HiQ Solar - TrueString 480V Inverter Installation & Safety ...This manual contains important safety instructions for the HiQ Solar TrueString 480V inverter system – comprised of

Installation&SafetyGuideHiQSolarTrueString480VInverterSystem

March2016ISG-02-USVersion1.12

ModelTS480-8k

HiQSolar March10,2016

TrueString480VInstallation&SafetyGuide ISG-02-US 2

TableofContents1. Safety.......................................................................................................................................41.1. WarningsUsed.............................................................................................................................................41.2. GeneralSafetyProvisions,Warnings,andPrecautions...............................................................................5

2. Introduction..............................................................................................................................62.1. SystemOverview.........................................................................................................................................6

2.1.1. TrueString480VInverter.......................................................................................................................72.1.2. CommunicationGateway......................................................................................................................7

3. SystemOrdering&PartNumberIdentification.........................................................................8

4. DesignGuidelines...................................................................................................................104.1. DCStackingRatio.......................................................................................................................................104.2. NotesonSiting...........................................................................................................................................10

4.2.1. InverterPlacement..............................................................................................................................124.2.2. GatewayPlacement............................................................................................................................12

4.3. NotesonWiring.........................................................................................................................................124.3.1. ACCable..............................................................................................................................................124.3.2. Grounding............................................................................................................................................134.3.3. Neutral.................................................................................................................................................13

5. Installation..............................................................................................................................135.1. Warnings....................................................................................................................................................135.2. ConnectionOutline....................................................................................................................................135.3. BasicConnectionProcedure......................................................................................................................145.4. MoreDetailedInstallationInformation.....................................................................................................18

5.4.1. MeaningsofButtons&Indicators.......................................................................................................185.4.2. ManufacturingDate............................................................................................................................19

5.5. GatewayInformation.................................................................................................................................205.5.1. TheMemoryCard................................................................................................................................205.5.2. MethodsofAccessingSystemInformation.........................................................................................205.5.3. RegisteringInverters............................................................................................................................215.5.4. GatewayTouchScreenMenuStructure..............................................................................................235.5.5. GatewayWebPageMenuStructure...................................................................................................245.5.6. Show/HideWebpageControls.............................................................................................................255.5.7. ArcDetection.......................................................................................................................................265.5.8. UtilityProtectiveFunction–AdjustableLimits....................................................................................275.5.9. SystemFirmwareUpdates...................................................................................................................285.5.10. GatewayAccessInsideaLocalNetwork............................................................................................295.5.11. AccessingtheGatewayfromOutsidetheLocalNetwork–LAN-sideconfiguration.........................305.5.12. AccessingtheGatewayfromOutsidetheLocalNetwork–WAN-sideconfiguration.......................32

6. Troubleshooting......................................................................................................................346.1. OverviewofPossibleIssues.......................................................................................................................346.2. IfIhadThisIssue,itwouldLookLikeTheseSymptoms.............................................................................356.3. IfIhadTheseSymptoms,itCouldbeOneofTheseCauses......................................................................376.4. NotesonSelectedIssues............................................................................................................................38

6.4.1. InverterButtonIndicatorStates..........................................................................................................38(A)InternetConnectivityIssues........................................................................................................................39(B)GatewayMemoryCardIssues....................................................................................................................40



(C)GatewaytoInverterConnectivityIssues.....................................................................................................41(D)ACWiringIssues.........................................................................................................................................42(E)InverterInstallationIssues..........................................................................................................................43(F)PVModuleWiringIssues.............................................................................................................................43

7. Specifications..........................................................................................................................447.1. PowerSystemSpecifications.....................................................................................................................447.2. CommunicationsGatewaySpecifications..................................................................................................467.3. UnitRatingLabel........................................................................................................................................477.4. SystemUL1741Certificate........................................................................................................................487.5. PhysicalDimensions&DrillingGuides.......................................................................................................49

7.5.1. TrueString480VInverter.....................................................................................................................497.5.2. Gateway..............................................................................................................................................51

©Copyright2009-2016HiQSolar,Allrightsreserved.

Nopartofthisdocumentmaybereproduced,storedfordistribution,orsharedwithoutpriorwrittenpermissionofHiQSolarInc.

HiQSolarmakesnorepresentations,expressedorimplied,withrespecttothisdocumentationortotheequipment/softwaredescribedherein,includinganyimpliedwarrantiesofuseorapplicabilityforparticularpurposes.HiQSolarisnotliableforanyincidentalorindirectdamagesunderanycircumstances.

Thedataandspecificationsreferredtohereinaresubjecttochangewithoutnotice,althougheveryattempthasbeenmadetodeliveraccurateandup-to-dateinformation.HiQSolarretainstherighttomakechangeswithoutnoticeandisnotresponsiblefordamagesofanytypecausedbyomissionsorerrorsofanykindinthematerialwithin.

HiQSolarInc.

2030DuaneAvenue.

SantaClara,CA95054

Tel:408-970-9580

www.hiqsolar.com

[email protected]



1. Safety

IMPORTANTSAFETYINSTRUCTIONS–Pleaseread

SAVETHESEINSTRUCTIONSThismanualcontainsimportantsafetyinstructionsfortheHiQSolarTrueString480Vinvertersystem–comprisedoftheTrueString480Vinverter,andCommunicationsGatewaythatshallbefollowedduringinstallationandmaintenanceoftheinvertersystem.TheTrueString480VinvertersystemisdesignedaccordingtoNorthAmericasafetyrequirements.Aswithanyelectricalequipment,certainprecautionsmustbeobservedwheninstallingthisequipment.Toreducetheriskofpersonalinjuryandtoensuresafeinstallationandoperation,carefullyreadandfollowallinstructions,cautionsandwarningsinthisInstallationGuide.

1.1. WarningsUsedThefollowingWarningsdescribesituationsorproceduresorpracticeswhichifnotcorrectlyperformedorfollowedcouldresultindamageordestructionofthedescribedequipmentorothercomponentsattachedtothedescribedequipment,orpersonalinjury.

Symbol Description

WARNING!

Indicatesasituationwhichcouldresultindeathorseriousinjury

CAUTION!

Indicatesasituationwhichcouldresultinminorormoderateinjury

NOTE

Indicatesasituationwhichcouldresultinpropertydamage

Thefollowingsymbolsareusedasmarkingsonthisproductwiththefollowingexplanations:

Symbol Description

WARNING-DANGEROUSVOLTAGE

Thisproductincorporateshighvoltages.Allhandlingofandoperationofthisproductshouldcloselyfollowtheinstructionsincluded.

CAUTION-BEWAREOFHOTSURFACE

Thisproductmaybecomehotduringoperation.Contactshouldbeavoided.



1.2. GeneralSafetyProvisions,Warnings,andPrecautions

• Connectionofthesystemmustbeto480Vnominal,3-phaseAConly.

• TheTrueString480VinverterisprovidedwithDCcircuitprotectioninaccordancewiththerequirementsforungroundedsystemsasoutlinedinNEC690.35(C).

• ThesystemmeetstherequirementsofNEC690.11forDCarc-faultprotection.

• Allelectricalinstallationsmustbeperformedinaccordancewithallapplicablelocal,stateandnationalrequirements,includingANSI/NFPA70.

• TrueString480VinvertersmustbeprovidedwithanequipmentgroundperNEC690.43.

• All5circuits(L1,L2,L3,Neutral,Ground)mustbeconnectedandNeutralmustbebondedtoearthground.Failuretodosocandamagetheunitandvoidthewarranty.

• TheHiQSolarcomponentscontainnouserserviceableparts.Forallrepairandmaintenancealwayscontactyourauthorizeddealerorinstallationpartner.

• TheTrueString480VinverterhasinputsfortwoseparateDCstrings.Reversalofpolarityofoneorbothstringinputswillirreparablydamagetheunit.

• TheTrueString480Vinvertersystemisautility-interactivesystem.Beforeconnectinganysolarpowersystemtothegridcontactyourlocalutilitycompany.Thisconnectionshouldonlybemadebyqualifiedpersonnel.

• PVarraysproducevoltagesthatcanpresentanelectricalshockhazard.WiringofPVarraysshouldbeperformedbyqualifiedpersonnelfollowingallmanufacturer'sguidelines.

• BeawarethatthebodyoftheHiQSolarTrueString480Vinverteractsasaheatsink.Undernormaloperatingconditions,thetemperatureoftheexterioroftheenclosurecanreachmorethan15°Caboveambient.Underextremeconditionstheexterioroftheenclosurescanreachatemperatureof80°C.Toreduceriskofburns,usecautionwhenworkingwiththeTrueString480Vinvertersystem.

• CommunicationGatewayACConnectionProcedureso Toconnect-PlugtheACcableintotheGatewayFIRST,thenplugtheotherendintothewall

outlet.o Todisconnect-UnplugthecablefromtheACwalloutletFIRST,thenproceedtodisconnect

thecablefromtheGatewaydevice.

• Inordertomaintaintheintegrityofthewatertightenclosures,allconnectorsmustbeproperlyandfullyengaged.

• Beforeinstallation,carefullyreadallinstructions,cautions,andwarningsinthisguide.



2. IntroductionThisinstructionmanualcoverstheTrueString480Vinvertersystem.Asummaryoffeaturesisshowninthetable.

Feature TrueString480V

Gridvoltage 480V,Wyeconfiguration

Nominalpower 8kW

MaximumPowerPointTracking,MPPT Perindividualstring

Monitoring Perindividualstring

NEMA6,waterproof ✓

Arcdetection ✓

Hand-holdable 24lb.

Mountingorientation Any

Noelectrolyticcapacitors ✓

2.1. SystemOverviewAtypicallayoutisshowninFigure1.NotethatwhiletheCommunicationsGatewayprovidesdetailedreportingandusercontrol,itisoptional–thesystemwillgeneratepowerwithoutit.

TheHiQSolarTrueString480Vsystemisaneasytoinstall,modularsystemoptimizedspecificallyforcommercialrooftopungroundedsolararrayapplications.Unlikeotherstringinverters,eachstringisindividuallymonitoredandmanagedbytheinverter.

ThemaincomponentsoftheHiQSolarTrueString480Vinvertersystemaredescribedinthenextsection.

Figure1:SystemoverviewshowingtwostringsofPVmodulessupplyinga

singleTrueString480Vinverter.ACommunicationGatewayisshown

connectedtoone277Vphase

TrueString*480V*Inverter*

8"kWac"

String"1"String"2"Communica6ons*Gateway*

AC,"480V,"36phase"56wire"

277V"16phase"on"own"breaker,"same"circuit"



2.1.1. TrueString480VInverter

OneTrueString480Vinverterconnectstoupto2stringsofPVmodules,andinturntotheinstallationsite3-phase,480Vcompatibleutilityconnection.TheTrueString480VinverterisshowninFigure2.Itisanon-isolatedinverterforusewithungroundedDCsystems.

NOTE:Multipleinverteroutputsmaybeconnectedinparallelbyaqualifiedelectrician.

2.1.2. CommunicationGateway

OneGatewaymoduleconnectstoa277V/60Hzbranchthatisconnectedtothesame3-phase,480VcompatibleutilityconnectionsuppliedbytheTrueStringinverter(s).TheGatewaymoduleprovidesforsystemmonitoring,loggingandcontrol.TheGatewayModuleisshowninFigure3andisdesignedforindooruseonly.

Figure3:Communications

Gateway

Figure2:TrueString480V

Inverter



3. SystemOrdering&PartNumberIdentificationAtypical8kWunitconsistsof:

• 1TrueString480Vinverter• 1CommunicationGatewayforupto300inverters.

Orderingmaybeaccomplishedusingthefollowingpartnumbers.

Item PartNumber Description

TrueString480Vinverter,8kW,480V3-phase

TS480-8k InverterwithMC4-compatibleconnectors(1ea).MPPTperstring,monitoringperstring.Includes10yearlimitedwarranty.DoesnotincludeGateway.DoesnotincludeACcable,mustbeorderedseparately

Option-AddRS485communicationandAuxconnector

TS480-8kOptionA

Mustbeorderedattimeofsystempurchase,notretrofittable

Option-TrueStringSystemWarrantyExtensionto25yearsfor1TrueString480V

TS480-8kOptionW25

Mustbeorderedattimeofsystempurchase.IncludessystemGateway(s)

TrueString480VACCable

CBL-480A-05 5ft.IncludesTrueString480VACmatingconnector,otherendunterminated




ACConnectorTool

TOOL-480A TrueString480VACConnectorUnlatchingTool(1ea)

PVConnectorTool

TOOL-DCA MC4-CompatibleConnectorUnlatchingTool(1ea)



CommunicationsGatewayPackage

CommunicationsGateway

GW-A GW-ACommunicationGateway110V/277V(1ea).IncludesEthernetCable(1ea).Alsoincludesmemorycardforloggingandstorageofresults.ACpowercableisorderedseparately.

MemoryCard

MCRD-A StorageforGatewayresults.Genericcard-makesandcapacitiessuppliedwillvary.

GatewayEthernetCable

CBL-RJ45-6 RJ458P8Cplugeachend.

Coloretc.mayvary.

GatewayACCable

CBL-GW277A-6 Gateway277VACCablewithACPlug



4. DesignGuidelinesForsystemmodelingwithPVSyst(http://www.pvsyst.com)aninputfileforTrueString480VisavailableontheHiQwebsite.TheTS480-8kisalsointheHelioscopeinverterlibrary(http://www.folsomlabs.com).

4.1. DCStackingRatioTheratioofPVmoduleSTCpowerratingtoinverteroutputpowerratingisoftenreferredtoas“StackingRatio.”MostPVinstallationsaredesignedforastackingratiogreaterthan1,andlessthan1.5.However,theonlyreallimitationonstackingratiofortheHiQinverteristhevoltageandcurrentlimitationsofthestringinputs.ThefullpowerVmprangeforthestringinputsis425to850VDC.ThespecifiedmaximumshortcircuitcurrentoftheDCsourceis30A.TwostringswithaVmpof850VDCandashortcircuitcurrentcapabilityof30Awouldyieldastackingratioofalmost6.375.

Amorepracticallimitationisduetothepowerandcurrentlimitsimposedbytheinverterfirmware.Inputpowerislimitedto5kWandinputcurrentislimitedto10Aperstringbythefirmware.Thetotalofthesetwostringsexceedstheoutputpowerlimitof8kW,soinrealitysomethinglessthan5kWwouldbeharvestedfromeachstring.

Idealstackingratiovariesbyinstallation.ForthevastmajorityofHiQinstallations,astackingratiobetween1.25and1.5makesperfectsense.Undersomeconditions(constanthighirradiance)alowerstackingratiomaybepreferred.Astackingratioof1.1to1.25typicallyallowsforenergyharvestlossfactorssuchaslessthanidealmoduleorientation,inverterefficiencylosses,modulesoiling,moduleaging,etc.Neverthelessinsomecasesastackingratioof1.5orgreatercanbeadvantageous.ForexampleinthenorthernhemisphereaNorthfacingarray,oranEastorWest-facingarraymayjustifyahigherstackingratio.

Thesystemdesignerisresponsibleforspecifyingthestringparameterstoremainwithintheinverterratings.

4.2. NotesonSitingTheHiQTrueString480Vinverterissuitableforflat,commercialrooftops,carports,groundmountsandothercommercialinstallations.Theunitmaybeplacedusingtheself-ballastingmetalcasing,oralternativelymaybeattachedtoasolarmoduleframeorroofingcomponentusingtheprovidedattachmentmechanisms.

AlinediagramisshowninFigure4.Notethattheinverterrequiresa480VWyegridconfiguration.



Figure4:Examplelinediagram

• Notethatupto3invertersmaybeconnectedonthesamebranchtoone40AOCPDifdesired.• HiQSolaroffersaNEMA4XACSplicejunctionboxsuitableforusewith2or3HiQinvertersifdesired.

Thefollowingsectionsprovidedetailsonindividualcomponentplacementguidelinesandrequirements.



4.2.1. InverterPlacement

TheTrueString480VinverterisNEMA6ratedandmaybeplacedalmostanywhere.Coolingismostefficientiftheunitismountedverticallyintheshade,boltedtorackingandwiththeconnectorspointingdownwards.However,anyorientationisacceptable.

Mountinghardwareupto5/16”willfitthebaseplatemountingslots.

4.2.2. GatewayPlacement

• TheGatewayisratedforindoorinstallationonly.Donotexposeittorain,extremetemperatures,orexcessivedust.Itmustbemountedindoors.Autilityclosetorsimilarlocationphysicallyclosetotheinvertersystemisideal.Itmustbeelectricallyconnectedtooneofthethreephasesthatareconnectedtotheinverter.NotethatitinlargeutilityclosetsitisofteneasytoenduponanunrelatedACcircuitaccidentally,inwhichcasecommunicationsareunlikelytobesuccessful.

WARNING!

TheGatewayDeviceisnotratedforoutdoorinstallation.

• Recommended:Adda277Vacoutletattheearliestentrypointinthebuildingtoprovidethebestpowerlinecommunication(PLC)signalpossible.Ideallya277Vacoutletnexttothebreaker.

• Gatewayshouldbeprotectedbya15AOCPD• AwiredEthernetnetworkconnectionmustbeprovidedtotheGatewayforproperdataretrieval.• Ifoutdoorplacementisrequired,theGatewaymustbehousedinaweatherproofenclosure.• TheGatewayhas‘keyhole’mountingsonitsbaseplate.Eachholehasa

guide-holeabove–itisintendedthatthesefourholesprovideatemplateformountingsuchthatapenorcenterpunchcanbeinsertedthroughandmarksleftonthewalltohelpaccuratedrillingofholes.Mountingcanbeachievedusing#8-sizedscrews.

4.3. NotesonWiring

4.3.1. ACCable

TheinverterACcablehasaTC-ERrating.The“-ER”signifiesthatthecableissufficientlyruggedtopermititsuseasexposedwiring,bytheNEC(section336.10).Exposedwiringiswiringthatisnotinstalledinatray,conduitorotherraceway.Itmustbesecuredevery6feetorless,andprotectedfromphysicaldamage.

Figure5:IdealplacementoftheTrueString480Vinverter

Figure6:Gatewaybaseplateshowingkeyholemountinganddrillingguidehole.



4.3.2. Grounding

ThemetalenclosureoftheinvertermustbegroundedperNEC690.43.EquipmentgroundisprovidedthroughtheACconnection.Optionally,groundingmaybeachievedalsothroughattachinganEquipmentGroundConductor(EGC)toalay-inlug(notprovided)attachedtothechassisperthepictureofFigure7.

Groundingmayalsobeachievedusingthemountingboltstoanyproperlygroundedmetallicstructureprovidedapaint-cuttingwasherisemployed,suchasastainlesssteelstarwasher.

4.3.3. Neutral

All5circuits(L1,L2,L3,Neutral,Ground)mustbeconnectedandNeutralmustbebondedtoearthground.Failuretodosocandamagetheunitandvoidthewarranty.Notethatparticularcareisrequiredtoensurethataneffectiveneutralismaintainedwhenatransformerformspartoftheinstallation.

TheHiQinverterexportspoweronlyontheLineconductors.TheneutralconductorisusedsolelyforvoltagesensingandPowerLinecommunications.

5. InstallationTheHiQSolarTrueString480Vinverteremploysindustrystandardconnectionmethods,includinglockinginterconnectsforsolarmoduleattachment,andstandard5lead,3-phaseACwiringcompatibility.Carefuladherencetotheseinstructionsisrequired.

5.1. Warnings

• Thesystemmustbeconnectedto480V3-phaseWye5-wireonly• Theinvertermustbegrounded• UseavoltmetertocarefullyverifythattheDCinputsarecorrectbeforeconnectingtotheinverterDC

inputs.AreversedDCinputpolarityconnectionwillirreparablydamagetheinverter.• TheCommunicationsGatewayisforindooruseonly• Inordertomaintaintheintegrityofthewatertightenclosures:

o Allconnectorsmustbeproperlyandfullyengagedo Unusedconnectorsmustbesealedusingappropriateweatherproofcaps

5.2. ConnectionOutlineConnectionoccursinthefollowingorder:

1. Connectanequipmentgroundtotheinverter.Thisshouldalwaysbedonefirst2. Connecttheinvertertothegrid3. ConnecttheCommunicationGatewaytothesame480Vcircuitastheinverterandthenetwork4. Lastly,connectthePVmodulestringstotheinverterinputs

Disconnectionusesthesestepsinreverse,withsystemgroundbeingthelastitemtobedisconnected.

Figure7:Examplegroundlug



5.3. BasicConnectionProcedure

1.

Groundtheinverter.

Theinvertersmustbegrounded.

EquipmentgroundisprovidedthroughtheACconnection.Optionally,agroundinglay-inlug(notsupplied)maybeused(Figure8),orthemountingmethodmaybeusedifemployingapaint-cuttingwashersuchasastainlesssteelstarwasher.

2.

Connecttheinvertertothegrid

(a)ConnecttheinverterACcabletotheACsystemintheusualwayusingtheHiQSolarinverterACcable(suppliedseparately)–seeFigure9.

Thisshouldonlybecarriedoutbyqualifiedpersonnel.

Notethattheunitisonlywatertightwhenconnectorsarefullyengaged.

NotethattheinverterACcablesareTC-ERrated1.

WARNING-DANGEROUSVOLTAGE

Thisproductincorporateshighvoltages.

1The“-ER”signifiesthatthecableissufficientlyruggedtopermititsuseasexposedwiring,bytheNationalElectricalCode.Exposedwiringiswiringthatisnotinstalledinatray,conduitorotherraceway.

Any$color$to$any$phase$

White$to$$Neutral(

Warning:$480V$37phase$only%

Green$to$$Equipment$Ground(

Figure8:Examplegroundlug

Figure9:WiringidentificationontheInverterACcable



(b)MatethemaleandfemaleACconnectortoconnecttheinvertertotheACsystem.TheACremainsoff.

Tool$TOOL'480A$

(a)$Connec3on$

(b)$Disconnec3on$

1$

2$

3$Figure10:Connectinganddisconnectingofthe

TrueString480VinverterACconnection



3. ConnecttheCommunicationsGateway.

WARNING!

TheGatewayDeviceisratedforindoorinstallationonly.

(a)TheGatewayshouldbesitedindoors,asneartotheinverter(s)aspossibleforreliablecommunications(Figure11).

(b)ConnectpowertotheGatewayusingtheappropriateACcable(Figure12).Ethernetmayalsobeconnectedatthisstagebutisnotrequired.

Gateway'

Equipment'

Ground'

Load'Center'

480V'39P'

TrueString'480V'

Inverter'

Neutral,'Ground,''

One'Phase,'15A'OCPD''

Inverter'AC'Cable'(sold'separately)'

CBL9480A905'(5'N.)'

CBL9480A915'(15'N.)'

CBL9480A930'(30'N.)'

CBL9480A950'(50'N.)'

Means'of'AC'

disconnect'

Means'of'DC'

disconnect'

Up'to'3'inverters'on'

single'40A'OCPD'Dedicated'

branch'circuit'

AddiTonal'dedicated'

branch'circuits'

Neutral,'Ground,''

3'Phases''

OCPDs'

TS48098k'

Gateway'277V'cable'

(sold'separately)'

CBL9GW277A96'

Ethernet'Connec+on'(Op+onal)'

AC'Connec+on'

Figure11:WiringoftheCommunicationGateway

Figure12:MakingGatewayconnections



(c)Switchonpowertotheinverter.OntheGatewayscreen,pressthe‘Inverters’buttonatthetopofthescreeniftheunitisnotalreadyonthattab.Pressthe‘Discover’button.

TheGatewaywillsearchforany/allinvertersandcheckthattheyarehealthy.

4. ConnectthestringsofPVmodules.

ItisrecommendedthattheACbeswitchedoffbeforedoingthis.

DonotreversethepolarityoftheDCinputs–irreparabledamagewillbecausedtotheinverter.

Allconnectorsmustbefullymatedtoensureweatherproofing.

5. SwitchontheAC.

Thesystemwillwait5minutes,thenstartgeneratingpower.ChecktheGateway‘Panels’screentoverifyeverythingishealthy.

(a)$Connec*on$

(b)$Disconnec*on$

1$

2$

Tool$TOOL5DCA$

Figure13:HavingtheGatewayauto-discoveraddedinverters

Figure14:ConnectinganddisconnectingMC4-compatiblemoduleconnectors

Figure15:VerifyingthatallmodulesarehealthyusingtheGateway



5.4. MoreDetailedInstallationInformation

5.4.1. MeaningsofButtons&Indicators

WhilemostinstallationswilluseaCommunicationGatewaytocontrolandreport,itisnotmandatory–theinvertercanbecontrolledusingthebutton,asillustratedinFigure16.Abriefpress-and-releaseofthebuttoncountsasabutton-pushintheguidebelow.IndicationsgivenbythebuttonilluminationareshowninFigure17.

InverterButtonPush ButtonIndication Result

1press

• Makeinverter&balancersbeep(“areyoualive?”)

2presses

• ‘Off&Locked’-disabled• Donot5-minuteself-start

3presses

• Startgeneratingimmediately• Iflocked,unlock&generateimmediately• (Ifsystemisfaulted,willunlockbutwon’t

generate)

Longpress(>2seconds)

(Briefflash)

• Alternatefunctionsmode,readytoacceptfurtherbuttonpushes.Timesoutafter10seconds

1press(afterlongpress)

• Clearlatchedfaults,forexampleafterRCDorarc-faulttesthasinitiatedafaultcondition

3presses(afterlongpress)

• RCD-testactivation.SuccessfuloperationofRCDtestshouldcauseafaultcondition(rapidredflashing)untilcleared


• Arc-faulttestactivation.Successfuloperationofarc-faultdetectionshouldcauseafaultcondition(rapidredflashing)untilcleared

Figure16:Inverterpushbuttonactionsandresults



InverterIndicatorState Meaning

Solid

• Poweredup• Notgenerating• Nofaults

Left-rightflash

• Power-onself-test(willtake<1minute)

GreenChaser

• Poweredup• Generating,nofaults

RapidFlash

• Faulted,e.g.arcdetected

MostlyOn

• ‘Off&Locked’-disabled

MostlyOff

• Sleeping–notgenerating

Figure17:Inverterindicatorstatesandmeanings

5.4.2. ManufacturingDate

TheTrueString480Vinverter,andGatewayeachhaveanindividualizedserialnumberlabel,withanexampleshowninFigure18.Thefirst4lettersarefordevicemodelcode(TSBBforTrueString480V);thisisfollowedbythe6-digitserialnumber(forexample001003).ThemanufacturingdatecodeisavailableintheQRcode,readablewithcommonsmartphoneapplications.TheQRcodewillgivethesameinformation,appendedwiththedateofmanufacture,forexampleTSBB0010031341,where13istheyear(2013),and41thecalendarweeknumber.

Figure18:ExampleserialnumberlabelwithQRcodecontainingthemanufacturingdate

TSBB001003'



5.5. GatewayInformationThissectioncoverscommontasksandfeaturesassociatedwiththeGateway.

5.5.1. TheMemoryCard

TheGatewayissuppliedwithamemorycardtoallowlong-termstorageandretrievalofperformancehistory.Careshouldbetakentoensurethatitisfullyinserted,assomefunctionsarenotavailablewiththecardnotfullyengaged.Thecardispre-formattedwiththeFAT32filesystemandisreadytobeinsertedintotheGatewayasshowninFigure19.

5.5.2. MethodsofAccessingSystemInformation

AnoverviewofwaystoaccessdataisshowninFigure20.TheGatewaygathersdatafrominvertersoveraconnectedpowerline.TheGatewaydisplaysinformationonit’stouchscreen.WithasuitableEthernetnetworkconnection,itiscapableofactingasawebserver,allowingalocalcomputeroraremotecomputerwithfirewallaccesstoseesystemperformanceasitishappening,displayedonawebpage.DataisalsotransferredtoHiQserverstogatherhistory,whichcanbeaccessedremotely.Moredetailsaregivenbelow.

Figure19:Insertionofthememorycard.

No#Card#

Card#inserted#but#not#engaged#

Card#properly#engaged#

Figure20:MethodsofaccessingdatafromHiQinverters

Local&Ethernet&Network&

Web$HiQ$Solar$Gateway$

HiQ&Solar&Database&

Local$

History&data&

Local&device&

External&device&

Real<=me&data&

Real<=me&data&

Power&line&



5.5.3. RegisteringInverters

TheCommunicationGatewayisintelligent,andwhenrequiredtodiscoverTrueString480Vinvertersnearbywilldosoeasilywithjustthepressofabutton.Occasionallyitmaybedesirabletomanuallyregisterinverters,andthisisalsoeasytoachieve.Bothproceduresaredescribedbelow.

5.5.3.1. AutomaticDiscoveryofTrueString480VInvertersOnthe[Inverters]tabthe‘Discover’buttonwillsearchforanyinvertersinthelocalarea.Inmostcasesthisisallthatwillberequired,withallavailableinvertersappearingonthelistshownonthescreeninFigure21.

ButtonState Meaning

• Initialstate

• Oncepressed,inprocessofdiscoveringTrueString480Vinverters.Willreturnto

initialstatewithemptyserialnumberlistifnoinvertersfound

• Errorfound,forexamplesignalstrengthistoolow,toomuchbackgroundnoiseoncircuit.Redcoloronlyclearswhenuserre-tries&thefaultconditionnolongerapplies

• Oncediscoveryhassuccessfullyoccurred,buttonreturnstooriginalstate

Thismayalsobeachievedfromthewebinterface,seeFigure22(c).

5.5.3.2. ManualRegistrationofInvertersManualregistrationisaccomplishedusingthewebinterface,withtheabilitytoaddanddeleteinvertersasdesired,seeFigure22.Thismaybefoundunderthetoplevelofthe[MiniInverters]tab.

Figure21:Statesofthe‘Discover’buttonwithmeanings



Figure22:Addingandremovinginvertersmanuallyusingthewebinterface

(a)$ (b)$

(c)$



5.5.4. GatewayTouchScreenMenuStructure

Thefollowingmenutreeshowshowdifferentscreensandfunctionsarerelatedandaccessed.

Inverters(

Array(

Update(

Panels(

Detail(

Diagnos5c(

AC(Health(

DC(Health(

Info(

Gateway(

Network(

Clock(

GW(Diagnos5cs(

Screen( PLC(Diagnos5cs(

Special(

Unlikely(to(need(in(normal(use(

Figure23:Gatewaytouchscreenmenutree



5.5.5. GatewayWebPageMenuStructure

Figure24:Arraypageandmaininverternavigation

Overall'Array'

Listed'Inverters'

Summary'for'each'inverter'

Main'Naviga;on'

Menu'

See'next'page'



Figure25:Gatewaysummarypage(primarilyforserviceuse)

5.5.6. Show/HideWebpageControls

Avaluablefeatureofthesystemistheabilitytoviewandcontrolthesystemfromasmartphonewhenlocalcomputernetworksettingsallow(seeSection5.5.10,page29,below).Becausephonescreensaresmallitmightsometimesbepossibletoaccidentallyactivateordisablefunctionsinadvertently.TohelpavoidthistheGatewaywebpagehasabuttonfor‘ShowControls’and‘HideControls’nearthetopofsomeofthescreens,anexampleisshowninFigure26.

Gateway'Summary'Screen'

Figure26:Showing/hidingcontrolsontheGatewaywebpage



5.5.7. ArcDetection

TheseproductsmeettherequirementsofNEC690.11.Iftripped,theinverterwillshutitselfdown.Itwillalsoindicatewithrapidredflashesofthebutton,andtheindicatorontheaffectedBalancerwilldisplayrapidredflashes.ThewebpageandGatewaywillalsoshowsystemfaultflags(seeFigure27).

Notethatpowercyclingofthesystemwillnotclearsuchafault,itmustbeclearedusingtheprocedureoutlinedinFigure27,eitherusingtheGatewaytouchscreenorthewebpage.

Touchscreen Webpage

Figure27:Arcfaultindicationandclearingprocedures

2.#Off#

1.#Faulted#

1.#On#

2.#Off#



5.5.8. UtilityProtectiveFunction–AdjustableLimits

TheHiQSolarTrueString480VinvertersystemiscapableofoperatingbeyondnormalACgridrangeswhenrequiredtodosobytheoperatingUtilityCompany.ChangesinthisareamustonlybecarriedoutwiththeexpresswrittenpermissionoftheUtility,onlysettingvaluesspecifiedbythem.

ChangesaremadethroughthewebpagesandcannotbeaccessedfromtheGatewaytouchscreen.WhenloggedintoaparticularGatewaythroughthewebportal,typethefollowingintothebrowserURLaddressbaraftertheserialnumber:

‘/SAFETYLIMITS.htm’(capitalizationisimportanthere).Anexampleis:http://hiqgty-1020/SAFETYLIMITS.htm.

ThiswillbringupthescreenshowninFigure28.AnindividualserialnumberofaninverteronthatGatewayisenteredintothe‘Serial#’field;pressing‘Get’willcausecommunicationwiththeparticularinverterandit’scurrentvalueswillpopulateinthewebpage;whendesiredchangeshavebeencompleted,‘Set’willwritethosevaluesbacktothatsameinverter.

AvailablerangesaregivenintheinverterSpecificationstableofSection7.1towardstheendofthisdocument.

Figure28:Utilityprotectiveadjustmentsdialogbox



5.5.9. SystemFirmwareUpdates

HiQSolaroccasionallyupdatessystemfirmwaretoaddfeaturesandenhancereliabilityevenfurther.FirmwareupdatesmaybeaccomplishedthroughanetworkconnectionorusingamemorycardphysicallyinsertedintothecardslotontheGateway.UpdatesmaybecontrolledthroughtheGatewaytouchscreenortheGatewaywebpage.

Touchscreen Webpage

ExamplebelowwhereanupdatewasinitiatedbuttheGatewaywasunabletofindafirmwarefilethroughthenetworkconnectionorfromthememorycard.



5.5.10. GatewayAccessInsideaLocalNetwork

ThefollowingsectionswillprobablybeusefulforthecompanyITdepartment.

NotethattheGatewaydefaultistobeinDHCPmode–thisistheeasiestforlocalaccessinsideanetwork.

5.5.10.1. AccessingLocallyfromaWindowsDevice1)LookingattheGatewayunit,usethetouchscreentodisplaythe‘Gateway’tab.Youmayneedtoscrolltoseetheviewbelow:

2)Openawebbrowser.Eithertypeintotheaddressbarthe‘NETNAME’(inourexample‘HIQGTY-1001’)ortypeinthelistedIPaddress(here192.168.1.13,butthiswillvary)2.Thiswillbringupthewebloginscreen.Unlessotherwisealtered,thefollowingwillapply(casesensitive):

• Username:admin• Password:HiQSolar

YouwillthenseethehomescreenforthatparticularGatewaywhichshouldlooklikeFigure30:

5.5.10.2. AccessingLocallyfromaMacOSComputerorDeviceIncludingiPads&iPhonesAsaboveexcept‘NETNAME’isnotsupported-theIPaddresswillneedtobetypedintothebrowseraddressline.

2NotethatthisIPaddressisforthewebpagethewebserverprovides;thenetworkconnectiontheGatewayusestocommunicatetoalocalrouteristheonefurtherdownthelistlabeled‘Gateway’,192.168.1.1inthisexample.

Figure29:GatewayscreenshowingtheNetnameand

IPaddress

Figure30:WebinterfacefortheGatewayshowingarraystatistics



5.5.11. AccessingtheGatewayfromOutsidetheLocalNetwork–LAN-sideconfiguration

DHCPhasaleasetimeafterwhichitrequestsrenewal,problematicifitendsupwithadifferentIPaddress.AmethodmustbeusedtomaketheIPaddressstayfixed;thiscanbe:

i) KeeptheGatewayinDHCPbutforcetheroutertoallocatethesameIPaddresseachtime.Ifthisissupportedbytherouteritisgenerallymostdesirable.

ii) ChangetoafixedIPaddress.

Routercapabilitiesanduserinterfacesvary.ThisexampleusesaparticularCiscorouter.

IdeallytheGatewaywouldbeleftinDHCPmode,andtherouterconfiguredtokeepassigningthesameaddress.IfthisfunctionalityissupportedbytherouteritmightlooklikeFigure31,herecalled‘DHCPReservation’.

Ascanbeseenintheabovescreenshot,therouterhasadefinedrangeof50IPaddressesithasreservedforDHCPallocation,between100to149forthelastfieldintheaddress.TheDHCPReservationscreenallowsexaminationofthecurrentlyloggedondevices,andtheoptionofassigninganaddressintheallowedrangetoourGateway.Alternatively,anaddresscanbeassignedoutsidetheDHCPrangebuttheGatewaymustbeconfiguredalso.

ThescreenshotofFigure32showstheDHCPreservationscreen;hereweareassigninganaddressoutsidetherange(endingin‘37’).

Figure31:DHCPReservationonour

exampleCiscorouter



HavingdecideduponanIPaddress,wenowneedtoconfiguretheGateway.

OnthetouchscreenoftheCommunicationGateway,press‘Gateway’,thenthe‘Network’button.ThiswillbringupthescreenshowninFigure33.

Figure32:AssigninganIP

addressoutsidetherouter’sDHCPreservationrange



The‘DHCP’checkboxindicatescurrentstatusaswellasallowingparameterstobechangedifDHCPisunchecked.Whenuncheckeditlookslikethis:

Touchingononeofthefieldsbelowthecheckboxwillactivateitandallowchangestobemadeusingtheon-screenkeypad.

Ingeneral:

• Networksubmaskwillstayat255.255.255.0unlessbeingusedincertainbigcompaniesthatmightusesomethingdifferent.

• ‘Gateway’and‘PriDNS’(primaryDNS)willbetakenfromtherouterscreen.• ‘SecDNS’(secondaryDNS)willprobablystayat0.0.0.0.

5.5.12. AccessingtheGatewayfromOutsidetheLocalNetwork–WAN-sideconfiguration

ForourexampleCiscorouter,openingupaportforoutsidecommunicationisachievedthroughthe‘ApplicationandGaming’screen,seeFigure34.Theaimisforcommunicationtopassthroughtherouter,althoughtherewillusuallybesometranslationofportlabelsbetweenwhattheGatewayexpectsandwhatispresentedtotheoutsideworldontheWANsideoftherouter.

Thereare4possibleportsrequiredtofullyaccesstheGatewayandHiQSolarinvertersremotely.AccesstothecontrolwebpagealonerequiresonlythefirstofthoselistedinTable1tobesetup.

Figure33:Networksettingscreenon

theGateway



Label Function External(Customer-changeableasrequired)

Internal(whattheGatewayexpectstosee)

HTTP AllowsaccesstotheGatewaywebpage 8100 80

FTPC FTPControl–allowsaccesstotheGatewaymemorycardandlogs

2100 21

FTPD FTPData–thereturnportforfilesrequestedusingFTPCtobetransmittedthrough

8000

(Usethissettingonly)

8000

Diag Diagnostic-LowlevelsystemaccesssuchasfirmwareupdatesforusebyHiQSolaronly

1000

(Usethissettingonly)

1000

Table1:Portnumberingassignments

Clickonthe‘SaveSettings’buttonontherouterpageorelsechangeswillbelost.

Notethatnotallroutersofferportreassignmentasdescribedhere.However,havingdifferentexternalportnumbersisnotstrictlynecessary;itissuggestedasanextrasecurityprecautiontoavoidusingthewell-knownportassignmentsforweb(80)andFTP(21)onthegeneralInternet.TheGateway'swebandFTPserversarebothpasswordprotected,sotherisksarelow.Inacasewherenoportforwardingisavailable,theGatewaydirectportnumbers(80,21,8000,1000)wouldbeusedwithoutspecifyingdifferentexternalportsfor80and21.

Figure34:Portforwardingscreenonourexamplerouter



6. TroubleshootingTheprimarywayoftroubleshootingasystemistousetheCommunicationGateway(GW)toprovideclues.TheGWcanbeviewedusingthetouchscreeninterfaceonthedevice,oraccessingitusingawebbrowser.Assumingtheissueisnotwithcommunications,browseraccesshastheadvantagethatamobiledevicesuchasaphonecanbeusedwhilephysicallyontheroof.Asdetailedlater,theinverterhasanindicatorlightthatwillalsoprovideinsight.

Thetroubleshootingsectionisdividedupasfollows:

• Overviewofpossibleissues(picture)• IfIhadthisissue,itwouldlooklikethesesymptoms(table)• IfIhadthesesymptomsitcouldbeoneofthesecauses(table)• Moredetailsonselectedissues.

6.1. OverviewofPossibleIssuesLettersontheright(e.g.(A))refertoexplanatorynotesinSection6.4.

•  Module'connectors'reversed'•  Module'not'connected'•  Module'wiring'damaged'

•  Unused'connectors'not'weatherproofed'•  AC'connector'not'fully'engaged'•  Not'being'bolted'ver<cally'to'racking'

might'mean'goes'outside'temperature'range'

•  White'wire'not'connected'to'neutral'(other'colors'can'go'to'any'phase'except'ground'(green))'

•  Not'connected'to'480V'3Gphase'

•  Gateway'not'close'enough'to'Inverter'•  Gateway'not'connected'to'same'circuit'as'

Inverter'•  Filtering'might'be'required'to'isolate'local'

Gateway'from'others'•  Inverter'not'grounded'

•  Card'missing'•  Card'not'properly'engaged'in'Gateway'•  Card'not'formaLed'FAT32'

•  Ports'not'configured'correctly'to'outside'world'•  Ethernet'cable'not'connected'or'cable'damaged'

Router'

Internet'

Ethernet'LAN'

Memory'Card'

Load'Center'

480V''3:phase'Grid'

TrueString'480V'

Inverter'

PV'Module'String'

277Vac'single'phase'

Figure35:Possibleissuesdiagram



6.2. IfIhadThisIssue,itwouldLookLikeTheseSymptomsLettersnexttoindividualfaults(e.g.(D))refertoexplanatorynotesinSection6.4.

IfthisfaultoccurredIwouldsee….. GatewayTouchScreen WebInterface

InverterButton

ACGrid • ACoutputofinverternotconnectedtogrid(D)

• ACconnectornotfullyengaged(D)

MissingfiguresinACpartofdisplay

Astouchscreen

Rapidlyflashingred

• OnephaseofACGridnotconnected(D)

• Neutral(whiteorgrey)wireconnectedtoaphaseinsteadofneutral(D)

OnecolumnoffiguresinACpartofdisplaymissing

• Connectedtowrongvoltagesystem(e.g.208V3-phase)(D)

Faultprobablyindicated

Other • Unterminatedconnectorsallowmoisturetoingress(E),(F)

Faultindicated

PVModule

• PVmodulenotconnected(F)• PVmodulewiringfault(F)

Nottreatedasafault–missingstatisticsinPanelfigures

-

• Fewerthan4PVmodulesperBalancerconnectedandincorrectportsshorted(F)

Poweroutputlessthanexpected

• Numberofmodulesnotmatchingnumbersetinthewebinterface(F)

• Arcfaultdetectedandsystemshutdown(F)

Systemnotgenerating,faultindicated

Systemnotgenerating,affectedBalancerflagged‘arc_fault’inred

Redlightsrapidlyflashingoninverter&affectedBalancer

Continues….



IfthisfaultoccurredIwouldsee….. GatewayTouchScreen WebInterface InverterButton

Gateway • TheGatewayiswiredintoanunrelatedACcircuit(C)

• TheGatewayistoofarawayfromaninverter(C)

• TheGatewayisthewrongsideoffilteringontheACcircuit(C)

• Neutral(whiteorgrey)wireconnectedtoaphase(D)

• Inverternotgrounded(C)

Nosignalorinformation

Noinformation,status‘Unknown’

-

• NoEthernetconnection(A) Healthystatisticsonthetouchscreen,[Gateway]tabshowsEthernetgreyedout

Unabletoconnectfromthewebinterface

• Networkrouternotconfiguredcorrectly(A)

Healthystatisticsonthetouchscreen

• Nomemorycard(B)• Memorycardnotfullyengaged(B)• Memorycardnotformattedas

FAT32(B)

Healthystatisticsonthetouchscreen,[Gateway]tabshowsgreyedoutcardcharacteristics

Retrievinglongtermhistorynotpossible

Table2:Faultsandconsequentsymptoms



6.3. IfIhadTheseSymptoms,itCouldbeOneofTheseCausesLettersontherightnexttoindividualfaults(e.g.(D))refertoexplanatorynotesinSection6.4.

Symptoms PossibleCauses

InverterButtonIndicator

GatewayTouchScreen

WebInterface

Buttonflashingredquickly

MissinginformationinACdisplay

Astouchscreen

• ACoutputofinverternotconnectedtoGrid(D)• ACconnectornotfullyengaged(D)

MissinginformationinACdisplay

• OnephaseofACGridnotconnected(D)• Connectedtowrongvoltagesystem(e.g.208V3-

phase)(D)

Faultconditiondisplayed

• Moisturehasbeenallowedintothesystem,perhapsbecauseunusedconnectorshavebeenleftun-terminated(E)(F)

- MissingPVModuleinformation

• MissingPVmodule(F)• Faultywiringorconnectorsnotfullyengaged(F)

Lesspoweroutputthanexpected

• Inverterindirectsunandtemperaturerangeexceeded,causingoutputtobereducedtomaximizelifetime(E)

Memorycardcharacteristicsgreyedout

• Memorycardnotfullyengaged(B)• MemorycardnotformattedasFAT32(B)• Memorycardmissing(B)

NoinformationontheGatewaytouchscreen

Noinformationonthewebinterface

• GatewaynotconnectedtothesameACcircuitastheinverter(s)(C)

• Gatewayplacedtoofarfromtheinverter(s)(C)• FilteringpresentontheGridinterferingwith

communication(C)• Neutral(whiteorgrey)wireconnectedtoa

phase(D)• Inverternotgrounded(C)

NormalinformationontheGatewaytouchscreen

• Ethernetcablenotconnected(A)• Routerexternalports/firewallnotsetup

correctly(A)

Table3:Symptomsandpossiblecauses



6.4. NotesonSelectedIssues.

6.4.1. InverterButtonIndicatorStates

Ifthereispowertotheinverter,theindicatorontheinverterbuttonwillbeindicatingsomething.Asdescribedearlier,thesehavethefollowingmeaningsandoperations:

InverterButtonPush ButtonIndication3 Result

1press

• Makeinverter&balancersbeep(“areyoualive?”)

2presses

• ‘Off&Locked’-disabled• Donot5-minuteself-start

3presses

• Startgeneratingimmediately• Iflocked,unlock&generateimmediately• (Ifsystemisfaulted,willunlockbutwon’t

generate)

Longpress(>2seconds)

(Briefflash)

• Alternatefunctionsmode,readytoacceptfurtherbuttonpushes.Timesoutafter10seconds

1press(afterlongpress)

• Clearlatchedfaults,forexampleafterarc-faulttesthasinitiatedafaultcondition


• Arc-faulttestactivation.Successfuloperationofarc-faultdetectionshouldcauseafaultcondition(rapidredflashing)untilcleared

Figure36:Inverterbuttonfunctionsandindicatormeanings(repeatofFigure16)

3Orientationmayvary

Inverterindicatorbutton



InverterIndicatorState Meaning

Solid

• Poweredup• Notgenerating• Nofaults

Left-rightflash

• Power-onself-test(willtake<1minute)

GreenChaser

• Poweredup• Generating,nofaults

RapidFlash

• Faulted,e.g.arcdetected

MostlyOn

• ‘Off&Locked’-disabled

MostlyOff

• Sleeping–notgenerating

Figure37:Inverterbuttonfunctionsandindicatormeanings(repeatofFigure17)

(A)InternetConnectivityIssues

i) NoEthernetconnectionii) Networkrouternotconfiguredcorrectlyiii) Routerexternalports/firewallnotsetupcorrectly

Otherthanafaultyordamagedcable(RJ45Ethernetcablesareacommonculprit),themajorityofissuesrelatetotheconfigurationofthelocalrouter.ThistopiciscoveredinSection5.5.10onwards.IfthelocalEthernetcableisfaulty,youwillseethefollowingontheGateway(Figure38).

Figure38:GatewayindicationofmissinglocalEthernet

connection

•  Valid&Internet&Connec/on&

[Gateway]&Tab&

•  Ethernet&Connec/on&Not&Working&or&Missing&



(B)GatewayMemoryCardIssues

i) Nomemorycardii) Memorycardnotfullyengagediii) MemorycardnotformattedasFAT32

Loggingoflong-termperformancedataissavedtothememorycardthatwassuppliedwiththeGateway.Notethatthecardisnotrequiredforthesystemtooperate,onlytoretainhistoryinformation.Ifthecardisinplacebutnotfullyengaged,youwillseethesymptomsshowninFigure39.

ThecardisformattedwiththeFAT32filesystem.Ifyouwishtouseadifferentmemorycardthantheonesupplied,itwillneedtobeformattedsimilarly.Thiscanusuallybeachievedonapersonnelcomputer,consultyourcomputermanualfordetails.

•  SDCardProperlyInserted

•  ValidInternetConnec5on

[Gateway]Tab

•  MemoryCardNotProperlyEngaged,orMissing

NoCard

Memorycardinsertedbutnot

engaged

Memorycardproperlyengaged

Figure39:Symptomsofamissingornotfullyengagedmemorycard



(C)GatewaytoInverterConnectivityIssues

i) TheGatewayiswiredintoanunrelatedACcircuitii) TheGatewayistoofarawayfrominverter(s)iii) TheGatewayisthewrongsideoffilteringontheACcircuitiv) FilteringpresentontheGridinterferingwithcommunication

TheCommunicationGatewayconnectstolocalinvertersusingPowerLineCommunications(PLC).ForcommunicationtoworktheGatewaymustreceiveastrongenoughsignalabovethenoise.ItobviouslymustbeonthesameelectricalcircuitasthePVsystem,whichisn’talwayseasytoestablishinatypicalcompanyelectricalclosetwithmanydifferentcircuitspresent.

AssumingtheGatewayisononephaseofthecorrectPVsystemcircuit,thenissuesarelikelytoariseifthesignalstrengthislow,orequipmentbetweentheGatewayandPVsystemisinterferingwithorfilteringthesignal.IneithercasemovingtheGatewayclosertothePVsystemislikelytobethebestanswer.

ItisalsopossiblethattwoGateways(orotherinvertercontroldevicesfromothermanufacturersnearby)areinterferingwitheachother.InthiscaseanisolatingfiltertoseparatetheHiQSolarinvertercommunicationsfromtheoutsideworldmightberequired.Thiswillalsobethecaseifmorethan300TrueStringinvertersareinonesystem,asthiswillexceedthecapacityofoneGateway.So,inroundnumbers,onegatewayisrequiredforeach2MWofPVplantsize.

Notethatafailuretoestablishcommunicationscanalsooccuriftheneutral(whiteorgrey)wireisconnectedincorrectlytooneofthephasesasdiscussedinthenextsection.



(D)ACWiringIssues

i) ACoutputofinverternotconnectedtogridii) ACconnectornotfullyengagediii) OnephaseofACgridnotconnectediv) Neutral(whiteorgrey)wireconnectedtoaphaseinsteadofneutralv) Connectedtowrongvoltagesystem(e.g.208V3-phase)

Theinverterauto-sensesphases,sowhenwiringthesystemtothegriditdoesnotmatterwhichofthered,blueororangewiresareconnectedtowhichphase.However,connectingtheneutral(whiteorgrey)wiretooneofthephaseswillshowupasafault,thesamefaultifoneofthe3phasesisdisconnected.Theseconditionswillnotdamagetheinverterbutshouldbecorrected.

Ifoneofthephasesisnotconnected,thewebandtouchscreenviewsshowninError!Referencesourcenotfound.willhaveoneoftheACphasesfaultedratherthanall3asshown.

IftheneutralisconnectedtoonephasethepowerlinecommunicationstotheGatewaymaynotwork.

IftheTrueString480Vinverterisconnectedtothewrongvoltagesystem,suchas208V3-phase,damageislikelytoresult,andthesystemwillneedtobereturnedtothefactory.

Figure40:ACwiringschemeusedfortheTrueString480VInverter

Any$color$to$any$phase$

White$to$$Neutral(

Warning:$480V$37phase$only%

Green$to$$Equipment$Ground(



(E)InverterInstallationIssues

i) Unterminatedconnectorsallowmoisturetoingressii) Inverterindirectsunandtemperaturerangeexceeded,causingoutputtobereducedduetohigh

internaltemperatures.Thisprotectivefeaturehelpstoextendthelifetimeoftheinverter.

TheinverterisNEMA6ratedandveryrobust.Tomaximizereliabilityandperformanceforthelongestlifetimeitshouldbemountedverticallyintheshadeandboltedtometalrackingifavailable.However,itcanbeballast-mountedintheshade.Ifthedeviceisplacedinasituationwhereitexceedsitsratedtemperaturerangeitwillreduceoutputpowerslightlyuntilitissafelybackwithintheoperatingtemperaturerange.

Aswithallsuchdevices,NEMA6waterproofoperationrequiresthatallconnectors,whetherusedorunused,beproperlyterminated.Ifthisisnotthecase,moisturemayingress,causingtheunittoeventuallyfail.

(F)PVModuleWiringIssues

i) PVmodulenotconnectedii) PVmodulewiringfaultiii) Faultywiringorconnectorsnotfullyengagediv) Couldbenormaliffewermodulesthan4perBalancerconnectedv) MissingPVmodule

Mostlyself-explanatoryissuesofconnectorsnotengagedordamagedwiring.



7. Specifications

7.1. PowerSystemSpecifications

InverterSpecificationsDCInput(2identicalinputs)MaximumopencircuitvoltageperString,VOC 1,000Vdc

FullpowerMPPTrange,perstring 425-850Vdc

PVstartvoltage 200Vdc

DCallowablestackingratio(total,2inputscombined) Mustnotexceed6.375underanycircumstances4

DCmaximuminputcurrent,perDCinput 10A

DCmaximumsourceshortcircuitcurrent 30A

DCmaximuminputsourcebackfeedcurrenttoinputsource 0A

DCdisconnectmeans TheDCconnectorhasbeenevaluatedandapprovedforuseastheload-breakdisconnectrequiredbytheNEC5

ACOutputACmaximumcontinuousoutputpowerto45°C 8.0kWacmax

ACde-ratewithtemperature,45to+65°C -150W/°C

ACnominaloutputcurrent,perphase 9.6A

ACmaximumcontinuousoutputcurrent,perphase 9.6A

ACmaximumoutputovercurrentprotection 40A

AC3-phasesystemcompatibility 480VWye,3phases,neutralandground

ACvoltagerange,phasetophase(min/nominal/max) 422/480/528V(Limitsadjustable,seebelow)

ACvoltagerange,phasetoneutral(min/nominal/max) 244/277/305V(Limitsadjustable,seebelow)

ACoperatingfrequencyrange(min/nominal/max) 59.3/60/60.5Hz(Limitsadjustable,seebelow)

PowerFactor >0.98

ACoutputwaveform Truesinewave

4Stacking:OntheDCsideoftheinverter,eachinputlimitsat5kWand/or10A,andthecombinedtotalACoutputislimitedto8kW.HigherDCSTCstringpowersmaybeapplied,theinverterwilllimitasdescribedabove.Totalstackingforinvertermustnotexceed6.375underanycircumstances5NECsection690.17,allowedbytheexceptionofmeetingrequirementsspecifiedin690.33



AClowerfrequencytriplimit Default 59.3Hz +/-0.1Hz

Adjustment 57-59.8Hzin0.1Hzincrements

Clearingtimedefault 0.16s +/-2cycles

Clearingtimeadjustment 0.16-300s

ACupperfrequencytriplimit Default 60.5Hz +/-0.1Hz

Adjustment 60.5-62.0Hzin0.1Hzincrements

Clearingtimedefault 0.16s +/-2cycles

Clearingtimeadjustment 0.16-300s

AClowervoltagetriplimit Default 245V +/-2%

Adjustment 220-245V

Clearingtimedefault 2s +/-2cycles

Clearingtimeadjustment 1-20s

ACuppervoltagetriplimit Default 305V +/-2%

Adjustment 305-315V

Clearingtimedefault 1s +/-2cycles

Clearingtimeadjustment 1-20s

ACreconnectdelay Default 5minutes +/-1s

Adjustment 1s-10mins

ACsynchronizationin-rushcurrent 0A

MaximumoutputFaultcurrentandduration

10A,0.5ms

ACminimumwiregaugeforthegridconnection

14AWG

ACdisconnectmeans TheACconnectorhasbeenevaluatedandapprovedforuseastheload-breakdisconnectrequiredbytheNEC5.



OtherSpecifications

Peakefficiency 98.6%

CECefficiency 98.0%

Weight 11kg(24lb.)

Operatingtemperaturerange -40to+65oC(-40to+150oF)

Powerconsumptionstandby/night

<4.5W/<4.5W

Cooling Naturalconvection,nocoolingfan

Communication Powerline

Environmentalrating Outdoor/rooftop,NEMA6,IP67

Certification,inverter UL1741/IEEE1547(UtilityInteractive),CSAC22.2NO.107.1,FCCPart156.MeetstherequirementsofNEC690.11

Includedwarranty 10Years,optionallyextendable

7.2. CommunicationsGatewaySpecificationsGatewaySpecifications

ACinputvoltage,min/nom/max 244/277/305V

ACfrequency,min/nom/max 59.3/60.0/60.5Hz

Operatingambienttemprange -20to+50°C

Powerconsumption 1.5Wtypical(4Wmax)

Mounting,environmentalrating Indoor-NEMA1

Memorycard SDcompatible,4-32GBtested,FAT32formatted

CommunicationwithHiQSolarinverter

ProprietaryPowerLineCommunication

LANconnection,Ethernet 10/100BASE,RJ458P8Cmodularplug

Limitedwarranty 15years,optionallyextendable

Compliance,certifications UL60950-1,CSAC22.2No.60950-1,FCCPart156

Weight 1.3lbs

6Note:ThisequipmenthasbeentestedandfoundtocomplywiththelimitsforaClassBdigitaldevice,pursuanttopart15oftheFCCRules.Theselimitsaredesignedtoprovidereasonableprotectionagainstharmfulinterferenceinaresidentialinstallation.Thisequipmentgenerates,usesandcanradiateradiofrequencyenergyand,ifnotinstalledandusedinaccordancewiththeinstructions,maycauseharmfulinterferencetoradiocommunications.However,thereisnoguaranteethatinterferencewillnotoccurinaparticularinstallation.Ifthisequipmentdoescauseharmfulinterferencetoradioortelevisionreception,whichcanbedeterminedbyturningtheequipmentoffandon,theuserisencouragedtotrytocorrecttheinterferencebyoneormoreofthefollowingmeasures:—Reorientorrelocatethereceivingantenna.—Increasetheseparationbetweentheequipmentandreceiver.—Connecttheequipmentintoanoutletonacircuitdifferentfromthattowhichthereceiverisconnected.—Consultthedealeroranexperiencedradio/TVtechnicianforhelp.



7.3. UnitRatingLabelThefollowinglabelappearsonthebackoftheunitbaseplate.



7.4. SystemUL1741Certificate



7.5. PhysicalDimensions&DrillingGuides

7.5.1. TrueString480VInverter

267$mm$10$½“$

76$mm$3“$

334$mm$13$⅛“$

305$mm$12“$405$mm$

16“$

475$mm$18$¾”$

475$mm,$18¾$”$

12.6

$mm

,$½”$33

4$m

m,$1

3$⅛

”$

12.6

$mm

,$½”$

12.6$mm,$½”$ 12.6$mm,$½”$

238$mm,$9⅜”$

Liberty$480V$Inverter,$Front$TrueString*480V*Inverter*Front*



305$mm,$12”$

450$mm,$17¾”$

TrueString$480V$Inverter,$Front$

Drilling'Guide'

225$mm,$8⅞”$ 225$mm,$8⅞”$

Accepts$moun<ng$hardware$up$to$and$including$8$mm,$5/16”$



7.5.2. Gateway

[EndofDocument]

165$mm,$6"½”"

64$m

m,$2"½”"

Gateway,$Front$Drilling'Guide'

Drilling$template$

guide$holes$

Ø$4.8$mm$Ø$8.9$mm$

Suitable$for$#8$screw$

Documents

HiQ Solar - TrueString 480V Inverter Installation & Safety ...This manual contains important safety instructions for the HiQ Solar TrueString 480V inverter system – comprised of