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.
Glen checking out his new best friend.Chris installing the SolarEdge HD WaveFrank & Jerry connecting the battery cables for a set of Trojan 2400Ah 2V cellsSam, Ryan & Rowen installing the Alpha ESS SMILE5 hybrid inverterSam installing the Imeon Energy power meter for the three phase hybridWayne & Chris configuring a GenZ battery onto a Sunny Island system
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.
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.
Glen has just finished running another Australian Solar Council training course at Moora Moora Community Cooperative (Healesville, VIC). The focus of this course was on understanding solar PV hybrid and off-grid systems. The course had no prerequisites and attracted a wide range of participants wanting to learn more about renewable energy systems both on and off-grid.
Here’s a few photos.
The training room (The Octagon).
Installing a Studer Innotec Xtender inverter with a VarioTrack MPPT charge controller.
Selectronic SP Pro (SPMC481) d.c. coupled to AERL CoolMax MPPT charge controller and AirBreeze wind turbine.
Amelia explaining how to use SP Link software to configure an SP Pro inverter.
After hours activities.
Amelia and Barbara setting up a Plasmatronics Dingo 20 charge controller to control a night light circuit off a 12V battery.
Confirming connections are correct before power on and programming of SP Pro with Aquion batteries.
