Sunny Boy 4000TL-US-22

[tehan]

I agree. It seems that SMA makes single phase inverters rated 208/240V so there must be somewhere the 208v connection can be used. It is probably for a small business or farm which uses 3 phase loads.

I agree that is the primary use case, though I believe there are also still some utilities that deliver single phase 208V/120V service in locations where this is cheaper/easier to provide that split-phase 240V/120V service.

[SunEagle]

I agree that is the primary use case, though I believe there are also still some utilities that deliver single phase 208V/120V service in locations where this is cheaper/easier to provide that split-phase 240V/120V service.

Maybe but from my experience a single phase 240/120volt transformer feeding a home is much cheaper then a 3 phase 208/120v transformer (even using only single phase) feeding the home.

A POCO in the US would not save any money doing it that way.

[inetdog]

208Y/120 service is common to apartment buildings who then take the neutral and two of the three phase conductors to supply each apartment's panel. The result is two 120V feeds which have 208V between the two line conductors instead of 240V.
But you are not likely to be installing a GTI in an apartment.

Also common in areas where air conditioning was first introduced while it was inefficient and required more power than it does today is what is called a high-leg delta. One of the three (or two) 240V transformer secondaries is center tapped to provide 120-0-120 service for most of the loads, but the third phase conductor is routed only to the panel or disconnect that supplies the A/C. Still not 208V, although the voltage from the high leg to the neutral will be 208V. That connection option is deliberately never used.

[tehan]

Maybe but from my experience a single phase 240/120volt transformer feeding a home is much cheaper then a 3 phase 208/120v transformer (even using only single phase) feeding the home.

A POCO in the US would not save any money doing it that way.

Sure, that's true if you need to install a new transformer in order to establish service. But you generally want to use an existing transformer with excess capacity wherever possible. If you need to deliver single phase service and the nearest existing transformer with excess capacity is tri-phase then 208V may well be your cheapest option.

[Naptown]

I have one going in next week or so that is 3 phase 208v
This is with solar edge which can be either 208 or 240.
In this case we are using 3 inverters to balance the systems across phases.
Easy peasy
This is why most will allow either 208 or 240.
They do make a 3 phase inverter but would have taken 4 inverters instead of three on this job.

[john95]

One is 3000 watts
The other is 4000 watts

That's great! $1,570 for the 3000 TL-US and $1,774 for the 4000 TL-US just $204 difference.
Perhaps with a help of a friend and good luck I could hunt the 4000 TL-US for $1,000 whole sale

[SunEagle]

Sure, that's true if you need to install a new transformer in order to establish service. But you generally want to use an existing transformer with excess capacity wherever possible. If you need to deliver single phase service and the nearest existing transformer with excess capacity is tri-phase then 208V may well be your cheapest option.

Maybe. I guess taking a "short cut" by using what ever is available although POCO's can throw up a single phase transformer pretty quickly at a low cost in most places.

Biggest issue with going the "short cut" way is that will put an imbalance on the transformer by increasing the load on one phase. Having load imbalance causes the transformer to heat up and lose efficiency. If you owned that transformer you would be paying for those loses and your electric bill would be higher without any benefits. IMO that is not less costly.

[Naptown]

Last 60kw single phase transformer cost 11,000.00 installed by poco

[Naptown]

That's great! $1,570 for the 3000 TL-US and $1,774 for the 4000 TL-US just $204 difference.
Perhaps with a help of a friend and good luck I could hunt the 4000 TL-US for $1,000 whole sale

Good luck with that
I can't get them for much less than that.
But I only buy the TL-US-22

[jflorey2]

Why this inverter is listed as 208/240VAC output? Don't we use 120VAC in our houses? I don't see any SMA inverter as having 120VAC output. Any other comparable inverters as this one in the market? Thanks.

Just a note -

The TL-US series requires 240 volt service to sell power back to the utility. The "secure power" feature does in fact output 120 volts, which is usable during power outages only.

[inetdog]

Just a note -

The TL-US series requires 240 volt service to sell power back to the utility.

Or 208Y/120 three phase service where each inverter will connect to two of the hot conductors.
And it does not require one of those voltages just to sell back, it requires it to produce its full rated power at all. It is a grid tie inverter at heart, even though it has the option to install the off-grid Secure Power Supply (SPS) module. That module operates in a very limited scope without needing the batteries of a typical off-grid or hybrid installation.