Ben, as always, every system I've seen you install is exceptionally clean looking. This one is no different. Really a nice smaller size system with the "Touch of Ben" imprint!
Nice little system. So expensive though. 2 questions - why the rapid shutdown? Surely in the event of a grid/ac faliure you'd want the solar to keep charging the batteries, not shut down? Secondly how are you balancing those 2 x 12v batteries in series? Any slight difference in internal resistance means those two could get out of balance over time and cause issues?
This was installed at a school and the electrical inspector wanted to see rapid shutdown on it. The disconnect on the outside of the house shuts down the tigo transmitter along with the AC output of the inverter. There is no grid here, but the tigo transmitter is tied into the charge controller battery connection, so even if the inverter shuts down on LBCO the Tigo will always be active. I am using a Kilovault balancer on those batteries, might not have shown it on camera though.
@@benssolarandbattery Thanks for the insight Ben…I’ll check in with them. Even the big box stores seem to have a lot of empty shelves in the electrical aisle.
The system was about $11k-12k in materials. That included 5- 440w LG panels, SnapNRack racking and attachments, 2 Kilovault HLX+ 3.6kWh batteries, Outback FP1 2524, disconnect, combiner, breakers, Tigo equipment, load center... it adds up fast!
Can you explain a little more about the Tygo box? Not sure what you’re putting in there before it goes to the inverter. Since you already have the breakers installed. Redundancy on breakers?
Each one of the panels has a rapid shutdown TS4-A-AF box on it. When you shut down the outdoor disconnect, it shuts off power coming from each of the panels. This installation is being inspected by the state, so needs to have it.
@@benssolarandbattery Interesting as I thought the breakers in the first box was where the cut offs were on the panels. At least that’s the way I set up my off grid system. I had the fuses in the connecting wires on the roof.
@@benjones8977 Of course, the fuses are for protection, but Tigo RSD system will disconnect ALL the panels from 1 single point... once the RSD button is pressed outside, the Tigo Box inside will send a signal to all the TS4-A-AF's on the roof to disconnect each panel, therefore cutting all DC power from the panels into the MPPT controller... this is the ideal protection system for sudden fires or flames, mostly on the roof (on the panels)... Nice precaution...!!!
@@Songomx Interesting, thanks. I thought that was what the first breakers were for. Built-in redundancy at a higher level. 🧐 I’ve checked my wires all over the place by hand for heat. I usually run a heavy draw and then go check around for any extreme heat coming off the wires. I did find one area with a very short wire going to the bus bar that was somewhat hot. Later I found out I didn’t have enough relaxation in the wire, it was too stiff and tight, so I made the cord a little longer and hooked it to a higher point on the bus bar. This brought down the temperature (heat) quite a bit. This helps in extreme heat in the summer.
@@benjones8977 the Tigo stuff is so someone on the outside (for emergency or service) of the building has a rapid shutdown switch that stops any power from leaving each pv panel right at the individual panel. If there’s a fire the firman can hit the outside switch and know they aren’t going to get zapped by the pv panels.
It shuts down AC power to the load center along with DC power from the panels. The battery stays on. I suppose I could have it shut the inverter down as well very easily. I still have to go back and finish up, so maybe I'll do that too! Thanks for watching and the feedback!
