nuke
New Member
I've got a system installed around 2011 on my roof that has 36 250w panels in a 12s3p configuration. PVWatts says the most I get (and I can confirm) is around 7200w a/c out of the setup since it's kind of west-facing.
It currently runs to a Fronius 10.0 ig plus inverter that everyone claims is well beyond its expected lifespan (though it seems to run fine).
This simple setup with 2011-era code compliance backfeeds a 60a breaker on the main meter/main combo panel.
My thinking is as follows:
1) Swap the current Fronius with a Sol-Ark 15K. The existing string is at the limits of what Sol-Ark is happy taking in on MPPT-1 (right at 500 voc at 0 degrees, but the max my Fronius has seen is 502v in its entire 11 years of life), and it will clip to 6500w.
2) Replace the 60a backfeed breaker with a 70a feeder to the GRID input of the sol-ark
3) Run the LOAD output of the sol-ark to a "critical loads" panel.
4) Ground-mount a Fortress e-flex outdoor things near the Sol-Ark and wire it up to the batteries
5) Optionally ac couple another 5kw of microinverters to another building on my property - with a dedicated circuit run all the way back to the sol-ark
At this point, I've got critical loads backup, slightly less PV production than before, and a new inverter.
Concerns:
1) I'm not modifying the existing roof array and adding RSD (required for new installs) since it wasn't installed that way and I assume it's not irresponsible to leave it untouched. Is this hack?
2) I need to limit my grid sell-back to around 10kw per my interconnect agreement (NEM 1) - I assume that the Sol-Ark will power loads, then charge the battery, then send the remainder to the grid (in that priority order) but does it attenuate dc or ac production if the loads and battery consumption are not enough to absorb all the pv production? I would assume it attenuates the dc first since while grid-tied, I think the ac coupling is all-or-nothing (I may be wrong on this).
3) Is there a more popular outdoor rated battery enclosure solution? There isn't a good option for bringing them indoors. I have some space for a shed of some sort, but it seems like more hassle (building/buying a shed, insulating it, thermally controlling it) than just buying a solution designed for outdoor exposure. I realize the temperature variation will probably be harder on the batteries but...
4) I read somewhere that the actual max voltage input for the sol-ark mppt is 550v which I doubt i'll ever see, but due to me not wanting to reconfigure my current array at all (leave well enough alone) - am I ok?
Appreciate the help in advance. I've been doing a ton of reading but don't want to head down some invalid path with my assumptions.
It currently runs to a Fronius 10.0 ig plus inverter that everyone claims is well beyond its expected lifespan (though it seems to run fine).
This simple setup with 2011-era code compliance backfeeds a 60a breaker on the main meter/main combo panel.
My thinking is as follows:
1) Swap the current Fronius with a Sol-Ark 15K. The existing string is at the limits of what Sol-Ark is happy taking in on MPPT-1 (right at 500 voc at 0 degrees, but the max my Fronius has seen is 502v in its entire 11 years of life), and it will clip to 6500w.
2) Replace the 60a backfeed breaker with a 70a feeder to the GRID input of the sol-ark
3) Run the LOAD output of the sol-ark to a "critical loads" panel.
4) Ground-mount a Fortress e-flex outdoor things near the Sol-Ark and wire it up to the batteries
5) Optionally ac couple another 5kw of microinverters to another building on my property - with a dedicated circuit run all the way back to the sol-ark
At this point, I've got critical loads backup, slightly less PV production than before, and a new inverter.
Concerns:
1) I'm not modifying the existing roof array and adding RSD (required for new installs) since it wasn't installed that way and I assume it's not irresponsible to leave it untouched. Is this hack?
2) I need to limit my grid sell-back to around 10kw per my interconnect agreement (NEM 1) - I assume that the Sol-Ark will power loads, then charge the battery, then send the remainder to the grid (in that priority order) but does it attenuate dc or ac production if the loads and battery consumption are not enough to absorb all the pv production? I would assume it attenuates the dc first since while grid-tied, I think the ac coupling is all-or-nothing (I may be wrong on this).
3) Is there a more popular outdoor rated battery enclosure solution? There isn't a good option for bringing them indoors. I have some space for a shed of some sort, but it seems like more hassle (building/buying a shed, insulating it, thermally controlling it) than just buying a solution designed for outdoor exposure. I realize the temperature variation will probably be harder on the batteries but...
4) I read somewhere that the actual max voltage input for the sol-ark mppt is 550v which I doubt i'll ever see, but due to me not wanting to reconfigure my current array at all (leave well enough alone) - am I ok?
Appreciate the help in advance. I've been doing a ton of reading but don't want to head down some invalid path with my assumptions.