Sungrow PVS-8M User manual

PVS-8_12_16M-V5-UEN-Ver10-201909
User Manual
PVS-8M/12M/16M
PV Array Combiner Box

Contents
1About This Manual..............................................................1
1.1 Validity.......................................................................................1
1.2 Contents....................................................................................1
1.3 Target Readers..........................................................................1
1.4 How to Use this Manual ............................................................2
1.5 Others .......................................................................................2
1.6 Symbol Explanation...................................................................2
1.7 Figures Explanation...................................................................3
2Safety Instructions..............................................................4
3Product Description............................................................7
3.1 System Introduction...................................................................7
3.2 Main Features ...........................................................................8
3.3 Demonstration of the Type ........................................................8
3.4 Dimensions ...............................................................................8
3.5 Identifying the PVS....................................................................9
4Mechanical Installation.....................................................10
4.1 Scope of Delivery....................................................................10
4.2 Installation Site Requirements.................................................10
4.3 Installation Tools......................................................................12
4.4 Installing PVS..........................................................................12
5Electrical Installation ........................................................14
5.1 Internal Structure.....................................................................14
5.2 Waterproof Terminals ..............................................................16
5.3 Wiring Preparations.................................................................17
5.4 Connections ............................................................................18
5.4.1 Input Connections ...................................................................18
5.4.2 Output Connections.................................................................21
5.4.3 Grounding Connections...........................................................24
5.4.4 Communication Connections................................................... 25
5.4.5 Bottom Wiring.......................................................................... 27

5.5 Cable Layout............................................................................28
5.6 Communication Settings..........................................................29
5.6.1 Setting Communication Address............................................. 30
5.6.2 Setting String Input Number .................................................... 31
5.7 Start/Stop.................................................................................31
6Commissioning .................................................................33
7Routine Maintenance........................................................34
7.1 Overview..................................................................................34
7.2 Replace the Fuse.....................................................................34
7.3 Replace the Sealing Strip ........................................................35
8Troubleshooting................................................................36
8.1 Before Troubleshooting............................................................36
8.2 Common Faults and Troubleshooting......................................36
9Appendix............................................................................39
9.1 Technical Data .........................................................................39
9.2 Cable Requirement..................................................................39
9.3 Quality Assurance....................................................................40
9.4 Contact Information..................................................................41

1
1 About This Manual
1.1 Validity
This manual is valid for the following PV array combiner boxes:
PVS-8M
PVS-12M
PVS-16M
1.2 Contents
Safety instructions
Safety instructions for the installation, operation, commissioning and
maintenance of PVS.
Product description
Location of PVS in the PV system, structure, function and classification.
Installation guide
The installation methods and electrical connections of PVS.
Routine maintenance
How to replace the fuses of PVS.
Troubleshooting
How to deal with the problems when fault occurs.
Others
Technical data of PVS, exclusion of liability and the way to contact us.
1.3 Target Readers
This manual is for users who operate the PVS or conduct the maintenance work.
The operators must be trained and qualified personnel.

1 About This Manual User Manual
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1.4 How to Use this Manual
Read this manual and other related document before installing the PVS.
Documents must be stored in a convenient place for future reference.
The contents of the manual will be periodically updated or revised due to the
product development. It is probably that there are changes of manual in the
subsequent edition.
1.5 Others
This document will take the PVS-16M for example. For the installation and use
of other types of combiner boxes, please also refer to this manual.
PVS-8M
PVS-12M
The electrical structure, installation and use method of PVS-16M are the same.
The only difference between them is the numbers of DC input strings.
1.6 Symbol Explanation
This manual contains important safety and operational instructions that must be
accurately understood and followed during the installation and maintenance of
the equipment.
To ensure optimum use of this manual, note the following explanations of
symbols used.
DANGER indicates a hazard with a high level of risk which, if not
avoided, will result in death or serious injury.
WARNING indicates a hazard with a medium level of risk which, if not
avoided, will result in death or serious injury.

User Manual 1 About This Manual
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CAUTION indicates a hazard with a low level of risk which, if not
avoided, will result in minor or moderate injury.
NOTICE indicates a situation which, if not avoided, will result in
equipment malfunction or property damage.
NOTE indicates additional information, emphasized contents or tips
to help you solve problems or save time.
The following symbols on the device enclosure must be paid attention to.
Symbols
Explanation
Risk of electric shock! If not avoided, lethal hazard can be caused.
Hot surface! Do not touch!
The symbol represents protective conductor terminal. The terminal
should be connected firmly to avoid potential injury or property
damage.
1.7 Figures Explanation
Figures used in this manual all take the PVS with standard configuration for
example.
The real PVS you received may differ from the example figures in the numbers
of the mounting ears, etc., please refer to the actual product you receive.

4
2 Safety Instructions
This chapter describes some important safety instructions about PVS.
Please read the manual carefully before installation. If any device damage
occurs when ignoring the safety instructions, our company has the right to
exclude all warranty claims.
Death resulting from burning and electric shock upon touching the live
components of the PVS.
Disconnect the end connection of the PV string before cable
connection;
Do not use ordinary ammeter to measure the DC voltage before cable
connection. An ammeter with withstanding voltage of 1500V is
recommended. Serious consequences may follow if otherwise.
Observe all safety instructions required by the PV cell manufacturer.
Device damage or system fault may cause fire and electric shock!
Optical check the device for any possible damages or dangerous
states before operation.
Check if other external devices or circuit connection are in safe state.
Work on the device only when it is safe to do so.
Death or burning hazard by touching the internal terminals of the
device!
Do not touch the terminals or conductors in contact to the inverter or
PV string.
Observe all the instructions and safety regulations related to PVS
connection.

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High voltage is present inside the device!
Follow all the warning signs in the device.
Respect all the safety instructions in this manual and other
document.
The ground cable must be grounded properly, otherwise,
lethal electric shock happens to the operator or installer once a fault
occurs.
device may be damaged after lightening stroke.
Incorrect cable connection may cause damages to the PV cells, the
PVS and inverter. Respect the following instructions during cable
connection:
Connect by strictly following the circuit diagram;
Measure and make sure the string open-circuit voltage meets the
requirements of the PVS before inserting the fuse;
Identify the positive pole and negative pole before connection.
Only qualified personnel or professional electrician can perform the
operation and wiring described in this manual.
All operations and wirings must in full accordance with the national
and local standards and requirements.
All warning marks and labels must be clear and intact. Replace them
if any damages are found.

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Make sure the terminals are firmly connected during wiring. If the cable
copper core and the terminals are not connected firmly, terminals will
be over-heating and burnt. Anti-flaming cables with multi-strand are
advisable and the cable cross-sectional area should be no less than
the recommended value.
The nuts of the water-proof terminals must be firmly screwed to
prevent water leakage and PVS damages.
Pull the fuse out of the fuse holder for personal and device safety.
Lock the cabinet door and seal the water-proof cover of the lock core
after operation.
No not open the cabinet door frequently.
Touching or improper operation on the PCB or other sensitive
components may damage the device.
Do not touch any parts inside the cabinet other than the connection
terminals.
Respect all ESD related safety regulations and wear antistatic wrist
strap.

7
3 Product Description
3.1 System Introduction
For a large-scale grid-connected PV system, it is common to install a DC
combining device between PV modules and inverters to minimize cable
connections, facilitate maintenance and enhance reliability.
PVS is designed for meeting these requirements, which provides a Turnkey
solution for PV plant systems.
Considering different types of PVS, a certain number of PV strings can be
connected to the input side of PVS. After combining work done, at the output
side, there will be one DC+ and one DC- main line. By using of surge protection
device (SPD) and circuit breaker, the output can be connected to inverters
directly.
The PV generation system including a PVS is shown in following figure.
Fig. 3-1 Composition of PV generation system
Tab. 3-1 Device in above figure
No.
Device
A
PV arrays
B
PV Array combiner box
C
Inverter
D
Logger/Smart monitoring unit
E
Meteo Station
F
Grid

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3.2 Main Features
Meet outdoor installation requirement
Connect to multiple PV inputs with fuse for each input (can be replaced to
other degree)
PV-specific high voltage SPD equipped, lightening protection function for
positive and negative pole
Current detection unit monitors the current of each string; and the monitored
information can be displayed by the LED or sent by RS485
Monitor busbar voltage and the monitored information can be displayed by
the LED and sent by RS485
3.3 Demonstration of the Type
Description of the combiner box type is as follows:
PVS XX
B
A
M
C
-
Meanings of the letters are as follows:
A: Code of the PV array combiner box
B: Max. number of PV strings
C: Equipped with monitoring function
Model
Max.Number of PV strings
Monitoring function
PVS-8M
8
YES
PVS-12M
12
YES
PVS-16M
16
YES
3.4 Dimensions
The dimensions of the PVS are shown in the figure below (take PVS-16M for
example).

User Manual 3 Product Description
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650
460
165
3.5 Identifying the PVS
The appearance of the PVS is shown in the figure below (take PVS-16M for
example).
A
B
Item
Name
Item
Name
A
Lock
B
Mounting ear

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4 Mechanical Installation
4.1 Scope of Delivery
A B C D
Item
Name
Description
Sum
A
PVS
-
1 pcs
B
Documents
Including certificate, warranty
card, delivery inspection report,
user manual, etc.
1 set
C
Keys
Used to open the door of the
PVS
1 set
D*
MC4 connector
Used to connect PV modules
8 pairs a) /
12 pairsb) /
16 pairsc)
Note 1: * is optional accessory.
Note 2: a) is intended for PVS-8M;
b) is intended for PVS-12M;
c) is intended for PVS-16M.
4.2 Installation Site Requirements
With IP65 protection degree, the PVS can be installed outdoors. Please meet
the following requirements:
Take the dimensions and weight of the PVS into account when selecting the
installation location. The PVS should be installed as close to the PV modules
as possible for easier current confluence and lower cable costs.

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The ambient temperature ranges from -30℃to +60℃, and the relative
humidity from 0 to 95%. The PVS should be installed in a dry, well-ventilated,
and dust-proof place.
Never install the PVS in a place directly exposed to sunlight. Otherwise,
excessively high temperature will cause lower power yields or even shorten
the service life of the device.
In a large-scale power plant, the PVS should be vertically installed at the
shading area of the bracket of PV modules. Maintain enough clearances
around the PVS for better heat dissipation and ease of routine maintenance.
Humidity during installation may damage the PVS. Do not install the
PVS during rainy or humidity days.
Screw the water-proof terminals tightly to prevent moisture penetration
no matter vertical installation or horizontal installation. Seal the unused
terminals after cable connection.
Before delivery, the PVS cabinet is equipped with a buckle.
The buckle servers as a cushion to protect the sealing strip from
scratch and damage.
Remove the buckle before installing the PVS. Specifically, refer to the
figure below.
If the buckle is lost during transport, it has no impact on the normal use
of PVS.

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4.3 Installation Tools
General tools
Marker
Measuring tape Protective gloves Dust mask
Goggles Vacuum cleaner
Dedicated tools
Hammer drill Electric screwdriver Wire stripper Wire cutter
Slotted screwdriverCrimping tool
880.0
Heat gun
Socket wrench set
Multimeter
4.4 Installing PVS
Installing Mounting Ears
Distances between the four mounting ears are shown in the figure below, in
mm.
700
4-Φ12
290

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Fixing PVS to Installation Surface
On site, the PVS can be installed on the bracket or the back of the PV module.
Step 1Mark positions on the back of the PV module according to the distance
between the mounting ears, and drill holes according to the marks.
Step 2Anchor the PVS to the bracket in the sequence shown in the figure below,
where the recommended torque is: 51±0.7 N.m.
AB C D E F
Item
Name
Description
A
M10 bolt
Beyond the scope of delivery
B
Spring washer
C
Flat washer
D
PVS mounting ears
-
E
PV module bracket
-
F
Nut
Beyond the scope of delivery

14
5 Electrical Installation
5.1 Internal Structure
Taking PVS-16M as an example, internal structure of PVS is shown below.
A
F
C
H
D E
G
I
B
Fig. 5-1 Internal structure
Item
Description
A
DC+ fuse block and fuse
B
DC output wiring terminal
C
RS485 communication terminal
D
PLC instrument transformer
E
Grounding copper bar
F
DC- fuse block and fuse
G
Monitoring board and switching power supply board
The upper layer is monitoring board and the lower layer is switching
power supply board.
H
Circuit breaker
I
Surge protective device
The Monitoring Board
The monitoring board monitors the current of each string. The monitored
current value is sent to the PC through RS485. The PC can judge if a fault is
occurred to the module through the set value.

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J
K
L
M
No.
Description
J
LED screen (displaying current, baud rate, communication address,
temperature, etc.)
K
From left to right, the indicators are respectively:
TX: Transmitted communication data signal indicator
RX: Received communication data signal indicator
RUN: Monitoring unit running status indicator
SPD: Surge protection device fault indicator
CB: Circuit breaker status indicator
POWER/PW: Monitoring unit power supply status indicator
L
Switch for setting PLC communication frequency
M
Key buttons K1 and K2 (used for switching current, communication and
other parameters)
SPD (Surge Protection Device)
An SPD is equipped inside the PVS to prevent the transient overvoltage caused
by lightning. The SPD failure signal can be sent to the PC through the RS485.
Grounding
The PVS provides a ground terminal for grounding connection.

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5.2 Waterproof Terminals
Gland Terminals
AB
D F
C
EG
MC4 Connectors
A BC F G
ED
Tab. 5-1 Introduction of the connectors /terminals
Item
Mark
Description
Specification
A
INPUT DC+
DC+ input waterproof
terminal
M24x1.5
（MC4）
B
INPUT DC-
DC- input waterproof
terminal
C
MONITOR INPUT
Communication input
waterproof terminal
PG-11
D
MONITOR OUTPUT
Communication output
waterproof terminal
E
Grounding waterproof
terminal
PG-16
F
OUTPUT DC+
DC+ output waterproof
terminal
M32G
G
OUTPUT DC-
DC- output waterproof
terminal
Note: If necessary, two DC+ (DC-) input cables can share one waterproof
terminal, as shown in the figure below: