SMA SB 3000TL-20 Installation
EN
PV Inverter
SUNNY BOY 3000TL/4000TL/5000TL
Installation Guide
SB30TL_40TL_50TL-IA-IEN120231 | IMEN-TB-SBXTL-20 | Version 3.1
Tapping on the lower lid:
• Activating the background illumination
• Switching through the energy values of the past 16 feed-in hours to
the daily energy values of the past 16 days
• Switching through the line display
Current output
Daily energy
Total energy generated since the
Sunny Boy was installed
Text line for displaying an event
Bluetooth connection to other Sunny Boys
Input voltage / input current
Grid relay
Grid event number
Sunny Boy event number
Power reduction due to excessive temperature
• Cleaning the fan, if necessary (only for Sunny Boy 4000TL/5000TL)
• Sunny Boy might need better ventilation
PV generator event number
Sunny Boy 4000TL / 5000TL:
switching between input A and B
every 10 seconds
Sunny Boy 3000TL: no switching
Power range of the past 16 feed-in hours or
energy yield of past 16 days (switching the
display is done by tapping on the display)
Failure that can be removed on-site
(see chapter 10.2 )
Device fault:
Contact the SMA Serviceline.
Output voltage / output current
AB
SMA Solar Technology AG Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1 Notes on this manual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.1 Validity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.2 Target group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.3 Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.4 Symbols Used . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.1 Appropriate usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.2 Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.3 Explanation of Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.3.1 Symbols on the Inverter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.3.2 Symbols on the Type Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3 Unpacking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.1 Scope of delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.2 Identifying the Inverter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4 Mounting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.1 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.2 Selecting the Mounting Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.3 Mounting the Inverter with the Wall Mounting Bracket . . . . . . 17
4.4 Mounting the inverter with a top hat rail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5 Electrical Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5.1 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5.2 Overview of the Connection Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5.3 Connection to the Power Distribution Grid (AC). . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.3.1 Conditions for the AC Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.3.2 Connecting the Inverter to the Public Grid (AC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
5.3.3 Additional Grounding of the Enclosure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
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Table of Contents SMA Solar Technology AG
5.4 Connection of the PV Generator (DC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
5.4.1 Conditions for the DC connection for Sunny Boy 3000TL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
5.4.2 Conditions for the DC connection for Sunny Boy 4000TL/5000TL . . . . . . . 34
5.4.3 Assembling the DC plug connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
5.4.4 Opening the DC Plug Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
5.4.5 Connecting the PV Generator (DC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
5.5 Setting the Country Standard and Display Language . . . . . . . 42
5.5.1 Checking the Country Standard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
5.5.2 Setting the Country Standard and Language using Rotary Switches . . . . . . 47
5.6 Communication. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
5.6.1 Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
5.6.2 Multi-function relay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
5.6.3 Communication module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
6 Commissioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
6.1 Commissioning the Inverter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
6.2 Display Messages during Initialization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
6.3 Self-Test in accordance with DK 5940, Ed. 2.2
(Applies to Italy Only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
6.3.1 Starting the Self-Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
6.3.2 Test Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
6.3.3 Interruption of the Self-Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
6.3.4 Restarting the Self-Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
7 Opening and closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
7.1 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
7.2 Opening the Inverter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
7.3 Closing the Inverter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
8 Maintenance and cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
8.1 Checking Heat Dissipation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
8.1.1 Clean fan (only with Sunny Boy 4000TL/5000TL). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
8.1.2 Check fan (only with Sunny Boy 4000TL/5000TL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
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8.2 Checking the Electronic Solar Switch (ESS) for Wear . . . . . . . 69
9 Slot for SD card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
10 Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
10.1 Event messages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
10.2 Error messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
11 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
11.1 Checking the PV Generator for a Ground Fault . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
11.2 Checking the Function of the Varistors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
12 Decommissioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
12.1 Dismantling the Inverter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
12.2 Replacing the Enclosure Lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
12.3 Packaging the Inverter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
12.4 Storing the Inverter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
12.5 Disposing of the Inverter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
13 Technical data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
13.1 Sunny Boy 3000TL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
13.2 Sunny Boy 4000TL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
13.3 Sunny Boy 5000TL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
14 Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
15 Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
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Notes on this manual SMA Solar Technology AG
1 Notes on this manual
1.1 Validity
This manual describes the assembly, installation, commissioning and maintenance of the following
SMA inverters:
• Sunny Boy 3000TL (SB 3000TL-20)
• Sunny Boy 4000TL (SB 4000TL-20)
• Sunny Boy 5000TL (SB 5000TL-20)
Keep this guide in a convenient place for future reference.
1.2 Target group
This manual is for qualified electricians. The tasks described in this manual may be performed by
electrically qualified persons only.
1.3 Additional Information
You will find further information on special topics such as designing a line circuit breaker or the
description of the parameters and measurement readings in the download area at www.SMA.de/en.
Refer to the User Manual provided for detailed information on operating the inverter.
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SMA Solar Technology AG Notes on this manual
1.4 Symbols Used
The following types of safety precautions 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 safety instruction, the failure to observe which will result in
immediate 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
your product.
☑ This symbol indicates the result of an action.
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Safety SMA Solar Technology AG
2 Safety
2.1 Appropriate usage
The Sunny Boy is a PV inverter which converts the DC current of a PV generator into AC current and
feeds it into the public grid.
Principle of a PV System with this Sunny Boy
The inverter may only be operated with PV generators (PV modules and cabling) of protection class
II. Do not connect any sources of energy other than PV modules to the inverter.
Capacitive Discharge Currents
PV modules with large capacities relative to ground, such as thin-film modules with cells on
a metallic substrate, are only to be implemented if their coupling capacity does not exceed
1,400 nF.
During grid feeding, a discharge current flows from the cells to ground. The amount of
current depends on the manner in which the modules are installed (e.g. foil on metal roof)
and on the weather (rain, snow). This "normal" discharge current may not exceed 50 mA
due to the fact that the inverter would otherwise automatically disconnect from the grid as
a protective measure. For further information on this subject, see the Technical Information
"Capacitive Discharge Currents" in the download area at www.SMA.de/en.
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When designing the PV system, ensure that the values comply with the permitted operating range of all
components at all times. The free design program "Sunny Design" (www.SMA.de/en/SunnyDesign) will
assist you. The manufacturer of the PV modules must have approved the modules for use with this inverter.
You must also ensure that all measures recommended by the module manufacturer for long-term
maintenance of the module properties are taken (see also Technical Information "Module Technology",
in the download area of www.SMA.de/en).
Do not use the inverter for purposes other than those described here. Alternative uses, modifications
to the inverter or the installation of components not expressly recommended or sold by
SMA Solar Technology AG void the warranty claims and operation permission.
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Safety SMA Solar Technology AG
Certified Countries
The Sunny Boy 3000TL/4000TL/5000TL (with according configuration) fulfill the requirements
specified in the following standards and directives (dated: 2010/11):
• VDE 0126-1-1 (02.2006)
• C10/C11 (2009/05)*
• PPC (2006/06)
•PPDS
• DK 5940 Ed. 2.2 (2006/02)
• EN 50438
• I.S. EN 50438**
• NEN EN 50438
• MSA EN 50438
• SS-EN 50438
• UTE C15-712-1
• RD 1663/2000 (2000)***
• RD 661/2007***
• G83/1-1 (2003/09)
• AS4777 (2005)
• IEC-utility Meeting 216
• KEMCO PV501 (2008) (only applies for SB 3000TL-20/V 0158)
* Only possible when the phase voltage is 230 V.
** On request
*** In the event of restrictions in certain regions, contact the SMA Serviceline.
SMA Solar Technology AG can preset special grid parameters for other countries/installation
locations according to customer requests, after evaluation by SMA Solar Technology AG.
You can make later modifications yourself by changing software parameters with respective
communication products (e.g. Sunny WebBox or Sunny Explorer). To change grid-relevant
parameters, you need a personal access code - the so-called SMA Grid Gua rd Code. The applica tio n
form for the personal access code is located in the download area at www.SMA.de/en, in the
"Certificate" category for each inverter.
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2.2 Safety instructions
DANGER!
Danger to life due to high voltages in the inverter.
• All work on the inverter may only be carried out by qualified personnel.
• T he a ppl iance is not to b e used by childre n or per son s with re duced physical, sensory
or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge, unless they have been
given supervision or instruction.
• Children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the appliance.
CAUTION!
Parts of the enclosure can become hot - risk of burn injuries!
During operation, the upper lid of the enclosure and the enclosure body may become hot.
• Only touch the lower enclosure lid during operation.
CAUTION!
Possible damage to health as a result of the effects of radiation!
• Do not stay closer than 20 cm to the inverter for any length of time.
Grounding the PV generator
Comply with the local regulations for grounding the modules and the PV generator.
SMA Solar Technology AG recommends connecting the generator frame and other
electrically conductive surfaces in a manner which ensures continuous conduction, and
grounding these to ensure maximum protection for systems and personnel.
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Safety SMA Solar Technology AG
2.3 Explanation of Symbols
This section gives an explanation of all the symbols found on the inverter and on the type label.
2.3.1 Symbols on the Inverter
Icon Explanation
Operation Display.
Indicates the operation condition of the inverter.
An error has occurred.
Read section 11”Troubleshooting” (page79) to remedy the error.
Tap to switch on the display light and switch to the next display
message.
Bluetooth
Shows the status of Bluetooth Communication.
Electronic Solar Switch (ESS) DC load disconnection unit
®
Wireless Technology.
• Wh en t he E lect ron ic S ola r Sw itc h is p lug ged in, the D C ci rcu it
is closed.
• To int err upt the DC c ircuit a nd d isconne ct t he inver ter securely
under load, you have to disconnect the inverter as described
in section 7.2”Opening the Inverter” (page61).
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2.3.2 Symbols on the Type Label
Icon Explanation
Beware of dangerous electrical voltage.
The inverter operates at high voltages. All work on the inverter may
only be carried out by qualified personnel.
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 household waste.
For more information on disposal, see section 12.5”Disposing of the
Inverter” (page87).
CE mark.
The inverter complies with the requirements of the applicable EC
guidelines.
The inverter is transformerless.
Direct Current (DC)
Alternating current (AC)
Protection rating IP54.
The inverter is protected against dust deposits in the interior and
against splashes of water from all angles.
RAL quality mark for solar products.
The inverter complies with the requirements of the German Institute for
Quality Assurance and Labeling.
Device class label.
The product is equipped with a wireless component that complies with
the harmonized standards.
Certified safety
The inverter complies with the requirements of the Equipment and
Product Safety Act in Europe.
Installation Guide SB30TL_40TL_50TL-IA-IEN120231 13
Unpacking SMA Solar Technology AG
3 Unpacking
3.1 Scope of delivery
Check the delivery for completeness and any visible external damage. Contact your dealer if anything
is damaged or missing.
Object Number Description
A 1 Sunny Boy
B 1 Wall-mounting bracket
C 4/8 DC plug connector
Sunny Boy 3000TL: 4 units (2 x positive, 2 x negative)
Sunny Boy 4000TL/5000TL: 8 units (4 x positive, 4 x negative)
D 4/8 Sealing plugs for DC plug connectors
Sunny Boy 3000TL: 4 units
Sunny Boy 4000TL/5000TL: 8 units
E 1 Installation Guide
F 1User Manual
G 1 Set of documents with explanations and certificates
H 1 Supplementary sheet with inverter factory settings
optional 1 Installation Guide for communication module
3.2 Identifying the Inverter
You can identify the inverter using the type label. The type plate is on the right side of the enclosure.
The serial number (Serial no.) and the type (Type/Model) of the product, as well as device-specific
characteristics are specified on the type label.
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4 Mounting
4.1 Safety
DANGER!
Danger to life due to fire or explosion.
Despite careful construction, electrical devices can cause fires.
• Do not mount the inverter on flammable construction materials.
• Do not mount the inverter in areas where highly flammable materials are stored.
• Do not mount the inverter in areas with a risk of explosion.
CAUTION!
Parts of the enclosure can become hot - risk of burn injuries!
• Mount the inverter in such a way that it cannot be touched inadvertently during
operation.
CAUTION!
Risk of injury due to the heavy weight of the inverter.
• Take the inverter's weight of approx. 25 kg into account for mounting.
4.2 Selecting the Mounting Location
Consider the following points when selecting where to install:
• The mounting method and location must be suitable for the inverter's weight and dimensions
(see section 13”Technical data” (page88)).
• Mount on a solid surface.
• The mounting location must at all times be clear and have safe access without the use of
additional aids such as scaffolding or lifting platforms. Any possible service actions are
otherwise limited.
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Mounting SMA Solar Technology AG
• Mount vertically or tilted backward by max. 15°.
• The connection area must point downwards.
• Never mount the device with a forward tilt.
• Never install the device with a sideways tilt.
• Do not mount horizontally.
• Mount at eye level to allow operating status to be read at all times.
• The ambient temperature should be below 40 °C to ensure optimal operation.
• Do not expose the inverter to direct sunlight to avoid power reduction due to excessive heating.
• I n li vin g areas , do not mou nt t he unit on p las ter boa rd wall s or similar to avoid audible vibrations.
The inverter can make noises when in use, which may be perceived as a nuisance in a living
area.
• Observe the minimum clearances to walls, other
inverters, or objects as shown in the diagram in
order to ensure sufficient heat dissipation and
sufficient space for removing the Electronic Solar
Switch.
Multiple inverters installed in areas with high ambient temperatures
There must be sufficient clearance between the individual inverters to ensure the cooling air
from the adjacent inverter flows freely.
If necessary, increase the clearance spaces and make sure there is enough ventilation to
ensure sufficient cooling of the inverters.
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4.3 Mounting the Inverter with the Wall Mounting Bracket
1. Use the wall mounting bracket as a drilling template and mark the positions of the drill holes.
Number of drill holes used
• When mounting onto the wall, use at least 2 of the horizontal holes and the lowest
hole in the middle.
• Use the two holes in the center when mounting the device to a pillar.
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Mounting SMA Solar Technology AG
2. At tac h the wa ll m oun ting bra cke t using app rop ria te
screws (diameter min. 6 mm) and washers (outer
diameter min. 18 mm).
3. Transport the inverter using the grip recesses on the
sides.
4. Attach the inverter to the wall bracket slightly to the
left of its final position.
The right edge of the rear panel of the inverter has
to be flush with the right edge of the wall mounting
bracket.
5. Check both sides of the inverter to ensure that it is
correctly in place.
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6. Push the inverter to the right on the wall mounting
bracket, until it locks into place with the locking bolt
on the back wall.
7. Check to ensure that the inverter is correctly seated.
☑ The inverter is now securely mounted to the wall.
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Mounting SMA Solar Technology AG
Optional Theft Protection
To protect the inverter from theft, you can lock it to the
wall mounting bracket with a padlock.
The lock must meet the following requirements:
•Size:
A: 6 mm … 10 mm diameter
B: 21 mm … 35 mm
C: 20 mm … 33 mm
D: 40 mm … 60 mm
E: 13 mm … 21 mm
•Stainless
• Hardened shackle
• Secured lock cylinder
Storage of the key
Store the key carefully for possible service purposes.
Outdoor Installation
Always use a lock suitable for outdoor installation. Regularly check the correct function of
the padlock.
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4.4 Mounting the inverter with a top hat rail
Requirements for installing the top hat rail
• Use a TH-35-7.5 supporting rail compliant with DIN EN 60715.
• Use stainless steel top hat rail and screws to prevent contact corrosion.
• Install on level ground only.
• Use fastening material suitable for the surface. Please observe the weight of the inverter.
Procedure
1. Use the top hat rail as a drilling template and mark the positions of the drill holes.
2. Attach the top-hat rail using appropriate screws
(diameter min. 6 mm) and washers (outer diameter
min. 18 mm).
Secure one screw at least every 300 mm.
3. Transport the inverter using the grip recesses on the
sides.
4. Suspend the inverter on the top hat rail using the
opening on its rear wall.
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Mounting SMA Solar Technology AG
5. Check both sides of the inverter to ensure that it is
correctly in place.
Securing the Inverter Against Excavation
Additionally secure the inverter in the wall using screws.
1. Remove the Electronic Solar Switch downwards.
2. Loosen all 6 captive screws and remove lid.
3. Drill through the back wall of the enclosure.
4. Use a suitable drill bit with a minimum length of
120 mm.
5. Insert suitable wall anchor.
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6. Fasten the inverter.
The screw must meet the following requirements:
Length: at least 100 mm
Diameter: 8 mm
Screw head No outside hexagon,
no countersunk head
☑ The inverter is protected against excavation.
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Electrical Connection SMA Solar Technology AG
5 Electrical Connection
5.1 Safety
NOTICE!
Damage to the inverter through electrostatic discharges.
Internal components of the inverter can be irreparably damaged by static discharge.
• Ground yourself before you touch a component.
5.2 Overview of the Connection Area
The following figure shows the assignment of the individual connection areas, enclosure openings and
cable glands of the inverter.
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Object Description
A DC plug connectors for connecting the strings (input zone A)
B Electronic Solar Switch (ESS) socket
C DC plug connectors for connecting the strings (input zone B) (only with Sunny Boy
4000TL/5000TL)
D Connector for optional communication via RS485
E Connection terminal for multi-function relays
F Terminals for grid connection (AC)
G Cable gland for grid connection (AC) (12 mm … 25 mm)
H Cable gland (6 mm … 12 mm) for the optional connection of the multi-function
relay
I Jumper slot for setting the language to English
K Rotary switch for the configuration of Bluetooth communication
L Enclosure opening for optional communication via RS485
M Rotary switch to set the country of installation and the display language
N Slot for SD card
O Ground terminal to additionally ground the inverter
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Electrical Connection SMA Solar Technology AG
5.3 Connection to the Power Distribution Grid (AC)
5.3.1 Conditions for the AC Connection
• Comply with the connection requirements of your utility operator.
Residual current protective device
The inverter is equipped with an integrated all-pole sensitive failure current monitoring unit. The
inverter can automatically distinguish between real fault currents and "normal" capacitive leakage
currents.
If an external RCD or residual current breaker is strictly required, you must use a switch that triggers
at a failure current of 100 mA or higher.
Cable sizing
The grid impedance of the AC cable must not exceed 1 ohm. Otherwise, the inverter will disconnect
at full feed capacity due to excessive voltage at the feed-in point.
The conductor cross-section should be dimensioned such that cable losses do not exceed 1 % at
nominal power. Use "Sunny Design" (www.SMA.de/en/SunnyDesign) for this.
The maximum cable lengths relative to the conductor cross-section are shown in the following table.
Conductor crosssection
4.0 mm² 23.5 m Not recommended Not recommended
6.0 mm² 35.2 m 23.3 m 18.6 m
10.0 mm² 58.7 m 38.8 m 31.1 m
The conductor cross-section required in individual cases depends on the following factors, among
others:
• Ambient temperature,
•Routing method,
• Cable losses,
• Valid installation requirements of the respective country (installation location).
SB 3000TL-20 SB 4000TL-20 SB 5000TL-20
Maximum cable length
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Cable Requirements
Object Description Value
A External diameter 12 mm ... 25 mm
B Cross-section of insulated conductor Max. 10 mm²
C Strip insulation Approx. 12 mm
Load disconnection unit
You must install a separate line circuit breaker for each inverter in order to ensure that the inverter
can be securely disconnected under load. The maximum permissible rating is located in section
13”Technical data” (page88).
Detailed information and examples for the design of a line circuit breaker can be found in the
Technical Information "Line Circuit Breaker" in the SMA Solar Technology AG download area at
www.SMA.de/en.
DANGER!
Danger to life due to fire.
When more than one inverter is connected to the same line circuit breaker, the protective
function of the line circuit breaker is no longer guaranteed. It can result in a cable fire or
the destruction of the inverter.
• Never connect several inverters to the same line circuit breaker.
• Observe the maximum permissible fuse protection of the inverter when selecting the
line circuit breaker.
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Electrical Connection SMA Solar Technology AG
DANGER!
Danger to life due to fire.
Wh en a pro duc er ( inv ert er) and a co nsu mer are con nected t o th e same line circuit breaker,
the protective function of the line circuit breaker is no longer guaranteed. The current from
the inverter and the grid can accumulate to overcurrent which is not be detected by the line
circuit breaker.
• Never connect consumers between the
inverter and the line circuit breaker
without protection.
• Always protect consumers separately.
NOTICE!
Damage to the inverter by using screw type fuse elements as a load
disconnection unit.
A screw type fuse element, e.g. D system (Diazed) or D0 system (Neozed) is not a load
disconnection unit, and thus must not be used as a load disconnection unit. A screw type
fuse element is only used as cable protection.
When disconnecting under load using a screw type fuse element, the inverter can be
damaged.
• Use only a load disconnection switch or a line circuit breaker as a lo ad d isc onn ect ion
unit.
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5.3.2 Connecting the Inverter to the Public Grid (AC)
1. Check that the grid voltage is within the permissible voltage range.
The exact operating range of the inverter is specified in the operation parameters. The
corresponding document is located in the download area at www.SMA.de/en, in the
"Technical Description" category of the respective inverter.
2. Disconnect the line circuit breaker and secure against re-connection.
3. Remove the Electronic Solar Switch.
4. Loosen all 6 captive screws and remove lid.
5. Check the correct country setting of the inverter using the supplement provided against the
factory settings.
If the inverter is not set to the desired country standard, then adjust the country standard as
de scr ibe d in sec tio n 5. 5.2”Se tti ng t he C oun try Sta nda rd a nd L ang uag e us ing Rot ary Swi tch es”
(page47).
6. Fo r ea sy c onnect ion , lo ose n the dis play scr ews until
the display raises.
– Flip up the display until it clicks into place.
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Electrical Connection SMA Solar Technology AG
7. Unscrew the AC cable gland's lock nut (G) and
remove the filler-plug from the cable gland.
Seal in the AC cable gland
There is a two-part seal in the cable gland.
Remove the internal insert if necessary, e.g. to
lay a thicker cable.
The following guideline values apply:
• Cable cross-section with seal and insert: 12 mm … 16 mm
• Cable cross-section with seal only and without insert: 15 - 21 mm
8. Pull the cable through.
9. Raise the AC clamp terminals as far as they will go.
NOTICE!
Risk of fire when connecting 2 conductors to a single terminal
If 2 conductors are connected to one terminal, a poor electrical contact can result in
overheating or a risk of fire.
• Never connect more than one conductor per terminal.
30 SB30TL_40TL_50TL-IA-IEN120231 Installation Guide
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