SolarEdge SE5000 causing lights to flicker and weird electrical hum.

[PVAndy]

ON a typical line side (supply side connection to use correct terminology) in many cases there isn't a neutral connection. There should be a #6 wire from the ground ar in the fused disconnect to the premise ground. The neutral & ground should be bonded in the fused disconnect to create a derived neutral.

Andy

[solarix]

Some inverters use the neutral, some don't. All the output from the inverter is line to line of course, but the internal control circuitry may use the neutral. On SMA inverters - I know the neutral is used as a reference for controlling the line out voltage. Because your Solaredge inverter has a terminal for the neutral, you should hook it up. Doesn't go to the ground bar though - needs to go all the way back to the main service panel neutral. I'm concerned your installer is cutting corners or at least misunderstanding neutral wiring. And yes, this could cause the power quality problems you are experiencing.

[BFW577]

ON a typical line side (supply side connection to use correct terminology) in many cases there isn't a neutral connection. There should be a #6 wire from the ground ar in the fused disconnect to the premise ground. The neutral & ground should be bonded in the fused disconnect to create a derived neutral.

Andy

This is what my electrical setup looks like. There are 2 grounding rods below the main meter box.

So are you saying to run a neutral line from the missing inverter terminal to the ground in my fused disconnect?

20200711-140405.jpg

20200711-140842.jpg

[solarix]

The only place a neutral should be tied to ground is at the ground bar in the main service - (and this is mandated in the code). The grounding wires are to be non-current carrying conductors (in order for them to provide ground fault safety). The Neutral is a "grounded conductor" - but it is current carrying. If your neutrals are tied to the grounding conductors anywhere but in the main panel, or if the grounding conductor is serving as a neutral, weird things can happen. Your inverter neutral should go all the way back to the ground bar in the main service panel. (many main panels have two bars and electricians will often use one of them for neutrals and the other for grounds - but they are bonded together and are functionally the same. Most panels I see, the grounds and neutrals are all mixed together).
I don't see any neutrals in your inverter's wiring - could be your problem. Add a white wire from the inverter's neutral terminal all the way back to the Main panel's neutral/ground bar (will not connect to anything in the disconnect), and I bet your problems will be solved.

btw - there is also a code rule mandating 36" of clear workspace in front of any electrical panels. Your POCO could demand the flowers be removed...

[bcroe]

Some inverters use the neutral, some don't. All the output from the inverter is line to line of course, but the internal control circuitry may use the neutral. On SMA inverters - I know the neutral is used as a reference for controlling the line out voltage. Because your Solaredge inverter has a terminal for the neutral, you should hook it up. Doesn't go to the ground bar though - needs to go all the way back to the main service panel neutral.

That is the situation on my Fronius inverters. Bruce Roe

[BFW577]

I opened up the meter panel where they tapped into. These wires run through my garage to my main panel. There is a breaker I can shut off to turn the power off from the meter that feeds these wires where the tap is.

The neutral bar is attached to the grounding rods and the ground going to the inverter. I saw a few installation videos and pictures where the neutral on the inverter is connected to the ground bar inside.

I was there for the inspection by both the town and electric company and everything passed.


So should the inverter neutral be connected to the ground bar?

20200711-171937.jpg

[PVAndy]

The only place a neutral should be tied to ground is at the ground bar in the main service - (and this is mandated in the code). The grounding wires are to be non-current carrying conductors (in order for them to provide ground fault safety). The Neutral is a "grounded conductor" - but it is current carrying. If your neutrals are tied to the grounding conductors anywhere but in the main panel, or if the grounding conductor is serving as a neutral, weird things can happen. Your inverter neutral should go all the way back to the ground bar in the main service panel. (many main panels have two bars and electricians will often use one of them for neutrals and the other for grounds - but they are bonded together and are functionally the same. Most panels I see, the grounds and neutrals are all mixed together).
I don't see any neutrals in your inverter's wiring - could be your problem. Add a white wire from the inverter's neutral terminal all the way back to the Main panel's neutral/ground bar (will not connect to anything in the disconnect), and I bet your problems will be solved.

btw - there is also a code rule mandating 36" of clear workspace in front of any electrical panels. Your POCO could demand the flowers be removed...

When we ond the neutral and ground in the fused disconnect, we are not creating a ground loop, nor a code violation, Remember we are not tying the neutral back to the main panel. Think of it as as a second service.

In many of the system we design for community solar, they are separately metered and the only connection between the 2 systems is at the grounding system.

Andy

[PVAndy]

When we ond the neutral and ground in the fused disconnect, we are not creating a ground loop, nor a code violation, Remember we are not tying the neutral back to the main panel. Think of it as as a second service.

In many of the system we design for community solar, they are separately metered and the only connection between the 2 systems is at the grounding system.

Andy

BTW Most SolarEdge inverters can run without a neutral, ut you need to set them up for that type of grid connection

Andy

[BFW577]

BTW Most SolarEdge inverters can run without a neutral, ut you need to set them up for that type of grid connection

Andy

I will have to check the settings. Do you know what settings those are?

So should I not attached a wire from the neutral to the ground bar inside the bottom inverter connections?

I also downloaded and updated the dsp and CPU version to the latest using a SD card.

[FFE]

Is that 12 AWG wire between the main meter and the inverter with 10 AWG ground?

[BFW577]

Is that 12 AWG wire between the main meter and the inverter with 10 AWG ground?

Yes. It's a 5.4 kwh system.

[solarix]

12awg wire is only good for up to a 3.8kW inverter. Now i'm really getting concerned about your installer... and your inspector.

[FFE]

Wow. Saving 10 dollars to use a lower gauge wire on a 10,000 plus dollar install seems like a poor choice. The picture in post number 3 shows 17.86 AC amps. Even if NEC still allows 25 amps for 12 AWG in free air, I would be unhappy with that much potential loss. What are the fuses rated at? The wires coming from the inverter look like they are 10 AWG. So, the manufacturer of the inverter seemed to think that would be better.

[BFW577]

Wow. Saving 10 dollars to use a lower gauge wire on a 10,000 plus dollar install seems like a poor choice. The picture in post number 3 shows 17.86 AC amps. Even if NEC still allows 25 amps for 12 AWG in free air, I would be unhappy with that much potential loss. What are the fuses rated at? The wires coming from the inverter look like they are 10 AWG. So, the manufacturer of the inverter seemed to think that would be better.

The fuses are 25 amp. I am going to check the inverter country settings after work to make sure it is set to USA 240 no neutral as another poster mentioned.

Another thing I noticed is using a Fluke clamp on amp meter on the 2 ac output wires from the inverter they are not balanced. One was reading higher amp's then the other.

The power company came out as well and redid all the connections and said everything checked out fine. The guy actually said this was his 4th call this week for flickering lights with the same problem and all the people had solar as well.

I think its the inverter but my Installer said Solaredge looked at the data and said nothing is wrong.