System Sizing for Off grid and Grid Tied

Battery Backup

RE04

System Sizing

System Sizing

Customer Expectations

Needs Vs Wants

Are they being realistic?

What is their primary goal?

Grid Tied or Off Grid?

What are voltage requirements and loads.

Any thoughts of future expansion?

Grid Tied with Battery Back-up

Initial questions

What is driving this decision.

Urge to offset utility bills?

What amount of solar is right for the customer?

Are there space limitations?

What are the budget restraints?

Load requirements during power outages?

Is the primary concern sell back or loads.

Internal– not for distribution

Off grid

Confirm

Be absolutely certain of the voltage requirements

What are the load requirements in watt-hours per day?

How many days of autonomy?

Emphasize the advantages of efficient loads

Internal– not for distribution

Three basic system components

1 Inverter 2 Charge Controller 3 Battery

1 Inverter

Should be sized to handle load surges or process solar

2 Battery

Must run the loads for the required time

3 Charge Controller

PV must match loads + controllers voltage and wattage

Internal– not for distribution

Inverter Systems

FP1

FP2

Radian

FW1000

OutBack Charge Controllers

Vdc 12 24 48 60

FM60 720 1440 2880 3600

FM80/FME 960 1920 3840 4800

Batteries

EnergyCell RE 200

Rated Capacity at C/20*

Energy Available for Backed-up Loads (50%

DOD)

Scenarios

8.544 kWh 4.272 kWh ~178 W x 24 hrs ~356 W x 12 hrs ~534 W x 8 hrs

17.376 kWh 8.688 kWh ~362 W x 24 hrs ~724 W x 12 hrs ~1,086 W x 8 hrs

26.064 kWh 13.032 kWh ~543 W x 24 hrs ~1,086 W x 12 hrs ~1,629 W x 8 hrs

OutBack Battery Sizing

AC Coupling Solutions

from

Outback Power

What is AC Coupling?

• Moves RE to loads or grid via an AC bus

• Can be on or off the grid

• Mini-grid applications?

• Standard 120/240 voltages

• Lower cost and losses

• Easy connectivity

• But…how to maintain generation/load balance

when off-grid?

How does OutBack fit into an AC

Coupled Mini-grid?

• Off-grid “village” power

• Large scale backup

• Has closed loop control over RE

sources and generator

AC Coupling for Backup Power

• What’s the motivation behind backup power

installations?

• Grid failure and instability

• Annual occurance of the 100 year storm

• Climate change and other fear factors

Typical Grid Tie Inverter

Connections

Grid Hybrid System

• First choice for battery backup

• AC Coupled as after-thought is

more expensive

Classic AC Coupling to Grid Tie

Inverter

AC Coupled Current Flow with Live

Grid

AC Coupled Current Flow with Grid

Loss

Grid Loss

AC Coupled Current Flow with no

PV or Grid

AC Coupled Radian Single Line

Diagram

OutBack AC Coupling Option for

the Radian Inverter

• Prewired GSLC175-120/240, plus…

• Remote Operated C.B. (ROCB)

• ROCB Control Relay

• GTI Lockout Relay

• …makes a new AC Coupling load center,

GSLC175-AC-120/240

• Only requires 4 field connections from GTI

• Two optional connections for Generator

• New AC Coupling MATE3 function

• Quick Start Guide

Our AC Coupling Advantages

Charge Controller Float Coordination

Global Charger Output Control

FLEXnet DC Advanced Control

Reset to Factory Defaults

M A T E 3

AC Coupled Control

Enabled Y

AUX Output Port 1

AC Coupled Control

• “Smart” ROCB control logic

• Y/N setting selection

• Protects against user reconnect on

high battery

• Grid sense for GTI reconnect

• ROCB can manually disconnect the

GTI

• Less expensive than external relays

& transfer switch

• Simple to install

• No diversion loads required

• Uses temperature compensated

charging setpoints

• Dual AC Inputs

• Gen-Start relay locks out GTI for safe

generator operation (most Freq. shift

DO NOT)

• GTI has path for mechanical bypass

of battery based inverter

Radian AC Coupling Guidelines

1.Daily critial loads should not

exceed 80% battery bank DOD

Table 1 – Total battery energy for various rates of discharge on the OutBack Energy Cell 200RE AGM battery.

8 Hour Discharge 12 Hour Discharge 24 Hour Discharge

7.6 kWh 8.1 kWh 8.7 kWh

15.1 kWh 16.2 kWh 17.4 kWh

22.8 kWh 24.3 kWh 26.1 kWh

30.4 kWh 32.4 kWh 34.8 kWh

38.0 kWh 40.5 kWh 43.5 kWh

45.6 kWh 48.6 kWh 52.2 kWh

One String kWh

Two String kWh

Three String kWh

Four String kWh

Five String kWh

Six String kWh

AC Coupling Guidelines

1. Match PV Array to Charge Amps for EnergyCell RE battery strings PV Array

kW max

(STC)

Charging Amps*

(Based on

array size)

Number of 200RE

Battery Strings

Available Capacity at

C/24 rate

with 80% DOD

2 kW 30 amps 6.9 kWh

4 kW 60 amps 13.9 kWh

6 kW

90 amps

20.8 kWh

*Based on following calculations: 2000 W array x 75% = 1,500 watts. Charge amps implied: (1500 ÷ 48 V) x .96 (effic. of FM60) = 30 Amps

Radian AC Coupling Guidelines

2.OutBack Inverter

kW should be

125% more than

GTI kW

X 1.25 =

6 kW 8 kW

Design Guidelines

3. Array energy production needs to match the combined

energy usage of loads and battery charging*.

16 kWH 13 kWH

3 kWH

• This guideline is the same as any off-grid design

• No efficiency losses shown • A generator could be added if needed.

Crtical Loads Device

Watts

Daily Use

Hours

Kilowatt

Hours

Refrigerator 1.0 kw 6 hrs (24 x

0.25)

6.0 kWh

Lights (6 ea 17W CFL) 0.1 kW 16 hrs 1.6 kWh

Receptacle Loads 0.3 kW 16 hrs 4.8 kWh

Total kWh Per Day 12.4 kWh

OutBack AC Coupling Summary

New GSLC175-AC-120/240 Load Center ROCB with 12V AUX Port Control

ROCB Control Relay

Gen-Start relay with GTI lockout

Only 4-6 new field connections

New MATE3 AC Coupling Function Smart ROCB control logic

Can override customer intervention

Grid sense ensures GTI connection when grid is active

Uses temperature compensated setpoints

ROCB Technology Loadcenter integration reduces costs and simplifies connections

Can be used as GTI disconnect for 50A max overload ratings

Provides emergency GTI shutoff

Virtually no parasitic load

OutBack AC Coupling Summary

Dual AC Inputs

Safe Generator Operation

Uses standard MATE3 Advanced Generator Start (AGS) Start/Stop settings

Locks out GTI (not possibly with Frequency Shift alone)

Much cheaper and easier to implent than external relays and transfer switches

No Expensive, Invasive Diversion Loads Required

OutBack AC Coupling Summary

Complete Easy-To-Install Turnkey AC Coupling Solution

Radian 8kW

Inverter

AC Coupling

Load Center

RE Batteries

and

Battery Rack

MATE 3

System I/F

2014 NEC Updates OutBack’s

Integrated Combiner Solution

(ICS)

Arc-Fault Protection (Direct

Current) – 690.11

PV systems with a DC source operating at or above 80VDC shall be

protected by a listed DC Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)

UL 1699B

2011 Requirement updated in 2014

Not limited to PV systems in or on a building

• NEC requires protection for series arcs, not

parallel arcs Series Arc-Fault – Arc from discontinuity in electrical conductor

Parallel Arc-Fault – Electrical discharge between conductors with different

potentials

Rapid Shutdown – 690.12

“PV system circuits installed on or in buildings shall include a rapid shutdown function that controls specific conductors in accordance with 690.12(1) through (5) as follows:

I. Requirements for controlled conductors shall apply only to PV system conductors of more than 1.5 m (5 ft) in length inside a building, or more than 3 m (10 ft) from a PV array.

II. Controlled conductors shall be limited to not more than 30 volts and 240 volt-amperes within 10 seconds of rapid shutdown initiation.

III. Voltage and power shall be measured between any two conductors and between any conductor and ground.

IV. The rapid shutdown initiation methods shall be labeled in accordance with 690.56(B).

V. Equipment that performs the rapid shutdown shall be listed and identified.”

Ground Fault Protection for

Grounded PV Systems (690.5)

Changes from 2011 NEC – all current-carrying conductors must now be provided with ground-fault protection (this was permitted in 2011 but not required).

“Blind Spot” in PV systems Hazardous, caused notable fires

Applicable for larger, higher-voltage systems and ungrounded PV systems

Current GFDI offering for is compliant with requirement for OBP systems (low voltage, grounded)

Current offering for is compliant with requirement for OBP systems PNL-GFDI-80 (1 pole)

PNL-GFDI-80D (2 poles)

PNL-GFDI-80Q (4 poles)

DC Combiner Disconnect – 690.15

(C)

“DC Combiners mounted on roofs must

have a load break disconnecting means

located in or within 6 ft of the dc combiner”

Drivers for ICS Plus

Increase system safety by providing a complete

2014 NEC-compliant solution.

Pre-integrate combiner boxes to ease installation

and cut labor time in the field.

Continue providing an end-to-end, UL 1741 DC

offering from OutBack Power (everything from roof

to batteries).

FLEXware ICS Plus Solution

3 Pre-integrated combiners all NEC 2014 compliant

Including…:

Overcurrent Protection Devices (OCPD’s)

Terminal Bus Bars

NEMA 3R Enclosure

Arc Fault Detection and Interruption

…with a combination of:

Rapid Shutdown, External Disconnect, or neither

Breakers or Fuses

Junction Boxes

For use in Rapid Shutdown Systems to shutdown

by charge controller(s)

Rapid Shutdown Interface (RSI)

To be installed by service equipment/meter

Release Summer 2015

ICS Combiner Boxes

Features

Powder-coated aluminum chassis, NEMA 3R & IP 54

Stainless steel hardware

Vertical wall-mount, pole-mount or sloped roof mount to 14° incline (3 in 12 roof pitch)

Low profile design allows for flexible mounting options

Padlockable lid that can be completely removed for ease of installation

Touch-safe internal distribution blocks, no need for a deadfront

Ready-to-go

Cable gland(s) installed

OCPD’s pre-integrated in two models

Pre-wired to save time n field

Release to Sales at the end of March

FLEXware ICS Offering

New FLEXware ICS Combiner Box Models and Descriptions

FWPV6-15B150 Combiner Box integrated with (6) 15A, 150 Vdc DIN rail breakers, touch-safe distribution blocks and cable glands. To provide a cost-competitive solution that streamlines inventory while speeding installation.

FWPV4-15B150 Combiner Box integrated with (4) 15A, 150 Vdc DIN rail breakers, touch-safe distribution blocks and cable glands. To provide a cost-competitive solution that streamlines inventory while speeding installation.

FWPV6 Combiner Box integrated with touch-safe distribution blocs and cable glands for ultimate flexibility.

A Look Inside

NEC 2014 Compliance

for Battery Based PV Systems

Presentation Outline

690.11 and 690.12 code changes for 2014

690.11 Arc Fault

690.12 Rapid Shut Down

Solutions

Conclusion

690.11 Arc Fault

Detection/Interruption

Photovoltaic Systems with dc source circuits, dc output circuits, or both,

operating at a PV system maximum system voltage of 80 volts or

greater, shall be protected by a listed (dc) arc- fault circuit

interrupter, PV type, or other system components listed to provide

equivalent protection. The PV arc fault protection means shall comply

with the following requirements:

The system shall detect and interrupt arcing faults resulting from a failure in the

intended continuity of a conductor, connection, module, or other system component

in the dc PV source and dc PV output circuits.

The system shall require that the disabled or disconnected equipment be manually

restarted.

The system shall have an annunciator that provides a visual indication that the

circuit interrupter has operated. This indication shall not reset automatically

UL1699B Type1 and Type2

690.12 Rapid Shutdown

NEC 690.12 (C) states: PV system circuits installed on or in

buildings shall include a rapid shutdown function that

controls specific conductors in accordance with 690.12(1)

through (5) as follows: Requirements for controlled conductors shall apply only to PV system

conductors of more than 5 ft in length inside a building , or more than

10ft from a PV array.

Controlled Conductors shall be limited to not more than 30V and 240

voltamperes within 10 seconds of rapid shutdown initiation.

Voltage and power shall be measured between any conductor and ground.

The rapid shutdown initiation methods shall be labeled in accordance with

690.56(B).

Equipment that performs the rapid shutdown shall be listed and

identified.