- June 12, 2022
- Posted by: AliensFaith
- Category: OBJECTIVE PRESS
This is an exciting week as we break ground for a solar carport – but I am faced with a dilemma and hope this community can help. The short version question is: how should I best connect a SolarEdge string inverter to the internet if it is mounted on a carport away from the house?
The situation: we’ve been wanting to go solar for some time and really liked the look of these cantilevered solar carports with bifacial panels. I could not find a single firm to do things turnkey so ended up working with a solar carport firm with me subcontracting or doing the rest myself. I am a PE and handy, so I will install the carport structure and install and wire the solar system (I have hired a master electrician who will advise and review everything). I have hired a foundation contractor who will break ground this week so I need to be ready to install the underground conduit. I am unsure of the best way to connect the SolarEdge string inverters to the internet, I have read that US versions do not have a Wifi connection (yet there is now a kit of some sort to add it on?) and 3G might not work. Should I do a separate conduit run for network wiring?
The dilemma: My county is very strict and turned down the first one-line diagram with the string inverters in the garage, saying the carport is essentially a separate building and needs disconnect switches right on the carport. Rather than a disconnect for four pairs of DC, my electrician thought it easiest to just mount the inverters on the carport column and the county agreed. So the question is, can I get the SolarEdge inverters to work via wifi, or do I need to run a separate conduit and pull network wiring? Line drawing and layout drawing in link.
The stats: 36 LG440N2T-E6 panels, each with SE S440 optimizers, wired in four groups of nine panels. Two SE7600H-US string inverters mounted on the carport column, with about a 20 foot conduit run to the utility panels in the garage. I ran a wifi app on my phone and while it is not strong (-82db) there is a clear wifi signal from where the panels will be mounted.
So – can I buy the SolarEdge inverters with a wifi kit and be good to go, or should I lay in a separate underground conduit for network wiring – and if so what wire should be pulled in that and is there any shielding or separation issues if next to the power conduit?
THANKS!
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