Thanks for sharing with us Evan. I still don't understand everything you are doing but I see it does what you want it to do. It is very interesting to learn more about Solar. Stay safe and keep up the great videos. Fred.
Here's my advice on the Tigo modules. They work great, but I bought the double (1000w) modules to save some money over the singles and they were a real pain to install because the leads on the panels are not long enough. Learn from my frustration and buy the singles. So much easier to install on the ground than the duals.
Thanks for sharing your journey. looking at what you have done compared to our system of an EG4 18Kpv, 15 kilowatts of ground mounted Bi-Facial panels and 60 kilowatt hours of LiFePo4 battery bank that runs the whole property 100% Off-Grid. i-am so glad we do not need to buy 36 Tigo's. Wow, would that be expensive.
for my roof mount I bought the tigos O and S 20 and 18 respectively for 38 panels, 1100 on sale but some we want optimization and others just monitoring with RS capabilities. They get the 30% tax credit so I believe it was worth it. We have 14 ts4 2F tigo as well for another 2 arrays which use the RSS but the roof top will utilize a CCA with 2 TAPS. I found all that on ebay for 210.00. I am glad I bought them as all of it has gone up in price pretty quickly. Hopefully it is cyclical or maybe driven by higher installations due to the tariffs coming. Good luck to you.
As a state National the 30% tax credit does not apply to me as i have not contributed to the US inc. for 24 years. research Revocation of Election, which is a remedy provide by the US congress. Totally a voluntary system.
Evan, one little thing. Maybe the rapid shutdown switch on the exterior shop wall should be inside a box. So many things could accidentally trip the exposed switch.
Another good video. Thanks. I wonder how much RFI is generated by the Tigo panels. For example would a portable radio buzz then near the Tigo system? Thanks again.
@@CountryViewSolar-DIYProjects there are a couple of ways I would check for radio noise. A simple way is to use a portable am radio to see if it buzzes near the devices. I also have a USB radio stick that can scan the radio frequencies. Not many would have that if not an amateur radio operator though. Signature Solar is 30 minutes from me in Texas and have offered to let me come and test. All the best!
The RSD instructions are referring to the outside actual shutdown unit which must be normally closed for PV to function. The E-Stop switch wires can be very small, just a low voltage activation. I don't understand why you would need a RSD on each panel? You just need one for each input to the MPPT. I would use a different brand of shutdown if they don't make one that is good to 480v and 20amps.
You have to have one on each panel. As per NEC 2017 code. The max voltage is 80VDC volts within the array and 30 VDC outside the array. My 460 watt solar panles have a 50.8 VDC open circuit. So 2 panels in series would be above 80VDC. So modules are installed on each panel to be below the 80VDC required by code. NEC 690.12(B)(2)
@@CountryViewSolar-DIYProjects Thanks for the reply! I kind of figured that it was a stupid code issue. EG4 shows an example of a single shut down on the PV input wires and that is what I would do if I chose to use this feature. As you guessed, I don't follow code on everything. For me, just shutting down the output of the Inverter and shutting down the batteries would be just fine. We don't have fire dept support out here in the desert so shutting down the PV is not necessary and I can always shut them down myself if needed before working on it. I wonder if there are any units that meet code that don't use any RF/bluetooth/wifi/etc for those like us that don't have or want RF. Seems to me that the codes are purposely making Solar more expensive and difficult because they don't require Rapid Shutdown on Grid power! You are very knowledgeable.
Is there a reason you went with just Tigo Rapid Shut Down and not with Tigo TS4-A-O | Optimization, Monitoring & Rapid Shutdown Just curious. Thanks for a great video and explanation. Thanks again
Sir look into U.K. latest research from insurance they are now recommending not to install a rapid shutoff dc as there is now a high risk of fire due to weakened wiring being super heated, they are recommending using the emergency secure dc shutdown in the inverter
Ok so if you already had a system in the shop to power everything you have why another system in the basement of your house? Why not just more panels and batteries for the first system?
He might be getting near the wattage he can push out of the other system. More batteries won't help with that. I'm sure he will give the actual reason at some point.
My power company agreement is for a max of 10K watts output stamped on my system. So if I add any more grid interactive/hybrid inverters I would be breaking the contract. So adding more solar with off grid inverters is a way around it.
Looks like a great system! But I can see some of my "friends" playing a joke by coming over at night while I was inside watching the big game just to hit that big red button!
I have all the components but what 14 gauge wire did you use because it doesn't come with wire, I see the ports you hooked them up to for the rss and the estop. Do you know if the same terminals work for an CCA/ TAP install?
I haven't installed the CCA/Tap, so I am not for sure how it interfaces. As far as wire, normal building wire like THHN. And 16 gauge would be the largest that I would suggest.
*STOP* The manual for the rapid shutdown switch unit wiring must be correct! A safety system must never rely on being able to close a circuit because a wiring failure would disable it. Emergency shutdowns must always *break* a circuit. I would check the instructions for the Inverter - there is probably a setting to enable (or maybe set the sense) of the inverter rapid shutdown contacts. But whatever - do not rely on it as you have currently set it up since a wiring fault could cause the Rapid shutdown to fail and put someone's life at risk.
I agree it should be on a normally closed switch for a maintained circuit. But EG4 has it backward. My EP Cube system is on a normally closed switch like it should be.
@@CountryViewSolar-DIYProjects Maybe a strongly worded Email to their support department? Something along the lines of reporting the faulty design to the Health and Safety people if no action is taken. If they refuse to fix it I'd certainly suggest returning the Inverter as "Not Fit for Purpose" and asking for a 100% refund.
Thanks for sharing with us Evan. I still don't understand everything you are doing but I see it does what you want it to do. It is very interesting to learn more about Solar. Stay safe and keep up the great videos. Fred.
Here's my advice on the Tigo modules. They work great, but I bought the double (1000w) modules to save some money over the singles and they were a real pain to install because the leads on the panels are not long enough. Learn from my frustration and buy the singles. So much easier to install on the ground than the duals.
Yes, I installed Dual shutdowns in the past. you are correct, it is pain. This time I bought Singles.
Thank you for thinking about the rescue services safety... Hope more follow suit.. stay safe 🏴
Glad you added the legal disclaimer to protect yourself.
Thanks Evan!
Great video - I have the 6000 XP up and running - but you have detailed it well and a TYM owner like me to boot.
good info, thank you
Thanks for sharing your journey. looking at what you have done compared to our system of an EG4 18Kpv, 15 kilowatts of ground mounted Bi-Facial panels and 60 kilowatt hours of LiFePo4 battery bank that runs the whole property 100% Off-Grid. i-am so glad we do not need to buy 36 Tigo's. Wow, would that be expensive.
for my roof mount I bought the tigos O and S 20 and 18 respectively for 38 panels, 1100 on sale but some we want optimization and others just monitoring with RS capabilities. They get the 30% tax credit so I believe it was worth it. We have 14 ts4 2F tigo as well for another 2 arrays which use the RSS but the roof top will utilize a CCA with 2 TAPS. I found all that on ebay for 210.00. I am glad I bought them as all of it has gone up in price pretty quickly. Hopefully it is cyclical or maybe driven by higher installations due to the tariffs coming. Good luck to you.
As a state National the 30% tax credit does not apply to me as i have not contributed to the US inc. for 24 years. research Revocation of Election, which is a remedy provide by the US congress. Totally a voluntary system.
Great channel! Can you do a video on how you installed the interlock switch on your main panel breakers and how to connect this to your inverter?
Yea, I probably do that in the future.
Thank you for telling me what those switches are used for, I've heard others talking about them but never why we should use them.
Thx
Hi, Evan! Thanks for another great video.
Evan, one little thing. Maybe the rapid shutdown switch on the exterior shop wall should be inside a box. So many things could accidentally trip the exposed switch.
By code, it has to be really accessible and easy to find for first responders. It needs to be visible.
You’re a lot like Norm Abrams from New Yankee Workshop
I totally agree. I watched Norm Abram since she began working on This Old House.
Another good video. Thanks. I wonder how much RFI is generated by the Tigo panels. For example would a portable radio buzz then near the Tigo system? Thanks again.
Good question. I'm not sure how you go about checking for that.
@@CountryViewSolar-DIYProjects there are a couple of ways I would check for radio noise. A simple way is to use a portable am radio to see if it buzzes near the devices. I also have a USB radio stick that can scan the radio frequencies. Not many would have that if not an amateur radio operator though. Signature Solar is 30 minutes from me in Texas and have offered to let me come and test. All the best!
The RSD instructions are referring to the outside actual shutdown unit which must be normally closed for PV to function.
The E-Stop switch wires can be very small, just a low voltage activation.
I don't understand why you would need a RSD on each panel? You just need one for each input to the MPPT. I would use a different brand of shutdown if they don't make one that is good to 480v and 20amps.
You have to have one on each panel. As per NEC 2017 code. The max voltage is 80VDC volts within the array and 30 VDC outside the array.
My 460 watt solar panles have a 50.8 VDC open circuit. So 2 panels in series would be above 80VDC. So modules are installed on each panel to be below the 80VDC required by code.
NEC 690.12(B)(2)
@@CountryViewSolar-DIYProjects Thanks for the reply! I kind of figured that it was a stupid code issue. EG4 shows an example of a single shut down on the PV input wires and that is what I would do if I chose to use this feature. As you guessed, I don't follow code on everything. For me, just shutting down the output of the Inverter and shutting down the batteries would be just fine. We don't have fire dept support out here in the desert so shutting down the PV is not necessary and I can always shut them down myself if needed before working on it. I wonder if there are any units that meet code that don't use any RF/bluetooth/wifi/etc for those like us that don't have or want RF. Seems to me that the codes are purposely making Solar more expensive and difficult because they don't require Rapid Shutdown on Grid power! You are very knowledgeable.
Good information. just saying
Is there a reason you went with just Tigo Rapid Shut Down and not with Tigo TS4-A-O | Optimization, Monitoring & Rapid Shutdown
Just curious.
Thanks for a great video and explanation.
Thanks again
I don't have any shading issues in my roof. They are in full sun all day.
So, Optimizers are not needed.
Sir look into U.K. latest research from insurance they are now recommending not to install a rapid shutoff dc as there is now a high risk of fire due to weakened wiring being super heated, they are recommending using the emergency secure dc shutdown in the inverter
What I am doing, is what is required in the United States. I can't do anything different.
Ok so if you already had a system in the shop to power everything you have why another system in the basement of your house? Why not just more panels and batteries for the first system?
I believe the ep cube setup is for the house and the eg4 6000 xp with wall mount battery is for shop/barn. I think anyways???
He might be getting near the wattage he can push out of the other system. More batteries won't help with that. I'm sure he will give the actual reason at some point.
My power company agreement is for a max of 10K watts output stamped on my system. So if I add any more grid interactive/hybrid inverters I would be breaking the contract. So adding more solar with off grid inverters is a way around it.
@@d.pollard5962 No he ran the shop and house off the original system.
Oh ok@@jimbo16720
👍👍👍
Looks like a great system! But I can see some of my "friends" playing a joke by coming over at night while I was inside watching the big game just to hit that big red button!
Well if it was ever a shtf situation just disconnect the switch. Otherwise place your boot in someone’s posterior if they do that.
i have TS4-A-0 on panel, is this the same method for that?
Any idea if it will trip the eg 4 Lifepower4 v 1 batteries?
I don't believe version 1 has rapid shutdown
Does the kill switch cut the power to the RSS transmitter?
When the switch is activated the 6000XP turns off the 12 volts to the TIGO transmitter
Thanks
I have all the components but what 14 gauge wire did you use because it doesn't come with wire, I see the ports you hooked them up to for the rss and the estop. Do you know if the same terminals work for an CCA/ TAP install?
I haven't installed the CCA/Tap, so I am not for sure how it interfaces. As far as wire, normal building wire like THHN. And 16 gauge would be the largest that I would suggest.
It’s inspiration….not instruction!
*STOP* The manual for the rapid shutdown switch unit wiring must be correct!
A safety system must never rely on being able to close a circuit because a wiring failure would disable it. Emergency shutdowns must always *break* a circuit.
I would check the instructions for the Inverter - there is probably a setting to enable (or maybe set the sense) of the inverter rapid shutdown contacts.
But whatever - do not rely on it as you have currently set it up since a wiring fault could cause the Rapid shutdown to fail and put someone's life at risk.
I agree it should be on a normally closed switch for a maintained circuit. But EG4 has it backward.
My EP Cube system is on a normally closed switch like it should be.
@@CountryViewSolar-DIYProjects Maybe a strongly worded Email to their support department? Something along the lines of reporting the faulty design to the Health and Safety people if no action is taken.
If they refuse to fix it I'd certainly suggest returning the Inverter as "Not Fit for Purpose" and asking for a 100% refund.