New Se 7600H inverter Drops out 1 to 5 times a day

[inetdog]

It's the inverter that is causing the voltage spike

The only way the inverter could cause a voltage spike would be by increasing its power output to many times its rated output. With input power coming only from a PV array there is no way it can do that.
Current from the inverter will develop a voltage across the resistance of the interconnecting wires and the effective resistance of the POCO transformer windings. Look at the service voltage with zero load and zero production. Then connect a resistive load equal to the inverter output. The voltage will drop by some amount, hopefully less than 5%. That same voltage difference only added instead of subtracted will be the maximum voltage that the inverter can produce at full power.
If the utility voltage is high enough that that will be above the inverter limit, you or POCO need to change something.
POCO voltage regulating equipment and switched power factor correction capacitors can create spike from the POCO side.

[cdtruckn]

It's the inverter that is causing the voltage spike

[JSchnee21]

Well, good luck replacing the inverter. I wish you the best, but am not convinced it will help. If you're AC voltage is spiking up to 260V that's really high -- 130V per leg. Are your drop outs still happening randomly? Have you been able to be home when this occurs? Any info on the Inverter or SetApp?

If you run your AC full tilt during this time (consuming a lot of amps and depressing your local line voltage), does the problem still occur?

I'd circle back with Solar Edge directly. They should be able to tweak the inverter's settings to be less sensitive to grid transients.

But if not, I still stand by my suggestion that your PoCo needs to send a lineman to change the taps on your street's step down transformer. Of course distribution step down transformers are not always configured with voltage adjustment taps. This is an added cost option. I'd expect the PoCo would be unwilling to change their HV side.

You could also potentially move from a load side breaker to a line side tap if your AHJ would allow. This would help reduce the resistance to the flow of current from your inverter out to the street.

[cdtruckn]

A friend has a 10kW SMA inverter with similar issues. Drops out ~2-5 times per day but it's almost always in the mornings and rarely on the weekends. Due to how the drops cluster in terms of timing I'm ~95% confident it's a grid issue. Is there any pattern to when yours trips?




I agree that's a little high but anything <264 is still 'in spec' and shouldn't cause problems.

Not that we can put are fingers on other than it does this above 6,000 watts. After all this time pushing the installer and solaredge thy are replacing the inverter. I will give a update when this happens.

[nwdiver]

A friend has a 10kW SMA inverter with similar issues. Drops out ~2-5 times per day but it's almost always in the mornings and rarely on the weekends. Due to how the drops cluster in terms of timing I'm ~95% confident it's a grid issue. Is there any pattern to when yours trips?

But I agree your voltage is too high if it is rising above 250-252V. That's >125V for single phase 120 equipment. If this is effecting everyone in your neighborhood, the PoCo should be able to "tap down" your local distribution transformer (likely a 4K to 240V step down).

I agree that's a little high but anything <264 is still 'in spec' and shouldn't cause problems.

[cdtruckn]

Correct. On the older models you could select from different USA power profiles, e.g. USA1, USA2, USA3, etc. to address PoCo over voltage, to some degree. Perhaps the newer HD models are even more configurable (I don't know). Attached are screen shots of AC line voltage by day/time from the SE Monitoring portal for my 11.4kW A-series. You can see voltage varies widely (depending on inverter output and residential usage, e.g sags in the afternoon due to lots of HVAC, etc.).

But I agree your voltage is too high if it is rising above 250-252V. That's >125V for single phase 120 equipment. If this is effecting everyone in your neighborhood, the PoCo should be able to "tap down" your local distribution transformer (likely a 4K to 240V step down).

In order to minimize local voltage increase during high production, you'll want to ensure minimal resistance between your inverter and pole. You've already replaced your service line so that's great. If you're using a load side breaker (40amps in your load center) next thing to check is inverter AC wiring gauge, etc. If you have a small thermal imaging camera or IR gun you can check for thermal heating under heavy output.

It is a load side 40amp breaker on the last spot away from the meter on the panel.

I believe the 40amp fused disconnect that thy say there going to install is so thy can run a larger wire, it looks like a #8 now the run is only 5ft.

With the run so close I don't see how the disconnect would help. I just don't trust these guys work.

[JSchnee21]

Correct. On the older models you could select from different USA power profiles, e.g. USA1, USA2, USA3, etc. to address PoCo over voltage, to some degree. Perhaps the newer HD models are even more configurable (I don't know). Attached are screen shots of AC line voltage by day/time from the SE Monitoring portal for my 11.4kW A-series. You can see voltage varies widely (depending on inverter output and residential usage, e.g sags in the afternoon due to lots of HVAC, etc.).

But I agree your voltage is too high if it is rising above 250-252V. That's >125V for single phase 120 equipment. If this is effecting everyone in your neighborhood, the PoCo should be able to "tap down" your local distribution transformer (likely a 4K to 240V step down).

In order to minimize local voltage increase during high production, you'll want to ensure minimal resistance between your inverter and pole. You've already replaced your service line so that's great. If you're using a load side breaker (40amps in your load center) next thing to check is inverter AC wiring gauge, etc. If you have a small thermal imaging camera or IR gun you can check for thermal heating under heavy output.

[cdtruckn]

I know it is not wired Just cellular, I have a plan to switch installers with a family friend when and if thy fix it. I am digging into solaredge PDF files on the setup and you can configure all the grid settings,output amps, volts, all kinds of parameters, just to educate my self on this inverter. I checked the output amp setting and it is set at 54.5 and it is suppose to be 32 continuous.
I watched him commission the inverter when he replaced it with the first one with the card.

[ButchDeal]

I believe I only have cellular , my installer will not give me any higher access.

these are two different things.
Your access level should be owner. You should insist on that from the installer to give it or you can create your own installer account and take it over but if you are trying to get things from the installer you might not want to do that at this time.

The inverter can be either wired in or cellular connection, both will have 15 minute resolution but cellular would update every 5 hours.

[cdtruckn]

I said "owner" level which lets you graph everything including Grid AC voltage

and it shows data every 15 minutes but with cellular connection only updates it every 5 hours...

I believe I only have cellular , my installer will not give me any higher access.

[ButchDeal]

Thy have, It shows panel layout and production every 4 or 5 hrs.
worthless. I have sense with solar ct's it shows inverter output and usage watts not voltage though.

I said "owner" level which lets you graph everything including Grid AC voltage

and it shows data every 15 minutes but with cellular connection only updates it every 5 hours...

[cdtruckn]

I'm seriously considering purchasing a new se7600hd and have a license electrician install it and register as a installer
or a different model inverter with optimizers. Just to bypass this solar company.

[cdtruckn]

you can graph the AC line voltage as well as almost all other aspects.
Your installer should give you owner access and you can do that yourself on the web portal.

Thy have, It shows panel layout and production every 4 or 5 hrs.
worthless. I have sense with solar ct's it shows inverter output and usage watts not voltage though.

[ButchDeal]

Any one here have admin access to a solaredge inverter know if my installer can confirm voltage before and after a dropout?

you can graph the AC line voltage as well as almost all other aspects.
Your installer should give you owner access and you can do that yourself on the web portal.

[cdtruckn]

Any one here have admin access to a solaredge inverter know if my installer can confirm voltage before and after a dropout?