INSTALLATION AND OPERATION
MANUAL
141-00025, Rev 03
Enphase C250 Microinverter System
Страница 1: ...INSTALLATION AND OPERATION MANUAL 141 00025 Rev 03 Enphase C250 Microinverter System ...
Страница 2: ...adio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with this manual may cause harmful interference to radio communications Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense Other Information Product information is subject to change without notice All tradema...
Страница 3: ...he Enphase Engage Cable 16 Step 4 Terminate the Unused End of the Engage Cable 17 Step 5 Attach the Microinverters to the PV Racking 18 Step 6 Dress the Engage Cable 19 Step 7 Connect the Microinverters 20 Step 8 Connect to an AC Branch Circuit Junction Box 21 Step 9 Complete the Installation Map 23 Step 10 Connect the PV Modules 24 Step 11 Energize the System 24 Step 12 Connect the Envoy to the I...
Страница 4: ...hase Energy Inc All rights reserved 141 00025 Rev 03 4 Technical Data 35 Technical Considerations 35 Specifications 35 C250 72 2LN S2 Microinverter Specifications 35 Engage Cable Specifications 37 Enphase Installation Map 38 Sample System Diagram 39 ...
Страница 5: ...use equipment malfunction Use extreme caution and follow instructions carefully WARNING This indicates a situation where failure to follow instructions may result in burn injury NOTE This indicates information particularly important for optimal system operation Follow instructions closely Safety Instructions General Safety CAUTION Before installing or using the Enphase Microinverter read all instr...
Страница 6: ...hase Microinverter is the heat sink Under normal operating conditions the temperature is 15 C above ambient but under extreme conditions the microinverter can reach a temperature of 80 C To reduce risk of burns use caution when working with microinverters WARNING Risk of electric shock Risk of fire If the AC cable on the microinverter is damaged do not install the unit WARNING Risk of electric sho...
Страница 7: ...to be sure that the cable matches the electrical utility service at the site NOTE There are two release holes in the drop connector on the cable These are not for mounting but are used to disconnect the connector Keep these release holes clear and accessible NOTE When looping the Engage Cable do not form loops smaller than 4 75 in 12 cm in diameter NOTE If you need to remove a sealing cap you must...
Страница 8: ... obtain an RMA return merchandise authorization number and start the replacement process Tampering with or opening the Enphase Envoy will void the warranty WARNING Risk of equipment damage Do not remove power from the Envoy if the LCD screen displays Upgrading Do Not Unplug NOTE DO NOT route the power cable or the Ethernet cable through the cable tray NOTE Do not plug the Envoy into a power strip ...
Страница 9: ...urth generation Enphase Microinverters the DC circuit within the microinverter is isolated and insulated from ground Ground fault protection GFP is integrated into the microinverter Because of this the microinverters do not require a GEC As a result it takes less time to install than other microinverters saves money and increases safety Fourth generation microinverters include the C250 This integr...
Страница 10: ...imal Reliability Microinverter systems are inherently more reliable than traditional inverters The distributed nature of a microinverter system ensures that there is no single point of system failure in the PV system Enphase Microinverters are designed to operate at full power at ambient temperatures as high as 65 C 150 F The microinverter housing is designed for outdoor installation and complies ...
Страница 11: ...be sure to order the correct connector type for both microinverter and PV module from your distributor WARNING Risk of fire When connecting to a C250 Microinverter the PV module DC conductors must be labeled PV Wire or PV Cable to be compliant with NEC 690 35 D for Ungrounded PV Power Systems Compatibility Model Number Works with PV Module Type PV Module Connector Type C250 72 2LN S2 60 cell or 72...
Страница 12: ...ers are that they do not provide isolation and do not derive a neutral from a delta configured system Used in boost mode as viewed from the PV side these transformers usually have taps for adjustments to the PV side voltage Isolation Transformer Isolation transformers with a WYE configured winding on the PV side can derive a neutral conductor when the grid side is delta configured filter electrica...
Страница 13: ...utral for connection to the Envoy C and C250 Microinverters Surge protection device s Phase Coupler Enphase Line Filters model LCF 250 PC for additional Envoys if needed Other Items Cable clips model ET CLIP 100 Sealing caps as needed model ET SEAL 10 One needed for each unused drop on the Engage Cable Terminators as needed model ET TERM 10 One needed at the end of each AC branch circuit Enphase d...
Страница 14: ...Attach the Microinverters to the PV Racking Step 6 Dress the Enphase Engage Cable Step 7 Connect the Microinverters Step 8 Connect to an AC Branch Circuit Junction Box Step 9 Complete the Installation Map Step 10 Connect the PV Modules Step 11 Energize the System Step 12 Connect the Envoy to the Internet Step 13 Use the Envoy to Complete System Setup Step 14 Build the Virtual Array WARNING Risk of...
Страница 15: ...ions you do not need to select a grid profile when installing the C250 because it is preset with the appropriate profile However when inter connecting to grids managed by Hawaii Electric Industries HEI including HECO you must refer to the C250 Commercial Design Guide Appendix A Hawaiian Electric Industries Requirements for C250 Projects for specific instructions on setting this profile and for oth...
Страница 16: ...le route so that the drop connectors on the Engage Cable align with each PV module Allow extra length for slack cable turns and any obstructions b Measure the path of the AC branch circuit and cut a length of Engage Cable to meet your needs c Lay the Engage Cable along the installed racking for the AC branch circuit Position the connectors so that they align with the PV modules Allow extra length ...
Страница 17: ...t they angle back toward the cable f Cut the individual wires so that no excess extends outside of the wire organizer The portions that angle back will need to extend enough to fit neatly into the 0 5 cm 0 2 in recesses in the wire organizer and flush with the edge of the cap g Place cap over the wire organizer h Hold the cap stationary with an Enphase disconnect tool or insert a 2 Phillips screwd...
Страница 18: ...rter WARNING Risk of equipment damage You must install the microinverter under the module out of rain and sun Do not mount the microinverter in a position that allows long term exposure to direct sunlight or in a vertical orientation that allows water to collect in the DC connector recess Do not install the microinverter black side up or vertically with the DC connectors facing up f Mount one micr...
Страница 19: ...cable clips or you may use tie wraps The cable clips are designed so that the cable from the microinverter can also be dressed into the clip underneath the Engage Cable NOTE There are two release holes in the drop connector on the cable These are not for mounting but are used to disconnect the connector Keep these release holes clear and accessible b Dress the Engage Cable so that it does not cont...
Страница 20: ...aling caps are IP67 rated Within the term IP67 IP indicates an Ingress Protection IP rating against dust and liquids This specific rating of IP67 indicates that this connector protects against all dust particles and immersion in liquid WARNING Risk of electric shock Risk of fire Make sure protective sealing caps have been installed on all unused AC connectors Unused AC connectors are live when the...
Страница 21: ...n device OCPD b Size the AC wire gauge to account for voltage rise Select the correct wire size based on the distance from the beginning of the microinverter AC branch circuit to the breaker in the load center All components of system wiring must be considered including internal voltage rise within the length of Engage Cable Typically three wire sections and several wire terminations must be quant...
Страница 22: ...nsition to conduit between smaller sub arrays Refer to the wiring diagrams on page 39 for more information Wire colors are listed in the following table 248 VAC three phase L1 Brown L2 Orange L3 Yellow Neutral Grey Ground Green acts as equipment ground EGC NOTE Because the DC circuit is isolated and insulated from ground the C250 does not require a GEC Ground fault protection GFP is integrated int...
Страница 23: ...taller toolkit for more information If you prefer to build the table manually use the blank map on page 38 to record microinverter placement for the system or provide your own layout if a larger or more intricate installation map is required To manually build the Installation Map a Each Enphase Microinverter has a removable serial number label located on the mounting plate Peel the removable seria...
Страница 24: ...ng Green Solid Normal startup Flashing Transition to post start up state Red Flashing No grid present AC breaker is not turned on Solid Failed microinverter start up Step 11 Energize the System WARNING Risk of electric shock Risk of fire Qualified personnel only may connect the Enphase Microinverter to the electricity network WARNING Risk of electric shock Risk of fire Ensure that all AC and DC wi...
Страница 25: ...nnecting the Envoy Ethernet port to the broadband router with the Ethernet cable that came with the Envoy After the upgrade completes remove the Ethernet cable from the Envoy c Plug the Enphase wireless adapter into the left USB port looking at Envoy from the front and wait 10 seconds d Press and hold the WPS button on the wireless router for two seconds On many routers the WPS button flashes at t...
Страница 26: ...n when all devices are detected Press and hold the Envoy menu button on the right side of the Envoy Release the menu button when the LCD displays Disable Device Scan Step 14 Build the Virtual Array When the system is energized and the Envoy detects at least one microinverter create the virtual array in Enlighten from the installation map you created Once the virtual array is built Enlighten displa...
Страница 27: ...ter that red blinks indicate that no grid is present if the system is not yet energized Six short red blinks after DC power is first applied to the microinverter indicate a failure during microinverter startup Post Startup LED Indications Use a handheld mirror to view indicator lights on the undersides of the microinverters LED states are LED color State Meaning Green Flashing Normal operation The...
Страница 28: ...re servicing Never disconnect the DC connectors under load WARNING The Enphase Microinverters are powered by DC power from the PV modules Make sure you disconnect the DC connections and reconnect DC power and then watch for the solid green about six seconds after connection to DC power 1 Make sure AC breakers and disconnects are closed 2 Check the connection to the utility grid and verify that the...
Страница 29: ...e DC voltage is within the allowable range shown in Specifications on page 35 of this manual 12 Swap DC leads with a known good adjacent PV module If after checking Enlighten periodically this may take up to 30 minutes the problem moves to the adjacent module this indicates that the PV module isn t functioning correctly If it stays in place the problem is with the microinverter Call Enphase Custom...
Страница 30: ...isconnect tool is not available insert a 3 Phillips screwdriver into one hole and rock that side of the drop connector out Then insert the screwdriver into the other hole and pull the connector out entirely 3 Cover the PV module with an opaque cover 4 Using a clamp on meter verify there is no current flowing in the DC wires between the PV module and the microinverter If current is still flowing ch...
Страница 31: ...mm 1 4 mounting hardware 5 N m 45 to 50 in lbs 8 mm 5 16 mounting hardware 9 N m 80 to 85 in lbs NOTE Using a power screwdriver to tighten the fasteners is not recommended due to the risk of thread galling 4 Connect the microinverter to the Engage Cable drop connector There are two latching mechanisms within the connectors Listen for two clicks as the connectors engage Ensure that both latching me...
Страница 32: ...e cabling is compatible with a variety of PV racking systems For a list of approved PV racking systems refer to the PV Racking Compatibility document on the Enphase website http www enphase com support Connector Spacing Options Engage Cable for C250 is available in three connector spacing options The gap between connectors on the cable can be either 1 025 meters 40 1 7 meters 67 0r 2 11 meters 84 ...
Страница 33: ...r more unused connectors in order to span this distance You must cover unused connectors with Enphase watertight sealing caps Minimize the number of unused Engage Cable connectors with three phase systems When cable connectors are left unused on a three phase system it creates a phase imbalance on the branch circuit If multiple cable connectors are skipped over multiple branch circuits the imbalan...
Страница 34: ...the NEC and local code Cover unused connectors with Enphase sealing caps Account for any mixture of PV modules in both portrait and landscape orientation When PV modules are installed in mixed orientation both portrait and landscape orientation there are three choices for cabling 1 Cabling with 1 025 meter spacing between connectors results in cleanest install for the PV modules in portrait orient...
Страница 35: ...re of the cells is the lowest and the PV module is at open circuit not operating The maximum short circuit current rating of the PV module must be equal to or less than the maximum input DC short circuit current rating of the microinverter Specifications C250 Microinverter Specifications Enphase C250 Microinverter Parameters Topic Unit Min Typical Max DC Parameters Recommended input power STC W 35...
Страница 36: ...nmental rating NEMA 6 Connector type MC4 C250 72 2LN S2 or Amphenol C250 72 2LN S5 Torque specifications for fasteners Do not over torque 6 mm 1 4 mounting hardware 5 N m 45 to 50 in lbs 8 mm 5 16 mounting hardware 9 N m 80 to 85 in lbs Cooling Natural convection no fans Communication Power line Standard warranty term http enphase com warranty Compliance UL1741 IEEE1547 FCC Part 15 Class A CAN CSA...
Страница 37: ...nsulator rating THWN 2 Environmental protection rating IEC 60529 IP67 UV exposure rating terminator Engage Coupler and drop connector body UL 746 C F1 Sunlight resistance cable UL 1277 Compliance UL486A B UL 514C UL6703 UL 9703 IEC 60529 IP67 CAN CSA 22 2 No 21 182 3 Conductor size 12 AWG Cable diameter 11 75mm 0 463 Minimum loop size 4 75 inches 12 cm Drop connector dimensions 11 8 cm x 6 0 cm x ...
Страница 38: ...C250 System Installation and Operation 2015 Enphase Energy Inc All rights reserved 141 00025 Rev 03 38 Enphase Installation Map ...
Страница 39: ...C250 System Installation and Operation 2015 Enphase Energy Inc All rights reserved 141 00025 Rev 03 39 Sample System Diagram ...
