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Forum Index : Electronics : Powerstar inverter W7
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| brucedownunder2 Guru  Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548 |
Hi Crew, got hit by lightning few days back ,only discovered this morning that my inverter is dead. it was OFF , just the dc cables were connected via the 100A breaker ,but nothing happened to that ,the lightning strike(splat mark) was viable on the unistrut framing i have behind the inverter- the current travelled down from the wind gennie tower along underground a cable of the 3 phase supply from the tower and was open circuit on a connector block resting on the unistrut.(strike jumped from the cable to the unistrut). switched it on and all the alarm lights came up -no power- it switched itself off after about 5 seconds-dead as- . any one want to guess the fix or have one for sale or have a link to board distributor,please? Bruce Bushboy |
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renewableMark Guru Joined: 09/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1678 |
Son of Bitch! Sorry to hear that Bruce. This was actually a question I was going to ask, what is the best way to protect your gear from lightning? Does a fast blow fuse protect it? Cheers Caveman Mark Off grid eastern Melb |
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| brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548 |
In this case -dunno-- lets go back and investigate-- 1 only the dc 48v input cables were connected via a breaker-breaker did not break. so no current flowing through those cables. 2. strike came down the open circuit 3 phase cables from the tower-- current(lightning) flowed down here to the connector block and jumped across to the unistrut steel framing . lightening splat mark on steel unistrut and one of the 3 phase input conductors. this indicates the path of the lightening path. 3. where did it go from there ? ok,all around the steel unistrut framing til it can get to earth ? --ah huh , maybe finds a path from the steel framing through the attached mounted inverter ,then through a component to the inverter earth ????. 4. I can only think this is the route 5 your question -- I don,t think a fuse would "prevent" failure in this case -going by the lightening "Splat" on the unistrut, it was like you see when welding . bye the way , this was my modified W7 that I spent hours and grief working on -bugger. Bruce Bushboy |
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Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
MOVs, Metal Oxide Varistors for protection have them between every input and output to ground. There is banks of them in the Aerosharp GTI's, brown discs about the size of a 10 cent coin plugged into grey sockets. The made to be easily replaced as they wear out after repeated strikes. Lightning jump 100's of metres with no problem, the few millimetres between open contacts means nothing to it. Also your solar panel frames should be earthed to their own ground stake, your electrical wiring in your house/shed should all have just 1 connection to ground. Definitely not more as that can make it worse if you have strike close by. There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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| brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548 |
Thanks Mad,I'm sure you're not? MOV's yep, was thinking 'bout them critters,because there is no visable splatter or discoloured marks around the legs of all the components...Ahh. Suppose they go short circuit? this is not connected to the solar in any physical way ,,matter of fact ,solar is purring along nicely. This lightening strike travelled 65 feet down my wind tower 100 feet underground ,then up to the disconnected junction box containing the 3 phases of conductors that normally would have been connected to the wind gennie controller --but was disconnected .and sitting alongside the unistrut steel framing... so, I'll have a look at the mov's-they are fairly easy to replace. Thanks, Mad Bruce Bushboy |
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| renewableMark Guru Joined: 09/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1678 |
Is that the same as the 10nf safety y caps the Clockman board uses? Cheers Caveman Mark Off grid eastern Melb |
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| Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
No not the same thing, safety caps are designed to fail in a particular state, MOV's clamp any high voltage to ground. "Thanks Mad,I'm sure you're not?" Yes I am.  There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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| renewableMark Guru Joined: 09/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1678 |
Thanks Mad, my caps are safety Y, don't they take voltage to ground? Or have I got the wrong part? here this is what I got. (sorry to mess up your thread Bruce) Cheers Caveman Mark Off grid eastern Melb |
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| Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
As I understand it they short when they fail, that is the safety part. Their primary role is to suppress electrical noise. MOV's job is to short to ground high voltage without failing, but they do wear out and can do this a limited number of times depending on the severity of the strike. There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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Tinker Guru Joined: 07/11/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1904 |
Thanks for that Gary, I wondered what these disks were - not having a schematic for the aerosharp. I still have a few lying around, is there a safer way (other than a lightning strike  ) to test them?I did plan to run an dedicated earth wire to a ground stake directly from my roof tile mounted solar panels once they are up there. The other panels are on the shed/garage metal roof, I suppose I'll earth the roof purlins where everything bolts to. Klaus |
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| Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
You should get the earth as close as you can to the Aluminum frames on the panels, there are special little plates that pierce the anodising to ensure a good contact from the panel to the mounting rails to ensure a good earth. You could apply low current very high voltage to the MOVs and see if they short it to ground, keep in mind they degrade with each time they do their job. There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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| Tinker Guru Joined: 07/11/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1904 |
HA, at last another use for my sealed 10,000V (ex CRT) power supply. Last time I used that was for an electric fence to stop cats doing their 3AM serenading under my house. That worked a treat, they never came back. Did not kill any, just singed whiskers I assume  .Klaus |
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| noneyabussiness Guru Joined: 31/07/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 513 |
Just remember to, MOV's are rated for particular voltages/max current (also physical size) by the numbers on the front of them.. example " 10d401 " may be a 1 amp (constant amp, momentarily 100's) 400v etc... check the manufacturer's ratings before adding to 240v side as they POP... and i mean if you over rate them they REALLY POP... a lot of commercial ones have plastic covers on them to stop flying bits.. Lol , Capacitors are fun to if you give them too much voltage accidentally. .. little bullets. . I think it works !! |
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| Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
You should contact the federal government to set up that at parliament house between the politicians and their staff, they are looking for a solution ATM. There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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| noneyabussiness Guru Joined: 31/07/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 513 |
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TSlcROX8HPE Lol... they will probably milk it but...  I think it works !! |
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| brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548 |
Hi moneyabussiness ,, had a go at opening that link in your above post ,something to do with a lady being whacked with a piece of paper --must be not for me . could you re post it ,please -if it's to do with the powerstar W7 inverter problem. thanks Bruce Bushboy |
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| renewableMark Guru Joined: 09/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1678 |
Is this the correct one? Came across this too might be of interest. Cheers Caveman Mark Off grid eastern Melb |
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| noneyabussiness Guru Joined: 31/07/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 513 |
Bruce it was a funny along the lines that madness posted... I think it works !! |
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| brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548 |
Thanks Guys, The energy matters posting (165 pages up to now) is where I started on this journey(sometimes more a nightmare) ,lol. all good experience. My W7 is exactly what you see in the posts and if you read further ,I chime in with my journey of modification-from buying the solar inverter to er-wining it and through to the finish. It's performed well ,til this lightening strike ,but I hope to fix that with your help. Thanks for the link to the board distributor, I'll probably go this way and buy a replacement set. have not pulled anything apart yet, cutting grass around here is fairly full on at present. MOV's think I've found them -can they be tested on board (bad or good) or do I have to de-solder them -bugger?. Thanks Bruce Bushboy |
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| Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
Probably better to buy new ones as they wear out with use. There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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