FRO­NIUS Primo 3.8-1 208-240 User manual

Installation
Instructions
Fronius Primo 208-240:
3.8-1 / 5.0-1 / 6.0-1
7.6-1 / 8.2-1
10.0-1 / 11.4-1
12.5-1 / 15.0-1
42,0426,0197,EA 017-10082022
EN-US Installation instructions

Table of contents
Safety 5
Explanation of Safety Instructions 5
General 5
Electrical installations 5
Safety 6
Intended Use 7
Installation location and position 8
Selecting a location 8
Installation position 10
Selecting a location – general information for Fronius Primo 3.8 - 8.2 11
Selecting a location – general information for Fronius Primo 10.0 - 15.0 11
Example: Installation of several inverters 12
Preparation 13
Attaching the Mounting Bracket 15
Safety 15
Selecting Dowels and Screws 15
Screw recommendation 15
Opening the inverter 16
Installing the mounting bracket on a brick or concrete wall 16
Fitting the mounting bracket to a timber wall 17
Do not warp or deform the mounting bracket 17
Attaching the mounting bracket to a metal carrier 18
Installing the inverter on a mast 18
Notes on the Knockouts 19
Safety 19
General 19
Knocking or drilling out knockouts 19
AC~ 21
Suitable Grids 23
Suitable Grids 23
Connecting the inverter to the public grid (AC side) 25
Safety 25
Permitted cables 26
Preparing Aluminum Cables for Connection 27
Monitoring the grid 27
Notes on grid connection 28
AC Connection 28
Maximum AC fuse protection 29
Additional external AC and/or DC disconnect 30
DC= 31
Notes on DC Connection 33
Safety 33
General Information about Solar Modules 35
String Fuses 35
Inverter DC Connection 36
Multi MPP Tracker inverter – Fronius Primo 3.0–8.2 36
Multi MPP Tracker Inverter – Fronius Primo 10.0–15.0 38
Notes on Laying Data Communication Cables 39
Laying Data Communication Cables 39
Notes on Clipping the Inverter into the Wall Bracket 40
Clipping the Inverter onto the Wall Bracket 40
Notes on Anti-theft device 41
Anti-Theft Device 41
Notes on Software Updates 43
Notes on Software Updates 43
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EN-US

USB Stick as a Data Logger and for Updating Inverter Software 44
USB Flash Drive as a Data Logger 44
Data on the USB stick 44
Data Amount and Memory Capacity 45
Buffer Memory 46
Suitable USB Thumb Drives 46
USB Stick for Updating Inverter Software 47
Removing the USB Stick 47
Notes on Maintenance 48
Maintenance 48
Cleaning 48
Serial Number Sticker for Customer Use 49
Serial number sticker for customer use 49
4

Safety
Explanation of
Safety Instruc-
tions
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.
General This manual contains important instructions for the inverter that must be fol-
lowed during installation and maintenance of the inverter.
The inverter is designed and tested according to international safety require-
ments. Due to its electrical and electronic components, certain precautions must
be taken when installing and operating the inverter.
In order to reduce the risk of injury to persons and to ensure safe installation and
operation of the inverter, be sure to read these Operating Instructions carefully
and follow all instructions and safety instructions.
Failure to observe the Operating Instructions and safety instructions can void
the warranty and/or cause damage to the inverters or other property damage!
Electrical in-
stallations
All electrical installations must be carried out in accordance with the National
Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70, and any other codes and regulations applicable
to the installation site.
For installations in Canada, the installations must be done in accordance with
applicable Canadian standards.
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EN-US

Safety WARNING!
Danger from incorrect operation and work that is not carried out properly.
This can result in severe personal injury and damage to property.
▶Only qualified personnel are authorized to commission your inverter and only
within the scope of the respective technical regulations.
▶Read the Installation Instructions and Operating Instructions before in-
stalling and commissioning the equipment.
WARNING!
Danger due to a ground fault. A normally grounded conductor can become un-
grounded and live due to a ground fault.
An electric shock can be fatal.
▶A ground fault must be repaired before operation is resumed.
WARNING!
Danger of DC voltage from solar modules. When solar modules are grounded,
the inverter's insulation monitoring is deactivated.
An electric shock can be fatal.
▶Ensure that grounded solar modules are double insulated according to
Safety Class II.
▶Attach corresponding safety labels to the photovoltaic system where they
can be seen easily.
▶Set the inverter so that an error message is displayed if the fuse trips.
Fire prevention
CAUTION!
Danger from faulty or incorrect installations.
They may result in damage to inverters and other current-carrying components
of a photovoltaic system.
Faulty or improper installation may cause overheating of cables and terminals as
well as the formation of arcs. This could cause thermal damage, which in turn
may lead to fires.
Please note the following when connecting the AC and DC cables:
▶Securely tighten all terminals using the proper torque listed in the Operating
Instructions
▶Securely tighten all grounding terminals (PE/GND) using the proper torque
listed in the Operating Instructions, even for free grounding terminals
▶Do not overload cables
▶Check cables for damage and correct wiring
▶Follow all Safety Instructions, Operating Instructions, and any local connec-
tion regulations
▶Always secure the inverter to the mounting bracket with fixing screws using
the torque specified in the Operating Instructions.
▶Only start up the inverter with the fixing screws tightened.
NOTE!
Follow general ESD guidelines when handling option cards.
6

NOTE!
Fronius will not bear any costs for production downtimes, or for installations,
etc., which may arise due to a detected electric arc and its consequences.
Fronius accepts no liability for fires which may break out despite integrated arc
detection/interruption (e.g., due to a parallel arc).
NOTE!
Before an inverter can be reset following a detected electric arc, check the en-
tire affected photovoltaic system for any damage.
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 no-
tices 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 sys-
tem components are operating completely within their permitted operating
range.
All measures recommended by the solar module manufacturer for maintaining
solar module properties must be followed.
Utility company regulations regarding grid power feed must be followed.
7
EN-US

Installation location and position
Selecting a loca-
tion
Please observe the following criteria when choosing a location for the inverter:
The inverter is suitable for indoor installation.
The inverter is suitable for outdoor installation.
Because of its NEMA4X protection class, the inverter is not sus-
ceptible to hose water on any side and can also be operated in
moist environments.
In order to keep inverter heating as low as possible, do not expose
the inverter to direct sunlight. 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
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
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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).
NH3
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 operating phases the inverter may produce a slight
noise. For this reason it should not be installed in an occupied liv-
ing area.
Do not install the inverter in:
-Areas where there is an increased risk of accidents 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 dust-proof 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 removed regularly. We therefore recommend not in-
stalling the inverter in areas and environments with high dust ac-
cumulation.
Do not install the inverter in:
-Greenhouses
-Storage or processing areas for fruit, vegetables, or viticulture
products
-Areas used in the preparation of grain, green fodder, or animal
feeds
9
EN-US

Installation posi-
tion
The inverter is suitable for vertical installation on a vertical wall or
column.
The inverter is suitable for a horizontal installation position.
The inverter is suitable for installation on a sloping surface.
Do not install the inverter on a sloping surface with the connec-
tions upwards.
Do not install the inverter in a sloping position on a vertical wall or
column.
Do not install the inverter in a horizontal position on a vertical
wall or column.
Do not install the inverter with the connections upwards on a ver-
tical wall or column.
Do not install the inverter overhanging with the connections up-
wards.
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Do not install the inverter overhanging with the connections
downwards.
Do not install the inverter on the ceiling.
Selecting a loca-
tion – general in-
formation for
Fronius Primo
3.8 - 8.2
Please observe the following criteria when choosing a location for the inverter:
Only install on a solid, non-flammable 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
temperature of 70°C.
When installing the inverter in a switch cabinet or similar closed environment, it
is necessary 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 import-
ant to maintain 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 acids.
Selecting a loca-
tion – general in-
formation for
Fronius Primo
10.0 - 15.0
Please observe the following criteria when choosing a location for the inverter:
Only install on a solid, non-flammable surface
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EN-US

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 outflow at the
top).
When installing the inverter in a switch cabinet or similar closed environment, it
is necessary 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 import-
ant to maintain 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 acids.
Example: Install-
ation of several
inverters
12

Preparation
13

14

Attaching the Mounting Bracket
Safety WARNING!
Danger of residual voltage from capacitors.
An electric shock can be fatal.
▶Wait until the capacitors have discharged. Discharge takes 3 minutes.
WARNING!
Danger due to insufficient ground conductor connection.
This can result in severe personal injury and damage to property.
▶The housing screws provide an adequate ground conductor connection for
grounding the housing and should not be replaced under any circumstances
by other screws that do not provide a reliable ground conductor connection.
CAUTION!
Danger due to soiling or water on the terminals and contacts in the connection
area.
The inverter may be damaged.
▶When drilling, make sure that terminals and contacts in the connection area
do not become soiled or wet.
▶The mounting bracket without integrated inverter does not correspond to the
degree of protection according to the data sheet. For this reason do not
leave the mounting bracket exposed to environmental influences without the
inserted inverter.
▶Protect the mounting bracket from soiling and moisture during installation.
NOTE!
Protection class NEMA4X is only ensured when the inverter is mounted and
firmly screwed into the wall bracket.
The mounting bracket without inverter has no NEMA protection.
Selecting Dowels
and Screws
Important! Depending on the surface, different mounting materials may be re-
quired for installing the mounting bracket. These mounting materials are not part
of the scope of delivery for the inverter. The installer is responsible for selecting
the proper mounting materials.
Screw recom-
mendation
For the installation of the inverter we recommend steel or aluminum screws with
a diameter of 0.2–0.3 in. (6–8 mm).
15
EN-US

Opening the in-
verter
1 2
Installing the
mounting brack-
et on a brick or
concrete wall
1 2
3
16

Fitting the
mounting brack-
et to a timber
wall
1
Do not warp or
deform the
mounting brack-
et
When attaching the wall bracket to the wall or to a column, make sure that the
wall bracket is not warped or deformed.
17
EN-US

Attaching the
mounting brack-
et to a metal car-
rier
NOTE!
When mounted on metal supports, the inverter must not be exposed to rainwa-
ter or splashing water from the rear.
Provide suitable rainwater protection or splash water protection.
The mounting bracket must be secured in at least four places.
1
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 "Pole clamp" (order no.
SZ 2584.000) mast mounting kit from
Rittal GmbH.
With the kit, the inverter can be moun-
ted on a round or rectangular mast
with the following diameter: Æ from 40
to 190 mm (round mast)
ÿfrom 50 to 150 mm (rectangular
mast)
18

Notes on the Knockouts
Safety 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.
NOTE!
When using the cable inlets at the back, take care to seal them according to pro-
tection class NEMA4X before operating outdoors.
NOTE!
When installing outdoors, only use waterproof conduit fittings and conduits.
Conduit fittings and conduits are not part of the scope of supply for the inverter.
General The wall bracket contains several knockouts of different sizes. When knocked
out, the openings are used for feeding in the various cables:
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 Primo 10.0-15.0:
3/4 in. -
1 1/4 in.
for AC and DC cables
* A grounding electrode terminal (GET) may be required depending
on local regulations.
The cable for the grounding electrode terminal can be fed through
the designated opening on the underside of the wall bracket.
IMPORTANT! The knockouts on the rear of the wall bracket are made of metal.
Knocking or
drilling 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.
19
EN-US

Use suitable eye protection when knocking/drilling out the
knockouts.
Only knock out knockouts using a hammer or screwdriver from
the inside 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 in-
wards.
When drilling out using a step drill, ensure that the DC discon-
nector and the AC/DC connection block are not damaged.
*
When drilling out the knockouts at the back, place the mount-
ing bracket on an even surface with the back upwards so that
shavings and pieces of metal can fall out of the mounting
bracket.
Attach appropriate conduits to all knocked/drilled out knock-
outs.
In the event of installation outside, only use watertight con-
duits and conduit fittings.
Conduits and conduit fittings are not included with the invert-
er.
20