AmpliPHI Sol-Ark Integration Guide

REV
20201125
SimpliPhi Power, Inc. | 3100 Camino Del Sol | Oxnard, CA 93030, USA | [phone] | [e-mail] | SimpliPhiPower.com
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Homeowners who wish to include a grid connection, generator, and Smart Load functionality can install a
transfer switch allowing for either grid or generator to connect to the Sol-Ark’s Grid Input. This frees up the
Sol-Ark’s Generator Input to be used as an output for Smart Loads (see the following Smart Loads section for
more details).
In an AC Coupled system setup that includes a generator, using a transfer switch for a grid-or-generator
connection to the Sol-Ark’s Grid Input also frees up the Sol-Ark Generator Input for connection to the AC
Coupled solar PV array.
If the system includes both a generator and a grid connection, limiter sensors are required. While smaller
generators (less than 10 kW) can be wired to the Sol-Ark’s Generator Input, Sol-Ark recommends wiring larger
generators to a whole home transfer switch instead of using the inverter’s Generator Input.
Smart Load
The Smart Load feature allows the homeowner to run higher power non-essential appliances (hot water,
dehumidifier, heat pump, irrigation pump, etc.) on solar when excess solar power is available. This setup
involves connecting these higher power non-essential loads to the Sol-Ark’s Generator Input. To partially
protect the batteries against over-discharge, set the
Smart Load Off Batt and Smart Load ON Batt parameters
to the batteries’ acceptable SoC percentage range while in this mode. However, note that no programmable
parameter exists to regulate the batteries’ over-discharge from a current perspective.
For example, an off-grid system with home loads totaling a maximum instantaneous power draw of 8 kW might
include 5 PHI 3.8 batteries, with a maximum combined continuous power output of 9.6 kW
DC
/ 9.168 kW
AC
.
With both the
Smart Load and Limited to Load modes enabled and the Smart Load ON Batt parameter set to
100% SoC, the Sol-Ark will begin powering the Smart Loads (in addition to all the home loads) when the
batteries are at 100% SoC. If the Smart Load power draw exceeds 9.168 kW
AC
, (38.2 Amps at 240VAC), the
batteries will then be operating beyond their maximum continuous power output capabilities. While the
batteries have a maximum surge discharge capability of 60 Amps DC per battery (15.36 kW
DC
/ 14.669 kW
AC
for the 5-battery bank), the batteries cannot surge at this power level for more than 10 minutes. A Smart Load
drawing more than 9.168 kW
AC
for more than 10 minutes will very likely result in the batteries’ SoC level
reaching the
Smart Load OFF Batt parameter, if it is set to 95%. However, feel free to reach out SimpliPhi
Power Technical Support (
[e-mail]) if the Smart Load feature will be used and
battery bank sizing clarification according to Smart Load-specific loads needs to be clarified.
Note that in a grid-connected system that utilizes the Smart Load feature, the Wattage value to the right of the
Smart Load ON Batt parameter in the Smart Load menu tab (see Figure 5) represents the minimum power
required of the solar PV array before the Smart Loads are powered. Therefore, that Solar PV Wattage value
can be added to the battery bank’s maximum output power rating when comparing maximum available solar
and battery power available, against the Smart Load power draw:   
(

)
≤
 
(

)
+      ().
CAUTION: Smart Loads’ maximum power draw cannot exceed the Generator Input breaker’s
40 Amp / 240VAC rating.