SolarEdge HD-Wave Inverter - First time powerup - Activation, Setup, and Pairing

[@PurpleDave]

Terrific step-thru of the process. Thank you for creating this video, as well as your earlier video on the previous non-HD Wave versions.

[@EXLMOB]

Thanks for the video helped me so much was stuck on the instructions for days and with your video I got it on in less than an hour!

[@Hullspeed]

Terrific!! Glad it was helpful!

[@victorforzani3433]

Wao even with a Video took you an hour for something that take under 2 minutes....

[@gilbrook]

Very nice. Thx for the step-by-step. Confident & clear presentation. You’d make a great 👨‍✈️

[@evanberrios9445]

I really appreciate you uploading this video. It helped me a lot today at work

[@adriansalinas7374]

Very nice , just started a new position as FST for a solar company and this video was very helpful Thank you 🙏

[@waffleone3]

Very good video, thanks a bunch for explaining the procedure for getting one of these eunit online! 😅

[@congnguyen332]

Where does the white line connect to in 2:33

[@jorgemarquez701]

I just Love the way you explain evreything and calm voice, question my inverter went out and ia only 3 years old I do have a warranty but any ideas Why thanksss

[@Hullspeed]

I'm sorry; I don't have any good information about that.

[@electechchannel3739]

Very nice! Are you a dyi or professional installer just curious

[@Hullspeed]

I'm a DIY guy. But it's awesome that I could possibly maybe provoke the question that I might be professional. Woohoo!! :) Also.. thank you!

[@kjrchannel1480]

These inverters seem to be limited by string DC volts that is the same for most models, with the only difference being higher dc current capacity. That is what I get from the data sheet comparisons. What I calculated is 10 to 12 panels rated at 380 watts each and about 48VDC OC in series. Even though the panel rating may not ever be fully reached after install.

[@andresmorago]

Celsius is the future indeed

[@shenkbor]

Looks great... I think you're supposed to put your inverter breakers in the main at the bottom of the panel, to distribute heat evenly... at least in California.

[@Hullspeed]

You are absolutely correct! Place the inverter breakers opposite of the main. I this case, my subpanel main comes in the bottom, so I put the inverters near the top.

[@thanhxuantran1892]

is it have a CT to avoid to feed the grid?

[@BosticValor]

Will the SolarEdge inverter work without the DC optimizers? If I have (10) 37v panels wired in series, without any optimizers, do you think this would be a problem? Also what is the bottom DC voltage that the inverter can use? Thank you, and a very well made video.

[@Hullspeed]

Hello Cody. The inverter will not produce power without the DC optimizers. The DC optimizers are an integral part of the inverter's regulation system. If the DC optimizers are not there, the inverter would power up but it would never begin power production. That being said, I believe the system is superior to those without optimizers. The bottom limit is the minimum number of DC optimizers (each connected to at least one panel) in a single string per the specifications of the inverter. Taking a quick look at the latest specs, this appears to be 8 for the common models (or 6 if you use a certain model of DC optimizer). Given that minimum, if there is any light in the sky, the series string of optimizers will create a voltage that the inverter can operate with. I'm frequently amazed that I can still make 500 watts on a dark cloudy rainy day. Once the sun is below the horizon, however, the show is over until morning - it does not work on moonlight.

[@BosticValor]

@@Hullspeed Thank you for your response, I learned a lot about the system. You see, the only problem I would have with the DC optimizers are if the grid goes down, the panels revert back to 1v. This (nearly) eliminates the possibility to run an inverter directly from the panels for off-grid use on nice days while the grid is down. (Just for very rare occasions, but it does happen). A battery system would increase cost and give a longer ROI. Super cool setup. Trying to jump on the energy independence train soon.

[@carlosarana4654]

Se puede usar sin los optimizadores

[@Hullspeed]

Optimizers are a required part of this system. The system will not operate with the use of the optimizers.

[@Hortonfarms1]

I just installed the SE7600H inverter to 24 panels generating 365 watts each.

[@Hullspeed]

Terrific! That's going to produce power for you like a big, loud, gas generator running all day long, most every day --- except that it will be completely silent and use no fuel at all, of course. Congratulations!

[@DSC800]

I might have missed it, did you have the breaker to the grid off during the pairing process?

[@Hullspeed]

Hi. It is on the grid while pairing - but it is not generating yet.

[@michaelagnew7825]

very good and well presented video

[@Hullspeed]

Glad you liked it!

[@samamb8163]

Thank You! 🙏 Very Helpful !

[@Hullspeed]

Thanks. You're welcome!

[@JOSEPH_VEGA]

Thanks for your video, question? what do you do in case of a power outage?

[@Hullspeed]

I'm grid-tied with no batteries - so in a power outage, I'm down for the count. I have to fire up a gasoline generator. I can correct this in the future by installing a Tesla Powerwall (or equivalent), but it's not on my short list yet.

[@joem.3576]

@@Hullspeed i know this is an older video but a question on your generator application. im about to do the same thing and i was wondering how the solar plays with the generator, once you have cut off grid power and converter to generator i would imagine the solar wouldnt know the difference and thus turn on allowing you to produce say 1.5kw and use that before the generator would even feel a load on on it. Am i correct on that? I know the solar output fluctuates but i would think a lower load on the generator would allow more run time for the fuel.

[@Hullspeed]

@@joem.3576 Hi Joe. The IEEE standard for grid-tied inverters assures that the solar inverter will shut down when the grid is cut away to prevent "islanding" where power is pushed back onto local powerlines. In theory, if you were to sync another generator (gas, diesel, etc.) up to the grid and close it in, I'm not sure how the inverter would respond. Nevertheless, once you cut away the grid, the IEEE circuit will detect the characteristics that the grid is gone (small changes in frequency, etc.) and the inverter will shut down. I heard from a friend, but have not verified for myself, that Tesla Powerwalls can look so much like the grid, that grid-tied solar inverters will charge into them. Please let me know if you are able to confirm this!

[@dankollars4501]

great video, thx. can you tell me if you have to use the optimizers with this inverter?

[@Hullspeed]

With the SolarEdge inverters, you MUST use the optimizers. No panel can be wired directly into the chain. Said a different way, the chain can only be a chain of optimizers; each optimizer being powered by 1 or 2 solar panels.

[@dankollars4501]

@@Hullspeed thank you, sellers seem to leave out that important fact when your looking to buy. its disappointing because optimizers are very expensive and unnecessary in clear sky areas.

[@JM-yx1lm]

@@dankollars4501 optimizers are only needed if your panels are on your roof, if you have a ground mount, optimizers are not required per nec codes. Solar edge is crap simply because their inverters do not have that option to not use them. I almost made the same mistake. The sma sunny boy 7.7 is the much better choice.

[@chriscates3352]

@@JM-yx1lm will solar edge start up without optimizers?

[@baugh3162]

@@JM-yx1lm You may mean rapid shut down...ground mounts do not need them

[@thetrailoutthere]

Wow! Very thorough and informative video. Just bought a house that has a Solar Edge system installed with the same inverter. Does the inverter need to be in the "on" position all the time?

[@Hullspeed]

For normal operation, leave the inverter "on" all the time. At night, the inverter will go into sleep mode and it consumes almost no electricity. When the sun comes up, it will take 5 minutes to wake up and then begin generating electricity again - automatically. Turn the inverter "off" and allow the system to discharge if you are going to unplug parts of your solar array or one of the optimizers. Turning the system "off" stops generation and brings the array down to a safe voltage.

[@JasonCarmichael]

Have you replaced a smaller Solar Edge inverter with a larger one? I just ordered a 7600A to replace my 5000. Before I knew anything about this stuff, I had a "professional" install my system. I have 20 300w panels, and regularly clip, which drives me a little crazy. Now, I have another off-grid setup alongside my grid-tied setup and am very comfortable exchanging these parts out. This looks very straight forward. Thanks and great video.

[@Hullspeed]

That's terrific!

[@DIYwithBatteries]

Looks pretty cool Dude! 👍

[@Hullspeed]

Thanks!

[@TesRst]

Hi. Thanks for this video! I see you have multiple inverters. What happens if you shut off the main AC power coming in to simulate a power outage, will all the investors stop production? Thanks.

[@Hullspeed]

Hey. Thanks for the interest. All of the inverters adhere to the UL and IEEE anti-islanding standards (IEEE 1547). If the grid goes down, these inverters drop like a rock. When the grid is up (almost always) - because I have so much generation coming into this 100A subpanel, I do see a small rise in the local voltage (like 243V or so); it's not at all a problem, but you can see it's working!

[@haganoriyuki6938]

How has the solaredge inverter and optimizers working out for you? I’m curious on failures or other issues

[@Hullspeed]

They're doing very well. I have 3 installations with 110 panels and 110 optimizers. In 8 years of operation, I've lost 2 optimizers. They both failed at the same time, so I'm wondering if it was a lightening strike (since that time, I put up lightening rods). Both failures had exactly the same symptoms: - They stopped reporting data to the inverter. - They did NOT take down the string, but they stopped adding power to the string (the others in the string continued to operate fine). - They were very hot to touch when the connected panel was in sun. They swapped out easy and with a simple reinitialization at the inverted, they were running.

[@margebeck3201]

Is there a special process to simply set up pairing when your inverter has lost pairing?

[@Hullspeed]

Hi Marge. Just press and hold the "OK" button and that will take you to the pairing activity. If nothing has changed, you will never need to reset the pairing. However, you should reinitiate pairing if you expand your system (add or change panels and DC optimizers), if you swap out a DC power optimizer in your system, or if you perform a full reset of the inverter. Regards, Richard.

[@dabid5]

Thanks for your video, but reading the docs, it says you need a minimun of 14 optimizers (or 27 panels) to have it running, how did you make it work with just 10 panels?

[@Hullspeed]

Hi! Check the datasheets of the power optimizers you are using. I saw minimum numbers of about 8 - and for some - only 6! With 14 in a string, it's possible you are hitting a maximum limit instead of a minimum. What model optimizers are you using - and with what inverter?

[@dabid5]

@@Hullspeed Thanks for the heads up!, i can pair my HD inverter with the p700 and p850, problem is that according to specs, those optimizer must be in a string of minimum 14 of those, the inverter recognizes them but produces zero power because i have only 8 of them

[@Hullspeed]

@@dabid5 Hi. Both of those optimizers appear to be designed for 3 phase inverters operating with a DC input up to 1000 volts. Based on the datasheet, you are correct that the P850 does have a minimum number of 14 optimizers and 27 panels. The datasheet does not say that those inverters are compatible with the single phase HD inverter; they are designed for large commercial installations. If you are matching these to a small single phase inverter, you will probably need to get different optimizers. Happy generating!

[@baugh3162]

Did you have to establish ethernet/wfi communication first?

[@Hullspeed]

I did not. In fact, I never have.

[@greenacresfarms]

Maybe you can help me. Do I need a grounding wire from the PV panels to the grounding bus in the SolarEdge HD inverter, or can it be a grounding wire that is at the main breaker box, which is connected to the grounding rod in the ground?

[@Hullspeed]

I would invite an inspector to chime in because I can only partially answer your question. I was required to show a bonding wire that connected between the panel racking and a grounding rod. I used 10 gauge copper, and I believe you can use the metal conduit as a bonding conductor (in lieu of a dedicated bonding wire) between the racking and the ground rod if you have it connected correctly. I guess your question now is, did I need to run that same bonding wire to the ground bus bar in the inverter or could I just use the chassis ground wire from the circuit breaker box coming in on the AC line? ...or do I need both on the ground bus bar?

[@shenkbor]

Definitely need to ground the panels, racking and everything metal on your array to the ground in the inverter, then on to the main panel.

[@ab_ab_c]

Nicely made video! Thanks for sharing. The only question I have is--what is the rated power of each of your panels?

[@Hullspeed]

Thanks. I believe these panels were 280 watts each. Of course, that's the full sun spec.

[@ab_ab_c]

@@Hullspeed Thank you.

[@Brad.W]

I wonder how this applies to the SolarEdge SE7600H-US that doesn't have that digital display like that at least mine doesn't I haven't gotten "permission to operate" yet from my electric company and the company that installed my system hasn't explained to me how my inverters work as far as monitoring goes. I assume it has a built-in Wi-Fi transmitter because when they were installing and setting up my system my project manager was on a tablet setting everything up he had to connect to my home's Wi-Fi to do it.

[@82Devilz]

My inverter is on night mode ?? Any input’s on how to get the system to wake up should I factory reset the system

[@Hullspeed]

Do you have DC optimizers connected to each solar panel or are you connecting the string of panels directly to the inverter? If you are doing the later, you can't do that.

[@marcustaylor3943]

Can you run 3 strings to this inverter is it limited to only 2?

[@Hullspeed]

You can definitely run 3 strings. I have another SolarEdge inverter where I'm running 3 strings with 9 panels (each with 1 DC optimizer) on each string. There is an upper and lower limit for how many DC optimizers you can have on each string and you can have a different number on each string, but each string has to be within limits.

[@wattan7parrast]

I wanted to buy the 10,000w inverter. Will that be enough power to run a 4 Ton Central AC/heat pump unit in a house?? Please let me know when you get a chance. Thanks

[@Hullspeed]

Hello. This is a grid-tied unit. It is not a battery operated or stand-alone unit. Because it is grid tied, the inverter assists in producing energy. If your AC unit is using more than is being produced, the balance will come from the power company. During times when you are producing more than is being consumed, the extra flows backwards through your meter and [if you have a NET METER] you will get some kind of credit for that. For tips about sizing your inverter, I recommend this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rX3bmoJ9l5ZkkK8

[@simonedache3940]

Out of curiosity, can this inverter produce power from solar panels(long string) connected directly without power optimizers?

[@Hullspeed]

Thanks for your interest. No, it cannot. The power optimizers are required.

[@huyenluutran3339]

hi. I bought an old solar edge se 5500h jp .I wired directly into the chain of panels .When My solar edge start up without optimizers It run rapid shut down ,error rsd 18 x c7, so using the optimizers will it solve the problem ?

[@Hullspeed]

@@huyenluutran3339 I’m having a hard time finding the data sheet for the SE5500H JP in English. It almost certainly requires optimizers, but see if you can find the minimum and maximum allowable string lengths. You will probably need at least 8 or 9 optimizers. I am also trying to understand compatibility between optimizers which is a new question for me. Lately, I’m having to buy older ones off auction sites like eBay.

[@mrdhavidee]

What’s out for the minimum # of panels the inverter requires.

[@Hullspeed]

Apparently, it depends on the optimizer you use. Typically the minimum string length is 8, but (according to the optimizer spec sheet) you an go as low as 6 if you use P485 or P505 optimizers. The smallest I have ever done is 9.

[@haroldtran1023]

helo, may i make the hybrid solar systerm by use solaredge 5000h?

[@paulcheung2342]

Hullspeed, can this system use in off-grid site. can you make a video on activation without using the SD card. I have the same system donated to us without the card come with it.

[@Hullspeed]

Hello. This system cannot be used off grid. This is a grid-tied unit. I have never tried activating this model without the SD card, but I did successfully activated an older SolerEdge inverters by manually entering one of the unit numbers. In that case, I had the SD card, but it was not functioning correctly. Before you get to far along, lay the unit on a floor somewhere and wire it up to 240V to power it up. You may find that the unit is already activated - or if not - see if you can get it to prompt you for a manual activation.

[@notmarcus421]

Does it have a hardware error yet?

[@Hullspeed]

No troubles at all.

[@notmarcus421]

@@Hullspeed that's great to hear! We're having a bunch of failures out here with them :/

[@Hullspeed]

@@notmarcus421 On another installation, I had two DC-DC converters fail. They stopped reporting on the display panel and when I went out to the array, during the day, the two failed DC-DC converters were screaming hot. ...like burn your hand hot. I replaced them easily enough. It was a ground mount system, so they were easy to find and replace. On a roof system, it's important to map the modules so you know where to look.

[@notmarcus421]

@@Hullspeed definitely helps when they make a map I hate randomly lifting panels hahaha

[@JoseGarcia-px9xj]

it possible to share arrays of solar panels with 2 inverters, off the grid(140vdc) with on the grid(270-500vdc).

[@Hullspeed]

I'm learning about SolarEdge off grid options; I'm not an expert yet. There is a SolarEdge "StorEdge" product... I've got to figure out how that works. I'm interested in whether I can connect a tesla powerwall into my grid-tied system. I have not done it myself, but a friend of mine has. During a power failure, the powerwall creates a simulated grid voltage that the grid-tied array can charge into. The Tesla powerwall is somewhat expensive, but it's a very impressive system with all the UL approvals and a super-cool smartphone app. For years, I've been buying test parts and playing around with ideas for an off-grid home-made battery power system with battery packs and BMS chargers I could make myself. It would be fun, take a LOT of time, and I could do it for 85% of the cost of a Tesla powerwall - but fire, electrical safety, and fusing considerations must be seriously thought through. It will be large and clunky and require some space for fire safety cabinets. Sadly, I always come back to the conclusion that the Tesla system is well designed, fully engineered, compact, and easily expandable by just slapping another wall onto the first one.

[@freelifeproductions]

i guess you would like the AC main switch to be in the OFF possition befor you open up the inverter.. not only the breaker.. but ALLWAYS put the switch off possition.

[@joekirklin]

"No, you know what? We're progressive" nice

[@Atwlelectric]

How do you change setting to ethernet

[@1988kuriakos]

hello! question so u put the panels straight into the inverter ,you dont use batteries for the nights?i bought a similar inverter (used) and im thiking to give it back cus i dont know how to put batteries on

[@Hullspeed]

This is a grid tied inverter system. You must always be connected to the power company. When the sun is out, the system reduces your home consumption or pushes power backward to the power company (hopefully running your meter backwards). At night, you just use power normally. You must make sure you have a "net meter" attached to be sure you are getting credit for power you are sending backward to the company. This can be tricky... see my video on ground mounted arrays (Part 5).

[@louiscabral7306]

Hello🖐️😎 I moved into a shared living house, we (other tenants) pay rent and utilities, so about the power bill I started wondering about the solar panels on the roof (13 panels) and the process of getting them cleaned, searching around I found we have the same unit you show in your video, I have a few questions, now I'm not sure if the current landlord has paperwork on this unit,, anyway when cleaning do you turn the on switch off ,and the Dc switch off?, also if you do, upon turning it back on, do you have to enter passcode etc back in before turning it on?,,also is the passcode the same on all units?

[@Hullspeed]

Generally, you should never need to clean them. Even if they look hazy, nearly all the light energy is still getting through. Nevertheless, you do not need to turn them off to hose them down or wash them. The best way to power them down is with the on/off switch, but the DC disconnect would also work (but it’s a harder transient). They will power back up when you reverse the switch(es). The code is the same for all the units of this series. It is only used for changing the operating modes; that is, rarely if ever, following the initial setup. -Best

[@louiscabral7306]

@@Hullspeed Thank you for the quick response and info,,😎👍

[@louiscabral7306]

@@Hullspeed Oh I forgot, is there a way to monitor this unit on line on your phone?

[@Hullspeed]

@@louiscabral7306 Yes. It connects to wifi and there is a supporting software interface. Where I am, there is no internet (yet) - so I have never hooked it up.

[@louiscabral7306]

@@Hullspeed yes I found the solar edge app, but unfortunately we do not have the account info,,,Thanx again👋😎

[@tcpremovals.comgoodtogoman9994]

very good and well presented video