Step 1 of 6
Step 2 of 6
Step 3 of 6
Step 4 of 6
Step 5 of 6
Step 6 of 6
Revision History
Step 1 of 6: Acknowledgement of Terms and Conditions
In order to use the string sizing tool, the user must acknowledge
the terms and conditions and enter a valid E-mail address.
E-mail address: the address where the final results in Step
6 get sent.
We log consent of agreement to the terms and conditions.
Please click here for our Privacy
Policy.
Back to top ^
Step 2 of 6: Choose Beacon Power Product
This
step allows entry of the Smart Power Product that is being
used. The M4 and M4 Plus are identical for PV module
configuration as are the M5 and M5 Plus. For more
information on each product click
here.
Back to top ^
Step 3 of 6: Temperature Range
Ambient temperatures can have an affect on the PV cell output
parameters, which may in turn affect maximum M-Series
product system performance.
The ambient temperature needs to be entered in order for the
string sizing tool to determine when certain modules derate
or are not compatible with the M-Series product for the specific location.
If the user doesn't know the minimum and maximum temperatures
for the installation location, the user may look up the values
by entering the zip code in the “Zip Code” field
and pressing the “Get Temps” button. A new window
with local weather data will open. Choose the following values
from this data:
| |
Minimum temperature: |
Use the lowest record value |
| |
Maximum temperature:
|
Use the highest average temperature |
Should this window NOT open check if any pop-up blocking
software is running, and disable it.
| |
Defaults: |
Minimum |
-10 °F ( -23.3 °C) |
| |
|
Maximum |
110 °F ( 43.3 °C) |
| |
|
|
|
| |
Limits: |
Minimum |
-100 °F ( -73.3 °C) |
| |
|
Maximum |
150 °F ( 65.6 °C) |
Back to top ^
Step 4 of 6: PV Module Make and Model
This step allows entry of the Make and Model of the PV module
that the user would like to size with the M-Series product. Should the module Make and Model not be
found in either list, E-mail the module data to service@beaconpower.com.
Please include all of the following characteristic variables
in the E-mail for fastest turnaround time.
Manufacturer
Model
Pmp – Maximum Power (Watts)
Voc – Open Circuit Voltage (Volts)
Vmp – Maximum Power Voltage (Volts)
Isc – Short Circuit Current (Amps)
Imp – Maximum Power Current (Amps)
Series Fuse Rating (Amps)
NOCT – Normal Operating Cell Temperature (°C)
Voc Temperature Coefficient (%/°C or V/°C)
Vmp Temperature Coefficient (%/°C or V/°C) - if different
from Voc Temperature Coefficient
Should any of the variables not be available immediately
it may take some time get the proper values from the manufacturer.
We will make every effort to add new module types in a timely
fashion.
The list may contain modules that are not
compatible with either product. Should one of these be chosen,
the following error message will appear at the bottom of the
screen after clicking “Next”:
“The module selected
is NOT compatible with the M-Series Product. Please pick another
module.”
Back to top ^
Step 5 of 6: Choose Number of Modules
From the previous entries the program has now calculated the
following String data:
Number of Modules in Series per String
String Open Circuit Voltage (Voc)
Maximum Power Voltage (Vmp)
Short Circuit Current (Isc)
Maximum Power Current (Imp)
Maximum Power (Pmax)
From the drop down list choose the number of Modules that
will be used for the system. Notice that number of modules
are given in factors of the amount of modules in series per
string. This prevents the user from specifying an odd number
of modules. The total array power is shown to the right of
the # of modules in parenthesis, and is the STC rating of
the module. STC is the Standard Test Condition rating of a
module. The amount of power that a PV module produces is dependent
on irradiance and ambient temperature conditions and may vary.
STC ratings may or may not be achieved with any PV module
that was chosen.
Back to top ^
Step 6 of 6: Output
The final step of the string sizing tool summarizes the data
that was chosen in the previous steps.
Total # of Modules
Total Power of Array: calculated from manufacturer’s
provided module ratings at Standard Test Conditions (STC)
# of Modules per String
Minimum Current Protection per String and
Maximum Current Protection per String determine
the fuse or circuit breaker size that needs to be used in
the string combiner of the system. Make sure that value of
circuit breaker size is smaller than maximum current protection.
If a certain size device is not available choose a current
value that is greater than the minimum current protection.
Maximum Strings per PV input: this is the maximum number
of strings that may be paralleled before connection to a single
in PV input on the M-Series product. This value is based on 40A of Isc (short
circuit current) per input.
# of Strings per Terminal 1 – 3: Suggested # of strings
per PV input according to the amount of modules chosen in
the previous step. The program fills up terminal 1, then moves
on and fills up terminal 2 and lastly fills up terminal three.
This is to determine minimum amount of wires when only two
terminals are necessary. Spreading the inputs out across the
terminals may also be done.
Terminal Isc: the short circuit current per PV input respectively
String Voc: open circuit voltage of each PV string with high
and low temperature effect voltages
String Vmp: maximum power voltage of each PV string with
high and low temperature effect voltages
String Isc: short circuit current per PV string
Beacon Power M-Series String Calculator version
Send E-mail to: “E-mail address”: allows the
user to send the above table to the E-mail address entered
in Step 1.
Back to top ^
Revision History
V2.0 September 2006 - added additional step to choose
M-Series product.
Back to top ^
|
