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PV Commissioning Form

The document provides guidance on completing a PV Commissioning Form to ensure the safe commissioning of a photovoltaic system. It outlines sections for collecting basic project and installer information, performing on-site checks of module voltages, currents, and production estimates, verifying string configurations and performance match expectations, and documenting meter and inverter information. Completing the form assists in confirming the PV system is operational according to design specifications before being put into active service.

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Simon Chang
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© © All Rights Reserved
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641 views31 pages

PV Commissioning Form

The document provides guidance on completing a PV Commissioning Form to ensure the safe commissioning of a photovoltaic system. It outlines sections for collecting basic project and installer information, performing on-site checks of module voltages, currents, and production estimates, verifying string configurations and performance match expectations, and documenting meter and inverter information. Completing the form assists in confirming the PV system is operational according to design specifications before being put into active service.

Uploaded by

Simon Chang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Review of PV Commissioning Form

David Damiani
Renewable Energy Program Technical manager
6/8/2011
Required Form

• As of January 2011
– A new form was added to Final As Built
Package
• Form is called
– “PV Commissioning Form”
(Or equivalent form)
Purpose

• The purpose of this form is to assist a NJ


installer in commissioning (to put into
active service) a Photovoltaic system

– During commissioning, you are insuring your


system is operational and safe
PV Commissioning Form
Section 1
Basic Information
• Date of commissioning
• Approval / Registration #
• Customer Name
– Phone Number
– Installation Address
• Installer Name
– Phone Number
– Email Address
Section 2

• At Installation Location:

– Weather and Temperature observations


• Both of which affect PV system function and anticipated
production

– Reference Temperature for calculations


• Average high temperature
• Record low temperature
– The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) maintains
data on a web site that shows the record lows for many
locations in the US -
http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/1961-
990/redbook/sum2/state.html
Section 2

• As stated in 2008 NEC 690.7(A): the Maximum


PV System Voltage shall be calculated as the
sum of the rated open-circuit voltage of the
series-connected PV modules corrected for the
lowest expected ambient temperature.

Typically, the open-circuit voltage temperature coefficients


provided by the PV manufactures data sheets have one of the
following units:
% / ºC or V / ºC
Section 2

• If the open-circuit voltage temperature coefficient is


in units of %/ºC , then use the following equation:

• Adj. Mod. Voc=


Voc(@STC) x [1+ ((coldest Temp C – 25C) x Voc Temp Coeff / 100))
Section 2
Module Data Sheet
Section 2
Section 2
Circuit Requirements
[2008 NEC] 690.7 Maximum Voltage.
***Original method, no longer most accurate***
– The rated Voc is measured at 25°C (77°F) and is
printed on the back of the module and in the technical
literature of the module.

– To use the table, all one has to do is to determine the


lowest expected temperature, look up the factor from
the table for that temperature (which ranges between
1.02 at 24°C to 1.25 at -40°C),

– and multiply the factor by the rated Voc.


Section 2

• Total Array Output (kWdc)


– Module wattage x amount of modules
240 x 50 = 12,000 watts (12 kW)
Or 12,000 / 1000 = 12 kW
1000 watts equals 1 kilowatt
Section 2

PVwatts
• Total System Estimated kWh Production
• Enter correct DC rating (system size)
• Make necessary changes to default page
– Shading percentage
– Inverter efficiency percentage
– Module power tolerance percentage
• Click “calculate”
• AC Energy (kWh) column is the estimated
production per year
Section 2

Shading
• Total System Shading %
– Conduct shading analysis (4 corners of array)
• Use program approved shading tool to establish
percentage amount of shading on site
• Solmetric
• Pathfinder
• Need to make a decision on Pathfinder software conclusions.
Section 3

• Module Nameplate Information


• Manufacturer (Sanyo)
• Model (HIT 220)
• STC watts (220)
• Quantity (40@ / 10@)
• Orientation (180º / 90º)
• Tilt (35º / 15º)
• Array Estimated Production (if multiple
arrays)
Section 4

String Commissioning

• Document number of Modules per string


• i.e. (14)
Multi-Meter:

Your multi-meter needs


to be rated at 600V
minimum and be
capable of measuring
DC voltage and
current.
Section 4
Inspect fuses
• Open all the circuits in the combiner
– Perform a visual inspection of the fuses make
sure they look OK
– Verify that the rating of the fuse corresponds
to the rating specified by the module
manufacturer.
Virtual Inspection
DC Source Circuit Over Current Protection
Module Isc x 1.56 = Series “string” fuse size
Note: Double check voltage rating and range.

Isc 8.35 amp 156% 13 amps Minimum


NEC 690.8 & 240.6 Next Standard Size
****The Maximum Series Fuse Size is Listed on the Back of the Module****
Section 4
Polarity and Labels

• Check polarity for all the strings by measuring


the voltage differential of the positive end (fused)
to negative.

• Also make sure that all strings are properly


labeled indicating polarity and string number.
Section 4
String Voc
• Open circuit voltage
• Voltage reading with muti-meter at combiner
– Onsite, actual reading

• With your inverter still off and all DC circuits


open, measure the voltage between the positive
and the negative ends of each string.

– This is perhaps your best indicator to know that all


strings are wired correctly.
Section 4
String Imp
• Amperage maximum power (operating current)
– Reinstall fuses
• Measure the current of every string by clamping
your multi-meter around the lead cable.

• Similar to Voc, the current should not fluctuate much


between strings in a day with a clear sky or steady state
sky conditions.
– In overcast days this step can get a little tricky but always make
sure that all strings are producing a reasonable amount of
energy.
Section 4
String Vmp
(optional step)

• Voltage maximum power


– Reinstall fuses
– Inverter powered on
• Measure the voltage from negative to fuse while
system is operational.
Section 4
Torque Test

• Check torque for all the connections.

• Close all the fused circuits, turn on your


disconnects and restart you inverters.

– Will take about 5 minutes for you inverter to


sample the grid and restart
Section 4

Reason to check torque


Section 5

• Inverters
– Basic information off
nameplate
• Manufacturer
• Model #
• Serial #
• kWAC
Section 5

• Inverters (cont.)
– AC watts (on site verification)
• With inverter operational, read the output
screen showing instantaneous watts and
document
Section 5
• Inverters (cont.)
– AC volts (on site verification)
– Take a reading to verify the amount of
voltage is feeding the inverter
Section 6

• Meter
– Manufacturer
– Model
– Serial Number
– Meter Register Read kWh
– Verify that meter is ANSI c.12 compliant
Documentation:

• Document all readings


• and findings

• Date your report

• Take pictures of the condition you left the


combiner box.
Your solar array has been
commissioned successfully!

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