Arka 360 provides you with the ability to auto calculate the size of the wire that you require in your solar plant system. Before you start using wire size calculator, make sure you have already created the design, added modules, inverters and you have already created the strings. Let's take an example, in this case we have added modules, microinverters and we have created branches of each of the micro converters. We'll save the design.
Step 1. From the left tool menu we will click on wire size calculator tool. Clicking on this will open wire size calculator tab.
Step 2. In the wire size calculator tab we will see multiple tables. Each of the table is representing the input and output of wire i.e. from which of the electrical component the wire is coming and to which of the component the wire is going.
Step 3. So, the first thing is based on your customer interconnection type we can choose what type of interconnection is available, that is whether it's back feed or tap.
Step 4. Next, we have a list of wire size calculation as per the latest calculations. So based on whichever year calculation we require, we can choose one of them.
Step 5. Here we have the table of module details based the module we have added in design studio. So based on whatever modules we have added, by default the table would get updated. Similarly, based on whatever inverter we have added in our design studio, the inverter specification table will also get updated.
Step 6. Here is the site specification data based on the weather file. If our solar system requires conduit, the we can add the conduit height as well in the table. Here by default, the type of conductor for AC we have taken as copper. We have the option to choose which type of conductor of the wire we will use on the site, Aluminum or copper. We also have the flexibility to adjust ambient temperature.
Step 7. AC CONDUCTOR AMPACITY CALCULATIONS:JUNCTION BOX TO COMBINER BOX
This table calculates the wire size of wire moving out of Junction box and getting into combiner box. Here, by default based on the branches that we have created in design studio, the number of currents carrying conductors is automatically filled in. We can edit is as well if our actual wiring is different from the design we have created. Now based on the number of current carrying conductors, factors such as temperatures and the no. of branches the wire size will be automatically calculated. Based on these factors the size of wire calculated is 10 AWG. Based on these the ground wire size is also calculated.
Step 8. Similarly, we can check the wire size calculations of other electrical components as well such as from combiner box to production meter or AC Disconnect. If we are connecting wires from Combiner box to Production meter then we will be required to turn on the toggle for COMBINER BOX TO PRODUCTION METER.
Or, if we are required to connect wires from combiner box to AC disconnect then we will need to turn on the toggle for COMBINER BOX TO AC DISCONNECT. Now, we can check what would be the required wire size.
Step 9. To check the calculated wire size of wire from AC disconnect to interconnection we can toggle on the table of AC DISCONNECT TO INTERCONNECTION. From this table we can check the wire size that is required.
Or if the wire is directly moving from combiner box to interconnection then the toggle for COMBINER BOX TO INTERCONNECTION table will be turned now. Now, we can check the size of required wire size from this table. So, in this way based on the project requirement we can check what is the wire size that is most suitable for our customer's solar plant system.
Note that this wire size calculated is based on US electrical calculations.
Step 10. We also have the flexibility to download this wire size calculator table in pdf form or we can also export it to excel sheet. To download the wire size table in pdf form, click on Download button.
Now, this will open a new page of in editable wire size calculator consisting of all the tables whose toggle was turned ON. Click on Download as Pdf button to down the wire size calculator page in pdf format.
To download the wire size calculator tables in excel format click on the button of Export excel. This will download the wire size calculator table in excel format.