New system. MNSPD-115 (not lighting)

[Kerry]

Completed my new installation today and collected some solar energy. Due to panel configuration I was only getting about 33.6 v. The Prowatt SW1000 and the FM80 are working fine. Feels good.

About my MNSPD-115: I have Red to PV+, Black to PV-, and Green to Earth ground and the SPD does not light.

Is there a way to test the SPD to see if the LEDs are working?

Thanks,
Kerry

My components:
(4) 250w Canadian Solar PV panels with MC4 male & female connectors on each 3' 12 awg wire. (each panel is rated 30.1v, 8.3 amp).
(4) 6v, 232 amp Deep Cycle batts configured for 12v using 2/0 cables.
(2) 4 awg cables from the batts to the e-Panel lugs.
(1) Flexmax 80
(1) ProWatt SW 1000 Inverter
(1) Midnite Solar e-panel MNE125ALT
(1) Midnite Solar-MNPV6 Combiner Box with (4) 15 amp circuit breakers.
(1) Midnite MNSPD-115 surge protector
( 10' 10 awg extension wires from the panels to the Combiner Box.
SnapNRack corrugated roof fastening system.

[tecnodave]

Kerry,

I think the SPD needs a bit more voltage to light the led's. If your p.v. Negative is grounded only one led will light. You can test with voltage from another source but line voltage might be a bit much for the SPD115  as 120 volts AC RMS is about 170 v. AC peak , SPD's clamp on peak voltage not the RMS voltage. RMS (root means square) is the value that is normally used to describe AC. It is the "average" but the peak value is what does the damage.

Your connections are correct as lightning will make a grounded wire live during a close strike.


td

[Kerry]

Thanks TD.

I'll try rewiring my panels for more voltage and see what happens.

Kerry

[tecnodave]

Kerry,

I think that having the LED's light is not nessecary for the SPD to work, it just reassures you that all connections are correct.

This issue is covered in the next thread down.

td