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Hey SPT, long time lurker, here with some brain damage I am hoping to find an solution to!
Typical scenario is a ~14yo sunpower system that has a failed SMA -12 that needs to be replaced. The modules are legacy, positive grounded, sunpower mods in good condition. I am interested to know what you all have been doing out there to replace the inverter on a positively grounded array now that everything has gone transformerless. I have seen other companies go as far as to replace the entire array, but seems there must be some other option I am unaware of. Without sounding cocky, I am quite involved in the industry so I am really beating my head against the wall on this one.
In the past we would normally find an old new stock transformer based SMA or Fronius inverter to replace the faulty one with. over the last few years it has been getting difficult to find these out dated inverters. This is of course not a sustainable option.
Maybe there is some solution I have not encountered yet with a MLPE device? I know that SolarEdge optimizers do not work with positive grounded mods. While the Tigo works with positive grounded systems, it does not convert or add isolation in any way so the inverter issue remains. As far as I know the IQ line enphase micros do not work with a grounded mod. With the way I understand it, there is not a way that a MLPE device that would solve the issue.
I know there are some string optimizer devices such as the SPOT that can add galvanic isolation, but these are cumbersome and expensive. The Galvo was a decent option, but it is small and is now also no longer being made.
So I wonder, what are you all doing out there for this scenario? Are there any good transformer based inverters available or something else you are doing to replace an inverter on a positively grounded array? It isnt the last time we will deal with it and it will only come up more as there were quite a few Sunpower installers in my area back then and these inverters are begining to age now.
btw, I saw the other similar post a couple days ago oddly enough but this is unrelated and a different question. Thanks in advance for your help!
Typical scenario is a ~14yo sunpower system that has a failed SMA -12 that needs to be replaced. The modules are legacy, positive grounded, sunpower mods in good condition. I am interested to know what you all have been doing out there to replace the inverter on a positively grounded array now that everything has gone transformerless. I have seen other companies go as far as to replace the entire array, but seems there must be some other option I am unaware of. Without sounding cocky, I am quite involved in the industry so I am really beating my head against the wall on this one.
In the past we would normally find an old new stock transformer based SMA or Fronius inverter to replace the faulty one with. over the last few years it has been getting difficult to find these out dated inverters. This is of course not a sustainable option.
Maybe there is some solution I have not encountered yet with a MLPE device? I know that SolarEdge optimizers do not work with positive grounded mods. While the Tigo works with positive grounded systems, it does not convert or add isolation in any way so the inverter issue remains. As far as I know the IQ line enphase micros do not work with a grounded mod. With the way I understand it, there is not a way that a MLPE device that would solve the issue.
I know there are some string optimizer devices such as the SPOT that can add galvanic isolation, but these are cumbersome and expensive. The Galvo was a decent option, but it is small and is now also no longer being made.
So I wonder, what are you all doing out there for this scenario? Are there any good transformer based inverters available or something else you are doing to replace an inverter on a positively grounded array? It isnt the last time we will deal with it and it will only come up more as there were quite a few Sunpower installers in my area back then and these inverters are begining to age now.
btw, I saw the other similar post a couple days ago oddly enough but this is unrelated and a different question. Thanks in advance for your help!
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