SC 500HE-US
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CA
US
Central Inverter
SUNNY CENTRAL 500HE-US/500HE-CA
Operating Manual
SC500HEUS-eng-BE-BUS120320 | 98-4104420 | Version 2.0
SMA America, LLC Legal Restrictions
Copyright © 2012 SMA America,LLC. All rights reserved.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form
or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photographic, magnetic or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of SMA America,LLC.
Neither SMA America,LLC nor SMA Solar Technology Canada Inc. makes representations, express
or implied, with respect to this documentation or any of the equipment and/or software it may
describe, including (with no limitation) any implied warranties of utility, merchantability, or fitness for
any particular purpose. All such warranties are expressly disclaimed. Neither SMA America,LLC nor
its distributors or dealers nor SMA Solar Technology Canada Inc. nor its distributors or dealers shall
be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages under any circumstances.
(The exclusion of implied warranties may not apply in all cases under some statutes, and thus the
above exclusion may not apply.)
Specifications are subject to change without notice. Every attempt has been made to make this
document complete, accurate and up-to-date. Readers are cautioned, however, that
SMAAmerica,LLC and SMA Solar Technology Canada Inc. reserve the right to make changes
without notice and shall not be responsible for any damages, including indirect, incidental or
consequential damages, caused by reliance on the material presented, including, but not limited to,
omissions, typographical errors, arithmetical errors or listing errors in the content material.
All trademarks are recognized even if these are not marked separately. Missing designations do not
mean that a product or brand is not a registered trademark.
The Bluetooth
®
word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and
any use of such marks by SMA America,LLC and SMA Solar Technology Canada Inc. is under
license.
SMA America, LLC
3801 N. Havana Street
Denver, CO 80239 U.S.A.
SMA Solar Technology Canada Inc.
2425 Matheson Blvd. E
8th Floor
Mississauga, ON L4W 5K5
Canada
Operating Manual SC500HEUS-eng-BE-BUS120320 3
Important Safety Instructions SMA America, LLC
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
This manual contains important instructions for the following products:
• Sunny Central 500HE-US
• Sunny Central 500HE-CA
This manual must be followed during installation and maintenance.
The product is designed and tested according to international safety requirements, but as with all
electrical and electronic equipment, certain precautions must be observed when installing and/or
operating the product. To reduce the risk of personal injury and to ensure the safe installation and
operation of the product, you must carefully read and follow all instructions, cautions and warnings
in this manual.
Warnings in this document
A warning describes a hazard to equipment or personnel. It calls attention to a procedure or practice,
which, if not correctly performed or adhered to, could result in damage to or destruction of part or all
of the SMA equipment and/or other equipment connected to the SMA equipment or personal injury.
Symbol Description
DANGER indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in
death or serious injury.
WARNING indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result
in death or serious injury.
CAUTION indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result
in minor or moderate injury.
NOTICE is used to address practices not related to personal injury.
4 SC500HEUS-eng-BE-BUS120320 Operating Manual
SMA America, LLC Important Safety Instructions
Other Symbols in this document
In addition to the safety and hazard symbols described on the previous pages, the following symbol
is also used in this manual:
Symbole Description
Indicates information that is important for a specific topic or objective, but is not
safety-relevant.
☐ Indicates a requirement for meeting a specific goal.
☑ Desired result
✖ A problem that could occur
Markings on this product
The following symbols are used as product markings with the following meanings.
Symbol Description
Warning regarding dangerous voltage
The product works with high voltages. All work on the product must only be
performed as described in the documentation of the product.
Electric arc hazards
The product has large electrical potential differences between its conductors. Arc
flashes can occur through air when high-voltage current flows. Do not work on the
product during operation.
If access during operation cannot be avoided, please regard all safety
regulations stated within NFPA 70E.
Beware of hot surface
The product can become hot during operation. Do not touch the product during
operation.
Observe the operating instructions
Read the documentation of the product before working on it. Follow all safety
precautions and instructions as described in the documentation.
Evaluated to the requirements of the Underwriters Laboratories Standard for
Safety for Inverters, Converters, Controllers and Interconnection System
Equipment for Use With Distributed Energy Resources, UL 1741.
The inverter has been additionally evaluated by Underwriters Laboratories to
CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 107.1-1, "General Use Power Supplies".
Operating Manual SC500HEUS-eng-BE-BUS120320 5
General Warnings SMA America, LLC
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General Warnings
General Warnings
All electri cal installations m ust be done in accordance with the local and NationalElectrical Code
ANSI/NFPA 70 or the Canadian Electrical Code® CSAC22.1. This document does not and is not
intended to replace any local, state, provincial, federal or national laws, regulation or codes
applicable to the installation and use of the product, including without limitation applicable
electrical safety codes. All installations must conform with the laws, regulations, codes and
standards applicable in the jurisdiction of installation. SMA assumes no responsibility for the
compliance or noncompliance with such laws or codes in connection with the installation of the
product.
The product contains no user-serviceable parts except for the fans on the bottom of the enclosure
and the filters behind the fans as well as the handle covers on the sides of the unit. For all repair and
maintenance, always return the unit to an authorized SMA Service Center.
Before installing or using the product, read all of the instructions, cautions, and warnings in this
manual.
Before connecting the product to the electrical utility grid, contact the local utility company. This
connection must be made only by qualified personnel.
Wiring of the product must be made by qualified personnel only.
®
6 SC500HEUS-eng-BE-BUS120320 Operating Manual
SMA America, LLC Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1 Information on this Manual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.1 Intended Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.2 Qualification of Skilled Workers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.3 Safety Precautions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3 Product Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.1 Sunny Central . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.2 Type Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
3.3 Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3.4 Stop/Start Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3.5 Sunny WebBox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
3.6 Sunny Central String-Monitor Controller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3.7 Insulation Monitoring Via GFDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
3.8 Grid Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
3.8.1 Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
3.8.2 Active Power Limitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
3.8.3 Reactive Power Regulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
3.9 Active Island Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
4 Operating the Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4.1 Display Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4.2 Switching Diagram Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.3 Navigating the Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.4 Menu Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4.5 Changing the Time Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.6 Changing the Date Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.7 Displaying the Firmware Version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Operating Manual SC500HEUS-eng-BE-BUS120320 7
Table of Contents SMA America, LLC
5 Configuring the Network Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
6 Communication with the Sunny WebBox . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
6.1 Displaying the Instantaneous Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
6.2 Changing Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
7 Active Power Limitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
7.1 Power Frequency-Dependent Active Power Limitation . . . . . . . 35
7.2 Power Frequency-Independent Active Power Limitation . . . . . . 36
7.2.1 Selecting the Procedure using the Parameter "P-WMod" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
7.2.2 "Off" Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
7.2.3 "WCtlCom" Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
7.2.4 "WCnst" Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
7.2.5 "WCnstNom" Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
7.2.6 "WCnstNomAnIn" Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
7.3 Displaying the Active Power Limitation Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
7.4 Displaying Error Messages and Warnings for Active Power
Limitation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
8 Reactive Power Regulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
8.1 Procedure for Reactive Power Regulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
8.1.1 Selecting the Procedure using the Parameter "Q-VArMod". . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
8.1.2 "Off" Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
8.1.3 "VArCtlCom" Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
8.1.4 "PFCtlCom" Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
8.1.5 "VArCnst" Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
8.1.6 "VArCnstNom" Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
8.1.7 "VArCnstNomAnIn" Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
8.1.8 "PFCnst" Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
8.1.9 "PFCnstAnIn" Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
8.1.10 "PFCtlW" Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
8.1.11 "VArCtlVol" Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
8.1.12 "VArCtlVolHystDb" Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
8 SC500HEUS-eng-BE-BUS120320 Operating Manual
SMA America, LLC Table of Contents
8.2 Error Messages and Warnings for the Reactive Power
Setpoint. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
9 Grid Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
9.1 How Grid Monitoring Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
9.2 Monitoring the Line Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
9.3 Monitoring the Power Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
9.4 Connecting to Grid After Rectifying a Fault . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
10 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
10.1 Reading Off Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
10.2 Rectifying the Error . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
10.2.1 Error Types and Waiting Times for Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
10.2.2 Errors 01-13 - Power Distribution Grid Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
10.2.3 Errors 34-38 - PV Array Errors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
10.2.4 Errors 60-87 - Sunny Central Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
10.2.5 Communication Errors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
10.3 Confirming the Error . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
11 Instantaneous Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
11.1 Overview of all Instantaneous Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
11.2 Instantaneous Values by Topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
11.2.1 Instantaneous Values for Active and Reactive Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
11.2.2 Error Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
11.2.3 Measured Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
11.2.4 Device-Internal Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
11.2.5 Internal Counters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Operating Manual SC500HEUS-eng-BE-BUS120320 9
Table of Contents SMA America, LLC
12 Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
12.1 Overview of all Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
12.2 Parameters by Topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
12.2.1 Parameters for Active Power Limitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
12.2.2 Parameters for Reactive Power Regulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
12.2.3 Parameters for Grid Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
12.2.4 Parameters for Grid Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
12.2.5 Device-Internal Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
13 Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
10 SC500HEUS-eng-BE-BUS120320 Operating Manual
SMA America, LLC 1 Information on this Manual
1 Information on this Manual
Validity
This manual applies to the following device types:
• SC 500HE-US from firmware version 1.070
• SC 500HE-CA from firmware version 1.070
Target group
This manual is intended for skilled workers. Only skilled workers are allowed to perform the tasks set
forth in this manual (see section 2.2 "Qualification of Skilled Workers", page 13).
Additional information
Additional information is available at www.SMA-America.com:
Document title Document type
Installation requirements for SUNNY CENTRAL 500HE-US/
SUNNY CENTRAL 500HE-CA
Transformer Requirements - requirements of medium-voltage and
auxiliary transformers for SUNNY CENTRAL 500HE-US /
SUNNY CENTRAL 500HE-CA
Plant Communication in large-scale PV Plants Technical information
Technical information
Technical information
Typography
Typography Usage Example:
"light" • Display messages
• Parameters
• Instantaneous Values
• Elements of a graphic user
interface
bold • Elements to be entered • Enter 192.168.0.100 in the
> • Several elements that are to be
selected
[Button/key] • Button or key to be selected or
pressed
Operating Manual SC500HEUS-eng-BE-BUS120320 11
• The parameter "P-W" defines the
active power to be fed in.
"IP address" field.
•Select Plant > Devices.
•Select [OK].
1 Information on this Manual SMA America, LLC
Nomenclature
The following nomenclature is used in this manual:
Complete designation Designation in this manual
SMA America, LLC SMA
SMA Solar Technology Canada Inc. SMA
Sunny Central 500HE-US Sunny Central or inverter
Sunny Central 500HE-CA Sunny Central or inverter
Abbreviations
Abbreviation Designation Explanation
AC Alternating Current ‒
OCU Operational Control Unit ‒
OCS Operational Control System ‒
DC Direct Current ‒
DSP Digital Signal Processor ‒
ESD Electrostatic Discharge ‒
GFDI Ground-Fault Detection
Interruption
GSM Global System for Mobile
Communication
IP Internet Protocol ‒
LAN Local Area Network ‒
LCD Liquid Crystal Display ‒
MPP Maximum Power Point ‒
PE Protective Earth ‒
PV Photovoltaic ‒
‒
‒
12 SC500HEUS-eng-BE-BUS120320 Operating Manual
SMA America, LLC 2 Safety
2Safety
2.1 Intended Use
The Sunny Central is a central inverter that converts direct current generated by the PV modules into
alternating current when the DC input voltage is in the 330 V to 600 V range, and when the
permissible ambient conditions are adhered to. The alternating current that is generated is fed into the
power distribution grid by a transformer that is connected in series.
The inverter may be used both indoors and outdoors. The inverter may only be operated with a
suitable transformer, taking into consideration the maximum permissible DC input voltage and the
permissible ambient temperatures (see Technical information "Transformer Requirements requirements of medium-voltage and auxiliary transformers for SUNNY CENTRAL 500HE-US /
SUNNY CENTRAL 500HE-CA" and the installation manual of the inverter). The transformer must be
designed for the voltages that arise during pulsed mode of the inverter.
The inverter corresponds to the protection class NEMA 3R and can also be operated in rain, sleet,
and snow.
Only persons meeting all of the skills standards for the target group may work on or with the
Sunny Central.
For intended use, please also read the product documentation and observe all safety precautions.
All work on the Sunny Central must be performed with the appropriate tools.
Suitable personal protective equipment according to specifications from NFPA 70E is to be worn by
all persons working on or with the Sunny Central.
Unauthorized persons may not operate the Sunny Central and must keep at a distance from the
Sunny Central.
For safety reasons, it is forbidden to modify the product or install components that are not explicitly
recommended or distributed by SMA for this product.
The Sunny Central may not be operated with its doors open.
The Sunny Central may not be opened when it is raining or when humidity exceeds 95%.
The Sunny Central may not be operated if there are any technical defects.
Any use of the Sunny Central other than that described in the Intended Use section is not regarded as
intended use. Unauthorized installations and modifications compromise operational safety and void
the operation permission as well as all warranty claims.
2.2 Qualification of Skilled Workers
Qualified skilled workers have been adequately trained and have demonstrated the ability and
knowledge to fit, operate, and perform maintenance on the device.
Qualified skilled workers have been trained in how to deal with the dangers and risks associated with
fitting electrical installations and have all the necessary knowledge for averting danger.
Operating Manual SC500HEUS-eng-BE-BUS120320 13
2 Safety SMA America, LLC
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2.3 Safety Precautions
Electrical hazards
Electric shock from live voltage
High voltages are present at the inverter and its components. Some maintenance work must be done
when voltage is present. Failure to adhere to the safety messages may lead to severe or lethal
injuries due to electric shock.
• Wear class 2 personal protective equipment.
• Always perform work in compliance with the regulations specified in 29 CFR, Chapter XVII,
Part 1910 (OSHA), NEC, and NFPA 70E.
• Do not touch any live components of the inverter or the medium-voltage grid.
• Follow instructions precisely.
• Observe safety messages.
• Before performing any work on the inverter, always disconnect the inverter if voltage is not
absolutely necessary.
• After disconnecting the inverter, wait at least 10 minutes until the inverter's capacitors have
discharged completely.
• Before performing work on the inverter, ensure that no voltage is present.
Electric shock caused by ground fault
In a ground fault, plant sections that are supposedly grounded may in fact be live. Failure to adhere
to the safety messages may lead to severe or lethal injuries due to electric shock.
• Ensure that no voltage is present before touching any components.
• Wear class 2 personal protective equipment.
Electric shock due to damaged inverter
Operating a damaged inverter can lead to hazardous situations that may result in serious or lethal
injuries caused by electric shock.
• Only operate the inverter if it is in safe and technically faultless working order.
• Only operate the inverter if there is no visible damage.
• Regularly check for visible damage.
• Make sure that all external safety equipment is freely accessible at all times.
• Make sure that all safety equipment is in good working order.
14 SC500HEUS-eng-BE-BUS120320 Operating Manual
SMA America, LLC 2 Safety
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Damage to electronic components due to electrostatic discharge
Electrostatic discharge can damage or destroy electronic components.
• Observe the ESD safety regulations when working on the unit.
• Wear personal protective equipment.
• Neutralize any electrostatic charge before touching electronic components, for example by
touching the PE connection of the doors.
Environmental hazards
Danger to life due to blocked escape routes
In hazardous situations, blocked escape routes can lead to serious injury or death.
• An escape route of at least 3 ft. (915 mm) wide must be available at all times.
• Do not place any objects in the escape route area.
• Remove all tripping hazards from the escape routes.
Damage to the inverter caused by dust or moisture penetration
Dust intrusion or moisture penetration can damage the inverter and impair the functionality of the
inverter.
• Do not open the inverter when it is raining or when humidity exceeds 95%.
• Perform maintenance on the Sunny Central only when the environment is dry and free of dust.
Hazards due to human error
Danger to life due to electric shock when the inverter is unlocked
Unlocked inverters can be opened by unauthorized persons. This means that unauthorized persons
have access to components on which lethal voltages are present.
• Ensure that unauthorized persons have no access to the inverter.
• Always lock the inverter.
Operating Manual SC500HEUS-eng-BE-BUS120320 15
2 Safety SMA America, LLC
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Mechanical hazards
Risk of fire due to failure to observe torque specifications
Failure to follow the torque specifications indicated in the installation manual reduces the ampacity
of the screw connections. This can cause components to overheat and catch fire.
• Always use the torques specified in the installation manual.
• Regularly check that mounted components have always been set at the torque specified in the
installation manual.
Danger from illegible or missing warning signs
Warning signs on the Sunny Central warn operators about hazardous areas and must always be
present and legible.
• Regularly check and make sure that all warning signs are present and undamaged.
• Immediately replace missing, faded, or damaged warning signs.
Thermal hazards
Risk of burns due to hot components.
The components of the Sunny Central can become very hot. Touching these components can lead
to burn injuries.
• Do not touch hot components.
• Wait until hot components have sufficiently cooled down.
• Observe safety messages in the inverter.
• Wear class 2 personal protective equipment.
16 SC500HEUS-eng-BE-BUS120320 Operating Manual
SMA America, LLC 3 Product Description
3 Product Description
3.1 Sunny Central
The Sunny Central is a PV inverter that converts the direct current from the PV array into alternating
current for the power distribution grid.
Figure 1: Sunny Central 500HE-US
Position Designation Explanation
A Inverter Cabinet The inverter cabinet contains the inverter bridge for
converting direct current to alternating current.
B Interface Cabinet All AC, DC, and data cables can be connected to the
interface cabinet. This cabinet contains the system control
and optional communication devices.
C Display Read the yield values and error messages off the display.
D Stop/Start Switch Use the stop/start switch to switch the Sunny Central on
or off.
The Sunny Central can be controlled via the Power Reducer Box and the Sunny WebBox, and
therefore can meet the requirements of the grid operator.
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The inverter cycles through various states during operation:
Figure 2: Principle overview of the operating states of the Sunny Central
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Stop
The Sunny Central is switched off. If the stop/start switch is set to "Start", the Sunny Central switches
to the operating state "Grid monitoring".
Grid Monitoring
The Sunny Central is in the operating state "Grid monitoring". The grid limits will now be monitored
continuously. If the grid limits are exceeded during the monitoring time, the Sunny Central will restart
"Grid monitoring".
If a grid fault does not occur during the grid monitoring time, the AC contactor closes and the
Sunny Central switches to the operating state "Grid monitoring time reached".
Grid monitoring time reached
The Sunny Central is in the operating state "Grid monitoring time reached". If the input voltage V
PV
exceeds the value of the parameter "PvVtgStrLevMin", the Sunny Central waits until the time specified
in the "PvStrT" parameter elapses. If the input voltage VPV does not fall below the value of the
parameter "PvVtgStrLevMin" during this time, the Sunny Central checks whether the power distribution
grid is connected. If a valid power distribution grid is available, the Sunny Central switches to the
operating state "Startup".
The value of the parameter "PvVtgStrLevMin" must be adjusted to conform to the PV array connected
to the Sunny Central.
Startup
The Sunny Central is in the operating state "Startup". The Sunny Central moves to its initial operating
point and begins the feed-in process.
MPP load operation
In the MPP range, the Sunny Central feeds into the power distribution grid and permanently works at
the maximum power point (MPP). If the measured power during the time int erva l "PvPwrMinT" is below
the value of the parameter "PvPwrMin" or the stop/start switch is set to "Stop", the Sunny Central
switches to the operating state "Shutdown".
Shutdown
The Sunny Central is in the operating state "Shutdown". If the stop/start switch is set to "Stop", the
Sunny Central switches to the operating state "Stop". The AC contactor and the DC contactor open
automatically.
If the Sunny Central shuts down because the feed-in conditions have not been met, the Sunny Central
switches to the operating state "Grid monitoring".
Fault
If a fault occurs during operation, the Sunny Central switches off and the fault is shown on the display
(see section 10 "Troubleshooting", page 55).
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3.2 Type Label
The type label provides a clear identification of the Sunny Central. Two type labels are attached to
the Sunny Central. The type labels can be found on both the top left side in the connection cabinet
and on the right side in the inverter cabinet.
Additionally, the serial number can be found on the roof of the inverter at the top left.
Figure 3: Layout of the type label
Position Designation Explanation
AModel Device type
B Serial no. Inverter serial number
C Fabrication date Date of manufacture
D ‒ Device-specific characteristics
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3.3 Display
Read the yield values of the inverter and error messages off the display. If there is an error, the button
glows red.
Figure 4: Display and control elements
Position Designation
AButton
BSwitch
CDisplay
The display can be operated by pushing and pulling the switch and by using the button
(see section 4 "Operating the Display", page 27). By pushing the switch, you can switch on the
backlight of the display.
3.4 Stop/Start Switch
Use the stop/start switch to switch the Sunny Central on or off.
Switch position "Start"
After turning the stop/start switch to "Start", a motor drive closes the DC contactor and the
Sunny Central goes from the operating state "Stop" to the operating state "Grid monitoring". If there
is sufficient irradiation and a valid power distribution grid connection, the Sunny Central switches to
feed-in operation. If there is insufficient irradiation and, in turn, the input voltage is too low, the
Sunny Central remains in the operating state "Grid monitoring".
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Switch position "Stop"
If the stop/start switch is turned to "Stop" while the Sunny Central is in the operating state
"Grid monitoring", a motor drive opens the DC contactor. The Sunny Central switches to the operating
state "Stop".
If the stop/start switch is turned to "Stop" while the Sunny Central is in the operating state
"MPP load operation", the Sunny Central switches to the operating state "Shutdown". Once shutdown
is complete, the AC contactor and the DC contactor open automatically and the Sunny Central
switches to the operating state "Stop".
3.5 Sunny WebBox
The Sunny WebBox is a device that monitors and controls the inverter. The Sunny WebBox
establishes the connection between the PV plant and its operator.
Figure 5: Sunny WebBox in the Sunny Central
The Sunny WebBox collects all the data from connected devices. Using the Sunny WebBox, the
monitoring, parameterization, and remote diagnosis of the Sunny Central can be performed via a
computer. The operator can access all data stored in the Sunny WebBox via an Internet connection
or a GSM modem.
You can configure the settings of the Sunny WebBox in the web browser by entering the IP address
of the Sunny WebBox.
Communication type of the PV plant
The interface of the Sunny WebBox is set by default to "SMA-COM" and a 19 200 baud rate.
Do not modify these settings.
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3.6 Sunny Central String-Monitor Controller
Depending on which options are ordered, the Sunny Central may be equipped with a Sunny Central
String-Monitor Controller for stringcurrent monitoring. The Sunny Central String-Monitor Controller
allows communication between the Sunny Central String-Monitors and the Sunny Central.
Figure 6: Sunny Central String-Monitor Controller
The Sunny Central String-Monitors measure the string currents via an integrated measuring circuit
board and continuously calculate the average value of the string currents. The measuring circuit board
compares the string currents with the average values. If a string current exceeds or falls below a
specified tolerance for the average value, a warning or fault is generated and displayed via the
Sunny WebBox user interface.
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3.7 Insulation Monitoring Via GFDI
The insulation monitoring in the Sunny Central is performed via Ground Fault Detection Interruption
(GFDI).
GFDI is performed via a high-performance k-type miniature circuit-breaker with adjustable operating
current. The miniature circuit-breaker is integrated in the inverter and connected between a positively
or negatively grounded input busbar and the grounding busbar.
Figure 7: GFDI in the Sunny Central
3.8 Grid Management
3.8.1 Requirements
PV plants must participate in feed-in management in accordance with IEEE 1547. Most importantly
the grid operator must be able to limit the power of the PV plant by remote control and temporarily
reduce it to zero in critical cases. The relevant control commands of the grid operator must therefore
be transmitted to the Sunny Central quickly and reliably for implementation.
The following figure shows how the specifications of the grid operator are implemented. The
Power Reducer Box sends the specifications of the grid operator to the inverters.
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Figure 8: Principle of grid integration
Besides the Power Reducer Box, there are two other options for meeting the requirement of the grid
operator:
• Receiving the signals via two analog inputs on the Sunny Central
• Manual specification adjustment via parameters
3.8.2 Active Power Limitation
There are five methods for limiting the active power independent o f th e po wer fre que ncy . Th e limit ca n
be defined using a parameter and supplied by the grid operator via an external signal.
At the same time, the active power can be limited depending on the power frequency (for information
on active power limitation parameterization, see section 7 "Active Power Limitation", page 35).
3.8.3 Reactive Power Regulation
The Sunny Central can provide reactive power. There are eleven methods for specifying the reactive
power target value. They include entering a fixed parameter, processing an external signal from the
grid operator or specifying the reactive power using characteristic curve parameters (for information
on reactive power regulation, see section 8 "Reactive Power Regulation", page 40).
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3.9 Active Island Detection
The Active Island Detection function detects the formation of stand-alone grids during a grid failure
and disconnects the Sunny Central from the power distribution grid.
Loss of UL certification
The Active Island Detection function is standardized by IEEE 1547. Deactivation of the
islanding detection results in the loss of the UL certification of the inverter and SMA is not liable
for any resulting damage.
Stand-alone grids form when the following conditions occur simultaniously:
• The medium-voltage grid fails.
• The Sunny Central feeds in an amount x of power.
• There is a consumer on the same branch of the grid with a load equal to the amount x of power.
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4 Operating the Display
4.1 Display Symbols
Figure 9: Display layout (example)
Position Designation Explanation
A Tapping Tapping on the enclosure switches on the backlight.
B Power Power that the Sunny Central is feeding into the power
distribution grid. The display is updated every 5 seconds.
C Day Energy that the Sunny Central has fed into the grid today.
The display is updated every 5 seconds.
D Total Energy that the Sunny Central has fed into the power distribution
grid during its operating time. The display is updated every
5 seconds.
E Text line The text line shows the menu or an error description.
F Power distribution
grid error number
Operating Manual SC500HEUS-eng-BE-BUS120320 27
If there is an error in the power distribution grid, an error number
will be shown in this position (see section
10 "Troubleshooting", page 55)
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