APSystems installation

[EngineerX]

Why do i see at least 2 unconnected MC4 looking connectors hanging under the panels ?

I had not yet finished the install when I took that pic
They're all connected now and properly secured with the Ironridge wire clips and UV zip ties. Otherwise, on the EMA App Module screen, you wouldn't see all 24 panels producing.

[Mike90250]

Why do i see at least 2 unconnected MC4 looking connectors hanging under the panels ?

[EngineerX]

I"ve been running 6 QS1's with 24 previously used $65 SolarWorld SW235 panels. They've been trouble-free so far. Still have another uninstalled 24 panels and 3 QS1's. Not sure if I'll install them. I'll have to check at the end of the 12-month NET metering cycle. I don't want to have an excessive surplus. I've switched to electrical heaters for our living spaces and replacing natural gas water heater for a hybrid heat pump. Just my luck, the Calif Public Utilities Commission in cahoots with a couple of the big power companies (SCE & PG&E) want to add a "fee" for solar power generation to compensate for decline in profits and "subsequent" burden (price hikes) to those who don't have solar panels.... I digress... here's a couple of pics of my install


Bottom 4 rows are the installed arrays. Top 2 came with the house (SunRun lease.... yeah, phooey! had to take over lease, but no regrets - needed a house)
Yes - wire management has been done using Ironridge wire clips and UV zip ties. APS EMA monitoring app screenshots included. Hope these last!

IMG_20211217_115032s.jpgIMG_20211217_114959s.jpg
IMG_20211106_153609s.jpgapsemaappforandroid_s.jpg

[e2russ]

Thanks Bob for sharing your wisdom on the install. I will be installing 6 QS1's and 24 450w panels on my shop this month. Waiting for all the parts to come in! I'll add some photos of the install.

[EngineerX]

Very helpful advice, much appreciated. It was one of the posts on this thread that alerted me about needing to be a registered installer to open the account on servers. So I did call the vendor in Texas and they said they would help with setting up the account. I'll reach out if I have a question. I've watched all the APSystems youtube channel videos on the QS1 and ECU-R and with your install write-up I should have no problems installing and connecting the micros. I plan on running 9 QS1's. Each trunk bus of 3 micros routed to a junction box to transition to #10 THHN in conduits from roof to a subpanel with 20A breakers. I'll use a 60A non-fused AC disconnect between subpanel and main service panel. I'll draw a diagram as recommended.

[bob-n]

Before you start installing, you want to draw a picture of your planned array and number each panel location.

When you install, you will wire four PV panels to each QS1. As you go, for each panel, you'll write down panel location number, QS1 serial number and QS1 port number. There's no need to keep track of panel serial numbers, but if you are really compulsive, you can do that as well.

I needed some support from my vendor for setup because I am not a registered APsystems installer. The vendor logged into APsystems servers, entered my QS1 serial numbers and the panel locations for each port. From then on, I was able to handle it. With that in their server, you can access their server from your cell phone or web browser and query the power from any panel at any time, in a pretty graphical display.

You want to get assurances from your vendor that they are willing to do the same for you. From then on, it's no more complex than setting up a web camera or other smart-home device.

If you have any other questions, let me know and I'll try to help.

[EngineerX]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the QS1's. I'll give them a try and also get the ECU-R for monitoring. Hopefully vendor is correct when they assured end-user can set up ECU-R connection to microinverters without the need for a APSystems certified technician.

[bob-n]

To date, I've had no issues with the QS1. No maintenance required, no faults.

[EngineerX]

To the OP bob-n, How reliably have these QS1 microinverters performed? Any issues that you've had since you finish the install? Hope they're performing well, as I'm considering a few for a setup I'm considering.

[derrickhoward]

I replaced the 2 conductor trunk with the 3 conductor trunk... half the system works properly now. Waiting for it to quit raining & to warm up a bit the do the other branch.

[bob-n]

If you're saying that everything is working now, great! Or are you saying that there is still a problem?

[derrickhoward]

All 6 inverters are online. Rails and inverters are (chassis) grounded. Ran black, red, green back to disconnect and onto breaker panel.

[bob-n]

Derrick,

My system is running. I may have been excessive on grounding. I ran the three-wire cable including ground all of the way to the ground point (not neutral) at my main load center / circuit breaker panel. I also ran an external 6-gauge ground to the rails, which bonds to the panel frames and to the QS1 ground and also goes to the load center ground, so that's a parallel ground path.

This is just speculation, but I can envision a reason why the inverter requires ground. It may sense each phase to ground and won't turn on until each phase gets 120VAC. If you have no ground connection to the QS1 chassis or the QS1 cable, QS1 chassis might float to one leg or the other. To ensure safety, the QS1 may sense one phase below 110V and decide to stay off.

Have you tested:
1) That the panels put out DC?

Next, have you tested:
2) That each inverter is seeing 240VAC from the mains at it's inputs and 120VAC from mains phase to the star washer ground?..

Do you have a clamp-on ammeter to check current coming out of the inverters? That would be the next step. If you don't have one, they sell cheap ones with little-known brands for under $30 on amazon that are adequate and very handy. For example:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=clamp-on+ammeter

[derrickhoward]

I am on par with you. Just installed 22 340W Seraphim 72 cell panels with 5 QS1 and a YC600. Couldn't get anything to work. Bob, is your system running properly? Did your trunk cable have the center contact ground? The cable Renvu sent me had no center pin or ground wire. My "installer," (the certified guys that are going to sell my srecs for me), Had a lengthy chat with APSystems tech guy, after a week of trying to get through. He said that APSystems has never made a 2 conductor cable. It needs that center ground. Renvu told me they contacted AP and it should work fine with external ground wire connected. I don't know who to believe. I called Renvu, and they sent me the cable with 3 conductors with zero arguments, so I'm leaning toward APSystems. I've installed the new cable on half my system at dark last night. I havent been able to get on the APSystems EMA site since last year, so see if anything is different on the app when I get home...

[SunEagle]

The NEC requirement is the maximum allowed. As a practical matter it probably depends on the individual device if it is less than that or not. If Pir8radio is referring to his inverter then that is where one would find that information.

I agree that the actually time an inverter cuts out is based on its internal software programming. The NEC requirement is just the max allowed to protect first responders but not necessarily the time a system truly disconnects from the grid.