Sofar solar 3.3K-12KTL-X User manual

Shenzhen SOFARSOLAR Co., Ltd.
Solar Grid-tied Inverter
Product Model: SOFAR 3.3K-12KTL-X
User manual

SOFAR 3.3K~12KTL-X User manual
All rights reserved ©Shenzhen SOFARSOLAR Co ., Ltd.
Contents
Preface .......................................................................................................... II
1. Basic safety information .......................................................................- 1 -
1.1. Safety instructions ..................................................................... - 1 -
1.1. Symbols and signs ..................................................................... - 3 -
2. Product characteristics ..........................................................................- 5 -
2.1. Product identification ................................................................ - 5 -
2.2. Function description .................................................................. - 7 -
2.3. Protection modules .................................................................... - 8 -
3. Installation .......................................................................................... - 10 -
3.1. Installation Process ..................................................................- 10 -
3.2. Checking Before Installation ...................................................- 10 -
3.3. Tools ........................................................................................ - 12 -
3.4. Determining the Installation Position ......................................- 13 -
3.5. Installing the SOFAR 3.3K~12KTL-X ................................... - 15 -
4. Electrical Connections ........................................................................- 17 -
4.1. Electrical connection ............................................................... - 17 -
4.2. Connecting PGND Cables .......................................................- 17 -
4.3. Connecting AC Output Power Cables .....................................- 18 -
4.4. Connecting Communications Cables ...................................... - 20 -
4.5. Connecting DC Input Power Cables ........................................- 27 -
4.6. DRMs Functions ......................................................................- 32 -
4.7. Safety check .............................................................................- 33 -
5. Commissioning of inverter ................................................................. - 36 -
5.1. Safety inspection before commissioning .................................- 36 -
5.2. Start inverter ............................................................................ - 36 -
6. Operation interface ............................................................................. - 37 -
6.1. Operation and Display Panel ................................................... - 37 -
6.2. Standard Interface ....................................................................- 38 -
6.3. Main Interface ......................................................................... - 40 -
7. Trouble shooting and maintenance .....................................................- 61 -
7.1. Trouble shooting ......................................................................- 61 -
7.2. Maintenance ............................................................................ - 69 -
8. Decommissioning ............................................................................... - 70 -
8.1. Decommissioning steps ........................................................... - 70 -
8.2. Package ....................................................................................- 70 -
8.3. Storage .....................................................................................- 70 -
8.4. Disposal ................................................................................... - 70 -
9. Technical data .....................................................................................- 71 -
9.1. Input parameter (DC) .............................................................. - 71 -
9.2. Output parameter (AC) ............................................................- 72 -
9.3. Efficiency, Safety and Protection ............................................ - 73 -
9.4. General Data ............................................................................ - 74 -
10. Quality Assurance ............................................................................ - 76 -
10.1. Standard warranty period ...................................................... - 76 -
10.2. Extended warranty period ......................................................- 76 -
10.3. Invalid warranty clause ..........................................................- 77 -

SOFAR 3.3K~12KTL-X User manual
All rights reserved ©Shenzhen SOFARSOLAR Co ., Ltd.
I
Notice
This manual contains important safety instructions that must be followed
during installation and maintenance of the equipment.
Save these instructions!
This manual must be considered as an integral part of the equipment, and
must be available at all times to everyone who interacts with the equipment.
The manual must always accompany the equipment, even when it is
transferred to another user or field.
Copyright Declaration
The copyright of this manual belongs to Shenzhen SOFARSOLAR Co.,
Ltd. Any corporation or individual should not plagiarize, partially copy or
fully copy it (including software, etc.), and no reproduction or distribution
of it in any form or by any means. All rights reserved. SOLARSOFAR
reserves the right of final interpretation. This manual is subject to change
according to user’s or customer’s feedback. Please check our website at
http://www.SOFARSOLAR.com for latest version.
Shenzhen SOFARSOLAR Co., Ltd
Location: 11/F,Gaoxinqi science and technology building, district 67, XingDong
Community, XinAn Street, BaoAn District, Shenzhen, China
Postcode: 518000
Company Website: www.sofarsolar.com
Email: [e-mail]

SOFAR 3.3K~12KTL-X User manual
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II
Preface
Outline
Please read the product manual carefully before installation, operation or
maintenance. This manual contains important safety instructions and
installation instructions that must be followed during installation and
maintenance of the equipment.
Scope
This product manual describes the assembly, installation, commissioning,
and maintenance of the following inverters.
SOFAR 3.3KTL-X * ; SOFAR 4.4KTL-X ; SOFAR 5KTL-X *
[Australia] ; SOFAR 5.5KTL-X; SOFAR 6.6KTL-X; SOFAR
8.8KTL-X; SOFAR 11KTL-X; SOFAR 12KTL-X
(The models marked with“ *” should be available only for some designated
countries.)
Keep this manual where it will be accessible at all times.
Target Group
This manual is for qualified person (support person, service person are
qualified mentioned in this manual).
Symbols Used
This manual provides safety operation information and uses the symbol in
order to ensure personal and property security and use the inverter
efficiently when operating the inverter. You must understand these
emphasize information to avoid the personal injury and property loss.
Please read the following symbols which used in this manual carefully.
Danger indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
will result in death or serious injury.
Danger
Warning indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
could result in death or serious injury.
Warning
Caution indicates a hazardous situation, if not avoided, could
result in minor or moderate injury.
Caution

SOFAR 3.3K~12KTL-X User manual
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III
Attention indicates there are potential risks. If fail to prevent,
may lead to equipment cannot run normally or property
damage.
Attention
Note provides tips that are valuable for the optimal operation of
the product.
Note

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1. Basic safety information
If you have any question or problem when you read the following information,
please contact Shenzhen SOFARSOLAR Co ., Ltd .
Note
1.1. Safety instructions
Read and understand the instruction of this manual ,and be familiar with
relevant safety symbols in the paragraph, then start to install and debug the
equipment.According to the national and state requirements, before connect
the grid ,you must get power department permission, and perform the
operation only by qualified electrical engineer.Before installing and
maintaining the equipment, you should cut off the high voltage application
of PV array. You can also open the switch of Solar Array Combiner to cut
off the high voltage. Otherwise, serious injury may be caused.
Qualified persons
The customer must make sure the operator has the necessary skill and
training to do his/her job. Staff in charge of using and maintaining the
equipment must be skilled, aware and mature for the described tasks and
must have the reliability to correctly interpret what is described in the
manual. For safety reason only a qualified electrician, who has received
training and / or has demonstrated skills and knowledge in construction and
in operation of this unit, can install this inverter. Shenzhen SOFARSOLAR
Co., Ltd does not take any responsibility for the property destruction and
personal injury because of any incorrect use.
Assembly situation requirements
Please install and start inverter according to the following sections. Put the
inverter in appropriate bearing capacity objects(such as wall and
components and so on), to ensure that inverter vertical placed. Choose
suitable place for installing electrical equipment. And assure enough fire
exit space, convenience for maintenance. Maintain proper ventilation, and
ensure that have the enough air cooling cycle.
Transport requirements

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If you find packing problems that may cause the damage of the inverter, or
find any visible damage, please immediately notice the responsible
transportation company. You can ask solar equipment installation
contractor or Shenzhen SOFARSOLAR Co.Ltd for help if necessary.
Transport of the equipment, especially by road, must be carried out with by
suitable ways and means for protecting the components (in particular, the
electronic components) from violent shocks, humidity, vibration, etc.
Electric connection
Please comply with all the current electrical regulations about accident
prevention in dealing with the current inverter.
Before the electrical connection, make sure to use opaque
material to cover the PV modules or to disconnect PV array DC
switch. Exposure to the sun, PV array will produce a dangerous
voltage!
When the photovoltaic array is exposed to light, it supplies a DC
voltage to the PCE.
Danger
All installation accomplished only by professional electrical
engineer!
must be trained;
Completely read the manual operation and understand relevant
matters.
Electrical installation and maintenance shall be conducted by
qualified electrician and shall comply with national wiring rules.
Warning
Only get permission by the local power department and complete
all electrical connection by professional electrical engineer then
connect inverter into grid!
Attention
The equipment is composed of two cases. It’s forbidden to remove
the tamper evident label, and open the upper case. Otherwise
SOFARSOLAR will not provide service and maintenance.!
Note
Operation
Touching the power grid or the terminal of equipment may lead to
die of electric shock or fire!
Don’t touch the terminal or conductor which connect to the power
circuit;
Pay attention to anything about grid connection and security
document.
Danger

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Some internal components will be very hot when inverter is
working. Please wear protective gloves!
Attention
Maintenance and repair
Disconnected with the PV components array and electricity grid
before any repair work;
After turn off AC breaker and DC switch for 5 minutes later, the
maintenance or repair of the inverter can be carried out!
Danger
Inverter should work again after removing any faults. If you
need any repair work, please contact with the local authorized
service center;
Can’t open the internal components of inverter without
authorized. Shenzhen SOFARSOLAR Co., Ltd. does not take
any responsibility for the losses from that.
Attention
1.1. Symbols and signs
Safety symbols
Electromagnetic radiation from inverter may be harmful to health!
Please do not continue to stay away from the inverter in less than 20
cm when inverter is working.
Danger
Caution of burn injuries due to hot enclosure parts!
During working only can touch the display and key parts of inverter.
Caution
PV array should be connected to the ground in accordance with
requirements of local power department!
To protect system and the personnel security, we suggest that PV
array of border and inverter should be reliable grounding .
Attention
Ensure input DC voltage < Max.DC voltage .Over voltage may cause
permanent damage to inverter or other losses, which will not be
included in warranty!
Warning
Signs on the inverter
There are some symbols which are related to security on the inverter.
Please read and understand the content of the symbols, and then start the
installation.
There is residual voltage in the inverter! Before open the equipment,
operator should wait for five minutes to ensure the capacitance discharge
completely.

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Be careful of high voltage.
Be careful of high temperature.
Conformity with European.
Point of connection for grounding.
This indicates the allowed temperature range.
This indicates the degree of protection of the equipment according to IEC
standard 70-1 (EN 60529 June 1997).
Positive pole and negative pole of the input voltage (DC).
RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark)
The product complics with the requirements of the applicable
Australian standards

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2. Product characteristics
2.1. Product identification
The Sofar inverters are grid-tied inverters which convert DC current
generated by PV modules into AC current and feed it into the public grid.
Figure2-1 Interface figure
1-2 PV input terminals(DVC C) 3 WIFI or GPRS communication
port(DVC A) 4 RS485(DVC A) 5 DRMS ports(DVC A) 6 Breather
valve 7 AC Output (DVC C)
Note:DRMS ports are divided into two parts, DRM0 uses a 2-pin connection terminal block,
DRM1-DRM8 uses a 6-pin connection terminal block

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Figure2-2 Inverter front & flank & Dimensions
Intended grid types
SOFAR 3.3K~12KTL-X inverters are compatible with TN-S, TN-C,
TN-C-S, TT IT grid configurations. For the TT type of electricity grid,the
voltage between neutral and earth should be less than 30V.

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Figure2-3 Overview of the grid configurations
2.2. Function description
Function module
A. Data transmission
The inverter may be monitored remotely through an advanced
communications system based on an RS485 serial interface, or remotely via
the WIFI.
B. Energy management unit
B.1 Remote switching on/off
This control can be used to switch the inverter on/off through an external
(remote) control.
B.2 Feeding reactive power into the grid
The inverter is able to produce reactive power and can therefore feed it into
the grid through the setting of the phase shift factor. Feed-in management
can be controlled directly by the grid company through a dedicated RS485
serial interface.
B.3 Limiting the active power fed into the grid
If this function is enable, inverter can limit the amount of active power fed
into grid with required value(expressed as a percentage).
B.4 Self power reduction when grid over frequency
When the grid frequency is over limited value, inverter will reduce output

SOFAR 3.3K~12KTL-X User manual
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power which do good to the grid stability.
B.5 Power reduction due to environmental conditions, input output voltage
The power reduction value and the inverter temperature at which it occurs
depend on the ambient temperature and on many operating para-meters.
Example: input voltage, grid voltage and power available from the
photovoltaic field. The inverter can therefore reduce the power during
certain periods of the day and according to the value of these parameters.
C.Software update
SD card is used for updating the firmware.
2.3. Protection modules
A.Anti-islanding
In the event of a local grid outage by the electricity company, or when the
equipment is switched off for maintenance operations, the inverter must be
physically disconnected safely, to ensure protection of people working on
the grid, all in accordance with the relevant national standards and laws. To
prevent possible islanding, the inverter is equipped with an automatic
protective disconnection system called “Anti-Islanding”.
B.RCMU
SOFAR inverters are equipped with a redundancy on the reading of the
ground leakage current sensitive to all components of both direct and
alternating current. Measurement of the ground leakage current is carried
out at the same time and independently by 2 different processors: it is
sufficient for one of the two to detect an anomaly to trip the protection,
with consequent separation from the grid and stopping of the conversion
process.
C.Grid monitoring
Continuous monitoring of the grid voltage to ensure the voltage and
frequency values stay within operating limits.
D.Inverter internal device protection
The inverter has all kinds of internal protection to protect the device inside
when grid or input DC side have abnormal situation.

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E.Ground fault protection
This inverter must be used with panels connected with “floating”
connections, that is, with positive and negative terminals without ground
connections. An advanced ground fault protection circuit continuously
monitors the ground connection and disconnects the inverter when a ground
fault is detected . The ground fault condition is indicated by a red LED on
the front panel.

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3. Installation
3.1. Installation Process
Figure3-1 Installation flowchart
3.2. Checking Before Installation
Checking Outer Packing Materials
Packing materials and components may be damaged during transportation.
Therefore, check the outer packing materials before installing the inverter.
Checking the surface of packing materials for damage, such as holes and
cracks. If any damage is found, do not unpack the inverter and contact the
dealer as soon as possible. You are advised to remove the packing materials
within 24 hours before installing the inverter.
Checking Deliverables
After unpacking the inverter, check whether accessories are intact and
complete. If any damage is found or any component is missing, contact the
dealer.
Table3-1 shows the components and mechanical parts that should be delivered
No.
Pictures
Quantity
Description
1
1PCS
SOFAR 3.3K~12KTL-X
2
1PCS
Rear panel

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3
2PCS
DC+ input terminal
4
2PCS
DC- input terminal
5
2PCS
Metal terminals secured to DC+
input power cables
6
2PCS
Metal terminals secured to DC-
input power cables
7
3PCS
M6 Hexagon screws
8
6PCS
M8*80 Expansion bolts used to
secure the rear panel to the wall
9
1PCS
AC Output connector
10
1PCS
6pin terminal blocks
11
1PCS
Manual
12
1PCS
The warranty card
13
1PCS
Certificate

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3.3. Tools
Prepare tools required for installation and electrical connections.
Table3-2 Shows the components and mechanical parts that should be delivered
Tool
Model
Function
Hammer drill
With a drill bit of
Φ8.0
Used to drill holes on the wall
R 45 crimping tool
N/A
Used to prepare RJ45 connectors for
Communications cables
Adjustable wrench
With an open end of
larger than or greater
than 32 mm
Used to tighten expansion bolts
Flat-head screwdriver
M4
Used to tighten or loosen screws when
installing AC power cables.
Used to remove AC connectors from
the SOFAR 3.3K~12KTL-X.
Note: The torque screwdriver and
flat-head screwdriver are alternative.
Socket wrench
M5
Used totighten ground bolt
Rubber mallet
N/A
Used to hammer expansion bolts into
holes
Removal tool
N/A
Used to remove DC connectors from the
SOFAR 3.3K~12KTL-X
Diagonal pliers
N/A
Used to cut and tighten cable ties
Wire stripper
N/A
Used to peel cable jackets
RJ45
2PCS
Cable cutter
N/A
Used to cut power cables
Hexagon socket
Diameter 2.0mm
Diameter 5.0mm
Hexagon socket use to uninstall and
install the front top cover and down

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cover.
Crimping tools
N/A
Used to crimp power cables
Vacuum cleaner
N/A
Used to clean up dusts after drilling holes
Multimeter
N/A
Used to check grounding
Marker
N/A
Used to mark signs
Measuring tape
N/A
Used to measure distances
Level
N/A
Used to ensure that the rear panel is
properly installed
ESD gloves
N/A
Operators wear ESD gloves when
installing equipment.
Safety goggles
N/A
Punch operator wearing
Anti-dust respirator
N/A
Punch operator wearing
3.4. Determining the Installation Position
Determine an appropriate position for installing the SOFAR
3.3K~12KTL-X.
Comply with the following requirements when determining the installation
position:

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Figure 3-2 Installation position requirements
Minimum installation distance for SOFAR 3.3K~12KTL-X

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Figure 3-3 Many Sofar 3.3K~12KTL-X installation
3.5. Installing the SOFAR 3.3K~12KTL-X
Step 1 To determine the position for drilling holes, level hole positions, and
then mark the hole position by using a marker, use the hammer drill to drill
hole on the wall. Keeping the hammer perpendicular to the wall, do not
shake when drilling, so as not to damage the walls. If the aperture errors,
need to reposition.
Step 2 The expansion screw is vertically inserted into the hole, pay
attention to expanding screw insertion depth (not too shallow).
Step 3 Putting the rear panel on the wall, the rear panel is fixed by the nuts.
Step 4 Putting the SOFAR 3.3K~12KTL-X hook on the rear panel.
Step 5 Using an M6 screw back and inverter bottom fastening, to ensure
safety.
Step 6 Putting the rear panel and inverter to lock together, In order to
ensure the safety (the user can select lock according to the actual situation).