FRO­NIUS Primo 208-240 User manual

/ Perfect Charging / Perfect Welding / Solar Energy
42,0426,0197,EA 014-29052017
Fronius Primo 208-240:
Symbol Explanations and
Choosing the Location
Notes on Installation and
Connection
Operating Instructions
Inverter for grid-connected photo-
voltaic systems
EN-US

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Contents
Symbol Explanations ................................................................................................................................. 5
Explanation of Safety Instructions......................................................................................................... 5
Explanation of Symbols – Selecting a Location .................................................................................... 5
Symbol Explanations – Installation Position ......................................................................................... 7
Choosing the Location ............................................................................................................................... 9
Intended Use......................................................................................................................................... 9
Selecting a Location – General Information for Fronius Primo 3.8–8.2 ................................................ 9
Selecting a Location – General Information for Fronius Primo 10.0–15.0 ............................................ 10
Installation information ............................................................................................................................... 11
Auswahl von Dübel und Schrauben...................................................................................................... 11
Screw Recommendation....................................................................................................................... 11
Attaching the Wall Bracket.................................................................................................................... 11
Installing the Inverter on a Mast............................................................................................................ 12
Notes on the Knockouts............................................................................................................................. 13
General ................................................................................................................................................. 13
Knock or drill out knockouts .................................................................................................................. 13
Suitable Grids ............................................................................................................................................ 15
Suitable Grids ....................................................................................................................................... 15
Notes on connection area .......................................................................................................................... 16
Permitted cables ................................................................................................................................... 16
Connecting Aluminum Cables............................................................................................................... 16
Notes on grid connection ........................................................................................................................... 18
Monitoring the Grid ............................................................................................................................... 18
AC Connection...................................................................................................................................... 18
Maximum AC fuse protection................................................................................................................ 19
Additional external AC and/or DC disconnect....................................................................................... 19
Notes on DC Connection ........................................................................................................................... 20
General Information about Solar Modules ............................................................................................ 20
Inverter DC Connection ........................................................................................................................ 20
Multi MPP Tracker Inverter – Fronius Primo 3.0–8.2............................................................................ 20
Multi MPP Tracker Inverter – Fronius Primo 10.0–15.0........................................................................ 22
Notes on Laying Data Communication Cables .......................................................................................... 23
Laying Data Communication Cables..................................................................................................... 23
Notes on Clipping the Inverter into the Wall Bracket ................................................................................. 24
Clipping the Inverter onto the Wall Bracket........................................................................................... 24
Notes on Anti-theft device.......................................................................................................................... 25
Anti-Theft Device .................................................................................................................................. 25
Notes on Software Updates ....................................................................................................................... 27
Notes on Software Updates .................................................................................................................. 27
USB Stick as a Data Logger and for Updating Inverter Software .............................................................. 28
USB stick as a data logger.................................................................................................................... 28
Data on the USB stick........................................................................................................................... 28
Data Quantity and Memory Capacity .................................................................................................... 29
Buffer Memory ...................................................................................................................................... 29
Suitable USB Sticks .............................................................................................................................. 30
USB Stick for Updating Inverter Software............................................................................................. 30
Removing the USB Stick....................................................................................................................... 31
Notes on Maintenance ............................................................................................................................... 32
Maintenance ......................................................................................................................................... 32
Cleaning................................................................................................................................................ 32
Serial Number Sticker for Customer Use................................................................................................... 33
Serial Number Sticker for Customer Use.............................................................................................. 33

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Symbol Explanations
Explanation of
Safety Instruc-
tions
If you see any of the symbols depicted in the "Safety Rules," special care is required.
Explanation of
Symbols – Select-
ing a Location
DANGER! Indicates an immediate danger. Death or serious injury may result if
appropriate precautions are not taken.
WARNING! Indicates a possibly dangerous situation. Death or serious injury may
result if appropriate precautions are not taken.
CAUTION! Indicates a situation where damage or injury could occur. Minor injury
or damage to property may result if appropriate precautions are not taken.
NOTE! Indicates the possibility of flawed results and damage to the equipment.
IMPORTANT! Indicates tips for correct operation and other particularly useful information.
It does not indicate a potentially damaging or dangerous situation.
The inverter is suitable for indoor installation.
The inverter is suitable for outdoor installation.
Because of its NEMA4X protection class, the inverter is not susceptible
to hose water on any side and can also be operated in moist environ-
ments.
In order to keep inverter heating as low as possible, the inverter should
not be exposed to direct sunlight. Ideally, the inverter should be installed
in a protected location, e.g., near the solar modules or under an over-
hanging roof.
Fronius Primo 3.8–8.2

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Altitude above sea level: up to 13,123 ft (4000 m)
IMPORTANT! The inverter must not be installed or operated above an
altitude of 13,123 ft. (4000 m).
Fronius Primo 10.0–15.0
Altitude above sea level: up to 11,811 ft (3600 m)
IMPORTANT! The inverter must not be installed or operated above an
altitude of 11,811 ft. (3600 m).
Do not install the inverter:
- where it may be exposed to ammonia, corrosive gases, acids or
salts
(e.g., fertilizer storage areas, vent openings for livestock stables,
chemical plants, tanneries).
During certain operation phases the inverter may produce a slight noise.
For this reason it should not be installed in an occupied living area.
Do not install the inverter in:
- areas where there is an increased risk of accidents, e.g., from farm
animals (horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, etc.)
- stables or adjoining areas
- storage areas for hay, straw, chaff, animal feed, fertilizers, etc.
The inverter is designed to be dustproof in principle. However, in areas
of high dust accumulation, the cooling surfaces can become dusty, which
can impair the thermal performance. In this case, the dust must be re-
moved regularly. We therefore recommend that installation is not carried
out in areas and environments with high dust accumulation.
Do not install the inverter in:
- greenhouses
- storage or processing areas for fruit, vegetables, or viniculture prod-
ucts
- areas used in the preparation of grain, green fodder, or animal
feeds.
max.
13123 ft.
4000 m
> 13123 ft.
> 4000 m
max.
11811 ft.
3600 m
> 11811 ft.
> 3600 m
NH3

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EN-US
Symbol Explana-
tions – Installa-
tion Position
The inverter is suitable for vertical installation on a vertical wall or pillar.
The inverter is suitable for horizontal installation.
The inverter is suitable for installation on an inclined surface.
Do not install the inverter on an inclined surface with the connection
sockets facing upwards.
Do not install the inverter in a sloping position on a vertical wall or pillar.
Do not install the inverter in a horizontal position on a vertical wall or pil-
lar.
Do not install the inverter on a vertical wall or pillar with the connection
sockets facing upwards.
Do not install the inverter so that it is overhanging with the connection
sockets facing upwards.

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Do not install the inverter so that it is overhanging with the connection
sockets facing downwards.
Do not install the inverter on the ceiling.

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Choosing the Location
Intended Use The inverter is designed exclusively to be connected and used with nongrounded solar
modules. The solar modules cannot be grounded at either the positive or negative pole.
The solar inverter is designed exclusively to convert direct current from solar modules into
alternating current and feed this power into the public grid.
The following are deemed not to be in conformity with its intended purpose:
- utilization for any other purpose, or in any other manner
- alterations to the inverter that are not expressly recommended by Fronius
- installation of components that are not expressly recommended or sold by Fronius.
The manufacturer is not responsible for any damage resulting from improper use.
All warranty claims are considered void in such cases.
Proper use also means
- carefully reading and obeying all the instructions and safety and danger notices in the
operating instructions
- carrying out all the specified inspection and servicing work
- installation as per operating instructions.
When configuring the photovoltaic system, make sure that all photovoltaic system compo-
nents are operating completely within their permitted operating range.
All measures recommended by the solar module manufacturer for maintaining solar mod-
ule properties must be followed.
Utility company regulations regarding grid power feed must be followed.
Selecting a Loca-
tion – General In-
formation for
Fronius Primo
3.8–8.2
Please note the following criteria when choosing a location for the inverter:
Only install on a solid surface
Max. ambient temperatures:
-40°F to +131°F
(-40°C to +55°C)
Relative humidity:
0–100%
The air flow direction within the
inverter is from left and right to
top (cold air intake on the left and
right, hot air outflow at the top).
The waste air can reach a tem-
perature of 70°C.
When installing the inverter in a switch cabinet or similar closed environment, it is neces-
sary to make sure that the hot air that develops will be dissipated by forced-air ventilation.
If you wish to install the inverter on the outer walls of a cattle shed, it is important to main-
tain a minimum clearance of 6 ft. 7 in. (2 m) between all sides of the inverter and air vents
and other openings.
The place of installation should not be exposed to ammonia, corrosive gases, salts, or ac-
ids.
8 in.
200 mm
4 in.
100 mm
6 in.
150 mm
-40 °F - +131 °F
-40 °C - +55 °C
0 - 100 %

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Selecting a Loca-
tion – General In-
formation for
Fronius Primo
10.0–15.0
Please note the following criteria when choosing a location for the inverter:
Only install on a solid surface
Max. ambient temperatures:
-40°F to +140°F
(-40°C to +60°C)
Relative humidity:
0–100%
The air flow direction within the
inverter is from right to top (cold
air intake on the right, hot air out-
flow at the top).
When installing the inverter in a switch cabinet or similar closed environment, it is neces-
sary to make sure that the hot air that develops will be dissipated by forced-air ventilation.
If you wish to install the inverter on the outer walls of a cattle shed, it is important to main-
tain a minimum clearance of 6 ft. 7 in. (2 m) between all sides of the inverter and air vents
and other openings.
The place of installation should not be exposed to ammonia, corrosive gases, salts, or ac-
ids.
4 in.
100 mm
4 in.
100 mm
8 in.
200 mm
-40 °F - +140 °F
-40 °C - +60 °C
0 - 100 %

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EN-US
Installation information
Auswahl von Dü-
bel und Schrau-
ben
Screw Recom-
mendation
To install the inverter, the manufacturer recommends using steel or aluminum screws with
a diameter of 0.2–0.3 in. (6–8 mm).
Attaching the
Wall Bracket
IMPORTANT! Je nach Untergrund ist unterschiedliches Befestigungsmaterial für die Mon-
tage der Montagehalterung erforderlich. Das Befestigungsmaterial ist daher nicht im
Lieferumfang des Wechselrichters enthalten. Der Monteur ist für die richtige Auswahl des
Befestigungsmaterials selbst verantwortlich.
NOTE! When attaching the wall bracket to the wall or a pillar, make sure that the
wall bracket is not warped or deformed.

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Installing the In-
verter on a Mast
Example of a mast mounting kit
For installation of the inverter on a mast or
beam, Fronius recommends using the "Po-
le clamp" (order no. SZ 2584.000) mast
mounting kit from Rittal GmbH.
The kit can be used to mount the inverter on
round or rectangular masts with the follo-
wing diameters: from 40 to 190 mm
(round)
 from 50 to 150 mm (rectangular)
Fronius Primo 208-240
Installation Help
?

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EN-US
Notes on the Knockouts
General The wall bracket contains several knockouts of different sizes. When knocked out, the
openings are used for the inputs of various wires.
IMPORTANT! The knockouts on the rear of the wall bracket are made of metal.
Knock or drill out
knockouts
IMPORTANT! The side knockouts and the knockouts on the underside of the wall bracket
may be knocked out using a hammer or screwdriver, or drilled out using a step drill.
The knockouts at the back may only be drilled out using a step drill.
1/2 in. for data communication cable (DATCOM)
for Fronius Primo 3.8-8.2:
3/4 in. for AC and DC cables
for Fronius 10.0-15.0:
3/4 in. -
1 1/4 in.
for AC and DC cables
* A grounding electrode terminal may be required depending on local regula-
tions.
The cable for the ground electrode terminal can be fed through the designat-
ed opening on the underside of the wall bracket.
CAUTION! Danger of short circuit from loose metal parts from knockouts. Loose
metal parts in the inverter may cause short circuits when the inverter is powered
up. When removing knockouts, make sure that
- no loose metal parts fall into the connection area of the inverter,
- any metal pieces that do fall into the connection area are removed immedi-
ately.
Use suitable eye protection when knocking/drilling out the knockouts.
Only knock out knockouts using a hammer or screwdriver from the in-
side outwards.
Only use suitable step drills to drill out the knockouts.
Do not use spiral drills for drilling out!
Only drill out knockouts using a step drill from the outside inwards.
When drilling out using a step drill, ensure that the DC disconnector
and the AC/DC connection block are not damaged.

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When drilling out the knockouts at the back, place the wall bracket on
an even surface with the back upwards so that shavings and pieces
of metal can fall out of the wall bracket.
Attach appropriate conduits to all knocked/drilled out knockouts.
In the event of installation outside, only use watertight conduits and
conduit fittings.
Conduits and conduit fittings are not included with the inverter.
*

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EN-US
Suitable Grids
Suitable Grids Inverters can be operated on the following grids:
- 208 V Delta - Corner Grounded, without neutral conductor
- 208 V Delta: 120 V WYE, with neutral conductor
- 220 V Delta - Corner Grounded, without neutral conductor
- 220 V Delta: 127 V WYE, with neutral conductor
- 240 V Delta - Corner Grounded, without neutral conductor
- 240 V: 120 V WYE, with neutral conductor
- 240 V: 120 V split phase, with neutral conductor
- 50 Hz (220 V Delta - Corner Grounded, 50 Hz, without neutral conductor)
- 50 HN (220 V Delta: 127 V WYE, 50 Hz, with neutral conductor)

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Notes on connection area
Permitted cables Cables with the following design can be connected to the AC and DC terminals of the in-
verter:
Connecting Alu-
minum Cables
The terminals are designed for connecting single-wire, round aluminum cables. The follow-
ing points must be taken into account when connecting aluminum cables due to the non-
conducting oxide layer of aluminum:
- reduced rated currents for aluminum cables
- the connection requirements listed below.
Connection Requirements:
Carefully clean off the oxide layer of the stripped end of the cable, e.g., using a knife.
IMPORTANT! Do not use brushes, files, or sandpaper; aluminum particles may get stuck
and can transfer to other cables.
- Copper or aluminum: round, solid
- Copper: round, stranded, up to conductor class 4
Fronius Primo 3.8–8.2 Fronius Primo 10.0–15.0
Cable cross-sections: Cable cross-sections:
Cu: min. AWG 14 – max. AWG 6
Al: AWG 6
Cu : min. AWG 14 - max. AWG 2
Al : AWG 6
DC =
Cu: min. AWG 14 - max. AWG 6
Al : AWG 6
Cu / Al: min. AWG 4 - max. AWG 2 (with
optional input combiner)
AC ~
Cu: min. AWG 10 - max. AWG 2;
AWG 6 - AWG 2 (for solid / stranded / fine
stranded cables)
Multi-contact: AWG12
Terminal tightening torque: Terminal tightening torque:
16 lbf.in / 1.33 t. lb. / 1.8 Nm AC ~
31 lbf.in / 2.58 ft. lb. / 3.5 Nm
DC =
16 lbf.in / 1.33 ft. lb. / 1.8 Nm
Cu / Al Cu
NOTE! Take into account local specifications when configuring cable cross sec-
tions.
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After removing the oxide layer of the cable end, rub in a neutral grease, e.g., acid-free
and alkali-free Vaseline.
Then immediately connect it to the terminal.
Repeat the steps above whenever the cable is disconnected and then reconnected.
2
3

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Notes on grid connection
Monitoring the
Grid
AC Connection
IMPORTANT! The ground conductor GND of the AC cable must be laid so that it is discon-
nected last.
Measure the ground conductor GND longer, for example, and loop.
Example: Fronius Primo 3.8–8.2
If AC cables are laid over the shaft of the
DC main switch or across the DC main
switch connection block, the cables may be
damaged when the inverter is pivoted or the
inverter may not be able to be pivoted.
IMPORTANT! Do not lay AC cables over
the shaft of the DC main switch or across
the DC main switch connection block!
Example: AC cables (Fronius Primo 3.8–8.2)
If excessively long AC or DC cables are laid
in loops in the connection area, fix the cab-
les to the designated eyelets at the top and
bottom of the connection block using cable
ties.
IMPORTANT! The resistance in the leads to the AC-side connection terminals must be as
low as possible for optimal functioning of grid monitoring.
NOTE! Fronius Primo 3.8–8.2 only:
To ensure a proper ground connection, all 3 grounding terminals GND must be
tightened with the specified torque during installation.
NOTE! Loop the AC cables when connecting them to the AC terminals:
Fronius Primo 3.8–8.2: min. 4 in. (102 mm)
Fronius Primo 10.0–15.0: in accordance with NEC

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EN-US
Maximum AC
fuse protection
Fronius 3.8–8.2 Fronius 10.0–15.0
Additional exter-
nal AC and/or DC
disconnect
Depending on the installation, an additional external AC and/or DC disconnect may be re-
quired if the inverter is installed in a location not easily accessible to utility or fire personnel.
Contact your local authorities for additional information.
AC ~
max. 63 A
24
31
max. 100 A
AC ~
24
31
Inverter Phases Max. output Max. fuse protec-
tion
Fronius Primo 3.8-1 208-240 1 / 2 3800 W 63 A
Fronius Primo 5.0-1 208-240 1 / 2 5000 W 63 A
Fronius Primo 6.0-1 208-240 1 / 2 6000 W 63 A
Fronius Primo 7.6-1 208-240 1 / 2 7600 W 63 A
Fronius Primo 8.2-1 208-240 1 / 2 8200 W 63 A
Fronius Primo 10.0-1 208-240 1 / 2 10,000 W 100 A
Fronius Primo 11.4-1 208-240 1 / 2 11,400 W 100 A
Fronius Primo 12.5-1 208-240 1 / 2 12,500 W 100 A
Fronius Primo 15.0-1 208-240 1 / 2 15,000 W 100 A
IΔN≥100 mA
NOTE! A residual current circuit breaker for the AC connecting cable may be re-
quired depending on local regulations, the power supply company as well as oth-
er conditions. A type A residual current circuit breaker with a trip current of at least
100 mA is generally sufficient in this case. Nevertheless, false alarms can be trig-
gered for the type A residual current circuit breaker in individual cases and de-
pending on local conditions.
For this reason, Fronius recommends that you use a residual current circuit
breaker suitable for a frequency converter.

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Notes on DC Connection
General Informa-
tion about Solar
Modules
In order to select suitable solar modules and get the most efficient use out of the inverter,
please note the following points:
- The open circuit voltage of the solar modules increases as the temperature decreases
(assuming constant irradiance).
- Note the temperature coefficients in the solar module data sheet.
- More exact data for sizing the solar modules can be obtained using calculation tools
such as the Fronius Configuration Tool (available at http://www.solarweb.com).
- See NEC table 690.7 for the appropriate code-related voltage adjustment factor for
crystalline silicon modules, or use the manufacturer’s specified voltage coefficient.
Inverter DC Con-
nection
The inverter is designed exclusively to be
connected and used with nongrounded so-
lar modules.
The solar modules cannot be grounded at
either the positive or negative pole.
IMPORTANT! Check the polarity and voltage of the solar module strings.
If DC cables are laid over the shaft of the
DC main switch, or across the DC main
switch connection block, they could be da-
maged when the inverter swivels in, or the
inverter could be prevented from swiveling
in.
IMPORTANT! Do not lay the DC cable over
the DC main switch or across the DC main
switch connection block.
Multi MPP Track-
er Inverter – Fro-
nius Primo 3.0–
8.2
Multi MPP Tracker inverters have 2 independent DC inputs (MPP Tracker). These inputs
can be connected to a number of different modules.
Each MPP Tracker has 2 DC+ terminals. There are a total of 4 DC- terminals.
NOTE! Before connecting solar modules, make sure that the voltage specified by
the manufacturer corresponds to the actual measured voltage.
Note the safety instructions and specifications of the solar module manufacturer
regarding solar module grounding.