Qcells goes AC-coupled with Q.HOME CORE G3 | The Pitch
Qcells recently debuted the Q.HOME CORE G3, an AC-coupled storage system designed for installers who want more flexibility in both retrofits and whole-home backup. Kam Sihota, Head of System Engineering for Qcells, came on The Pitch to give an overview of the CORE G3, and how it fits into the expanding Qcells product ecosystem.
Watch in full here or listen as a podcast …
YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gYzcyPqA
Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/g2uYEeJW
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gmFcHtZZ
Amazon: https://lnkd.in/gvsAutWR
Key quotes
Why AC-coupled?
Sihota: “With our third generation, we’ve gone to an AC coupled platform. We have not only our PV modules but also a microinverter that’s pre-attached, pre-installed, pre-wired – the Q.TRON AC module. The microinverter is one that we designed and developed. The output of the AC modules go to our AC combiner. The combiner has four 20 amp branch circuits and can take 11 modules per branch circuit. Those are the building blocks on the PV side.
“Let’s say somebody wanted to do backup or grid support. That’s where you bring in the battery — a 13.1 kilowatt hour storage unit and a 7.6 kilowatt inverter built in. Put two of those together to get up to 26.2 kWh of storage. Now you could do arbitrage. If you wanted to do backup and really back up the home, that’s where you add the Q.HOME HUB. The HUB has an automatic transfer switch to disconnect the grid from the home, and an auto transformer.
“Beyond that … if somebody has PV already and they wanted to do backup, we could provide the HUB and our G3 battery and tie in storage to an existing PV.”
What can I connect to the HUB?
Sihota: “First of all, it’s mean to tie in the two battery outputs, and then also tie in the grid and the PV input. In addition, you can bring in a generator input, and there is additional auxiliary inputs for more, whether it’s a source or a load. Primarily, the function is to disconnect from the grid during backup configuration. In addition, communication and monitoring is tied in there. A gateway that’s collecting input from the batteries and from the PV and then communicating that off to the cloud.
“In this particular platform we have module level visibility. Every AC module is communicating through power line communication – voltage, current, temperature, power and so forth to the gateway, and then from the gateway we can connect it through cellular or through Wi-Fi or through Ethernet.”
Functions of Q.OMMAND apps
Sihota: “We looked at a lot of the apps before we developed this one. We have two versions of it. Q.OMMAND HOME is for the homeowner. What’s the production? Is my system working? Is there an alert? And the homeowner can also adjust settings, if they want to switch it to a particular mode. For the installer we have Q.OMMAND PRO. This is where the installer is scanning a QR code, creating a site, uploading the firmware updates, and going through the commissioning process.”
Installation time savings?
Sihota: “First, we’re saving time because they’re not having to source so many components. There’s some benefit in receiving an AC module that already has a microinverter pre-attached, installed, wired, and tested. So, you’re just carrying that AC module straight up on the roof and installing it on the racking.
“Then we’ve put a couple other tricks in. The combiner actually has a seven segment display. The moment you close one of those branch circuit breakers, it automatically connects to individual microinverters, and starts counting how many modules are connected. And usually within 30 seconds to a minute, it’s already recognized everything that’s up on the roof. That tells me that the interconnection is done, the wiring is done, and I don’t need to go back up there and check something.”
Pick up the episode from there…
Timestamps
- 0:29 – Overview of Qcells’ AC-coupled platform
- 1:41 – Q.HOME CORE G3 compared to G2
- 4:46 – Q.HOME CORE Hub
- 6:35 – Q.OMMAND app for homeowners and installers
- 8:11 – Time savings during installation
- 10:03 – Qcells fleet management and remote diagnostics in action
- 11:25 – EnFin financing by Qcells & 30-year warranty option
- 13:49 – Qcells domestic manufacturing snapshot and future
- 15:28 – Trend: standardizing on one brand for solar + storage
