SOLAR PV POWER SYSTEM
OWNER’S MANUAL
Thank you for choosing 3 Phase Solar to design and install your solar power system.
This manual provides you with important information regarding your system, including safety and maintenance procedures. The recommended maintenance schedule should ensure your system provides you with many years of trouble-free clean power.
- Contact Information
- Important Safety Information
- About your system
- Components and their functions
- Equipment Supplied
- What to do in the Event of an Earth Fault Alarm
- Shutdown Procedure
- Startup Procedure
- Recommended Maintenance
- Maintenance Schedule
- Panel Layout and Inverter Assignment
- Wiring Diagrams
- Product Information
- Equipment Manuals
- Workmanship Warranty
- Equipment Warranties
Contact Information
This system was installed by:
3 Phase Solar Pty Ltd
ABN: 96 618 929 383
Phone: 03 9744 5945
Email: support@3phasesolar.com.au
Mail to: 16 Streeton Ct, Sunbury Vic 34298
Important Safety Information
A solar PV system that is correctly installed can operate safely for many years. However, the d.c. and a.c. voltage present
in the system can be extremely dangerous and even deadly.
Do not attempt to carry out electrical maintenance or repairs on the system. Only trained and approved personnel should
undertake any electrical or repair work. In addition, any section of the system that is an LV circuit, that is above 50V a.c or
120V d.c. ripple-free must be undertaken by a suitably licensed electrical worker.
This manual will set out maintenance procedures and a schedule of maintenance. It is “strongly” recommended that
maintenance or any changes to the system are carried out by 3 Phase Solar or, if unavailable, another qualified
installation company.
Your system includes signage such as the system Shutdown Procedure. Familiarise yourself with the signage, the
Shutdown Procedure, and components referred to in the shutdown procedure.
Note: This manual is not intended for systems where battery storage or a mechanical generator is present and does not
provide maintenance information on battery storage systems.
Warning symbols
The following symbols will be used to communicate that Occupational Health and Safety precautions are necessary when
dealing with potentially hazardous situations:
Hazard Warning
Electrical Hazard Warning
About Your PV System
How a Solar Battery System Works
Your installed solar battery power system is a grid-connected power supply with battery backup. Power is produced when your
solar panels convert solar radiation into electricity. Photons from the sun excite electrons in the solar cell causing an electrical current to flow. This process is directly related to the intensity and direction of the sunlight hitting the panels; when the sun is high and directly in front of the panels with strong intensity they will produce peak power, when the sun is low in the sky or at an extreme angle to the panels with weak intensity they will produce very little. The efficiency of this conversion is also affected by heat; as panels get hotter efficiency drops so best performance is achieved on a bright
sunny but cool day. If you have panels on multiple orientations the peak output will be lower as the different panels hit peak output at different times. Obviously shade will reduce the intensity of light hitting the panels and reduce output.
An inverter converts the electrical flow from the panels from direct current (d.c.) to alternating current (a.c.) so that it is the
same as the 230-240V supply coming from the electricity grid and used in domestic electrical appliances. The inverter can also convert power from panels or the grid to charge the battery or call upon the battery to match the grid supply or form its own grid in backup mode.
Generally, if power produced from the solar PV supply is not used on your property it will be exported to the electricity grid
and you may be credited a feed-in tariff for that electricity. However, you have a battery so excess energy will go towards charging the battery before any excess is then fed back to the grid. The feed in tariff offered by your retailer is usually much lower than the cost of purchasing energy so it is best to try and use the energy as it is generated for the maximum savings on your electricity bill. The battery will help a lot with this but it is most efficient to use the energy as it is produced rather than storing it in the battery and reusing it later.
When the grid supply fails (a blackout), the system will immediately disconnect and after a short break, the inverter will generate a stand alone grid to supply power to the home. Depending on the state of charge of the battery at the time, you may not have power for long. A portion of the battery is reserved for this scenario to ensure a minimum amount of time with backup. This can be adjusted but the more that is reserved, the less is available for daily use. If the battery is completely discharged (in backup mode), you will no longer have power but the system will automatically restart when the panels start generating again. If you exceed the maximum power available it will also shutdown and you will have no power. You will have to disconnect high power loads then restart the system. Once the grid supply is available again, the system will automatically reconnect to the grid for normal operation.
Components and their function
Solar PV Modules
PV modules are commonly installed in one or more rows and fixed securely on a rooftop or other surface using mounting hardware that is engineer-certified to Australian Standards. The collection of modules on a surface is known as an array. Modules are wired in a specific way (using series and parallel circuits) to achieve a voltage range suitable to the inverter being used.
Note that the operating voltage of this array is usually over 120 volts and therefore electrically rated as ‘LV’,
i.e. potentially deadly and can only be maintained by qualified personnel.
Inverter
The inverter has a variety of electrical functions including safety functions. The primary role of the inverter is to convert the d.c. supply from the solar PV array and battery to an a.c. supply that synchronises to the electricity grid.
As your system includes a battery, the energy produced is first used on the premises with any excess going to the battery then to the grid if the battery is full / can’t accept the power available.
When there is not enough solar power to meet your consumption needs, the inverter will draw power from the battery. Due to constant changes in consumption and available solar, the inverter may be slow to balance the power flows so you may see small amounts of grid usage even when there is battery capacity available.
When there is a blackout or grid failure, the inverter will provide the power from the battery to meet your loads. (see backup box)
An inverter operates efficiently when it has appropriate air circulation. Do not place any objects around an inverter that may impede the flow of air.
Battery
A solar battery allows you to store the excess solar energy during the day, ensuring you have a reliable power source all day and night.
At night, the battery starts supplying your home with the stored energy. This means you can continue using solar power even when the sun isn’t shining and even when you have a power outage.
Your battery is modular so if you need extra capacity, you can simply add another module.
Smart Meter
A smart meter is a device that measures the flow of electricity in and out of your property. It relays this information back to the inverter so it can report the power to your monitoring platform and perform any export limiting if required.
Sometimes, you will see it in the main switchboard and it may have a display or LEDs to indicate what power and direction power is flowing. Often though it is hidden behind the switchboard.
Backup Box
When there is a fault in the grid supply (usually a blackout), most solar systems will disconnect from the grid and you will have no power. Even many battery systems do this when the inverter is not a grid forming type or configured with the necessary hardware to do this.
A backup box allows the inverter to safely disconnect from the grid and allow the inverter to create it’s own grid. As you are reliant on whatever battery capacity remains at the time of the blackout, and both the inverter and battery have limits on how much power it can deliver, only part of the home is usually backed up. By only backing up the essentials like lighting and low power electrical circuits, you will extend how long the system can cope in a blackout.
When the grid is restored, the backup box automatically reconnects to the grid. There are no parts you need to operate under most situations.
Cabling
Cabling is routed from the PV array to the inverter, to the battery and to the switchboard. Cabling should be well insulated or installed in conduit but should always be treated with great care as any movement may cause stress on connections. All cables in a PV system should be treated as live and only qualified personnel should be allowed to perform any work or maintenance on these cables.
AC & DC Isolators and Circuit Breakers
Isolators, also known as ‘switch disconnectors’, are switches to stop the electrical signal from flowing through to certain parts of the circuit. When a switch is operated, the electrical current may remain on one or the other side of the switch so all parts of the system must be treated as electrically live.
Circuit Breakers provide the same function but also automatically switch off when there is an over current situation. Should this occur, reset the circuit breaker. If it fails to reset or trips again please contact 3 Phase Solar.
The INVERTER SUPPLY Switches are located in your backup box adjacent to your main switchboard / meter box. This interrupts the supply from the inverter to the a.c. switchboard and is the first switch to be turned off in the event of a system shutdown. As this is a circuit breaker, it will trip on over current so is a good first point to check if the inverter appears to be offline.
The INVERTER AC ISOLATORS are located adjacent to each inverter. These interrupt the supply from the inverter to the a.c. switchboard and are used for maintenance.
The PV ARRAY DC ISOLATOR is integrated into each inverter. This interrupts the supply from the PV array. Only ever operate this switch when the AC supply to the inverter has been disconnected to prevent damage to the switch. If performing work on the roof, it is recommended to turn all the PV ARRAY DC ISOLATORS off first.
Monitoring
The inverters can be monitored by going to: https://www.solarweb.com/. They also have a free app called Solar.web which you can download for free from your phone or tablets app store. The website combines the output of the 2 new inverters and measures the net flow of energy through the site. Some historical data is available for free but you can upgrade your account to access long term historical data about the system.
Equipment Supplied
| Qty | Description | Brand | Model | Supplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Solar Panel | Tindo Solar | Walara-425G3P | AWM |
| 1 | Inverter | Fronius | Primo GEN24 8.0 Plus | Krannich |
| 1 | Battery | BYD | HVM 13.8 | Krannich |
| 1 | Racking | Clenergy | PV-ezRack | Aus Solar Distributors |
| 1 | Meter | Fronius | 240 V-3 UL | Krannich |
| 1 | Backup Box | Greenbox | ATS-3P | Krannich |
Panel Serial Numbers
2404573
2404607
2404808
2404937
2404939
2404940
2404965
2404981
2404997
2404999
2405020
2405033
2405083
2405135
2405161
2405173
2405177
2405186
2405187
2405203
2405207
2405220
2405223
2405233
Inverter Serial Numbers
34841379
Battery Serial Numbers
P030T010Z2406040015 (Module)
P030T010Z2406040024 (Module)
P030T010Z2406040023 (Module)
P030T010Z2406040016 (Module)
P030T010Z2406040017 (Module)
P030T020Z2404280117 (Head)
What to do
in the Event of an Earth Fault Alarm
An Earth Fault Alarm is a safety mechanism to warn of a fault in the system that may result in a hazardous situation or damage to system components.
An earth fault will trigger an audible alarm and the display will flash on the inverter screen. If your system has been setup for online monitoring an email will also be sent to you every hour until the fault has been rectified. Please respond immediately to the alarm with the following actions:
1. Do not touch any conductive (eg. metal) parts of the system as there may be an electrically live hazard present.
2. Follow the Shutdown procedure (below).
3. Contact 3 Phase Solar or, if unavailable, another CEC-accredited installer.
Shutdown Procedure
WARNING: Even when a system has been shut down, parts of the system may be electrically live. Solar Panels can produce an electrical current even when the system isn’t operating and should always be treated as live.
System Shutdown Procedure
There are instructions written on the battery for shutting down which are suitable for an emergency. To completely shutdown the system for maintenance, please follow these instructions:
From the Inverter and battery location
1. Turn off both INVERTER AC ISOLATOR found to the right of each inverter
2. Turn off both PV ARRAY DC ISOLATOR found on the front of each inverter
3. Press and hold the push button on the top left front face of the battery for 5 seconds
4. Turn off the BATTERY SYSTEM CIRCUIT BREAKER on the right hand side of the battery
From the backup box located next to the main switchboard
1. Turn off Inverter circuit breaker
Startup Procedure
Ensure the system has been correctly shutdown as per the above procedure before proceeding with the startup procedure. Do not operate DC isolators under load.
System Startup Procedure
From the backup box located next to the main switchboard
1. Turn on Inverter circuit breaker
From the Inverter and battery location
1. Turn on the BATTERY SYSTEM CIRCUIT BREAKER on the right hand side of the battery
2. Turn on both PV ARRAY DC ISOLATOR found on the front of the inverter
3. Turn on both INVERTER AC ISOLATORs found to the right of the inverter
Recommended Maintenance
Grid-connected solar PV systems have no moving parts and are designed to operate with minimal maintenance.
It is recommended that all maintenance and repair work is conducted by your system installer or, if unavailable, another CEC-accredited installer. Maintenance is mandatory for warranty and safety purposes.
Information for Maintenance Staff
At all times workplace safety regulations and state and federal solar PV installation codes and regulations must be followed. The following information is provided only as a reminder of some important facets of workplace safety and is not a substitute for proper training.
Working at Heights
Safe work at heights is a subject requiring careful planning and execution. Consider the pitch of the surface when assessing the risks. Training courses in working safely at heights are available in most locations and are highly recommended before carrying out roof work.
• Ladders: Ensure ladders are set at the correct angle and with secure footing. Make sure the top of a ladder extends 1 metre above the gutter or façade it is leaning against. Always secure a ladder at the top before stepping off a ladder onto a roof.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Ensure suitable personal protective equipment is used including at a minimum:
o Safety harness – training is required for proper use of harness
o Footwear designed for high grip
Working at Heights on a Wet Area
Extra caution must be applied if using water while working at heights, for example when cleaning modules. Appropriate footwear and a safety harness are essential equipment on any sloping surface. The need for edge barriers or other protective equipment must be assessed.
Electrical Risks
Solar PV modules are electrically connected to form an array that has a potentially deadly voltage. Extreme caution should be applied. It is not recommended to conduct maintenance on an array on a sunny day unless modules are completely covered with an opaque material. Do not touch cabling and connections and do not pull on or cause pressure to be applied to cabling or connections.
Recommended Maintenance (QUALIFIED PERSONNEL ONLY)
Solar PV Modules and Array
Note that even when the system has been shutdown, solar PV arrays can continue to produce potentially deadly voltages. If any electrical maintenance is required, it is recommended to cover PV modules with
an opaque material and test with a meter for any remaining voltage before conducting such maintenance.
Solar PV modules require little maintenance. A visual inspection can be conducted periodically to check for any environmental impacts. Periodic cleaning of the modules is advisable, particularly in long periods of dry weather where the build-up of dirt and dust may reduce the output of the system.
Visual Inspection
A visual inspection may identify issues before they become a safety concern. Solar modules are commonly installed on rooftops and areas where severe weather can have adverse effects on the mounting, or electrical cabling, and solar UV radiation can damage components over time.
What to Look For:
1. Check for any obstructions such as leaf litter preventing airflow beneath the modules. Cooler modules operate more efficiently.
2. Check that modules remain securely fastened to mounting rails.
3. Check that cabling is not exposed to direct sunlight. UV radiation can damage insulation and connectors.
4. Check that cabling is secured in place and not dangling loosely. Fauna or high winds can cause damage when cables are left with long loops.
5. Without touching connections, check that connections between modules and cable entry to fixtures such as junction boxes appear to be secure and not suffering damage.
6. Check that mounting systems and cable entries are not causing any leaks, for example, into roof cavities.
If any issues are discovered that cannot be safely and simply fixed, contact your PV installer or another CEC-accredited
installer.
Cleaning of Modules
When dust and dirt build-up is likely to affect the performance of a system, cleaning is advised by trained personnel. Simply use water or if a heavy build-up of dirt necessitates it, use dish detergent and water with a sponge to remove the buildup. It is advisable to use a long-handled squeegee so that cleaning can be carried out more safely from a position above the modules and away from the flow of water.
Inverter Maintenance
Ensure that no objects are located around the inverter that may impede the flow of air for cooling.
Only trained personnel may inspect and service inverters in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
Trained personnel may clean behind the inverter, check the mounting and qualified personnel only may open the inverter to carry out routine or required maintenance as specified in the inverter User Manual included with this documentation.
Battery Maintenance
It is recommended that the battery system be cleaned periodically. If the enclosure is dirty, please
use a soft, dry brush or a dust collector to remove the dust. Liquids such as solvents, abrasives, or
corrosive liquids should not be used to clean the enclosure.
Maintenance Schedule
This maintenance information is intended for qualified personnel.
Correct and thorough electrical safety procedures must be following when carrying out any of these tasks. These tasks are not complete procedures and maintenance staff should be fully trained in each aspect of maintenance that are conducting.
6 to 12 Monthly Maintenance
• Check voltage and current on the d.c. side of the inverter, then voltage and current on the a.c. side of the inverter.
• Follow safe work at heights procedures in the following tasks. Visual inspection of the array including: module degradation, module mounting, mechanical and UV protection of cables, connectors and conduit secure, frame earth connections, roofing sealants and penetrations, dirt and dust, shading changes. If any modules are found to be sub-standard, replace where necessary.
• Junction box tests including: output voltage and current
• Earth resistance: test earth resistance with d.c. and a.c. isolators in ‘OFF’ position
• At each inverter check for ventilation, check for any error codes in accordance with manufacturer’s documentation.
• Check the system stops producing power within 2 seconds of disconnecting the Solar Supply Main Switch.
• Check the system does not produce power for at least 60 seconds after mains is first provided to system.
Further maintenance procedures may be advisable according to the component manufacturer’s documentation.
Solar Panel Layout and Configuration
Wiring Diagrams
Equipment Manuals
Switchboard Subboard PV Array
Workmanship Warranty
Workmanship
At 3 Phase solar, we offer a 10 year warranty on the installation services relating to our solar systems.
This means that if a solar system installed by us fails or breaks within 10 years of the installation date due to defective performance of our installation services we will fix it or replace it (at our discretion).
You are required to have 3 Phase Solar perform the full system maintenance at least every 2 years to maintain the workmanship warranty. You are free to organise the intermediate years maintenance as you wish.
Details of the warranties offered on each product which forms an element of your solar system (such as solar panels, inverters) are attached to this manual.
Transferability
This warranty is not transferable by the original purchaser of the solar system to any subsequent purchaser of the premises at which the solar system is installed.
Effectiveness
This warranty only comes into effect once we have received all amounts owing from you in relation to the solar system and title to the solar system has passed to you.
This warranty will no longer be valid if:
• anyone other than a 3 Phase Solar installer, contractor or other authorized person works on (including repairing or altering) the solar system at any time; or
• you fail to comply with all reasonable instructions of 3 Phase Solar (whether written or verbal) in relation to the operation and care of the solar system.
Exclusions
This warranty does not cover:
• your existing electrical installation, wiring or fuse box;
• normal fair wear and tear;
• any malicious damage or abuse;
• damage caused by vermin, animals or pests;
• corrosion, oxidization, discolouration by mould, or the like;
• damage caused by ‘acts of God’, improper voltage or power surges, accidents or other acts beyond our reasonable control;
• Loss of communications (once successfully set up);
• repaired breaks or any joins to sensor wire or any damage caused to sensor wire;
• any damage to your property caused by the solar system failing or breaking;
• any alterations to your property which are a necessary consequence of the provision of the installation services; or
• any damage of any kind that was not reasonably foreseeable or that could not have been expected to result from:
• a failure to provide the installation services as required by your agreement with us; and/or
• the installation services failing to meet any consumer guarantee set out in the Australian Consumer Law.
Australian Consumer Law Guarantees and Remedies
Our installation services come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law.
In the case of a problem with any installation services which is not defined as a ‘major failure’ under the Australian Consumer Law and which is capable of being remedied, you must provide us with an opportunity to remedy the problem free of charge within a reasonable time.
In the case of a problem with any installation services which is defined as a ‘major failure’ under the Australian Consumer Law or which is not capable of being remedied, you are entitled to:
• cancel your agreement with us and get a refund; or
• get compensation for the difference in value of the installation services delivered and what was paid for by you.
You are also entitled to compensation for any reasonably foreseeable loss or damage resulting from:
• our failure to provide the installation services as required by your agreement with us; and/or
• the installation services failing to meet any consumer guarantee under the Australian Consumer Law.
We will not be liable to you for any personal injury or any loss or damage of any kind that was not reasonably foreseeable or that could not have been expected to result from the circumstances set out above.
Equipment Warranties
For all warranty claims, please contact 3 Phase Solar for assistance for the most efficient handling of claims. Our support email is: support@3phasesolar.com.au
Tindo N-type Solar Panel Warranty
If 3 Phase Solar is no longer available for support, you may contact the manufacturer directly or under consumer law, you can contact the wholesale supplier who are required to honour warranties. You can contact the relevant supplier for the equipment in question (see Equipment Supplied for suppliers of each component). Below are the websites where you can find contact details for each supplier: