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GTI250W TOOLBOX MANUAL

Software and hardware to adjust The power curve of the GTI250W grid tie inverter

Ver. 01 2013

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SWEA GTI250W TOOLBOX.

USER MANUAL FOR ADJUSTMENT OF THE POWER CURVE INSIDE THE SWEA GTI250W GRID TIE INVERTER.

The SWEA GTI250W Grid Tie Inverter can be used to connect solar panels and small wind turbines to the grid. To get the highest power production of the inverter to the grid, the power curve must be adjusted to the device you want to connect. With this GTI250W toolbox you can adjust this power curve in an easy way. Follow the instructions below. Content Toolbox: 1 pc SWEA RS-232 communication cable With RS-232-USB Converter 1 pc Adaptor 110/220V-60-50Hz to 12 V DC. 1 pc CD ROM with menu software and manual. How to proceed: Step 1: Make sure you have installed Java on your PC. When Java is not installed please go to www.java.com to download this program. Step 2: Install the SWEA-SIT Menu software from the included CD ROM on your PC or go to www.swea.nl download (SWEA Inverter tool) Swea-SIT.exe Step 3: When asked please give permission to install. Step 4: Press next in the SWEASIT Setup: Installation options as picture below.

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Step 5: Choose your SWEA-SIT destination folder. Normally the software will be installed in the program files folder. Press Install.

Step 6: When the software is installed, press Close.

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Step 7: To start the SWEA-SIT software go to start/SWEA/SIT and click on the SIT file. Now the SWEA Inverter Tool will start up. See below picture.

Step 8: Connect the SWEA RS-232 cable to the inverter and your pc. WARNING! - Disconnect all the DC and AC wires from the inverter. - Open the top cover and find the connector strip as per below picture. Plug in the cable as per below pictures. Make sure that the flat side of the RS-232 cable is pointing towards the red and green led. The other end of the RS-232 communication cable is a standard RS-232 connector that you can find on your computer. If you have only USB ports on your computer you have to buy a standard USB to RS-232 converter. Make sure you have installed the USB driver the right way.

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Step 9: Choose the right COM port. When you dont know your Com port number please go to the configuration screen at the start menu. Click on system and go to device manager.

You can see for me its set at COM 8. It can be an other number for you it depends on your settings and computer configuration. STEP 10: Connect the included 12V DC adaptor to your GTI250W Grid Tie Inverter.

- Take of the cover plate from the hardwire compartment. - Connect the + and wire from the adaptor to the Dc in + and connectors. - Plug in the adaptor to the wall outlet. Now the red and green led will light up

on the inverter. Eventually only the red led will flash 2 times. (no grid available) also look in the inverter manual for led indications.

Step 11: Install the right COM port number. 1. In the SWEA-SIT Menu on your screen you can set the COM port number. 2: Choose COM and press Connect.

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Once connected you can look at the 1st and second tablet for errors and shutdown reasons.

Step 12. Log-in at the menu:

-File menu >> Login -Username: distributor -Password: tevvep20

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Step 13: Adjust the Vstart and the Steepness of the Power curve. Once you are logged in, a 3th tablet shows up. dV/dI. Here you can adjust the V-start and steepness.

Once youve filled in the right v-start and steepness for your wind turbine or solar panel press Write. When youve done that, dont forget to press the Restart button. Than disconnect the adaptor and you are done installing the v-start and steepness. Write failure:

Only override when you have contacted your dealer!

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Step 14: Calculate the V-start and steepness of the power curve you want to install.

POWER CURVE GTI250W Grid Tie inverter How to calculate point A: Vstart B: Vmp and C: Imp / Pmax. Generated power to the grid. A: V-start: This point can be adjusted from 25V minimum to 54V max. At this point the inverter starts to give power back into the grid. B: Vmp. With this Voltage the connected device ( solar or wind ) can make the highest power output. C: Imp: Maximum Power that the inverter can make at the VPmax of the connected device. (Max 250W) Example calculation of the steepness for connected solar panels : We are using a 200 watt solar panel in this example. Solar panel: - Pmax: 200 watt, - Vmp: 40V. - Voc: 51 volt, (this value may never be higher than 55 volt, above 55 volt the inverter will be damaged. This avoids warranty) - Imp: 5 amp. (200 watt / 40 volt = 5 Amps) Choose V-start point, you can find this starting point in the graph/spec sheet from your panel. Adjust: V start at 25 V. ( when sun starts shining the Dc out of the panels goes up quick to 25V. After 25 V the GTI250W Inverter starts giving power to the grid. Vmp of the solar panel is 40V, Calculate with this 40V as B: Vmp at 40V. The current (Imp) C is : 200 Watt / 40V = 5 Amps.

Power curve

V start 25-55V

P W 250W Imax 6,95A

A

B

C

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The steepness is mentioned in Volts/amps. This means for every Volt that the solar panel rises the load in Amps is rising to. For this 200 watt solar panel the Steepness must be: Calculation delta V: Delta V: (Vmp) 40 V (V-start) 25 V = 15V. The Imp current is 5 Amps max. Calculation Steepness: The steepness is (Delta V / Imp) 15/5 = 3 Volt /amp. In this case when the DC out goes up 3 Volt the load will rises 1 Amp. The total DC in is than V start +3V = 28V and the Imp is than 1 Amp. At this point the Power in to the grid is than 28V x 1 Amp = 28 Watt. The power to the grid is than 28 Watt x efficiency ( Average 90%) = 25,2 Watt. Fill in at the menu at your screen: V start 25V and steepness 3 V/A. Do not forget to do write and restart. Follow step 13. and connect the inverter to your installation. Example for connection of a 450 watt 48 volt wind turbine.. For a 450 watt turbine we need 2 pcs GTI-250W Grid Tie Inverters and one GTI250W wind starter-kit. Optional you can use a second safety device (SSD) ask your dealer. Proceed calculation: Choose V-start: The wind turbine needs a certain speed to make power to the grid, to avoid when the wind turbine is loaded by the inverters, that the turbine will stop turning. We choose for the 48 volt turbine for inverter number 1. V-start 35 volt. To be efficient in low wind speed we let start inverter number 2 at 40 volt. How to calculate the steepness of both inverters: Inverter 1: Pmax: 250 W Vmax: 55 Volt. (Above 55 volts the dump loads will be switched on by the wind starter-kit. So in this case the turbine can make its maximum power at 55 Volts. Imp: 250 Watt / 55 Volt = 4.54 Amps. Delta V = V-max Vstart = 55 V 35 V = 20 Volt. Steepness inverter 1 = 20 V / 4.54 = 4,4 V/A Inverter 2: Pmax: 250 W Vmax: 55 Volt. (Above 55 volts the dump loads will be switched on by the wind starter-kit. So in this case the turbine can make its maximum power at 55 Volts. Imp: 250 Watt / 55 Volt = 4.54 Amps. Delta V = V-max Vstart = 55 V 40 V = 15 Volt. Steepness inverter 2 = 15 V / 4.54 = 3,3 V/A In this case when the DC out goes up 3,3 Volt the load will rises 1 Amp. The total DC in is than: Inverter 1: V start + 3,3V = 35V+3,3V = 38,5 V and the Imp is than 1 Amp. Power to the grid is 38,5V x 1 Amp x 90% eff. = 34,65Watt.

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Inverter 2: When DC in becomes higher than 40V V start. Vstart + 3,3V = 40V+3,3V = 43,3 V and the Imp is than 1 Amp. Power to the grid is 43,3 V x 1 Amp x 90% eff. = 44,3 Watt. When both inverters are making power to the grid( green LED blinking ) than you may add the power production of each inverter to get the total power production to the grid. Fill in at the menu at your screen: Inverter 1: V start 35V and steepness 4,4 V/A. Inverter 2: V start 40V and steepness 3,3 V/A. Do not forget to do write and restart. Many other types of Wind turbines are on the market. Keep in mind that the Dc-in voltage or the inverters may never exceed the 55V DC. When you are not certain of your calculation and adjustments install the adjustment in the menu and look at the power production of your turbine. It is always possible to re-adjust and to find out the best adjustment in your wind area. When the wind is always low you need a soft ( high steepness) adjustment to get power also with low wind. When you live in a area with always high wind you have to adjust the power curve strong ( small steepness) Good luck with the installation. Please dont hesitate to ask further questions to your local dealer. SWEA USA BV SWEA Europe BV June 2013, ver 01-13