SMA CLUSTER CONTROLLER User manual

ClusterController-IA-en-10 | Version 1.0
EN
Device for Monitoring and Controlling SMA Inverters in
Decentralised Large-Scale PV Plants
SMA CLUSTER CONTROLLER
Installation Manual

SMA Solar Technology AG Table of Contents
Installation Manual ClusterController-IA-en-10 3
Table of Contents
1 Information on this Document. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.1 Intended Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.2 Qualifications of Skilled Persons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.3 Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3 Scope of Delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4 Product Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.1 Cluster Controller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.2 Type Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.3 LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.4 Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.5 Button Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4.6 System Requirements of the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5 Assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.1 Selecting the Mounting Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.2 Mounting the Cluster Controller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6 Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.1 Overview of the Connection Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.2 Functions of the Terminals and Terminal Blocks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6.3 Cable Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
6.4 Performing Pin Coding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.5 Preparing Connection Cables for Connection to a Multipole Plug . . 30
6.6 Connecting the Cluster Controller to a Speedwire Network . . . . . . . 32
6.7 Connecting the Cluster Controller to a Local Area Network (LAN). . 34
6.8 Setting Up a Modbus Data Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
6.9 Connecting USB Data Carriers to the Cluster Controller . . . . . . . . . . 35

Table of Contents SMA Solar Technology AG
4 ClusterController-IA-en-10 Installation Manual
6.10 Connecting Sensors to the Cluster Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
6.10.1 Connecting the Irradiation Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
6.10.2 Connecting the Temperature Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
6.10.3 Connecting Additional Sensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
6.11 Connections for Grid Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
6.11.1 Options for Implementing the Network Operator Setpoints . . . . . . 45
6.11.2 Digital Signal Setpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
6.11.2.1 Connecting the Signal Source to the Digital Input
for the Active Power Limitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
6.11.2.2 Connecting the Signal Source to the Digital Input
for the Reactive Power Setpoint. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
6.11.3 Analogue Signal Setpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
6.11.3.1 Connecting the Signal Source to the Analogue Input
for the Active Power Limitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
6.11.3.2 Connecting the Signal Source to the Analogue Input
for the Reactive Power Setpoint. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
6.11.4 Setpoint via Modbus Client . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
6.11.5 Connecting the Remote Terminal for Feedback of
Network Operator Setpoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
6.12 Using Fault Indication Relays. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
6.13 Connecting the Cluster Controller to the Voltage Supply . . . . . . . . . 58
6.14 Checking the Connections via the Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
6.15 Performing Configuration for a Static Local Network (LAN) . . . . . . . 64
7 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
7.1 LED States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
7.1.1 Operation LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
7.1.2 LEDs of the Network Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
7.2 Faults in the Cluster Controller or the Connected Devices. . . . . . . . . 70
7.3 Resetting the Cluster Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
8 Decommissioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
8.1 Disassembling the Cluster Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
8.2 Disposing of the Cluster Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

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Installation Manual ClusterController-IA-en-10 5
9 Technical Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
10 Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
11 Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

1 Information on this Document SMA Solar Technology AG
6 ClusterController-IA-en-10 Installation Manual
1 Information on this Document
Validity
This document is applicable for the device type "CLCON-10.GR1" from hardware version A1 and
from firmware version 1.0.
Target Group
This document is intended for skilled persons. Only qualified personnel are allowed to perform the
tasks described in this manual (see Section2.2 "Qualifications of Skilled Persons", page10).
Symbols
Typographies
Symbol Explanation
%"/(&3
Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death
or serious injury
8"3/*/(
Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death
or serious injury
$"65*0/
Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor
or moderate injury
/05*$&
Indicates a situation which, if not avoided, could result in property damage
Information that is important for a specific topic or goal, but is not
safety-relevant
☐ Indicates an essential requirement for achieving a specific goal
☑ Desired result
✖ A problem that might occur
Typography Use Example
bold •Display messages
• Elements of a user interface
• Connections
•Elements to be selected
• Elements to be entered
• The value can be read
from the Energy field.
• Select Settings.
•Enter the value 10 in the
Minutes field.
>• Connects several element0s that
are to be selected
• Select Settings > Date.
[Button/Key] • Button or key to be selected or
pressed
• Select [Next].

SMA Solar Technology AG 1 Information on this Document
Installation Manual ClusterController-IA-en-10 7
Nomenclature
Abbreviations
Complete designation Designation in this document
Large-scale PV plant Plant
PV inverter Inverter
SMA Cluster Controller Cluster Controller
Abbreviation Designation Explanation
CO Change Over Relay change-over contact
DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Protocol for the dynamic assignment of IP
configurations
FTP File Transfer Protocol Network protocol for data transmission
LED Light-Emitting Diode ‒
MSL Mean Sea Level ‒
NC Normally Closed Rest contact of the relay
NO Normally Open Operating contact of the relay
PV Photovoltaics ‒
TCP Transmission Control Protocol Transport protocol for packet-switching in
connection-oriented networks
USB Universal Serial Bus Serial bus system

2 Safety SMA Solar Technology AG
8 ClusterController-IA-en-10 Installation Manual
2 Safety
2.1 Intended Use
The Cluster Controller is a device for monitoring and controlling up to 75 SMA inverters in
decentralised large-scale PV plants. For this purpose, the Cluster Controller performs the following
essential tasks:
• Reading out, provision and administration of plant data
• Configuring device parameters
• Sending e-mail alerts in the event of critical plant statuses
• Implementation and feedback of network operator setpoints for active power limitation and
reactive power under grid management
• Sending the plant data to an FTP server and/or the Sunny Portal Internet portal
• Performing updates for the Cluster Controller and the inverters
The Cluster Controller is an ITE Class A device according to EN 55022 and is designed for industrial
use.
The Cluster Controller is suitable for indoor use only.
The Cluster Controller must only be used with supported devices.
For safety reasons, it is not permitted to modify the product or install components that are not explicitly
recommended or distributed by SMA Solar Technology AG for this product.
The enclosed documentation is an integral part of this product:
• Read and observe the documentation.
• Keep the documentation in a convenient place for future reference.
Only use the Cluster Controller in accordance with the information provided in the enclosed
documentation. Any other use may result in personal injury or property damage.

SMA Solar Technology AG 2 Safety
Installation Manual ClusterController-IA-en-10 9
Supported Products
SMA products
The Cluster Controller can establish a connection to and display data on the following SMA
products that are equipped with Speedwire communication:
Inverters:
• All inverters with integrated or retrofitted Speedwire/Webconnect interface
Information on whether an inverter has an integrated Speedwire/Webconnect interface or
can be retrofitted with a Speedwire/Webconnect interface can be found in the download
area of the respective inverter at www.SMA-Solar.com.
Additional products:
• Sunny Portal
Products from other manufacturers
Sensors:
• Irradiation sensors that can output a current signal in the range from 0 mA to 20 mA
• Temperature sensors with a PT100 measuring shunt or a PT1000 measuring shunt
• Additional sensors that can output a current signal in the range from 0 mA to 20 mA or a
voltage signal in the range from ‒10 V to +10 V
Digital and analogue signal sources:
• Signal sources with digital relay contacts
• Signal sources that provide digital output signals
• Signal sources that can output current signals in the range from 0 mA to 20 mA
• Signal sources that can process current signals in the range from 0 mA to 20 mA
• Signal sources that can output voltage signals in the range from ‒10 V to +10 V
Routers and network switches:
• Routers and network switches for fast Ethernet with a data transfer speed of at least
100 Mbit/s
Top-hat rail power supply units:
Along with the top-hat rail power supply units offered as an accessory (see Section 10), the
Cluster Controller supports top-hat rail power supply units with the following properties:
• Maximum output current including short circuit: 8 A
• Maximum apparent output power: 100 VA
• DC output voltage: 24 V
• Nominal current: minimum 1.8 A

2 Safety SMA Solar Technology AG
10 ClusterController-IA-en-10 Installation Manual
2.2 Qualifications of Skilled Persons
The work described in this document must only be performed by skilled persons. Skilled persons must
have the following qualifications:
• Training in the installation and commissioning of electrical devices
• Training in how to deal with the dangers and risks involved in installing and operating electrical
devices and plants
• Vocational training in the installation and configuration of IT systems
• Knowledge of how an inverter works and is operated
• Knowledge of all applicable standards and directives
• Knowledge of and compliance with this document and all the safety precautions
2.3 Safety Precautions
Electric Shock
If the enclosure of the Cluster Controller is not earthed, there is a danger of electric shock.
• Earth the enclosure of the Cluster Controller (for information on connecting the protective
conductor, see Section 6.13).
Damage to the Devices and Cables
Overvoltage (e.g. due to a flash of lightning) can cause damage to devices and cables.
• Ensure that the Cluster Controller is integrated in the existing overvoltage protection.
The Cluster Controller is not splashwater-protected (degree of protection: IP20). Consequently, it is
possible that moisture may penetrate the device.
• Only use the Cluster Controller in a dry, indoor environment.