19 June 2012
SMA announces the availability of its Smartformer, a transformer and distribution box that features transformer, load-shedding, bypass and distribution capabilities and is compatible with SMA's Sunny Island inverters. Available in the North American Market, the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certified Smartformer facilitates easy application for off-grid or grid-tied battery backup single Sunny Island systems. With this product SMA continues its efforts to improve the performance of battery backup photovoltaic (PV) power systems.
This practical solution can be utilised for systems using Sunny Boy inverters up to 6000 watts (W). It employs a highly efficient toroidal 120/240 volt (V) autoformer to provide 240V alternating current (AC) distribution for single Sunny Island systems. The Smartformer has step-up and step-down options for supply loads, enabling a highly efficient, dependable system that is also easy for users to maintain.
The Smartformer's bypass switch and load-shedding relay add ease and enhance safety to stand-alone grids. The bypass switch bridges the system to allow for easy, safe maintenance and direct grid operation without disrupting power to backed-up loads. The load-shedding relay offers protection against deep discharge of a system's batteries to minimise power disruption and extend battery life.
SMA's Smartformer features internal over-current protection, simplifying installation. The toroidal transformer offers 99% efficiency. It has an operating temperature range of -25°C to 60°C.
The Smartformer is paired with SMA's US series of Sunny Island battery-based inverters, equipped with best-in-class grid and battery management functions, including monitoring. The Sunny Island acts as system manager to collect real-time data and make intelligent decisions based on the battery's state of charge, state of health, electrical loads and generation capacity. When used with the Smartformer, a Sunny Island system will use batteries more efficiently before activating a backup energy source.
