System Planning Guide

Transcription

1 System Planning Guide for Commercial PV 1 step Your step by step directions to select top quality hardware devices and design your monitoring system. 2 step

2 S step-by-step system planning guide This booklet is your step-by-step guide to build a monitoring package that meets your project specs and budget. Consult the diagram below for a system planning overview, then select your system components from the following pages. Experienced DECK Account Executives are available by phone to answer questions and assist with your monitoring system design process. A B C / SPECIAL NEEDS D S 1 choose a basic hardware package All Commercial PV systems start with a Basic Monitoring Hardware Package. The Basic Hardware Package includes: 1 revenue-grade meter 1 gateway device (pushes your data out to the web) Split-core CTs sized to fit your project You can choose from two formats for your Basic Hardware Package: Unassembled Package: hardware devices are packed separately; customer is responsible for mounting and wiring at time of installation. All-in-One Box: this convenient option delivers Basic Hardware prewired and mounted in a UL-listed NEMA4 enclosure. Add additional meters and other basic hardware elements if needed see inverter direct data in your monitoring software One small added charge provides valuable inverter data in your monitoring interface. You can see both AC and DC current as registered by the inverter, as well as receiving inverter fault codes. DECK Monitoring is compatible with most major inverter brands in the North American marketplace. options to get valuable irradiance data Irradiance data enables the most accurate performance monitoring for your PV system, because it accounts for available sunlight when measuring system generation levels. We offer a wide range of options for this data, including satellitefeed irradiance values and a spectrum of onsite environmental sensor packages. increase analytic power with DC-side monitoring Select sub-array level or string level monitoring for the deepest level of insight into performance across your array. A DECK Account Executive can help you select the right level of DC-side monitoring for your project using our exclusive Granular Monitoring Decision Guide. wireless communications Use Modhoppers for wireless communications from your array to your monitoring hardware. Select a cellular modem for wireless communications to the web. interactive kiosk displays Touchscreen displays are ideal for lobbies and building public areas... choose desk mount, wall mount, or kiosk format in a variety of screen sizes. net metering package Add electric consumption metering to your package: chart generation vs. usage in real time, and get valuable energy efficiency insights. engineering services Our experienced engineering team can help you design a custom monitoring system to meet almost any special needs and circumstances. installation support Meet OTIS (On-site Technical Installation Support): an experienced DECK support technician at your project site to provide oversight for your monitoring installation. reliable, certified third party data reporting Many PV incentive programs require certified third-party data reporting in order to collect utility rebates. If you need data reporting services, automated reporting from DECK Monitoring is an affordable, hassle-free solution. Our data reporting service satisfies virtually every certification standard in the industy. extend monitoring services up to 20 years total You may choose to extend your service contracts with DECK Monitoring by 5-year increments, up to 20 years total. Extending your contracts locks you in for service at today s low price point, and it also allows you to include the cost of extended monitoring in the intitial project budget, so that available discounts and incentives can be applied

3 S software overview Every project gets two personalized web interfaces: the public Dashboard......and the secure private Energy Intelligence Admin Panel. Accessible from any computer Dashboard Standard free customization options include placing your company logo and photos, company promotional copy, project description and images, and choice of color to match company branding Includes sub-page for expanded graphing tool Includes sub-page for animated How Solar Works educational feature Optional Project Details sub-page for your copy and image slideshow Optional About sub-page for your copy and image slideshow Equivalency feature includes fifteen formula options Ideal for touchscreen displays in building lobby (kiosk, wall-mount, or desktop options available) Admin Panel Secure password-protected web interface See entire portfolio of monitored systems at a glance Customizable performance alarms send notifications to your O&M provider and any other designated team members Intensive analytics suite provides actionable and easy-to-understand insights into system performance Generate system performance reports quickly and easily Statistics Overview Manage your systems on the go with this suite of analytic displays that can be accessed from any mobile device... comes standard for every client! 4 5

4 S 1 basic monitoring hardware Each basic monitoring package from DECK includes all the hardware devices necessary for basic monitoring of your PV system: one revenue grade meter, one gateway device (prepares data for web transmission), and CTs sized to your project specs. Years of trial in the field have shown these devices to be reliable, cost-effective options that are guaranteed to work with our software. All basic monitoring hardware comes with full access to DECK support resources, including detailed installation guides, responsive phone support, and manufacturer s warranty protection. COMMUNICATIONS GATEWAY basic package options You may choose to receive your basic hardware in one of two formats: either as an Unassembled Package, or as an All-in-One Box Package. Both packages provide identical basic monitoring hardware devices, and both packages give you access to the same software application features. The All-in-One Box package includes a UL-listed NEMA 4 enclosure for quick and easy installation. In addition to the weatherproof enclosure, the All-in-One Box Package provides the added service of mounting and pre-wiring all devices for plug and play installation. The All-in-One Box assembly also includes field terminals. Industrial temperature range -30 to 70 C Pushes out data via port 80 DHCP/IP addressing 120 AC to 24 DC power adapter included Onboard nonvolatile memory UNASSEMBLED PACKAGE Hardware devices packed separately All wiring and configuration must be done by customer during the installation Recommended for customers who are very confident in their ability to correctly wire all devices for power and Modbus communications REVENUE GRADE METER Provides per-phase and cumulative information including volts, amps, real power, reactive power, apparent power, Watt-hours, VAR-hours, VAhours, power factor and frequency Digital communication via RS-485 (Modbus RTU) ANSI C12.20 certified Revenue grade accuracy: 0.5% or better DECK will source the more appropriate meter to match your project needs. SPLIT CORE CURRENT TRANSFORMERS WattsOn Universal Transducer -OR- e51 Series Power Meter from Veris ALL-IN-ONE BOX PACKAGE Hardware devices pre-mounted in a weatherproof enclosure Hardware devices are pre-wired and pre-configured for communication with DECK data servers Saves time and money on installation... particularly recommended for customers who do not have extensive experience installing monitoring hardware Available in various sizes to fit your specific project needs Split core CTs provide easy installation Up to 2000 maximum amps per phase (speak with a DECK rep if larger size is needed) (CTs not shown) 6 7

5 S all-in-one box: pre-wired, pre-configured, UL listed This convenient UL-listed assembly delivers your Basic Hardware mounted, pre-wired, and pre-configured in a weatherproof NEMA-4 enclosure. You ll save time and money on your installation service, and you ll have peace of mind knowing that wiring and configuration tasks have been completed by the monitoring experts at DECK. get inverter direct data Inverter integration solutions from DECK allow you to see crucial inverter direct data in your monitoring software. This includes AC and DC current and voltage, as well as inverter fault codes. DECK software is compatible for integration with most major inverter brands. A list of compatible inverter manufacturers is available in the Solar Monitoring section of our website as Hardware Partners, or you may contact a DECK Account Executive for a complete list of compatible inverter models. 2 OVER 30 kw Save time and money on installation when you get your hardware pre-installed in a UL-listed enclosure. inverter inverter wire with RS -485 basic monitoring package UNDER 30 kw DECK monitoring solutions are compatible with most major inverter brands. ALL-IN-ONE BOX CORE PACKAGE UL-listed NEMA type 4 enclosure (W) x (H) x 8 (D) VAC to 24VDC power supply included (2-wire with no ground) Includes core package hardware mounted and pre-wired inside Miscellaneous mounting hardware, wire, and DIN rail Fused & standard terminal blocks for power and CTs Quick connects for easy external connections inverter inverter inverter inverter inverter ADDITIONAL OPTIONS With CDMA cellular modem For sites without access to wired web network. CDMA service provider is Verizon. With GSM cellular modem For sites without access to wired web network. GSM service providers include AT&T and T-Mobile. wire with RS -485 High Voltage Power Supply 200VAC 500VAC (3-wire including ground) 8 9 basic monitoring package

6 S 3 options for valuable irradiance data Effective performance monitoring for PV systems demands an accurate source of local irradiance data. Monitoring systems require irradiance data to account for availability of sunlight when measuring system performance. With irradiance data, you can distinguish true system performance issues from cases of diminished production due to cloud cover. it came from outer space: satellite irradiance data DECK now offers satellite irradiance data that may be used as an augmentation to, or as a substitution for, traditional on-site environmental sensors and weather stations. Irradiance meters (pyranometers) and irradiance data are available from DECK Monitoring in a variety of package configurations. We offer pyranometers in weather station packages, where you can choose from a variety of additional environmental sensors for cell temperature, ambient temperature, wind speed and direction, and more. Or you can select SolarAnywhere SystemCheck, satellite-based irradiance data that also includes a customizable predicted power calculator (see next page). options... We offer high quality environmental sensors at a range of price points. For irradiance data, choose among pyranometer options ranging from an affordable silicon-cell technology to a deluxe model rated for high performance in extreme environments. For your overall weather station package, choose among various models and components to fit your specs, your budget, and your physical mounting requirements. All environmental sensor packages offer three basic data points: irradiance, ambient temperature, and cell temperature. Several models and packages offer additional sensors for added functionality. Added sensor/data point options include: SolarAnywhere SystemCheck seamlessly integrates the powerful DECK Monitoring software platform with site-specific satellite irradiance data and a predictive modeling calculator powered by Clean Power Research, pioneers in solar estimation technology. SolarAnywhere SystemCheck combines satellite irradiance data with simulation models to provide a detailed predicted power calculator. This calculator accounts for make and model of system hardware (such as panels and inverters) along with panel tilt, azimuth angle, and panel tracking motion. The end result is a highly accurate performance baseline that is automatically generated within your DECK Admin Panel, allowing users to chart actual generation against modeled performance. This feature provides the most detailed performance modeling available from DECK Monitoring. SolarAnywhere SystemCheck may be used as an alternative to an on-site pyranometer, and it may be integrated with other environmental sensors installed at your project site for cell temperature, ambient temperature, etc. You may also choose to combine satellite data with an on-site pyranometer as an affordable secondary source of irradiance data that will alert you to deterioration and reporting issues with your on-site pyranometers. Wind Speed Wind Direction Rain Gauge Relative Humidity Barometric Pressure 10 11

7 S 4 consider DC-side granular monitoring options You can t effectively manage a large PV system if you can only see data from one generation meter. Systems over 30kW should consider DC-side granular monitoring to provide insight into performance among various hardware devices and all sections of the array. Granular monitoring requires additional hardware as well as software charges for each added data point. Your DECK sales rep can help you determine the appropriate level of granular monitoring for your system using our exclusive Granular Decision Guide. This calculator weighs five independent variable for your system to rule out granular monitoring options where cost is prohibitively high relative to your opportunities for return on investment. We help you understand the dollars behind your decision so you can make the economically sensible choice. sub-array monitoring You will need a separate zone meter (DC transducer) to measure production from each zone in your system (DC output at a subcombiner or combiner box). Each zone meter requires a separate software charge for data reporting. DC TRANSDUCER Factory calibrated switch-selectable amp ranges (20/40/80, or 50/100/200) Output: 4-20mA Supply current: 35mA max (power source not included) Self-gripping iris for easy installation Bracket can be installed in 3 different configurations for added flexibility Status LED ensures easy set-up for proper wiring 1 BASIC /INVERTER LEVEL MONITORING 2 SUB-ARRAY MONITORING 3 STRING LEVEL MONITORING string monitoring DECK can help you source the appropriate smart combiner hardware needed to meter all strings in your system. Plan your total map of strings and smart combiners, then add the appropriate additional data reporting charges. A DECK sales agent can help you plan the system map and build an accurate quote. SMART COMBINERS 1 BASIC MONITORING: Basic (or inverter ) level monitoring measures AC output from your inverter(s). This level of monitoring is often all that is needed for smaller projects such as residential PV systems. 2 SUB-ARRAY MONITORING: Sub-array (zone) level monitoring independently measures DC output from the subcombiners or combiner boxes in your system. If you have a localized problem in your array, the affected zone(s) will show a dip in production relative to neighboring zones, alerting you to an issue that might have gone unnoticed in a system with basic monitoring only. When problems arise, you can use sub-array data to quickly locate the issue, saving time and money. UL-listed enclosure Modbus communication 600 VDC or 1000 VDC models (power source not included) Designed for 4 to 16 input channels using the 8-channel Obvius SCM monitoring units (option for 1 or 2 SCM s) 90C output terminals NEMA-3, 3R, 4 & 4X rated enclusure options Steel or fiberglass enclosure Many configuration options to best fit with your specific combiner construction (DECK sales reps can help plan) 3 STRING MONITORING: String level monitoring provides highly accurate granular insight into system performance. As the diagram above shows, each string in your system becomes an independently reporting node, allowing you to detect and locate underperforming areas of the system with a very high degree of accuracy

8 S 5 consider wireless communication needs Wireless system communications may be desirable in many circumstances. Perhaps your array is separated from your metering hardware by a road or some other barrier... or perhaps the cost of trenching to a remote location is prohibitively high. If your system requires wireless communications, we can source the right hardware for the job. choose interactive displays Many system hosts enjoy having one or more touchscreen or kiosk displays at their facility. These interactive displays are ideal green PR tools for businesses with high foot traffic. They are powerful learning tools in educational environments, and they help everyone become more conscientious about energy use and conservation campaigns. A kiosk can also act as a great sales tool for integrators, allowing them to show off their full portfolio of DECK-monitored Dashboards. 6 Avoid trenching costs with wireless system communications. SYSTEM DATA TOUCHSCREEN LCD MONITOR Available in many sizes: 19 (desktop), 22 (desktop), 32 (wall mount), 42 (wall mount) High contrast display Comes with PC computer preconfigured with kiosk software for plug and play start up. Touchscreen system requires 2 standard electric outlets and standard ethernet web connection R MODHOPPER WIRELESS TRANSCEIVERS Wirelessly transmit and receive Modbus data up to 3000 ft with minor obstructions (14 miles line-of-sight with proper installation) Connect up to 128 RS-485 Modbus RTU devices to any Modbus RTU network 256-bit AES encryption for superior security No PC or software configuration needed Accepts Modbus or standard pulse inputs KIOSK WITH 19 TOUCHSCREEN MONITOR 16 gauge steel body Powdercoat finish available in many colors Option to have logo printed on kiosk body Can be anchored to ground Comes with PC computer that is pre-wired and pre-configured with kiosk software for plug and play start up. Kiosk system requires one standard electric outlet and standard ethernet web connection DECK also offers wireless internet solutions. If you are unable to get a local 14 internet connection at your project site, speak with a DECK sales rep about including a cellular internet modem and data plan. 15

9 S 7 Over engineering One-line diagrams services available from DECK engineers for custom systems DECK has designed and deployed thousands of monitoring systems. Our experienced team can help you plan a monitoring system to meet almost any special needs and circumstances. If you have a complex custom monitoring project, you may request a review of your monitoring plans from our engineering department. Our engineers will verify that all hardware devices will function together correctly in your planned system. You will be advised of any special needs your system may have with regard to power sources, wireless communications, etc. You will also get a detailed one-line diagram of your monitoring system to help guide your installation. meet OTIS: on-site technical installation support the years DECK has supported thousands of monitoring installations. We have recognized many common problems that installers face with wiring, network communications, and other IT issues. Now you can benefit from our installation expertise: you may choose to have an expert DECK support technician come to your project location to provide oversight and support for your monitoring installation. 9 8 add building consumption data for net metering For a small added charge you can also pull your building electricity usage data into your monitoring interface. This feature allows you to see realtime values for generation and consumption side by side, so you can can see when your building is able to operate without any grid fed power. As the Green Building movement gains momentum, we are seeing more and more clients who want to integrate energy usage data into their solar monitoring dashboards. Net metering dashboards provide valuable building energy information that your customers can use to identify opportunities for overall utility cost savings. get by with a little help from your friends Your OTIS technician from DECK will be able to provide advice, instructions and expertise to help troubleshoot potential issues with modbus, data acquisition servers, and internet connectivity. This service will help you avoid common errors and keep your installation on time and within budget. OTIS service from DECK is also a great opportunity for less experienced installers to receive expert training for monitoring installation. A DECK support technician is not a replacement for a professional installer... you must contract with a licensed and competent electrician for every installation! 16 17

10 S 10 Lock your easy solution for data reporting services Many incentive programs require certified third-party data reporting to utilities and other organizations. Automated reporting services from DECK are a hassle-free solution. If you need certified reporting, add this optional service to your monitoring package. extend your monitoring service up to 20 years total in today s low rates by extending your DECK software contracts to 10, 15, or 20 years total. You will automatically receive all software upgrades and full customer benefits over the entire term of your contract. This option allows you to bundle the full term of monitoring into the initial project budget so that discounts and incentives may be applied to your true total cost. This avoids unnecessary out-of-pocket expense after the first five years of the contract YEAR EXTENSION 5 yrs standard with basic package purchase years total software access 20 yrs 10-YEAR EXTENSION standard with basic package 5 yrs purchase 15 years total software access 20 yrs 15-YEAR EXTENSION Many PV systems require certified third-party data reporting in order to collect performancebased incentive dollars for their PV project. If your project requires data reporting service, DECK is the easy choice. Our automated service means no hassles for you, and we satisfy virtually every certification standard in the industry. basic package 5 yrs purchase years total software access Please note that extended service contracts are purchased on a per node basis: each reporting point in your system (generation meter, inverter direct data, weather station, etc) can For a list of the major certifications we cover, visit and look for the Data Reporting Services page in the Solar Monitoring section. extend a DECK software contract independently of the other reporting points standard with 20 yrs

11 The Solar Monitoring Authority DECK Monitoring, LLC 830 SW 10th Ave Ste 200 Portland, OR