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David Gould avatar image
David Gould asked

Can I use a long cable run

I have an easy solar 48/5000 working well with a few panels. I have the option of connecting another 17 panels to it that are on enphase M215 inverters on the back of each of them, the issue is they are 200 meters away and there is no space to move them closer and refit them. If the panels are running flat out i would get about 14 volts drop, would the two devices work together ok like this? The amount of power i would get if the were running flat out is far more than i need, just like to have the extra for the bad solar days. Anyone got any experience they can share?

wiringenphase
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2 Answers
boekel avatar image
boekel answered ·

That's no problem, off course you want to configure as high as possible in voltage (without going over the limit of the MPPT)

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tilo avatar image
tilo answered ·

The 17 Enphase grid inverters will actually raise the AC voltage by 14V at full power on their side of the 200m AC cable. If your Easysolar AC output voltage is 230V and you add 14V you will have 244V at the Enphase inverters. It depends then on the configuration of the Enphase inverters (the country setting) when they disconnect themselves because of high AC voltage of the grid.

I don´t know if those 17 Enphase inverters synchronize when they disconnect at high AC voltage and shut off all together. That might cause some instability in your system if their full power suddenly is missing.

In case each Enphase decides on its own AC voltage measurement to disconnect, it should be a minor problem, because the 17 inverters will have small AC voltage measurement differences, and after one Enphase inverter disconnects, the voltage will drop and the others keep running (till the next one might drop off etc).

In case you see that the Enphase inverters turn off because of high AC voltage, you might reduce a little the Easysolar AC output voltage, or raise the AC high disconnect voltage in the Enphase inverters if you have access to that setting. Or increase the AC cabling.

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David Gould avatar image David Gould commented ·

Tilo, thanks for the reply. My concern was the enphase units disconnecting as enphase say maximum voltage rise should be 2% which means running 35mm cable at a cost of over a grand. Alterative is to use Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT Charge Controller 250V/100A, a bonus being I like Victron kit!

Have you, or anyone reading, done long runs from panels?

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