SMA SUNNY MINI CENTRAL 4600A User manual

SMC46-60A-BA-BEN114230 | TBEN-SMC46-60A | Version 3.0
EN
PV inverter
SUNNY MINI CENTRAL 4600A/5000A/6000A
User Manual

SMA Solar Technology AG Table of Contents
User Manual SMC46-60A-BA-BEN114230 3
Table of Contents
1 Information on this Manual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.1 Validity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.2 Target group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.3 Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.4 Symbols Used . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.1 Intended Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.2 Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.3 Explanation of Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.3.1 Symbols on the Inverter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
2.3.2 Symbols on the Type Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3 Product Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4 Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.1 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.2 Display Messages during Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.3 Display Messages during a Disturbance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
4.4 DC overvoltage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5 LED signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
6 Visual Inspection, Maintenance and Cleaning . . . . . . . . 16
7 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
7.1 Status Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
7.2 Measurement Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
8 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
9 Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Table of Contents SMA Solar Technology AG
4 SMC46-60A-BA-BEN114230 User Manual

SMA Solar Technology AG Information on this Manual
User Manual SMC46-60A-BA-BEN114230 5
1 Information on this Manual
1.1 Validity
This manual covers the following devices:
• SMC 4600A
• SMC 5000A
• SMC 6000A
• SMC 4600A‑11
• SMC 5000A‑11
• SMC 6000A‑11
• SMC 5000A‑IT
• SMC 6000A‑IT
1.2 Target group
This manual is for the operator.
1.3 Additional Information
You will find additional information on the device‑specific technical data in the installation manual
provided.
You will find additional information on special subjects (e.g. description of the operating parameters)
in the download area at www.SMA.de/en.

Information on this Manual SMA Solar Technology AG
6 SMC46-60A-BA-BEN114230 User Manual
1.4 Symbols Used
The following types of safety instructions and general information are used in this manual:
DANGER!
DANGER indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or
serious injury.
WARNING!
WARNING indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or
serious injury.
CAUTION!
CAUTION indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor or
moderate injury.
NOTICE!
NOTICE indicates a situation that can result in property damage if not avoided.
Information
Information provides tips that are valuable for the optimal installation and operation of the
product.

SMA Solar Technology AG Safety
User Manual SMC46-60A-BA-BEN114230 7
2 Safety
2.1 Intended Use
The Sunny Mini Central is a PV inverter, which converts the direct current of the PV array to
grid‑compliant alternating current and feeds it into the power distribution grid.
Operating Principle of a PV Plant with Sunny Mini Central
The Sunny Mini Central is suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
The Sunny Mini Central may only be operated with PV arrays (PV modules and cabling) of protection
class II. Do not connect any energy sources other than PV modules to the Sunny Mini Central.
Do not use the Sunny Mini Central for purposes other than those described here. Alternative uses,
modifications to the Sunny Mini Central or the installation of components not expressly recommended
or sold by SMA Solar Technology AG void the warranty claims and operation permission. Contact
the SMA Service Line if you need clarification regarding the intended use of the inverter.
This manual is a part of the Sunny Mini Central. Observe all of the activities described in this
document. Keep this manual in a convenient place for future reference.

Safety SMA Solar Technology AG
8 SMC46-60A-BA-BEN114230 User Manual
2.2 Safety Instructions
DANGER!
Electric shock caused by high voltage in the inverter.
Even when no external voltage is present, there can still be high voltages in the inverter.
The following work should only be carried out by a trained electrically skilled person:
• Electrical installation
• Repair
• Modification
CAUTION!
Risk of burns through contact with the enclosure during operation.
• Only touch the enclosure lid and display during operation.
NOTICE!
Damage to the inverter through overvoltage, if the yellow LED flashes 4 times.
• Inform your installer immediately if the yellow LED
should start flashing and the following display
message appears.
!PV-Overvoltage!
!DISCONNECT DC!

SMA Solar Technology AG Safety
User Manual SMC46-60A-BA-BEN114230 9
2.3 Explanation of Symbols
2.3.1 Symbols on the Inverter
* This function is valid from firmware version 2.15.
** QR‑Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.
Symbol Explanation
Operation display.
Ground fault or varistor defective. Inform your installer.
An error has occurred. Inform your installer immediately.
You can operate the display by tapping the enclosure lid.
• Tapping once: The background light switches on or the display scrolls
one message further.
• 2 taps in quick succession*: The inverter shows the device type, the
firmware version and the configured standard
(see section 4.2"Display Messages during Operation" (page12)).
QR‑Code®** for SMA bonus program
You will find information on the SMA bonus program at
www.SMA‑Bonus.com.

Safety SMA Solar Technology AG
10 SMC46-60A-BA-BEN114230 User Manual
2.3.2 Symbols on the Type Label
Symbol Explanation
Beware of hazardous voltage.
The inverter operates at high voltages. All work on the inverter may only be
carried out by an electrically qualified person.
Beware of hot surface.
The inverter can become hot during operation. Avoid contact during
operation.
Observe all documentation that accompanies the inverter.
The inverter must not be disposed of together with the household waste.
Further disposal information can be found in the enclosed installation
manual.
CE mark.
The inverter complies with the requirements of the applicable
EC guidelines.
The inverter has a transformer.
Direct current (DC).
Alternating current (AC).
Degree of protection IP65
The inverter is protected against dust intrusion and water jets from any
angle.
RAL quality mark for solar products
The inverter complies with the requirements of the German Institute for
Quality Assurance and Labeling.

SMA Solar Technology AG Product Overview
User Manual SMC46-60A-BA-BEN114230 11
3 Product Overview
Position Designation
ADisplay
BEnclosure lid
CLEDs
Green LED = Operation
Red LED = Ground fault or varistor defective
Yellow LED = Fault
D Ventilation grid
E Type label for the identification of the inverter via the serial number (Serial No.)

Display SMA Solar Technology AG
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4 Display
4.1 Operation
The display shows the current values of your plant. The displayed values are updated every
5 seconds.
You can operate the display by tapping the enclosure lid.
Single tap:
The background illumination switches on or the display scrolls one message further.
2 taps in quick succession (valid from firmware version 2.15):
The inverter displays the device type, the firmware version, the configured country setting one after
the other, and the configuration of the SMA Power Balancer.
4.2 Display Messages during Operation
After commissioning, the inverter displays the device type, the firmware version, the configured
country standard one after the other, and the configuration of the SMA Power Balancer. If you want
to view the display messages of the startup phase again while in normal operation, double tap the
enclosure lid (from firmware version 2.15).
Display message Description
Inverter device type
Firmware version of internal processors
Configured country standard of inverter
(example: "GER/VDE0126‑1‑1")
Configuration of the SMA Power Balancer
(Example: "PowerGuard")
SMC xxx
Wrxxx
PowerBalancer
PowerGuard

SMA Solar Technology AG Display
User Manual SMC46-60A-BA-BEN114230 13
Upon error‑free connection of the inverter to the power distribution grid, after approximately
1 minute, the display starts alternating between the messages shown below. Each message appears
for 5 seconds, and then the cycle restarts from the beginning.
4.3 Display Messages during a Disturbance
In the event of a disturbance, the inverter displays the status "Disturbance" and an error message.
Inform your installer.
4.4 DC overvoltage
Display message Description
Energy generated on the current day
Status message "MPP"
Current feed‑in power
Voltage of the PV array
After a further 5 seconds or after tapping the actual
values of the reactive power Qac and of the
displacement power factor cos φ (PF) are displayed.
Total amount of energy fed in
Total number of operating hours in feed‑in operation
Display message Description
Energy generated on the current day
Status message "Disturbance"
Operating state
Error message
Measured value at the time of the disturbance
Current measured value (only displayed if a
measured value is responsible for the disturbance)
Display message Description
The DC input voltage is too high at the inverter.
Inform your installer immediately!
E-today 0Wh
Mode MPP
E-today 0Wh
Mode Distur ance
Distur ance
Vac-Bfr
!PV-Overvoltage!
!DISCONNECT DC!

LED signals SMA Solar Technology AG
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5 LED signals
Status Description
All LEDs are on The inverter is initializing.
All LEDs are off The DC input voltage at the inverter is too low for feed‑in.
All LEDs
flashing
The inverter is in the start phase.
Green LED on The inverter is feeding in to the power distribution grid.

SMA Solar Technology AG LED signals
User Manual SMC46-60A-BA-BEN114230 15
Green LED
flashing
This blinking can be caused by:
• The inverter is monitoring the power distribution grid
and is waiting for the DC voltage to reach a defined
limit so that it can begin feeding the grid.
• Operation interrupted.
• Power limitation in the inverter.
Red LED on A ground fault has occurred or one of the thermally
monitored varistors on the DC input side is defective.
Inform your installer.
Yellow LED on The inverter is in the operating state "Dauerhafte
Betriebshemmung" (Permanent Shutdown).
This can have several causes. Inform your installer.
Yellow LED
flashing
The inverter displays a disturbance.
This can have several causes. Inform your installer.
Status Description

Visual Inspection, Maintenance and Cleaning SMA Solar Technology AG
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6 Visual Inspection, Maintenance and Cleaning
Visual inspection
Check the inverter and cables for any visible signs of external damage. Contact your installer if you
find any damage. Do not perform any repair work yourself.
Maintenance and cleaning
Ask your installer to check for correct inverter operation at regular intervals.
If the inverter is dirty and the visibility of the operating data and operating states of the inverter is only
limited, clean the enclosure lid, the display and the LEDs with a damp cloth. Do not use any corrosive
substances (e.g. solvents, abrasives) for cleaning.

SMA Solar Technology AG Troubleshooting
User Manual SMC46-60A-BA-BEN114230 17
7 Troubleshooting
7.1 Status Messages
Your inverter can be in various operating states. These are displayed as status messages, which can
vary according to the type of communication.
Message Description
Balanced The inverter has disconnected from the power distribution grid or
is limiting its power over a 10 minute average to 4.6 kVA
(in Italy: 6 kVA). The inverter is a part of a 3 phase system with
2 further inverters and equipped with the SMA Power Balancer for
the avoidance of unbalanced loads.
Derating Overtemperature in the inverter. The inverter reduces its output to
prevent overheating. To avoid unnecessary yield penalties, the
design of the PV plant should be checked. Inform your installer.
Error An error has been detected. Inform your installer.
MPP The inverter is operating in MPP mode. MPP is the standard display
message when operating under normal radiation conditions.
MPP Peak The inverter is operating in MPP mode above its nominal power.
Mpp‑Search The inverter is calculating the MPP.
grid mon. Grid monitoring
This display appears during the start phase, before the inverter is
connected to the power distribution grid, predominantly in the
morning and evening when radiation is too low and after an error.
Off Grid The inverter is in "Island" mode. This mode is specially designed for
operation in an off‑grid system.
OFFSET Offset adjustment of the measurement electronics.
Riso Measurement of the insulation resistance of the PV plant.
Disturbance, disturbance Disturbance.
This message appears for safety reasons and ensures that the
inverter does not connect to the power distribution grid.
Inform your installer.
Stop Operation interrupted.
V‑Const Constant voltage operation.
Waiting The conditions for connecting are not (yet) fulfilled.

Troubleshooting SMA Solar Technology AG
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7.2 Measurement Channels
If your inverter is equipped with a communication product, then numerous measuring channels and
messages can be transmitted for diagnostics.
* Included from firmware version 2.15
Measurement channel Description
Balancer Displays the current operating mode of the inverter that is set to the
operating parameter "PowerBalancer".
E‑Total Total amount of energy fed in
Event‑Cnt Number of events that have occurred
Fac Power frequency
Error Identification of the actual disturbance/error
h‑On Total operating hours
h‑total Total number of operating hours in feed‑in operation
Iac Grid current
Ipv Direct current
Is* Apparent current
Power On Total number of grid connections
Pac Generated AC power
Phase The phase to which the inverter is connected.
PF* Displacement power factor cos φ
Qac Reactive power
Riso Insulation resistance of the PV plant before entering into the
power distribution grid.
Sac* Apparent power
Serial Number inverter serial number
Status Display of the current operating state
Vac Grid voltage
Vpv PV input voltage
Vpv‑Setpoint PV setpoint voltage

SMA Solar Technology AG Glossary
User Manual SMC46-60A-BA-BEN114230 19
8 Glossary
AC
Abbreviation for "alternating current."
DC
Abbreviation for "direct current."
Derating
A controlled reduction in performance, usually dependent on component temperatures.
Electronic Solar Switch (ESS)
The Electronic Solar Switch is part of the inverter DC disconnection unit. The Electronic Solar Switch
must be securely inserted into the bottom of the inverter and may only be removed by an electrically
qualified person.
MPP (Maximum Power Point)
Operating point of the inverter from current / voltage of the PV array. The actual position of the
MPP changes constantly, depending on the level of radiation and cell temperature.
PV
Abbreviation for photovoltaics.
SMA Power Balancer
The SMA Power Balancer is a serial feature of the Sunny Mini Central. The SMA Power Balancer
prevents the formation of an unbalanced load > 4.6 kVA (in Italy > 6 kVA) during three‑phase grid
feed‑in. To this effect, 3 Sunny Mini Centrals are connected via a control line to a 3‑phase feed‑in unit.
Unbalanced load
The unbalanced load is the difference between the power fed into the grid at the individual line
conductors. In Germany, this must not exceed 4.6 kVA. In Italy, the unbalanced load is restricted to
6kVA.
Varistor
The varistors protect the electronics in the inverter from atmospherically coupled energy peaks, such
as those that can occur when lightning strikes nearby.

Contact SMA Solar Technology AG
20 SMC46-60A-BA-BEN114230 User Manual
9 Contact
If you have technical problems, first contact your installer. The following information is required in
order to provide you with the necessary assistance:
•Inverter device type
• inverter serial number
• Type and number of connected PV modules
• Blink code or display message of the inverter
• Optional equipment (e.g. communication products)
SMA Solar Technology AG
Sonnenallee 1
34266 Niestetal, Germany
www.SMA.de
SMA Service Line
Inverters: [phone]
Communication: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E‑Mail: [email protected]