Free Voltage Drop | Solar & Storage Engineering Tips

𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗣𝗖𝘀: 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲! Discover how “𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽” can 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 in high DC:AC ratio systems by reducing unnecessary conductor upsizing—𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲. Our Senior Project Manager, Andrew Kim, dives deep into dynamic voltage drop modeling, balancing AC vs. DC losses, and the best strategies to maximize ROI for solar and storage projects.

Transcription:

If your AC circuits experience too much voltage drop, it can cause nuisance tripping and even shut down your system. In large-scale solar, every watt counts. But what if some power loss could actually work in your favor? Let's talk about free voltage drop and how it can boost efficiency on high  DC to AC ratio systems. As solar technology has advanced, so have our methods for optimizing power systems. Over the last decade, module prices have plummeted and operating voltages have risen from 600 volts to a staggering 1500 volts DC. This has led to higher DC to AC ratios, where systems operate between 1.3 and 1.7. Inverter clipping happens when your inverter hits its max AC output. Any extra DC power from the panels won't be converted. This is where free voltage drop comes in. Where your inverter is clipping, losing power through DC voltage drop doesn't affect your overall output. Spending extra on oversized DC conductors and high DC to AC systems often results in minimal gains. Once the inverter is clipping, whether your voltage drop is 2% or 5%, the output  remains the same. In essence, the lost power during these times is free. However, AC voltage drop is a different story. If your AC circuits experience too much voltage drop, it can cause nuisance tripping and even shut down your system. Minimizing AC voltage drop, especially near the point of interconnection, is key to keeping the system running smoothly. To truly understand voltage drop, you have to evaluate it dynamically. Using 8760 energy models we can simulate power loss over an entire year, considering site-specific weather data and clipping periods. This gives a more accurate picture of how voltage drop impacts system performance. By strategically placing inverters near the point of interconnection, we not only minimize AC voltage drop, but also increase the amount of free voltage drop on the DC side. This dual benefit optimizes system performance and reduces unnecessary costs. At Pure Power, we engineer smarter understanding how to leverage free voltage drop to create more efficient, cost-effective solar projects. From design to implementation, we rethink best practices to maximize efficiency without breaking the bank. Want to join a team that's leading the charge in solar innovation? Pure Power is hiring. Let's power the future together!