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AC Coupling and The Future of Solar
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AC Coupling and The Future of Solar

As we approach 2020, we see some significant changes in the solar industry.

As we approach 2020, we see some significant changes in the solar industry. No longer are utilities satisfied with Net Energy Metering and they often make a compelling argument why it’s unfair to them and the rest of consumers that don’t have solar. They further the debate by identifying the difficulty of managing non-firm generation on their systems.

 

What does this mean for you?

 

Looking ahead, it points to one significant change we will all see soon: you’ll need storage, connected to your solar installations. Sure, in less saturated solar markets, this will take time. Utilities might be fine with some small export of your generation. Once caps are hit, you will have to pivot your business model. We’ve seen this in Hawaii to New Jersey. Once that hockey stick curve of penetration has been achieved, utilities will bring to regulators, the need for storage or curtailment.

 

Curtailment sort of defeats the purpose of renewable energy and most developers to homeowners would rather not throw away the clean energy that they’ve harvested. It also throws off the economics and the reasons they primarily went with going solar in the first place.

 

It is why AC coupling of solar to storage needs to be in your gameplan. Between legacy systems to new systems, people will start to learn about storage and want it. Looking at storage for emergency backup will also be on the minds of people living on the west and east coasts, as fires and flooding from nature, will compel them to look for ways to maximize their solar systems and have safety and security of knowing when the power goes out, that they have electricity.

 

The good news is Chilicon Power microinverters are ready togo, out of the box with AC coupling. We work with any battery storage device.We would just need the setpoints for charge parameters and we can be your solution for your storage interested clients today. Our gateway is easy to use and flexible. We can even connect to a generator to give you an added layer of protection.

 

Knowing that you have electricity when you need it, will make your clients feel safe and secure. Let us help you design a system for your clients, today.

About product

Microinverters CP-720

Overview

Chilicon Power CP-720 inverter performance leads the industry with sustained power production of 720 watts AC which provides well scaled output power compatibility for 60-cell (series), 72-cell (series), 96-cell (parallel), or 128-cell (parallel) modules up to 860W DC. Grid-interactive conversion occurs with a CEC rating of 96% with peak efficiency of 96.6%. The inverters are Rule-21 compliant and can provide reactive power on demand.

Reliability is provided through design that has all components rated to at least 200,000 hours service lifespan (or about 50 years of operating time). Firmware provides high frequency grid monitoring to ensure safe operation during any anomalous events. Surge protection to 6000VAC is integrated and the inverter enclosure and inputs are galvanically isolated from the grid connection to provide the ultimate safety barrier.

Magnetic component optimization and on-line adaptive switching techniques maximize efficiency and reduce cost. Chilicon inverters have been designed ground-up to provide reliability, efficiency, and lean construction to provide customers with the best possible inverter solution for their power generation project.

The Power Line Communication (PLC) technology was developed from the ground up and offers the best robustness of any PLC system, vastly superior to the competition. It is so robust that the Gateway can be installed anywhere in the house. This saves on installation costs.

General Features

  • 25 year standard warranty
  • 60-cell, 72-cell, 96-cell, 128-cell module compatibility in the same device.
  • 240VAC and 208VAC
  • UL1741SA-Rule-21, IEEE std 1547, IEEE std C62.41.2, CSA C22.2 NO. 107.1 & CISPR 22 Class B
  • NEC 690.12 Rapid Shutdown Compliant
  • Designed and manufactured in California, USA

Technical Overview

  • Efficiency: 96% CEC, 96.6% Peak
  • Output Power: 720VA Max
  • Recommended max input power: 2 x 430 W

Features

  • Robust and secure adaptive rate communication
  • On-line switching optimization
  • Wide-band harmonic suppression
  • MPPT Range: 57 - 82V (240V); 48.5 - 82V (208V)
  • Remote firmware upgrade
  • Reactive Power from 60% leading to 60% lagging

Reliability by design:

  • No electrolytics
  • Thermal management without potting

Resources

About product

Microinverters CP-250E

Overview

Chilicon Power CP-250E inverter performance leads the industry with sustained power production of 289 watts AC which provides well scaled output power compatibility for 60-cell and 72-cell modules up to 350W DC STC. The CP-250E has extended input voltage range and supports 72-cell (CP-250E) modules. Grid-interactive conversion occurs with a CEC rating of 96% with peak efficiency of 96.6%. The inverters are Rule-21 compliant and can provide reactive power on demand.

Reliability is provided through design that has all components rated to at least 200,000 hours service lifespan (or about 50 years of operating time). Firmware provides high frequency grid monitoring to ensure safe operation during any anomalous events. Surge protection to 6000VAC is integrated and the inverter enclosure and inputs are galvanically isolated from the grid connection to provide the ultimate safety barrier.

Magnetic component optimization and on-line adaptive switching techniques maximize efficiency and reduce cost. Chilicon inverters have been designed ground-up to provide reliability, efficiency, and lean construction to provide customers with the best possible inverter solution for their power generation project.

The Power Line Communication (PLC) technology was developed from the ground up and offers the best robustness of any PLC system, vastly superior to the competition. It is so robust that the Gateway can be installed anywhere in the house. This saves on installation costs.

General Features

  • 25 year standard warranty
  • 60-cell and 72-cell module compatibility with same device (CP-250E)
  • 240VAC and 208VAC
  • UL1741, IEEE std 1547, IEEE std C62.41.2, CSA C22.2 NO. 107.1 & CISPR 22 Class B
  • NEC 690.12 Rapid Shutdown Compliant
  • Designed and manufactured in California, USA

Technical Overview

  • Efficiency: 96% CEC, 96.6% Peak
  • Output Power: 285W Max (Ext. Range Enable)
  • Recommended max input power: 350W

Features

  • Robust and secure adaptive rate communication
  • On-line switching optimization
  • Wide-band harmonic suppression
  • MPPT Range: 22 - 38.5V
  • Remote firmware upgrade
  • Reactive Power from 85% leading to 85% lagging

Reliability by design:

  • No electrolytics
  • Thermal management without potting

Resources and links

About product

Cortex GATEWAY

Overview

The GATEWAY monitoring system communicates with Chilicon microinverters, consumption monitoring clamps, and other smart home devices. It can be cloud interconnected or can run stand-alone. The GATEWAY provides a 7" 800 x 480 LCD Touch Screen making it informative and easy to use. Commissioning of the solar array's configuration occurs on the gateway screen and site configuration is automatically posted to cloud.chiliconpower.com when a customer enables cloud interaction. There is no need to use a laptop to connect the customer's site to the cloud since registration details are filled out on the touch-screen directly. PV array topology is also organized on the touch screen which enables single-step setup and verification of the system.

Powerline communication with the GATEWAY uses a sophisticated multi-rate, error-resistant, and encrypted powerline communications technology to connect to each microinverter without additional wiring. In addition, every inverter is part of a mesh network where each one can also act as a repeater, thereby extending the range and ensuring reliable communication in any situation.

In addition to the power line communications interferace to inverters, the GATEWAY also has a Z-Wave (908 MHz) wireless interface that enables power consumption monitoring via current clamps placed in any utility panel. Ethernet and WiFi are integrated in every gateway.

Features

  • Plug & Play setup
  • Wi-Fi Enabled for easier installation
  • Communicates over existing electrical wires
  • Remote-control login
  • Secure Encryption to retain privacy
  • Multi-rate, Error-Resistant Technology
  • 1,000 microinverters per Gateway
  • Stand-alone mode for privacy

Home Automation - Home Security

In addition to solar monitoring, the Gateway is also capable of being the home security center of the home controlling Z-Wave sensors and Sirens. The Gateway Home Security center is fully featured with user management, status, arm away, arm stay and loggin of any relevant information to the security of the home. This enables installers to sell new features and differentiate themselves further to win more contracts.

Privacy & Security

The GATEWAY can optionally work in complete stand-alone mode where no data is transfered to the cloud. This means complete privacy of your data since it remains on your GATEWAY at home or in the office. Exporting data to the Cloud server ensures full data backup on a regular basis.

The security of one's power generation and consumption data is important (since it is an indication of occupancy and type of devices that you may be running in your home or office). All of our data transfers from the microinverters to the GATEWAY and from the GATEWAY to the Cloud are securely encrypted.

Resources

zWave Device Compatibility

  • Aeon Labs Home Energy Meter Gen5, ZW095-A
  • Aeon Labs Siren Gen5, ZW080-A17
  • Aeon Labs Door/Window Sensor Gen2, DSB29-ZWUS
  • Aeon Labs Range Extender/Repeater Gen 6, ZW117-A01 (908.42 MHz)
About product

CSIP Aggregator Server CP-1000

Overview

The GATEWAY monitoring system communicates with Chilicon microinverters, consumption monitoring clamps, and other smart home devices. It can be cloud interconnected or can run stand-alone. The GATEWAY provides a 7" 800 x 480 LCD Touch Screen making it informative and easy to use. Commissioning of the solar array's configuration occurs on the gateway screen and site configuration is automatically posted to cloud.chiliconpower.com when a customer enables cloud interaction. There is no need to use a laptop to connect the customer's site to the cloud since registration details are filled out on the touch-screen directly. PV array topology is also organized on the touch screen which enables single-step setup and verification of the system.

Powerline communication with the GATEWAY uses a sophisticated multi-rate, error-resistant, and encrypted powerline communications technology to connect to each microinverter without additional wiring. In addition, every inverter is part of a mesh network where each one can also act as a repeater, thereby extending the range and ensuring reliable communication in any situation.

In addition to the power line communications interferace to inverters, the GATEWAY also has a Z-Wave (908 MHz) wireless interface that enables power consumption monitoring via current clamps placed in any utility panel. Ethernet and WiFi are integrated in every gateway.

Features

  • Plug & Play setup
  • Wi-Fi Enabled for easier installation
  • Communicates over existing electrical wires
  • Remote-control login
  • Secure Encryption to retain privacy
  • Multi-rate, Error-Resistant Technology
  • 255 microinverters per Gateway
  • Stand-alone mode for privacy

Home Automation - Home Security

In addition to solar monitoring, the Gateway is also capable of being the home security center of the home controlling Z-Wave sensors and Sirens. The Gateway Home Security center is fully featured with user management, status, arm away, arm stay and loggin of any relevant information to the security of the home. This enables installers to sell new features and differentiate themselves further to win more contracts.

Privacy & Security

The GATEWAY can optionally work in complete stand-alone mode where no data is transfered to the cloud. This means complete privacy of your data since it remains on your GATEWAY at home or in the office. Exporting data to the Cloud server ensures full data backup on a regular basis.

The security of one's power generation and consumption data is important (since it is an indication of occupancy and type of devices that you may be running in your home or office). All of our data transfers from the microinverters to the GATEWAY and from the GATEWAY to the Cloud are securely encrypted.

Resources

zWave Device Compatibility

  • Aeon Labs Home Energy Meter Gen5, ZW095-A
  • Aeon Labs Siren Gen5, ZW080-A17
  • Aeon Labs Door/Window Sensor Gen2, DSB29-ZWUS
  • Aeon Labs Range Extender/Repeater Gen 6, ZW117-A01 (908.42 MHz)
About product

Modular Trunk Cabling

Overview

The trunk cabling portion of a microinverter system is extremely important since it directly impacts labor costs at an installation site. The Chilicon modular trunk and branch cabling system incorporates industry standard 10 AWG VNTC tray cable with a UV and cut resistant outer jacket. Each 'modular' component of the the 4 conductor cableplugs together right on the job site. For the first time, you can mix landscape and portrait mode PV module layouts side-by-side on the same string. In addition, the trunk cable is 'Self-Terminating' as shown in the figure below. There is no longer a need to procure 'termination caps' for the end of each microinverter string.

The trunk cable's 10 AWG cabling enables use of 30 A OCP devices (typically a 2 pole circuit breakers). This means that 20 CP250e devices running 289W output can be wired on a single 30 A string in 240V split phase mode, or 18 CP250e devices running 277W output can be wired on a single 30A string in 208V three phase mode. In the case of the 720W output, CP-720 device, 8 inverters (16 modules) can be wired to a 30A breaker in 240V split phase mode, or 7 inverters (14 modules) in 208V three phase mode. See the CP-250E Datasheet or the CP-720 Datasheet for detailed current and voltage scaling information.
see self-terminating layout
Click here for a more detailed Diagram of the modular trunk cable components and a self-terminating layout. Note that wiring for CP-720 twin inverters has special considerations. Examples of common configurations can be found in CP-720 Wiring Diagram Examples.  Note that to land the MTC cable in a JBOX, the MALE end of any cable (MTC-1.025, MTC-1.7, MTC-2.15) can be cut and have its wires stripped back. Chilicon also stocks a HR-1.7 cable with pre-cut ends.

Integrated Grounding

Chilicon Power inverters feature Integrated (DC isolated) Ground. Because the DC circuit is isolated and insulated from ground, these microinverters do not require a Grounding Electrode Conductor (GEC) connected between each microinverter. This means you don’t need to attach a separate copper grounding conductor to each microinverter or worry about a continuous run to ground.

Electrical code requires two types of grounding conductors: the Grounding Electrode Conductor (GEC), which is used between the grounding electrode and the point where a normally current carrying conductor is intentionally bonded to ground and the Equipment Grounding Conductor (EGC), which grounds noncurrent carrying metal parts of the system, such as the racking and module frames. Because Chilicon Power microinverters have DC integrated (isolated) ground, they do not require a GEC. However electrical code still requires that exposed metal in the array be grounded (NEC 690.43 and 250.136(A)). This requirement is met for the microinverter because the ground conductor internal to the modular trunk cable acts as the EGC. It may be met for racking and modules with use of an EGC or WEEBs to provide bonding to this ground system.

Trunk Cable Part Numbers

  • MTC-1.025  (1.025 meter modular trunk cable)
  • MTC-2.15 (2.15 meter modular trunk cable)
  • MTC-1.7 (1.70 meter modular trunk cable)
  • MTC-HR-1.7 (1.7 meter open ended home run cable for JBOX connection)

Accesories

  • T6 Male Cap (Covers Open T Junction Socket)
  • AC-TOOL (Modular Trunk Cable Unlocking Tool)
  • DC-TOOL (DC Connector Unlocking Tool)
see cables schemes