Please help me find a replacement (choke?)

[boxermick]

Hi Everyone, I am new to the forum and don't have a history in electronics. I powered on my New Old Stock ABB PVI-4.2-TL-OUTD  solar inverter (4.2kW) and it eventually let out a little smoke. The part that burned is a choke I believe. (see attachment) ABB PN: 917cc01v001
I can't seem to find any info using this part number, and help on a replacement would be greatly appreciated.

Also, if anyone has time - can you offer an idea as to why this part may have burned in the first place? I put 2kW through that MPPT channel which is well within limits.

Thanks,
Mick

[johnf]

boixermick
all depends on many variables
 is the choke on the input side ie photovoltaic or on the mains out side
I have seen these type chokes on the mains side do this due to bad mains power factor putting excess strain on output filtering in inverters?

We need more info to help?

[boxermick]

Hi John, I appreciate the response. From what I can tell it's on the photovoltaic side. So I assume that would be an input choke? Would this also be called an inductor choke? I found this but it's not terribly helpful: https://www.zauba.com/USA-import-h3100/hts-code-850490/port-of-loading-57045/shipment-date-2013-07-01T00%3A00%3A00Z-data.html

Attached is the really simple block diagram from the manual, unfortunately there aren't actual schematics. I believe this choke fits into the MPPT 2 DC/DC block on this diagram but it's pretty vague (from my newbie perspective). All of the MPPT 1 electronics are working (I even put the solar string from MPPT2 over to MPPT1 in parallel and ran it for the day with no problems with the electronics). I think the part may have just been defective but who knows.

Thanks for walking me through this replacement.

Thanks,
Mick

[johnf]

boxermick
it is probably one of the main forward inverter chokes
best I could find was this for a similar unit
http://librosdelmisterio.site/pl/?q=aurora+pvi+3600+inverter+manual

you could try ABB themselves for a service manual but you would still have to find the spare parts
I have taken out fried transformers and very carefully unwound what was left to using a new bobbin rewound with new wire.
At least with your unit it is possible to take out both the fried one and the other channel one to do measurements on the good one so that if the cores are gapped you can get the required inductance regapping done when rewound.
All of this does not mean that tyhere is collateral damage elsewhere in that MPTT channel. Maybe see if you can use the still good Mppt channel only

[Mads Barnkob]

All of this does not mean that there is collateral damage elsewhere in that MPPT channel. Maybe see if you can use the still good MPPT channel only

I agree on this, the burned out Choke is more symptom of a failure than a cause.

I would expect that a switch/IGBT/MOSFET is shorted to allow enough current to flow to actually burn a choke, that is very uncommon.

[boxermick]

That sounds incredibly reasonable. I will be troubleshooting with Fimer today (Fimer bought out the Inverter division of ABB). They say the unit is still under warranty, which blows my mind. But since I opened it up we'll see if they still honor it. I will post back with the results in case someone else is in my boat in the future.

Thanks again to everyone.

Mick

[boxermick]

Just an update and final post on the subject. Fimer (ABB's successor for the inverters) sent me a new solar inverter as the old one was still under warranty. This was a huge surprise to me as I bought it deeply discounted on eBay - pretty rad of those guys to honor the warranty. In case someone else has issues in the future, hopefully this will be helpful.

Thanks,
Mick
ABB inverter PN: PVI-4.2-TL-OUTD-S-US-A