I purchased a solar package which has an EG4 6500 EX-48 Solar Inverter/Charger 6.5 KVA 120 volt AC. I am trying to hook up the Tigo Single Core RSS Transmitter 100 amp. I am wondering where to get the power to power the Tigo transmitter. Also, I have the initiator switch 660 volt 10 amp 2 position 1 NO 1 NC Momentary Emergency Stop Push Button Switch, and I have no idea where that connects into anything.
Thank you so much!
Chris Sypolt
The Tigo RSS transmitter is only one part of a whole
module based, PV Rapid Shutdown System. The Tigo transmitter communicates with Tigo remote switches which have to be installed on
EVERY PV solar panel!
The idea behind a module-based PVRSS is that the max. PV DC voltage that can harm someone (e.g. firefighters on the roof) is no higher than what just
one PV module can produce (around 55 V for large modules). To achieve that, each module needs to have it's own remote disconnect switch installed to disconnects itself from the other modules! Therefore, such an installation is complex and expensive - but perfect for safety.
To avoid additional wiring to control these remote switches, the system uses "communication over PV power line" to just use the existing PV wires and this is what the ferrite core is for inside the RSS transmitter (via the ferrite core, the RSS transmitter modulates the signal contactless for "switching on" the PV panel on top of the existing PV wire voltage). All the remote switches under each PV panel receiving this signal (only works daytime when the solar panels produce energy) and "switch on" to connect to each other PV module.
It's important, that you wire all positive PV wires of all PV strings through the ferrite core of the RSS transmitter (or all negatives, but never mixed).
If the Tigo RSS transmitter loose power (to modulate the "on" signal), all remote switches switching "off". This is the what the emergency button is used for. It simply disconnects the Tigo RSS transmitter from it's (additional required) 12V power supply.
Tigo offers different options for these remote switches. These switches are clamped on the PV panels frame (e.g. like micro inverters are mounted):
- Tigo TS4-A-F (just one remote switch for one PV panel)
- Tigo TS4-A-2F (contains 2 remote switches to control 2 PV panels)
- Tigo TS4-A-O (contains an PV optimizer and also the remote switch)
- Tigo TS4-A-S (contains module based PV monitoring and also the remote switch)
I use the Tigo TS4-A-2F to reduce the number of required remote switches to the half of my PV panels (I don't care about PV optimizer and module level monitoring).
Just one hint. Because the RSS transmitter needs power to enable (switch on) the PV panels, you'll have to deal with a black start (dark start) situation. If you don't have the 12V power to supply the RSS transmitter, you'll have no chance to produce PV energy! This may result in a dead-lock situation.
