Chilicon Power Residential Design and Installation Guide
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Step 5: Reposition the Microinverters and Secure to the Racking
Once the position of the microinverters has been finalized, secure them by ether tightening with the allen wrench
or socket to the torque value specified by the manufacturer of the MLPE clamp. A value of 10.3 ft lbs (14 NM) is
typical for MLPE with allen bolts. Check with your MLPE clamp manufacturer for the appropriate torque values for
their hardware. These are typically around 12 ft lbs (16.3 NM).
Step 6: Connect the Microinverters to the PV Modules and Trunk Cable
For each microinverter, first connect the
DC cables from the associated PV module(s). The modules will need to be
specifically oriented per the layout diagram such that their DC cables can readily reach each microinverter. Next, connect the
microinverter’s branch cable to the associated female connector on the AC MTC trunk cable. Both the DC and AC connections
will lock in place if properly connected. The most common issue during installation is failure to fully secure these
connections. Then, secure the module to the racking with the appropriate torque value. Each microinverter contains an
LED that will indicate connection status via a series of blink codes. Once connected to the PV module, the microinverter
will blink every 4 seconds. If difficult to see, use the mirror to get a better view of the light. This indicates that PV module is
in the process of initially charging the microinverter. Once the charging process has completed, the LED will continuously
blink. This indicates that the system is now ready for the application of AC current. Refer to the table below and the
“Chilicon Power Connection Insert”
document in the appendix for a complete listing of the codes.
After DC Applied:
After AC Applied:
Step 7: Install the AC Branch Circuit Junction Boxes
1)
Install an AC junction box at its proper location for each branch
circuit. The most common location is at the beginning or middle of
an AC branch. For the latter location, it will need to accommodate
two CP-MTC-JBOX cables. Note that the junction box will need
threaded holes with diameters of either ¾” or 1” to accommodate
the cordgrips for the trunk cable.
Blink Sequence
Meaning
Slow, 1 blink every 4 seconds DC Connected, but Micro
NOT READY
for AC to be applied-
WAIT
Continuous blinking
DC Connected and Micro now ready for AC to be applied.
Blink Sequence
Meaning
1 blink every 8 seconds
Normal production, inverter not bound to gateway
1 blink every 16 seconds
Normal production, inverter bound to gateway
2 blink every 4 seconds
Microinverter initializing after grid present- WAIT
3 or 4 blinks every 4 seconds Error- Grid voltage out of range
5 blinks every 4 seconds
Error- PV module voltage out of range
