I've looked at is that the main panel becomes your backup panel when on generator, or any power source for that matter. So, no critical load panel to size to your generator. I'm guessing that's where the Smartloads-14 comes into play. I noticed that Engineer775 (I think) left the Generac 7000 SMMs in place in one of his installs. They work by sensing a change in frequency. Is the generator going through the 15K direct pass through? If not, will the 15K let it drop frequency, or is that just going to happen regardless of how it goes through? And for battery back up too? Will frequency drop as batteries get low, like before it gets to a cut off point?

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If the 15k controls the genset it only starts the generator when your SOC reaches a set point. It then comes on and charges your ESS to another set point and shuts down the genset. So the gen set only runs when your ESS is low. The rest of the time you’re operating on ESS. No frequency changes at all in regards to the generator.

The 15k sets between your meter base and your main panel. All sources of energy (PV, Grid, Storage and generator feed into the 15k. It manages all sources of energy to provide power out to your service panel. It is an amazing piece of equipment in my opinion and we love ours.

Back to the fused disconnect. I asked Sol-Ark if it had to be a fuse, or if a breaker would be ok. Their reply:

The 15k provides an 200A pass through.
It would need to be on a 200A breaker or a fused disconnect.
Any smaller of a breaker will reduce 200A limit to the size of the breaker

Tulex said:

Back to the fused disconnect. I asked Sol-Ark if it had to be a fuse, or if a breaker would be ok. Their reply:

The 15k provides an 200A pass through.
It would need to be on a 200A breaker or a fused disconnect.
Any smaller of a breaker will reduce 200A limit to the size of the breaker

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I used my ATS attached the generator to the 15k through it. Per the manual. Several reasons 1 Will not backfeed in a grid out, 2 left my gen port open for AC coupling in the future, 3 I already had an ATS installed.

jfpetesn said:

I used my ATS attached the generator to the 15k through it. Per the manual. Several reasons 1 Will not backfeed in a grid out, 2 left my gen port open for AC coupling in the future, 3 I already had an ATS installed.

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Now I’m up for re-inspection in a few days and I’m certain they are going to question the ATS as a disconnect but I believe it qualifies. If they balk I have a manual bypass/disconnect next to the 15k and if that doesn’t work I’ll just install a 200a safety switch but only if I have to. They want a blade type disconnect within 10 ft of the meter base but have allowances for greater than 10 feet with the proper signage. I do have a blade type disconnect next to the Sol Ark. We will see how it goes. I have a pretty good utility and we have been a solar customer for 9 yrs. And it doesn’t hurt that their corporate marketing team is coming to our location on 4/11/23 to do a promotional film shoot highlighting our system.

Or maybe it does hurt. Now everything has to look right

(Like Will's earlier videos where he had zip cord from breaker panel to loads.)

Found the 15K at Tandem Solar for $7725. What I found interesting, and I emailed them about it, is that they have what appears to be a 12K pictured, as it has side vents. They assured me they are selling both the 12 and 15, and that $7725 is the 15K price.

Anyway, what I found interesting is the data sheet they have for the 15K. It's a beta sheet, the numbers are not the same as the sheet Sol-Ark has on their site. I believe I read, maybe in this thread, that some numbers were increased from undated firmware. I hope I'm safe to assume that all 15K units in the market are the same. I'd like to take advantage of the price.

This is from my manual in September.

JUST PASSED INSPECTION!!!

jfpetesn said:

JUST PASSED INSPECTION!!!

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?

Tulex said:

Found the 15K at Tandem Solar for $7725. What I found interesting, and I emailed them about it, is that they have what appears to be a 12K pictured, as it has side vents. They assured me they are selling both the 12 and 15, and that $7725 is the 15K price.

Anyway, what I found interesting is the data sheet they have for the 15K. It's a beta sheet, the numbers are not the same as the sheet Sol-Ark has on their site. I believe I read, maybe in this thread, that some numbers were increased from undated firmware. I hope I'm safe to assume that all 15K units in the market are the same. I'd like to take advantage of the price.
View attachment 142918

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It looks like maybe the early spec had less data, the DC voltage has increased, and the max PV has increased, not sure if there are any actual differences in an earlier released model. Maybe just ask them for the manufacturing date and go from there, I believe it's somewhere on the actual unit or box.

I just got my solark15k and (6) eg4 version 2 batteries for closed loop to the inverter. I am unboxing now. I am very new to this entire process. Anyone have part numbers for Edison conduit from Solark15 to wireway? I am still waiting on my 12" x 12" x 72" wire trough to be delivered. I'm guessing it's (5) Edison 2 inch and (1) Edison 1" at 6" from bottom of inverter to wireway?

RLM4JC said:

I just got my solark15k and (6) eg4 version 2 batteries for closed loop to the inverter. I am unboxing now. I am very new to this entire process. Anyone have part numbers for Edison conduit from Solark15 to wireway? I am still waiting on my 12" x 12" x 72" wire trough to be delivered. I'm guessing it's (5) Edison 2 inch and (1) Edison 1" at 6" from bottom of inverter to wireway?

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The bottom holes take 1 1/2“ Set Screw connectors, with the one for COMM a little smaller, I think 1”. (that hole is 1 1/4”).

jfpetesn said:

JUST PASSED INSPECTION!!!

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Awesome. Thanks again for sharing those photos with me on your install. I had my inspection last week and had a few things I needed to fix for the inspector. I should pass no problem whenever I have a re-inspection. I'll share some photos once it's passed!

I passed inspection! System is up and running. Thanks everybody for answering questions and providing pictures of their install to help with mine. @jfpetesn and @2TrevorJ

Here is a few pictures. I have to clean up my racking rail ends on my roof and also repair the drywall to make it look nice but overall the system is complete and selling power back to grid.

rossmoesis said:

I passed inspection! System is up and running. Thanks everybody for answering questions and providing pictures of their install to help with mine. @jfpetesn and @2TrevorJ

Here is a few pictures. I have to clean up my racking rail ends on my roof and also repair the drywall to make it look nice but overall the system is complete and selling power back to grid.

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What a relief huh? Nice Job brother looks great. Did you add storage too?

Nice job. I'm still working on mine.
So far in the process, still need to install my 200 amp fusible disconnect, construct my six eg4 brightmount ground racks in portable style, trench 3 pair of cable 200 feet to the inverter, connect batteries, land all the grid/load connections in power distribution blocks, wait on my homeowners electrical examiners license so when the time comes I can call my power company to ask for a utility disconnect at the meter (I wont do it hot) to do the meter/disconnect/bypass work, wire all, clean up and commission. Its an adventure and have had real valuable help on this forum.
Thanks all.

RLM4JC said:

Nice job. I'm still working on mine.
So far in the process, still need to install my 200 amp fusible disconnect, construct my six eg4 brightmount ground racks in portable style, trench 3 pair of cable 200 feet to the inverter, connect batteries, land all the grid/load connections in power distribution blocks, wait on my homeowners electrical examiners license so when the time comes I can call my power company to ask for a utility disconnect at the meter (I wont do it hot) to do the meter/disconnect/bypass work, wire all, clean up and commission. Its an adventure and have had real valuable help on this forum.
Thanks all.

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Looks great!!!

jfpetesn said:

What a relief huh? Nice Job brother looks great. Did you add storage too?

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I have server rack full of 6 EG4-LL V2 batteries. I purchased them from signature solar with the solar panels. Signature solar did a great job with shipping of the materials. No issues at all.

I plan on installing the batteries in the future but need to repair the drywall and clean up my current install before I do that. I have a net metering agreement so I'm not in a huge rush as the grid is acting like my battery at the moment but would like to use TOU and have power backup in the future.

It's a big relief to have the system up and running. It's a big up front cost not have working.

rossmoesis said:

I have server rack full of 6 EG4-LL V2 batteries. I purchased them from signature solar with the solar panels. Signature solar did a great job with shipping of the materials. No issues at all.

I plan on installing the batteries in the future but need to repair the drywall and clean up my current install before I do that. I have a net metering agreement so I'm not in a huge rush as the grid is acting like my battery at the moment but would like to use TOU and have power backup in the future.

It's a big relief to have the system up and running. It's a big up front cost not have working.

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Yes I upgraded several months ago and popped down $29k for batteries in anticipation of state ESS grant money. Lots of hoops to jump and everything went as planned but until I received the big check I was ready for them to find a way to not pay. Once it arrived it was a huge relief.

I thought it would be best to post in the SA 15K super thread. I read this entire thread a few weeks ago. I'm new to this, but I'm almost ready to start buying components. I posted in the Beginners Corner but responses are slow or no one there really knows. So I thought posting to the super thread would be the way to go as there are some really smart people here.

I'm buying 74 Bluesun 460w bi-facial panels. Going to tie 38 panels into the SA's 3 MTTP controllers. Going to add the other 36 panels, 12 into each of three Growatt 6kW Grid-Tie Inverter (MIN 6000TL-X) that will go into the SA/s Gen/AC Couple input. From what I understand, "stacking" the three grid-tie inverters it not a problem. Is this the case? This is currently the question I'm trying to get answered.

Going to add a single Trophy Battery 48V3040E-2 to the battery input to get me through the 4-8pm utility time of use. Going to eventually have 5-7 of those batteries, but for now, just the single one.

Going with IronRidge racking through Greentech in Denver, Colorado.

Panel Layout:


I have been working on my building permits off and on for a month, but decided on the weekend that I'm running out of time so I used GreenLancer to finish up the work on my permits and they got me my first part in only 48 hours. Amazing really. Couple of issues with the first one but they will be quick to fix.

Getting pretty excited to start getting this going. I can finally see light through the end of tunnel.

Ryushin said:

From what I understand, "stacking" the three grid-tie inverters it not a problem. Is this the case? This is currently the question I'm trying to get answered.

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I am not sure I understand what you mean by "stacking"? I think the gen port can handle 80 Amps which is 19.2 kW which should work as long as the grid is up. You may be limited when the grid is down to be only able to use a portion of those AC coupled Growatts. If those are split phase and compliant with UL1741SB you might be able to use one of them if your loads are sufficient. With 17 kW as DC coupled that may be adequat depending on how long your grid outages last. I am assuming this will be a grid tied setup?.
EDIT: changed the AC coupling amount.

Ampster said:

I am not sure I understand what you mean by "stacking"? I think the gen port can handle 60 Amps which is 14.4kW which should work as long as the grid is up. You may be limited when the grid is down to be only able to use a portion of those AC coupled Growatts. If those are split phase and compliant with UL1741SB you might be able to use one of them if your loads are sufficient. With 17 kW as DC coupled that may be adequat depending on how long your grid outages last. I am assuming this will be a grid tied setup?

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It can do 100A (80A continuous).