Category: Training

Unboxing at the Smart Energy Lab from Glen Morris on Vimeo.

Apologies for the flickering lights…

Glen Morris unpacks the latest cool solar and battery storage products at the Smart Energy Lab. SolarEdge have supplied their new ground breaking HD Wave inverter (light, powerful and easy to install) and Alpha ESS have supplied their new IP65 hybrid inverter/battery system called the SMILE5. It’s a 5kW hybrid inverter with dedicated backup circuit and multiples of 5.2kWh battery packs that can be stacked vertically or horizontally. Pretty cool looking unit.

New products (above) for my students to install on the next course (30 May – 2 June). On every course,  suppliers generously donate equipment for my students to train on. Next week we have: Goodwe EM hybrid inverter, NicestESS 5kW AC battery system, Gen2 Pylontech LFP 2.4kWh batteries, Victron 250/100 MPPT, EasyWarm HotPV system, Outback FM60 MPPT, myWatt energy monitor, Sungrow SH5K+ hybrid inverter and backup box plus lots more.

30 May 2018 Solar +Storage Course from Glen Morris on Vimeo.

December 2016  Solar + Storage Course

The emphasis on our four day course is to blend theory and practice on a daily basis. The program starts with theory in the morning followed by practical sessions to reinforce and expand on the theory, returning to the classroom in the afternoon to explore the problems and solutions.

Many of the systems installed by students on this course are “real” systems. Above is a 1.5kWh/day system for the “Tiny House” located near the training centre. The house is a relocatable home for one person and has been designed from the ground up for minimal energy consumption. The solar panels the students installed were Solimpeks PVT (photovolatic and thermal) collectors. These unique panels combine water heating with electricity generation. Ideal for small roof areas such at this (7m x 2.5m).

“Beer o’clock” and system install review session! These “reviews” are part of the shared learning approach. Each team works on their own projects and come together at the end to present their experiences, likes and dislikes and problems.

Manfred explains how the Studer-Innotec d.c. coupled system works with Sonnenschein VRLA batteries.

Phil from Victron Energy shows the students how to program the 3kW Multiplus with 150/30 MPPT and ColorController.

“Capt. Col” working on the “Dream Team” – SP Pro + SolarEdge + LG Chem + Neuton Power VRLA. The concept of the “Dream Team” is to combine the high efficiency lithium battery with the low cost and depth of discharge capabilities of lead-acid batteries. The SolarEdge inverter meets the daily loads first from the LG Chem battery and only when depth of discharge limit is reached or the load power is greater than the power delivery limits of the lithium battery, is the lead-acid battery “called upon” via the Selectronic SP Pro to support the loads.

Ray carefully tensions battery terminals. Always use insulated tools when working on batteries with exposed terminals.

Ray & Adrian installing Studer XTM4000 and VarioTrack 150/80 MPPT. This d.c. coupled system gives high reliability and “battery centric” solar charging. D.C. coupling is a more reliable way of charging batteries and avoid the “black start” problem of a.c. coupled systems.

The “Tiny House” gets a power system.

David with GiantPower IPS4000 (dual MPPT/UPS inverter-charger)

Kevin, Col and Armin preparing the SolarEdge SE5000 with backup unit.

Ray connecting the Studer MPPT.

Jerry and Matt checking the Solar Analytics remote metering on GiantPower system.

Another group of passionate “Solar + Storage” students leave their mark on our training facility.

David installs the new Victron Energy Quattro. A good choice for flexible redundant power options: Grid or Generator input; always on and grid-only outputs.

Andy shows his fellow students how his team built the SolaX hybrid inverter system with an external ATS (automatic transfer switch) for supplying backup power during loss of grid.

Nirvana shows the systems that he and Mitch built. Small 12V based system with Victron MPPT, battery protection device and Bluetooth configuration from iPhone or Android.

Edwin, SolaX engineer demonstrates how to program the SolaX hybrid inverter.

Students working in the new “Boat Shed” training room (SolaX and SMA).

Chukwuma (from Nigeria) and Andy install SolaX hybrid.

Rachael (4th year apprentice) getting to grips with configuring an a.c. coupled SMA SI8.0H and SB5000.

Brad and Gavin explaining the features and configuration options of the GiantPower IPS4000.

Derick Martin (left) from Outback Power assists with installation of the new Outback FP2 all-in-one dual inverter system.

Wiring up the main battery isolator.

Mike & Miles consider how best to protect cables and build an atheistically pleasing hybrid system using the SolaX EPS inverter.

Anthony checking the Goodwe GW2500-BP (yellow box) d.c. to d.c. converter that can be installed on the PV array side of any conventional grid-connect inverter – thus adding battery storage to an existing installation.

It always helps to read the manual!

Fotakis (left) is another of our trainers assisting with the installation of an Outback FP2 dual inverter system.

Checking the internal connections of the Redback hybrid inverter.

Wiring up the comms cable from power meter to Redback.

Factory visit to Selectronic at Mooroolbark (near Healesville) is a highlight of the course. Lindsay Hart explains how the Selectronic system works.

Lindsay walking the students through the production line.

Toroidal transformers ready for the next batch of SP Pro inverters.

Lindsay explains some of the clever thermal management designed into the SP Pro inverter.

Student questions.

Greg and Brian checking the cell voltages for a 2000Ah bank of Narada EosG cells (48V) supplied by Choose Solar.

Greg doing a “pre-flight” check.

Anthony & Brian carefully lifting a Selectronic SP Pro (5kW unit) onto it’s mount. Aquion “salt water” batteries below.

Jerry Robinson of The Greenhouse Effect (trainer) and Reece installing a SMA Sunny Island SI8.0H-11 and SB5000 as an a.c. coupled off-grid system.

Confirming connections are correct before power on and programming of SP Pro with Aquion batteries.

Students discuss the merits of the Redback v’s the SolaX hybrid inverters.

Ian Conibeer from Energy Connections explains how to use Victron Energy‘s VEconfig tool to setup a Victron Multiplus and MPPT in an a.c. coupled arrangement with a Fronius Galvo grid-connect inverter.

Shane explains to his fellow students how to test a Sonnenschein A600 Solar 48V 520Ah battery pack using on and off-load techniques.

Daryn demonstrates the new Aquion (saltwater batteries) combined with the Selectronic SP Pro 5kW inverter in hybrid configuration.

Installation completed – ready for configuration and testing. These Aquion batteries can be discharged 100% under normal cycling.

Sonnenschein A600 Solar batteries (VRLA lead acid) – with inspection window.

Glen Morris from the Australian Solar Council is running a series of “Solar + Storage” courses in 2016. Enrolments are open now at http://solarquip.com.au/product/solarstorage/

Photos from the last training course where we had many guest presenters showing some of their technology to the attendees.

Paul Liddell from Redback Tech explaining some of the advance hybrid features of their new Redback inverter

Fiamm molten salt battery. 7.6kWh of usable storage in a small package.

Afternoon tea time

Geoff Bragg (Board Member of the Australian Solar Council) – in hat – explaining how the Studer-Innotec system works.

Ian showing us the amazing Fiamm molten salt battery

Tom explaining how they have configured the GiantPower IPS as a quick to setup UPS or off-grid system.

Power trailer – Plasmatronics Dingo equipped.

Noel explaining to his fellow students how they setup the OutBack Power FM80 MPPT charge controller.

Phil from Victron Energy showing the students their range of hybrid and off-grid inverters and MPPT charge controllers.

Phil showing the Victron web portal.

Andrew demonstrates the power trailer’s features.