ALENCON SPOT-V7 Series User manual

Alencon Systems – Passionate About Power
COPYRIGHT © 2020 ALENCON LLC, INC. | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
SPOT – String Power Optimizer
and Transmitter
A unique PV harvesting system of DCDC Optimizers for generating
more energy in Repowering, Solar + Storage and Microgrid Applications
Installation, Operation and Maintenance Manual for use with the
SPOT-V7-600/1000 or SPOT-V7-1500

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This Document is the confidential and proprietary information of Alencon Systems LLC. No
part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photographic, magnetic or otherwise, without
prior written permission.
Copyright Information: Any product names listed in this manual that are not registered
trademarks of Alencon Systems LLC and/or organization names mentioned may be
trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Publication Number: PM001 Revision 11
REVISION LOG:
Rev # ECO Date Author Approval Comment
00 8562 12/10/17 H. Fishman OF Original Release
01 8563 12/10/18 P. Shivshankaran HF Modification to incorporate new
features on SPOT V7
02 8564 1/22/19 P. Shivshankaran HF Added updated pictures of SPOT with
Amphenol connectors, other small
edits.
03 8565 1/25/19 P.Shivshankaran HF Removed all comments.
04 8566 3/04/19 P.Shivshankaran HF Updated Spec sheet and Label
information
05 8567 3/05/19 P.Shivshankaran HF Made changes to SPOT weight
Additional installation steps added
06 8568 11/18/19 P.Shivshankaran HF Cleaned up updates & redundancies.
Addition of mounting procedure and
pictures
07 8569 02/03/2020 P.Shivshankaran PS Removed Modbus Map Information
08 8570 04/21/2020 A.Finashin AF Changed the SPOT naming for
600/1000 and 1500
09 8571 6/14/2021 Z.Dereli ZD V7 Certification
10 8572 10/11.2021 O. Fishman OF Added caution statements
11 8573 1/3/2022 J. Faber HF Operations updated

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Disclaimer
Alencon LLC makes no representations, express or implied, with respect to this documentation
or any of the equipment and/or software it may describe, including (with no limitation) any
implied warranties of utility, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. All such
warranties are expressly disclaimed. Alencon LLC shall not be liable for any incidental, or
consequential damages under any circumstances.
Specifications are subject to change without notice. Every attempt has been made to make
this document complete, accurate and up to date. Readers are cautioned, however, that
Alencon LLC reserves the right to make changes without notice and shall not be responsible
for any damages, including indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, caused by reliance
on the material presented, including, but not limited to, omissions, typographical errors,
arithmetical errors or listing errors in the content material.

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Contents
Disclaimer ............................................................................................................................................ 2
1 Table of Figures ................................................................................................................................. 5
2 General Information .......................................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Purpose ....................................................................................................................................... 6
2.2 Product Warranty ....................................................................................................................... 6
2.3 Warnings, Cautions and Notes .................................................................................................... 7
2.4 Packing List ................................................................................................................................. 8
2.5 Ordering Information .................................................................................................................. 8
3 Important Safety Instructions ............................................................................................................ 9
4 SPOT Applications .......................................................................................................................... 11
4.1 New PV Plants ........................................................................................................................... 12
4.2 Solar + Storage ......................................................................................................................... 13
4.3 Repowering of Older PV Plants ................................................................................................. 14
5 Technical Specifications .................................................................................................................. 16
6 Isolators / Disconnects .................................................................................................................... 18
6.1 Alencon Fused Electrical Disconnect (FEED) ............................................................................. 18
6.2 Alencon Isolated Disconnect (AID) ............................................................................................ 19
6.3 Third Party Disconnects ............................................................................................................ 19
6.4 Alencon GARDTM ....................................................................................................................... 20
7 SPOT Hardware............................................................................................................................... 21
7.1 SPOT Dimensions – Vertical Mount ........................................................................................... 22
7.1 SPOT with FEED Dimensions – Horizontal Mount ..................................................................... 23
8 Installation ...................................................................................................................................... 24
8.1 Installation Criteria – PV ............................................................................................................ 24
8.1.1 Voltage and Current Requirements .................................................................................... 24
8.2 Installation Procedure ............................................................................................................... 25
8.3 Locate the System Layout Schematic and/or Installation Drawing ............................................ 26
8.4 SPOT Mounting ........................................................................................................................ 28
8.4.1 Selecting Location – Vertical Rail Mount............................................................................ 28
8.4.2 Selecting Location – Horizontal Rack Mount ..................................................................... 29
8.4.3 Mounting Procedure – Vertical Rail Mount ........................................................................ 30
8.4.4 Mounting Procedure – Horizontal Rack Mount .................................................................. 31
8.5 SPOT Grounding Requirements ................................................................................................ 33

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8.6 Connecting the SPOT to Input Power Source Cables ................................................................ 34
8.6.1 SPOT Wiring Requirements ............................................................................................... 34
8.6.2 Input Wiring ....................................................................................................................... 34
8.6.3 SPOT Connector Terminations .......................................................................................... 34
8.6.4 Short Circuit Check ............................................................................................................ 35
8.7 Connecting the SPOT to Output/Load Cables ........................................................................... 35
8.7.1 Output Wiring .................................................................................................................... 35
9 Turning ON and OFF the SPOT ....................................................................................................... 36
9.1 Steps to turn ON the SPOT: ...................................................................................................... 36
9.1.1 Turning ON the SPOT – Low Voltage Bus (<300V) ............................................................. 36
9.1.2 Turning ON the SPOT – High Voltage Bus (>300V) ............................................................ 36
9.2 Steps to turn OFF the SPOT: ..................................................................................................... 37
9.3 Commissioning your SPOT Device ............................................................................................ 37
10 SPOT Operation ............................................................................................................................ 38
10.1 STATE Machine ....................................................................................................................... 38
10.1.2 COMMANDS .................................................................................................................... 41
10.1.3 CONDITIONS ................................................................................................................... 41
11 Maintenance and Servicing ............................................................................................................ 43
11.1 General Maintenance ............................................................................................................... 43
11.2 Service and Repair ................................................................................................................... 43
12 Alencon Communication Environment (ACE) ................................................................................ 44
12.1 System Overview .................................................................................................................... 44
Appendix A - Safety Precautions ........................................................................................................ 45
A.1 Degree of Danger Symbols ....................................................................................................... 45
A.2 Electrical hazards...................................................................................................................... 45
A.2.1 Electric shock from live voltage ......................................................................................... 45
A.2.2 Electric shock caused by ground fault ............................................................................... 46
A.2.3 Electric shock due to damaged equipment ........................................................................ 46
A.3 Environmental hazards ............................................................................................................. 46
A.3.1 Danger to life due to blocked escape routes ...................................................................... 46
A.3.2 Damage to the equipment caused by dust or moisture penetration .................................. 46
A.3.3 Danger to life due to electric shock when the equipment is unlocked ................................ 47
Appendix B – Glossary ....................................................................................................................... 47
Appendix C – Technical Support and Assistance ................................................................................ 48

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1 Table of Figures
FIGURE 1: A PICTURE OF A SPOT UNIT .......................................................................................................... 8
FIGURE 2: THE GRAPHIC ABOVE INDICATES THAT THE SPOT IS A GROUNDING CONDUCTOR. ................................ 9
FIGURE 3: THE GRAPHIC ABOVE INDICATES THAT THE SPOT ACTS AS A DIRECT CURRENT SUPPLY. ........................ 9
FIGURE 4: SPOT UNITS PLACED BETWEEN PV PANEL AND COMBINER. ............................................................ 11
FIGURE 5: DIAGRAM OF DEPLOYED SPOT UNITS IN A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED PV PLANT .................................... 12
FIGURE 6: DIAGRAM OF A DC-COUPLED SOLAR + STORAGE SYSTEM USING THE SPOT ..................................... 13
FIGURE 7: NEGATIVELY GROUNDED PV ARRAY CONNECTED TO NEUTRALLY GROUNDED INVERTER ..................... 14
FIGURE 8: A TYPICAL 600V PV PLANT WITH ALENCON SPOTS AND A TRANSFORMER-LESS INVERTER .................. 15
FIGURE 9: ALENCON SPOT WITH FUSED ELECTRICAL DISCONNECT ............................................................... 18
FIGURE 10: ALENCON ISOLATED DISCONNECT (EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL) ..................................................... 19
FIGURE 11: AN IMO MANUAL DC ISOLATOR ................................................................................................ 19
FIGURE 12: SPOTS WITH IMO DISCONNECT ................................................................................................ 20
FIGURE 13: GARD .................................................................................................................................... 20
FIGURE 14: SOLAR POWER OPTIMIZER AND TRANSMITTER (SPOT) – VERTICAL MOUNT................................... 21
FIGURE 15: SPOT WITH FUSED ELECTRICAL DISCONNECT (FEED) – HORIZONTAL MOUNT ............................... 21
FIGURE 16: SPOT DIMENSIONS INCLUDING BACK PLANE FOR HANGING .......................................................... 22
FIGURE 17: SPOT WITH FEED DIMENSIONS ................................................................................................ 23
FIGURE 18: SAMPLE OF A SINGLE LINE DIAGRAM (SLD) ................................................................................ 26
FIGURE 19: SPOT BOTTOM END PLATE WITH COMMENSURATE LABELS ......................................................... 27
FIGURE 20: SAMPLE SPOT LABEL ............................................................................................................. 27
FIGURE 21: SPOT MOUNTING INSTRUCTIONS ............................................................................................. 31
FIGURE 22: SPOT/BOSS WITH FEED AND MOUNTING BRACKETS ................................................................ 32
FIGURE 23: SPOT/BOSS WITH FEED AND MOUNTING BRACKETS ................................................................ 32
FIGURE 24: SPOT GROUND LUG LOCATION EXAMPLES (IN ORANGE) ............................................................ 33
FIGURE 25: STATE SPACE FLOW CHART ..................................................................................................... 39
FIGURE 26: PODD - POINTS OF DATA DISTRIBUTION DEVICE ........................................................................ 44

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2 General Information
All efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of material provided in this document at the
time of release. Items are subject to continuous development and improvements. All
specifications and descriptions are subject to change without notice.
2.1 Purpose
This manual provides information about installing, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting
the Alencon SPOT device.
Who Should Read this Manual?
This manual should be read by anyone who needs to:
 Understand the product
 Plan the installation
 Install the product
 Commission the product
 Operate the product
 Maintain the product, if necessary
2.2 Product Warranty
Alencon Systems warrants to you, the original purchaser, that each of its products will be free
from defects in materials and workmanship for three years from the date of purchase. Extended
warrantees of an additional five (5), ten (10) and twenty (20) years are also available for purchase.
This warranty does not apply to any products which have been repaired or altered by persons
other than repair personnel authorized by Alencon System, or which have been subject to
misuse, abuse, accident, or improper installation. This warranty does not cover the repair or
replacement of any goods which fail as a result of damage in transit, misuse, neglect, accident,
Act of God, abuse, improper handling, misapplication, modification, improper storage,
excessive stress, faulty or improper installation, testing or repair, negligent maintenance, or
failure to comply with the written instructions for installation, testing, use or maintenance (if
any) provided by Alencon Systems. Alencon Systems assumes no liability under the terms of this
warranty as a consequence of such events.

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Because of Alencon Systems’ high quality-control standards and rigorous testing, most of our
customers never need to use our warranty service. If an Alencon Systems product is defective, it
will be repaired or replaced at no charge during the warranty period. For out-of-warranty repairs,
you will be billed according to the cost of replacement materials, service time and freight. Please
consult Alencon Systems for more details. If you think you have a defective product, follow these
steps:
 Collect all the information about the problem encountered. (For example, issues you are
encountering in your PV array) Note anything abnormal when the problem occurs.
 Call Alencon Systems or your licensed Alencon Systems dealer and describe the
problem. Please have your manual, product, and any helpful information readily
available.
 If your product is diagnosed as defective, obtain an RMA (return merchandise
authorization) number from Alencon Systems. This allows us to process your return more
quickly.
 Carefully pack the defective product (preferably in the original packaging material it was
shipped in), a fully completed Repair and Replacement Order Card and a photocopy
proof of purchase date (such as your sales receipt) in a shippable container. A product
returned without proof of the purchase date is not eligible for warranty service.
2.3 Warnings, Cautions and Notes
Warning! Warnings indicate conditions, which if not observed, can cause
personal injury!
Caution! Cautions are included to help you avoid damaging hardware or
losing data.
Note! Notes provide optional additional information.

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2.4 Packing List
The SPOT is assembled and fully tested at the ALENCON factory. Before installation, please
ensure the following items have been shipped:
 Commensurate # of SPOT units specified for your project.
 4 AWG Single Wire Grounding Mechanical Lug per SPOT unit
 1 x Warranty Card
FIGURE 1: A PICTURE OF A SPOT UNIT
2.5 Ordering Information
Model Number Description
Model Number Description
SPOT-X4-V7-600/1000 Alencon Systems String Power Optimizer & Transmitter, Four
MPPT, 600-1000VDC Input
SPOT-X4-V7-1500 Alencon Systems String Power Optimizer & Transmitter, Four
MPPT, 1500VDC Input

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3 Important Safety Instructions
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS– This manual contains important instructions for use
with the SPOT 600/1000 and 1500 that shall be followed during installation and
maintenance of these devices.
FIGURE 2: THE GRAPHIC ABOVE INDICATES THAT THE SPOT IS A GROUNDING CONDUCTOR.
FIGURE 3: THE GRAPHIC ABOVE INDICATES THAT THE SPOT ACTS AS A DIRECT CURRENT
SUPPLY.
Installation of this equipment must be performed by an authorized electrician in
accordance with the local and NEC ANSI/NFPA 70 and OSHA requirements.
1. Before installing and using the SPOT, read all instructions presented in this manual and the
cautionary markings shown on the SPOT's enclosure.
2. The SPOT contains no user-serviceable parts. For service and maintenance, the SPOT should
be returned to Alencon Systems LLC or a certified Alencon Systems service center.
3. During operation, hazardous voltages and currents may be present. Only authorized and
qualified personnel should perform servicing/installation.
4. Disconnect switches or contactors must be used between SPOT inputs and PV arrays (or
other input source).
5. Do not disconnect the SPOT output while under LOAD. Always use input disconnect switch
to shutdown SPOT before disconnecting the output.
6. The SPOT requires external fusing. This requirement is explained in detail in Section 5.13.2
of this manual “Output Wiring.”

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7. Exposed PV strings to sunlight represent a shock hazard at the PV wires and exposed
terminals. Disconnect SPOT input switches or contactors before performing any work on the
SPOT. Test any terminal for voltage before touching them. Check if any current is flowing
through the strings before disconnection.
8. Use only accessories recommended or approved by the manufacturer.
9. Ensure that wiring is in good conditions and that all wiring is sized according to NEC 310-16
specifications.
10. PV modules produce electrical energy when exposed to light and thus can create an electrical
shock hazard. Wiring of the PV modules should only be performed by qualified personnel.
11. Always have SPOT manual on hand, for reference.

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4 SPOT Applications
The SPOT is a set of 4 galvanically isolated DC-to-DC converters, that operate between a variety
of possible DC sources (PV, fuel cell, battery, etc.) and loads (inverter, battery, motor, etc.). Most
commonly, a SPOT is placed between PV strings and a combiner box as shown in figure 5.
SPOT can provide:
 Granular MPPT for each PV string
 Match PV string voltage with common Inverter or Battery DC bus.
 Galvanic isolation between PV ground and Inverter/Battery ground.
FIGURE 4: SPOT UNITS PLACED BETWEEN PV PANEL AND COMBINER.
There is a continually growing number of applications in which the SPOT device can be used,
some of the most common include:
 In the construction of a new PV system when a centralized inverter has limited number
of MPPT inputs.
 In the construction of a new PV system when a centralized inverter shares the DC bus
with a battery storage system.
 In repowering of PV systems when old, centralized inverter is replaced with several
transformer-less inverters.
 In repowering of PV systems when PV strings have degraded and cannot deliver required
DC voltage.
 In repowering of PV systems augmented with a battery storage system.
In these applications, SPOTs are installed between PV strings and the combiner boxes that feed
a 3rd party inverter.

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4.1 New PV Plants
The SPOT allows for a more granular level of MPPT compared to a central inverter, as such it is
measurably beneficial to a newly constructed PV plant. Additionally, new plants including
SPOTs into initial system design, can reduce balance of system (BoS) cost.
FIGURE 5: DIAGRAM OF DEPLOYED SPOT UNITS IN A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED PV PLANT

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4.2 Solar + Storage
The SPOT is a unique solution for DC-coupling of PV and Storage. When deployed with storage
systems i.e., batteries, the DC bus may be shared with the storage terminal as shown in Figure
6. In this case, the inverter typically operates in a constant voltage mode. The SPOT(s) will match
PV voltage to the battery voltage and provide granular MPPT.
FIGURE 6: DIAGRAM OF A DC-COUPLED SOLAR + STORAGE SYSTEM USING THE SPOT

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4.3 Repowering of Older PV Plants
Large scale PV projects installed in past decades typically used 600V rated PV modules
and 600V inverters which are in turn connected to a medium voltage distribution transformer
as shown in Figure 7. Typically, in these older 600V installations, an insulation transformer
was built into the inverter. This integrated transformer carried out two functions:
1. Matched lower (208 VAC) AC voltage on the inverter output to higher 480VAC voltage
on the distribution transformer’s primary winding.
2. Provided galvanic isolation between PV array’s ground - PV arrays are generally
negatively grounded, though in some cases are positively grounded - and the neutrally
grounded distribution transformer.
FIGURE 7: NEGATIVELY GROUNDED PV ARRAY CONNECTED TO NEUTRALLY GROUNDED
INVERTER
Older 600V inverters have been largely replaced by more efficient, 1000V, transformer-less
string inverters that are connected directly to the MV distribution transformer as shown
in Figure 8 below. This newer type of string inverter must produce 480VAC on its output
to match the primary voltage requirement of the MV distribution transformer. This requires
a DC input voltage of 680 – 1000VDC.
When replacing an older style 600V inverter with an integrated transformer for a newer, 1000V
transformer-less inverter, two issues must be considered:
a. Matching the input voltage from the older 600V array to the higher input voltage
required by the new inverter.
b. Assuring the inverter’s AC output matches the ground potential of the primary
winding of the MV distribution transformer.

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Neither of these requirements can be met by the transformer-less string inverter alone.
DC
AC
INVERTER Distribution
tramsformer
TRANSFORMER
PV STRINGS
GALVANICALLY
ISOLATED SPOT
FIGURE 8: A TYPICAL 600V PV PLANT WITH ALENCON SPOTS AND A TRANSFORMER-LESS
INVERTER
The SPOT as shown in Figure 8 resolves both problems because the SPOT essentially serves
as a DC transformer. The SPOT will map the lower PV voltage range into the higher DC input
range of the new, transformer-less string inverter. At the same time, the SPOT will reintroduce
the galvanic isolation lost when the transformer from the older inverter was removed.
The SPOT provides galvanic isolation between PV and the ground potential of the primary
winding of the MV distribution transformer assuring that any mismatches in ground potential
are automatically resolved.

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5 Technical Specifications
SPOT Model SPOT 600/1000 SPOT 1500
Input
MPPTs/Inputs per SPOT (Standard) 4
Maximum String Voltage 1000 V 1500 V
String Operating Voltage 200 – 1000 V 300 – 1425 V
MPPT Voltage Range 250 – 880 V 350 - 1350 V
Maximum Current Per Input @ 25 C 25 A 18.5 A
Reverse Polarity Protection Yes
Max. Input Power per Input @ 25 C 22 KW 20 kW
Max. Input Power per Input @ 50 C 16.94 KW 15 kW
Grounding Configuration Positive, Negative or Floating
Output
Output Operating Voltage Fully Configurable from 200 to 1500 V
Max Number of Outputs 4
Reverse Polarity Protection Yes
Grounding Configuration Floating
Efficiency
Peak Efficiency 98.5%
CEC Weighted Efficiency 98%
Standards & Compliance
Certifications UL1741, IEC 62109-1, CSA C22.2
Environmental
Storage Temperature -40°C to 85°C
Cooling Natural Convection or Forced Air
Environmental Rating NEMA 3R & IP 66

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Humidity 0-95%
Operating Ambient Temp. -40°C to 50°C
Form Factor
Packaging Rail or Rack Mounted, Outdoor Rated
Size (H x W x D) Rail Mount: 0.64m * 0.42m * 0.31m
Rack Mount: 8U/0.35m *0.49m * 0.64m
(Height with FEED: 9U)
Weight 54 kg (w/ FEED: Add 14 kg)
Additional Features
Communications –
Requires Wired Connection to PODD
Wired or Wireless – Modbus TCP Protocol
AFCI – Requires GARD UL1699B
GFCI – Requires GARD UL1741

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6 Isolators / Disconnects
Alencon requires using disconnects (or contactors) to enable an electrical cut-off of the SPOT
from its input power source.
Always disconnect SPOT from input power when performing maintenance on the
SPOT.
Disconnects must be rated to the max input voltage and UL approved
Do not disconnect the SPOT output while under load by disconnecting from the
output. Always use an appropriately rated disconnect to isolate SPOT from input
power before disconnecting the output.
You may select from one of four options:
1. Alencon Fused Electrical Disconnect (FEED)
2. Alencon Isolated Disconnect (AID)
3. Third party disconnects: IMO Disconnects
4. Alencon Ground Arc Rapid Disconnect (GARD)
6.1 Alencon Fused Electrical Disconnect (FEED)
Alencon’s FEEDTM (Fused Electrical Disconnect), see Figure 133, provides a configurable add-on
device to SPOT input and output. Mounted directly onto the SPOT front, the FEED is used to
add disconnects and over-current protection via fuses to PV strings connected to the SPOT. As
well, FEED offers PV grounding with ground-fault detection.
FEED is only available for deployment indoors as it is not weather rated.
See more about FEED options in FEED Manual.
FIGURE 9: ALENCON SPOT WITH FUSED ELECTRICAL DISCONNECT

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6.2 Alencon Isolated Disconnect (AID)
Alencon offers a 4-input fused disconnect box (fuses are optional). Both positive and negative
terminals of PV strings are isolated from the SPOT when the Switch is in the OFF position.
FIGURE 10: ALENCON ISOLATED DISCONNECT (EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL)
The AID may be mounted on the side of SPOT or on a separate Unistrut hanging plate and wired
directly into SPOT inputs.
6.3 Third Party Disconnects
Third party disconnect switches can be used such as IMO’s DC isolators, though the other
options are recommended instead. A typical IMO DC-isolator is shown below in Figure 11.
FIGURE 11: AN IMO MANUAL DC ISOLATOR