Master recombiner box with wireless monitoring capability
A master recombiner box system includes a plurality of input bus bars that receive power from a corresponding combiner box in a solar field. Each input bus bar is coupled with a current transducer, thereby measuring the current of the associated combiner box. Power feeding into the plurality of input bus bars is combined at a recombiner bus bar, which leads to an output bus bar, and ultimately to an external inverter. The current transducers are linked to a control circuit board which utilizes an antenna to send RF signals to a receiver. In this manner individual combiner boxes in a solar field can be monitored wirelessly.
1. A recombiner box system comprising:
A) A cabinet including a door and a housing separated by an elongated hinge;
B) A control circuit board engaged with said door;
C) A first set of a plurality of input bus bars engaged with said housing, each input bus bar coupled with exactly one combiner box;
D) A second set of a plurality of input bus bars engaged with said housing;
E) A first recombiner bus bar engaged with said first set of input bus bars;
F) A second recombiner bus bar engaged with said second set of input bus bars; and
G) a single disconnect switch coupled with said first recombiner bus bar and said second recombiner bus bar, wherein the capacity of the system is 100-600 amps, and wherein said door can close to form a substantially enclosed and protected system.
2. The recombiner box of claim 1 further including a plurality of fuses each positioned between each of said input bus bars of said first set of a plurality of input bus bars and the associated recombiner bus bar.
3. The recombiner box of claim 1 further including a plurality of current transducers, each one of said current transducers coupled with each one of said input bus bars of said first set of a plurality of input bus bars.
4. A solar energy installation comprising:
A) A first plurality of solar panels electrically coupled to a first combiner box;
B) A second plurality of solar panels electrically coupled to a second combiner box;
C) A recombiner box including a single cabinet containing both a first input bus bar electrically coupled to said first combiner box, and a second input bus bar electrically coupled to said second combiner box;
D) A first recombiner bus bar electrically coupled to said first input bus bar and said second input bus bar, said first recombiner bus bar contained within said cabinet;
E) A first output bus bar electrically coupled to said first recombiner bus bar;
F) A disconnect switch positioned in the electrical path between said first output bus bar and said first recombiner bus bar;
G) A second output bus bar electrically coupled to a second recombiner bus bar;
H) A first current transducer electrically coupled to said first input bus bar, and a second current transducer electrically coupled to said second input bus bar;
I) A control circuit board electrically coupled to said first and second current transducers;
J) An antenna capable of transmitting an RF signal, said antenna communicatively coupled to said control circuit board;
K) A receiver capable of receiving said RF signal, said receiver positioned away from said antenna; and
L) A processor for analyzing said RF signal, said processor communicatively coupled to said receiver.
5. The solar energy installation of claim 4 further including at least one alert device communicatively coupled to said processor, said alert device selected from a telephone, a pager, a personal computer, a laptop, a tablet, and combinations thereof.
6. The solar energy installation of claim 4 further including a single inverter electrically coupled to said first recombiner bus bar and said second recombiner bus bar.
7. The solar energy installation of claim 4 wherein said disconnect switch is positioned in the electrical path between said second output bus bar and said second recombiner bus bar.
8. A method of configuring a solar energy installation comprising the steps of:
A) Electrically coupling a first plurality of solar panels to a first combiner box;
B) Electrically coupling a second plurality of solar panels to a second combiner box;
C) Electrically coupling said first combiner box and said second combiner box to respective first and second input bus bars in a recombiner box;
D) Electrically coupling said first and second input bus bars with a recombiner bus bar;
E) Electrically coupling said recombiner bus bar with an output bus bar;
F) Engaging a disconnect switch in the electrical pathway between said recombiner bus bar and said output bus bar;
G) Measuring the current through said first input bus bar with a first current transducer;
H) Measuring the current through said second input bus bar with a second current transducer;
I) Transmitting measurement data as an RF signal; and
J) Analyzing said data to identify decreased power output at a first combiner box or a second combiner box.
9. The method of claim 8 further including the step of alerting a user of decreased power outage at a pre-determined threshold.
10. The method of claim 8 further including the step of electrically coupling said output bus bar with an inverter.