SimpliPhi Power PHI Battery INTEGRATION GUIDE: SOL-ARK Optimized Energy Storage & Management for Residential & Commercial Applications Utilizing Efficient, Safe, Non-Toxic, Energy Dense Lithium Ferrous Phosphate (LFP) Chemistry © SIMPLIPHI POWER, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 2 2. PHI BATTERY BANK-TO-INVERTER CONNECTION 3 3. BATTERY BANK SIZING 4 Discharge Calculation: Inverter Power Bank Sizing 4 Charge Calculation: AC Coupled Systems 5 Charge Calculation: DC Coupled Systems 5 4. PROGRAM SETTINGS FOR PHI BATTERIES 6 Depth of Discharge 6 Inverter and Charger Settings 7 Grid Setup 10 5.
1. INTRODUCTION This integration guide covers the recommended set up and configuration of Sol-Ark equipment for optimizing performance with SimpliPhi’s 51.2 Voltnominal-model PHI batteries. CAUTION: Pairing 48 Volt-rated inverters (such as the Sol-Ark-8K or Sol-Ark-12K) with batteries other than those rated at 51.2Vnom voids the PHI Battery Warranty. More information on SimpliPhi products can be found on our website at https://simpliphipower.com/.
2. PHI BATTERY BANK-TO-INVERTER CONNECTION Wire the PHI Battery bank to the Sol-Ark according to the PHI Battery Installation Manual, not according to the Sol-Ark Manual: Figure 1 – Sol-Ark to Battery Connection It is acceptable but not required to use the ferrite choke on the positive and negative DC busbar-to-inverter leads (see Figure 1 above).
3. BATTERY BANK SIZING A properly sized PHI battery bank is sized to prevent over-discharge and over-charge from accompanying equipment. While the programming features of the Sol-Ark allow for battery discharging and charging according to specifically set parameters (refer to Section 4 of this Guide), the Sol-Ark does not limit the batteries’ maximum discharge current (Max A Discharge) in an off-grid or grid-failure scenario.
Charge Calculation: AC Coupled Systems To protect against over-charge (voiding the battery Warranty), the PHI battery bank should be sized so that the AC Coupled solar PV array’s power output does not exceed the batteries’ maximum continuous charge rate. In an AC Coupled system, significantly limiting the solar array’s charging power does not work well. Therefore, SimpliPhi and Sol-Ark recommend sizing a larger battery bank relative to the AC Coupled PV array.
• • • Charge Example: 𝑩𝑩#𝑷𝑷𝑷𝑷 ≥ 𝑷𝑷𝑷𝑷𝒌𝒌𝒌𝒌 ×𝑰𝑰𝑰𝑰𝑰𝑰𝒆𝒆𝒆𝒆𝒆𝒆 𝑩𝑩𝑩𝑩𝑩𝑩𝒌𝒌𝒌𝒌 DC Coupled Solar PV Array is rated at 8 kW Sol-Ark PV-to-Battery efficiency is 97.5% PHI 3.8 kWh-51.2Vnom battery has a maximum continuous charge rate of 1.92 kWDC 𝑩𝑩#𝑷𝑷𝑷𝑷 ≥ 𝟖𝟖𝒌𝒌𝒌𝒌 × 𝟎𝟎. 𝟗𝟗𝟗𝟗𝟗𝟗𝒆𝒆𝒆𝒆𝒆𝒆 = 𝟒𝟒. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟏. 𝟗𝟗𝟗𝟗𝒌𝒌𝒌𝒌 A PHI battery bank utilizing the entire DC Coupled solar PV output potential has 5 batteries. However, programming the Max A Charge in the Sol-Ark to 150 A (4 × 37.
Inverter and Charger Settings Refer to Sol-Ark’s Menus and Programming online video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcXXzgfRT90&t=1497s) for guidance on programming the settings outlined in Table 1 below. Press the gear icon to get to the Settings menu (Figure 2), then press Battery Setup (Figure 3) to program the parameters in Table 1 below. Figure 2 – Sol-Ark Home Screen (Touchscreen), from the Sol-Ark Installation Manual SimpliPhi Power, Inc.
Figure 3 – Sol-Ark System Setup Screen, from the Sol-Ark Installation Manual Table 1 – Sol-Ark Battery Settings for 51.2Vnom PHI Battery Models System Setup > Battery Setup 80% DoD (10k cycle warranty) 90% DoD (5k cycle warranty) 100% DoD (3.5k cycle warranty) > Batt Tab 75 Ah per PHI 3.8 battery Batt Capacity 57 Ah per PHI 2.9-51.2 battery 37.5 ADC per PHI 3.8 battery (20 ADC per battery for reduced stress) Max A Charge1,2 37.5 ADC per PHI 3.
Use Start % instead of Start V when using Batt % Charged instead of Batt V Charged (in the Batt tab) Start V Start %3 21% 11% 1% 37.5 ADC per PHI 3.8 battery (20 ADC per battery for reduced stress) A1,4 Check the Gen Charge box when a generator is connected to the Gen Input breaker. Gen Charge / Grid Charge5 Check the Grid Charge box when a generator is connected to the Grid Input breaker, or when a grid connection is utilized to charge the batteries.
Notes: 1. These settings are calculated by multiplying the per-battery value by the number of batteries in the connected battery bank. 2. Max A Charge refers to the maximum charge rate from the solar PV array. Programming this value to the maximum value versus the reduced-stress value does not impact the PHI Battery Warranty. 3. If the Auto Generator Start is utilized, the AGS is triggered when the batteries reach this set State of Charge (SoC) percentage.
Figure 4 – Limiter Tab in Grid Setup menu The power (W) column in Figure 4 above dictates the maximum amount of power pulled from the batteries and should be set to the PHI battery bank’s maximum discharge rate in AC Watts. To calculate the connected PHI battery bank’s maximum discharge Watts (AC): 1. Multiply the number of batteries in the bank by the maximum discharge rate (ADC) per battery a. PHI 3.8-51.2Vnom battery max. discharge rate = 37.5 ADC per battery b. PHI 2.9-51.2Vnom battery max.
Table 2 – Conversion from DC to AC Discharge Limit for 1 to 6 PHI 3.8 kWh-51.2Vnom Batteries A B C D E # of Parallel Batteries DC Current Limit ADC X VDC (48) WDC X Discharge Efficiency (95%) MAX Battery Output (WAC) 1 37.5 Amps DC 1,800 Watts DC 1,710 Watts AC 1,710 Watts AC 2 75 ADC 3,600 WDC 3,420 WAC 3,420 WAC 3 112.5 ADC 5,400 WDC 5,130 WAC 5,130 WAC 4 150 ADC 7,200 WDC 6,840 WAC 6,840 WAC 5 187.
Time power (W) sets the time at which the batteries discharge to power both the critical loads sub-panel and the main house breaker panel (limiter sensors required) sets the maximum amount of power discharged from the batteries during the set time do not exceed the Wattage values listed in Tables 2 or 3 above Batt the percentage SoC to which the batteries discharge during the set time 20% 10% 0% Grid Charge check this box to allow for grid-to-battery charging during the set time GEN check this box
The Sol-Ark-8K is limited to a maximum of 7 kW of AC Coupled solar PV, and the Sol-Ark-12K is limited to 7.6 kW of AC Coupled solar. AC Coupled systems can operate in Grid Sell / Grid-Tied with Battery Backup, Limited to Home, Limited to Load, or Time of Use Selling modes. Grid Sell / Grid-Tied with Battery Backup A net energy metering agreement with the utility company is required in order to sell energy from the solar PV array to the grid.
Checking the Limited power to Home box in the Limiter tab of the Sol-Ark’s Grid Setup / Grid Param menu allows for all loads* (on both the critical loads sub-panel and the main house breaker panel) to be powered using the connected solar PV and/or batteries. The Sol-Ark prioritizes powering these loads from solar PV first (if available), then (2) grid, (3) generator, and (4) batteries.
Time of Use Selling / Energy Arbitrage Discharge batteries to power circuits during specific set times. Program these times to coincide with the utility company’s peak pricing times to avoid high energy charges from the utility.
Off-Grid The Sol-Ark automatically operates in Off-Grid mode when it does not detect a grid connection. In an Off-Grid system setup, all the home’s loads are connected to the Sol-Ark’s Load Output (50A double-pole breaker). Do not use the Sol-Ark’s Grid Sell and Limited to Home modes in an off-grid system setup. Check the Limited power to load box in the Limiter tab of the Sol-Ark’s Grid Setup / Grid Param menu to allow for the batteries’ power to discharge to the connected loads.
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).
6. SPECIFICATIONS & WARRANTY For your reference: • • • See PHI 3.8 kWh Specifications Sheet. See PHI 2.9 kWh Specifications Sheet. See PHI Battery 10 Year Limited Warranty. Failure to adhere to installation protocol will void the Warranty. 7. SIMPLIPHI TECHNICAL SUPPORT For technical support related to your PHI Battery (or other SimpliPhi Power products), please contact us directly at: 805.640.6700 techsupport@simpliphipower.com SimpliPhi Power, Inc.
