Mastervolt - Solar energy solutions

Six megawatt-class solar power plants with trackers installed in Puglia

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:23:49 +0100

Amsterdam, 19 February 2013 – A group of six solar power plants employing various PV technologies – including concentrated solar power (CPV) – and with a cumulative output of 6 MW has been installed in the Italian region of Puglia. Alongside CPV technology, the plants also comprise poly and monocrystalline modules. A total of 250 Mastervolt SunMaster CS20s serve as the inverters for all the plant and module technology. The owner and operator of the plants is the German company Solar 8, which also manufactured the single and dual axis trackers used in the project.

Solar 8 used a variety of module technologies to demonstrate the performance of individual trackers in different operating conditions. In order to keep installation and maintenance costs as low as possible, a single inverter model was required that was equally suitable for all the different module types. After initially testing inverters from another supplier, Solar 8's choice settled on the three-phase SunMaster CS20TL RP.

"We were very impressed by the yield achieved in the first module batch installed with the Mastervolt inverter, so my partner and I decided to complete the entire 6 MW installation in Puglia using this model, despite having initially tried another solution," says Werner Wieland, CTO of Solar 8.

Mastervolt’s SunMaster CS family comprises six transformerless inverters with outputs of 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 20 and 30 kW. They are characterised by their light weight, compact construction and their high degree of versatility and performance, even in extreme conditions. The CS20 won the prestigious iF product design award in 2010. All SunMaster CS inverters are CEI-021 certified.

Ecobuild: Mastervolt Presents New Soladin Web Inverters

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:39:37 +0100

Amsterdam, 05/02/2013. Mastervolt presents the completely new generation of compact Soladin inverters at Ecobuild 2013, booth S3140.

The new Soladin Web series is made in Holland and ideal for smaller PV systems. The range is designed to meet building code requirements in the UK and consists of three inverters with capacities of 700W, 1000W and 1500W.

Integrated Wi-Fi and free IntelliWeb

The new inverter series has integrated Wi-Fi. Using the new and free IntelliWeb Internet portal, owners can monitor their solar systems from anywhere at any time. The Mastervolt design philosophy allows for a simple and flexible installation of the new Soladin. Thanks to their integrated HF transformer and the wide input voltage range, the inverters can be used with all PV modules and any kind of solar roof tiles. For quick and easy installation, every Soladin Web is equipped with ‘quick connect’ AC terminals and safe DC connectors.

IntelliConcept

In spite of the inverters’ compact size, the new Soladin series boasts all eight features of the Mastervolt IntelliConcept. These include the intelligent startup procedure IntelliStart, which extends the annual operating time by up to 200 hours. IntelliGrid reduces production losses in case of voltage dips in the grid and IntelliShade ensures high yields even in conditions of temporary shading. The performance of the smart IntelliTrack has been simulated and tested with results of 99.9% static MPPT efficiency and a 99.7% dynamic MPPT efficiency. The silent IntelliCool system ensures stable high efficiency and constant high power. Taken together, these features result in up to 5% more energy production compared with systems without the IntelliConcept.

Mastervolt's top tips for a trouble-free summer afloat

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:29:02 +0100

Mastervolt, the leading Dutch-based specialist of electrical systems, has circulated a series of simple tips to allow yachtsmen and motorboaters to keep their electrics in top condition after the long winter lay-up.

Some yachtsmen find the start of the season frustrated by flat batteries, short circuits, and faulty connections, especially after a cold, damp winter, but Mastervolt’s advice seeks to minimize the disruption. Listed below are some of the most common malfunctions electrical engineers are called to deal with, and simple ways around them.

Use intelligent charging

Unfortunately, many boaters find their batteries almost flat when used in anger for the first time. Extreme cold, self-discharge and lack of recharging will shorten a battery’s life considerably. Some batteries will have spent the winter stored on a cold concrete garage floor rather than lifted onto wooden batons.

"Batteries left on the boat should ideally have been connected to an ‘intelligent’ battery charger, matched to the type of batteries being used," said Mastervolt’s Global Power Conversion Product Manager for the Marine and Mobile Group, Marc Persoon. "This will monitor the state of each battery bank and adapt its charging regime to match the requirements of the battery bank. The best scenario is to have a dedicated charger for each bank. All Mastervolt’s chargers charge in three steps, which has proved to be the optimal choice between fast charging and battery lifetime. If shore power is interrupted, the charger starts again where it left off, whereas rival products would start the cycle again. Having the right charger to suit your batteries, and with the right charging regime, will get your season off to a flying start."

If you find your boat stored in a winter storage where continuous shore power is prohibited, Mastervolt advises to fully charge the batteries before disconnecting the battery terminals to make sure no loads drain the batteries during the winter. We advise to reconnect the batteries and fully charge every two months. When you have GEL batteries this can be done every three months. For Mastervolt Lithium Ion batteries, the requirements are easier without availability of shore power. Ideally, store batteries at 60-70% state of charge and disconnect the battery terminals. You can store them for 6 months without problems. Mastervolt advises a ‘winter switch’ to isolate your batteries from the system; this makes preparing for winter storage as easy as possible, and allows for quick disconnection of the system when doing maintenance.

Check terminal tightness

It may seem obvious, but yachts and especially engine rooms are full of vibration and movement, so it’s not surprising that battery terminals can work themselves loose. Movement in the batteries themselves can often strain the connections, so ensure the batteries are well strapped down, the terminals kept clean, not over-tightened, and thinly smeared with petroleum jelly to deter corrosion. Often a ‘flat’ battery is actually just poorly connected.

Seek out corrosion

A boat is in the worst possible environment for wiring, and the salty atmosphere can eat its way into the terminal ends and work up the wire, the extent of the corrosion not always fully obvious under the insulation. The use of fully tinned wire for installations may be more expensive, yet will offer a great deal of protection against creeping corrosion. Even during the early season, keep the boat warm and dry with thermostatically controlled heaters or dehumidifiers.

"Condensation has also been known to settle onto the circuit boards of some of the cheaper electronics, causing shorts," Persoon said. "Keep non-marine electronic equipment off your boat, especially in the winter or early season, until you actually need it."

Inspect shore power cables

Shore power may well have been left on during the winter, and will be used a lot during the season, so it’s worth a few minutes to visually check the cable and connections. Cables suffer the occasionally heavy trolley being run over them, the ends being dropped into the water, storage in wet, salty lockers, and accidental pull-outs, so look for damaged pins, corrosion on the metal, and crush or chafe damage to the insulation. Mastervolt’s stylish but rugged range of shore power cables features moulded waterproof ‘pin and sleeve’ connectors to prevent salt water corrosion, and the cable is ribbed to stop it rolling underfoot.

Review the system

If your boat’s electrics have become unreliable, the best way to guarantee a trouble-free season is to consider refitting with a fully compatible system of batteries, chargers and inverters. Many systems are a mish-mash of different manufacturers’ equipment, yet Mastervolt’s components are all designed to work seamlessly together, and connect via the MasterBus CAN-bus system. They’re also fully hybrid-ready. Mastervolt’s catalog and website gives full advice for refitting to achieve complete electrical freedom.

Have fun enjoying your independence ...

Mastervolt consolidates sales and service activities from Germany and Italy

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:55:42 +0100

Amsterdam, Cologne, Gallarate, 31 January 2013 – The Dutch inverter manufacturer Mastervolt is carrying out an organizational consolidation affecting Germany and Italy. Mastervolt will provide sales and service activities for Germany from its headquarter office in Amsterdam. Italian customers will continue to be served via the existing strong and experienced distributor Mastervolt Italia Srl and other known distributors. Both local sales offices will be closed by the end of February, 2013. Sales offices in France, UK, Benelux, United States and Asia remain in operation.

The structural change in both countries is in line with Mastervolt’s philosophy of working with a wide-spread, well trained, installer and distributor partner network. As the solar market develops towards smart energy solutions, a core competence of Mastervolt, partners and customers will be supported from the head office where Mastervolt will continue to provide its technological knowledge.

"This consolidation allows us to more efficiently serve our customers while improving operational excellence and our cost structure", states Hans van Nikkelen Kuijper, CEO of Mastervolt. "In a rapidly changing technological environment, an efficient organisational structure will help us to bring our new innovative products and services to the market more quickly". Mastervolt aims to create a solid base for global expansion by focusing on innovation and introduction of the new SoladinWeb inverter range, IntelliWeb monitoring functionality, Lithium Ion Ultra battery range and the completion of the new three-phase SunMaster CS range (7-30kW) in the coming months.

New Soladin Web inverters with Integrated Wireless LAN and Innovative Monitoring

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:55:49 +0100

Mastervolt is set to unveil its completely new generation of compact Soladin inverters at InterSOLUTION 2013, booth 8611. The new Soladin Web series is suitable for all European countries and is made in Holland. The range is designed for residential buildings with 3 to 8 panels and consists of three inverters with capacities of 700Wac, 1000Wac and 1500Wac. The new inverter series has integrated wireless LAN. Using the new and completely free Internet portal IntelliWeb, owners can monitor their solar systems from anywhere at any time.

"Mastervolt has already sold over 200.000 Soladins. This success story will be continued with the new Soladin Web models. To achieve this, the new devices have an excellent price-performance ratio and are equipped with the latest online monitoring and inverter technology. From now on Soladins can be used in every European country," says David Bassie, Product Manager Solar at Mastervolt.

The Mastervolt design philosophy allows for a simple and flexible installation of the new Soladin. Thanks to their integrated HF transformer and the wide input voltage range, the inverters can be used with all PV modules. For quick and easy installation (in 3 minutes), every new Soladin is equipped with an easily accessible AC connection and safe DC connectors.

In spite of the inverters’ compact size, the new Soladin Web series boasts all the features of the Mastervolt IntelliConcept. These include the intelligent startup procedure IntelliStart, which extends the annual operating time by up to 200 hours. IntelliGrid reduces production losses in case of voltage dips in the grid and IntelliShade ensures high yields even in conditions of temporary shading. The performance of the smart IntelliTrack has been simulated and tested with results of 99.9% static MPPT efficiency and a 99,7% dynamic MPPT efficiency. The silent IntelliCool system ensures stable high efficiency and constant high power.

Installers See Great Potential for Commercial PV Installations

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:56:33 +0100

Over 120 professionals attend Mastervolt SolarTruck Roadshow.

Installers in the UK see commercial PV installations as an extremely attractive investment for their customers and are expecting this market to grow. They see the different guidelines and system configurations as the major challenges of such plants compared to those posed by domestic systems. In addition, most of the uncertainties centre on the financing models that can be applied in the commercial sector. These are just some of the findings of the SolarTruck Roadshow held by Dutch inverter manufacturer Mastervolt, which was visited by over 120 installers and distributors at 12 locations throughout the UK.

During the roadshow, held in Mastervolt’s mobile training facility, participants received training on commercial distribution processes, technical solutions and how to calculate commercial PV systems. Mastervolt has developed a system calculator and a financial tool for precisely this purpose which allows installers to calculate the profitability of commercial installations in just a few steps and present this information to clients.

"Commercial solar is seen as a very attractive target market for installers because their customers consume what they produce, collect the feed-in tariff and gain certain tax advantages that make such plants very lucrative investments", says David Craig, General Manager of Mastervolt UK & Ireland.

Mastervolt has a powerful range of inverter models and extensive experience in installing commercial PV plants. The UK-based team has already assisted in implementing hundreds of commercial projects with a cumulative capacity of over 10MWp, supporting installers with tasks ranging from plant design to commissioning.

Mastervolt opens new test lab and receives ISO 9001 certification

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:00:57 +0100

The Dutch inverter manufacturer Mastervolt continues on its quest for quality excellence. The company’s process management system was recently certified according to ISO 9001. Mastervolt also invested into a sophisticated new test laboratory suitable for photovoltaic inverters of up to 50 kW. The new lab also contains facilities to test off-grid power supply systems and diesel gensets for yachts from Mastervolt’s Marine product range.

In the lab, the behavior of large photovoltaic arrays is simulated, and it provides a 90kW simulated power grid. A large climatic chamber creates extreme ambient conditions with relative humidity levels op to 99% and temperatures between -85°C and 180°C. This allows to test both the input and output characteristics of inverters under all environmental conditions.

"The ISO 9001 certification and the new test laboratory are central pillars of our quality and reliability programme. The lab allows us to thoroughly test new devices under all conceivable ambient conditions. This is important for us because Mastervolt stands for devices and components with outstanding reliability" says Jan Jouke Bootsma, Quality Manager at Mastervolt. Mastervolt's stand-alone power supply systems are used in and vehicles worldwide, where they have to withstand high humidity, extreme temperatures, vibration and dust.

State-of-the-art equipment such as an Ametek High Power AC Source are used for simulations and testing. The RS90-SNK can exactly simulate 3-phase AC utility grids, including peak loads and grid failures that are to be expected in a real-life environment. True to its renewable energy mission, Mastervolt opted for the energy-efficient version of the RS90, which regenerates more than 80 percent of the power.

The new lab also boasts three 32 kW Regatron 1000VDC Sources to simulate the behavior of solar cells under many different conditions, from sunrise to sunset, on cloudy days or under partial shading. Measurement data are recorded by a Yokogawa Power Analyser, which measures power conversion efficiency down to a hundredth of a percent.

Mastervolt introduces the Lithium Ion Ultra Battery

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 11:53:31 +0100

Mastervolt introduces the Lithium Ion Ultra Battery - The next generation of lightweight, deep-cycling portable power.

Mastervolt, the Dutch-based leader in electrical systems and a subsidiary of the Actuant Corporation, is proud to announce the arrival of the Lithium Ion ‘Ultra’ battery, the next generation of deep-cycle power storage technology.

The traditional use of lead plates to store electrical energy has always had strict limitations, but the introduction of Mastervolt’s first generation of high power Lithium Ion battery was a paradigm change.

Lithium Ion batteries are at least 3 times more powerful than lead-based equivalents, a minimum of 3 times lighter, and most significantly, offer at least 3 times the cycle life. They can repeatedly provide useable power to virtual exhaustion with no ill effects, making them ideal for electric propulsion.

After several years of practical use, the award-winning first generation Li-Ion batteries performed beyond expectations. Harnessing the vital knowledge gained from this experience, the Mastervolt team has since developed the only second generation Li-Ion on the market, the Ultra series.

The Li-Ion Ultra battery is a completely new design, with every component upgraded and improved for increased performance across all applications. As always, safety and ease of installation were top priorities, yet in addition, the Ultra battery also holds more power, is far quicker to recharge, and now has most of the peripheral systems fully integrated. The footprint remains the same, allowing a straight swap for existing first-generation Li-Ion battery banks.

Inside the new-look casing are eight cells of Lithium Iron Phosphate, a silver-like substance that is a third of the weight of water, yet as safe as lead-acid. The low density of Lithium Iron Phosphate allows the battery to be much smaller and lighter than conventional equivalents. At 55kg, this is a weight saving of some 80% for 5kWh. The other big advantage of Li-Ion is that 80% of the power stored is useable, compared with just 40% for lead-acid. Unlike lead-acid, deep discharging to tap this power can be done with impunity, giving an ultra-long battery life of some 2,000 cycles; six times more than conventional batteries, and with no memory effect.

The real key to Mastervolt’s success with this technology is the active-cell balancing system. This moves energy from the highest-charged cells to those lower down, to keep energy levels equal right across the battery. Competitors use a far less efficient system called passive balancing, where the higher-charged cells lose their energy as heat, whilst the others play catch up.

In addition, the Ultra batteries can soak up a fast recharge to full capacity in less than an hour, and a common rail connection allows two Ultra batteries to be wired in series without costly external balancing. The batteries can also be connected to a fully integrated power management system, a speciality of Mastervolt, via a simple MasterBus CANbus cable. This reduces charge time by communicating the battery’s needs to all Mastervolt charging devices on board, and can also work through other protocols such as NMEA2000 and ModBus.

Changing a conventional battery installation to a Lithium Ion system previously used to require additional external components, yet in the second generation these have nearly all been incorporated into the battery, simplifying installation and further reducing costs.

"We are extremely proud of the new Ultra series," said Marc Persoon, Actuant’s Power Conversion Product Manager for the Marine and Mobile Group. "It is the distillation of years of practical experience in the field of marine Lithium Ion, gained since we brought the first ever battery of its type to the market. The longevity, light weight and versatility of Li-Ion, combined with lower installation costs for the new Ultra series makes them good value in the long-term compared with lead-acid equivalents. This brings amongst other applications cost-effective electric boating for everyone a big step closer."

For product information, click here.

Mastervolt strengthens service and marketing team

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 14:43:11 +0200

To boost worldwide growth and to improve the maintenance and warranty services Mastervolt has appointed Vincent Kloos as Global Service Director. He started his career in service sales at MGE UPS Systems before moving to AEG Power Solutions, where he was responsible for the service department.

Speaking about his new role, Vincent Kloos said it was his ambition to professionalise the global service organisation and to translate the customer needs into an improved strategy. "We have a large network of customers in Solar as well as Marine and Mobile," he explained. "These two fields require different approaches and therefore different strategies. As our service team works in both disciplines we aim to achieve synergy in our processes without compromising the quality of either service."

Douwke de Backer strengthens Mastervolt’s marketing department. She studied Dutch and Communications at the University of Amsterdam. Before joining Mastervolt she managed a communication project in the IT industry. In her new role Douwke de Backer will analyse and improve the performance of Mastervolt’s website and will be taking care of the Power Notes, Power on the Move and Solar Notes newsletters.

Hans van Nikkelen Kuijper, President Global Marine, Solar & Automotive at Mastervolt, said: "We are very excited by these new appointments. Both Vincent and Douwke are bringing valuable experience and have roles that will take Mastervolt forward in its existing global customer service sector and in reaching new customers through its online presence."

Mastervolt presents new ES 3.6 inverter at Energie 2012!

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:19:50 +0200

Mastervolt will present the new transformerless SunMaster ES3.6TL inverter along with its complete product range in hall 6, stand D061 at Energie 2012, which is held in ‘s Hertogenbosch from 9th-11th October.

The ES 3.6 achieves a maximum output of 3.6 kW (16 A) and is completely noiseless. The special features of the ES product series ensure a rapid and simple installation process for installers, and result in a particularly versatile device. Thanks to its wide input voltage, the ES 3.6 can be used with all crystalline PV modules and numerous thin-film modules.

Optimised dynamic MPP tracking reduces tracking losses and minimises losses from partial shading. The device has a maximum efficiency of 97.5 % and an EU efficiency of 96,6 %.

The low level of self consumption by the SunMaster ES 3.6, combined with an intelligent start-up procedure, extends the daily operating time by up to 40 minutes. This means that the inverter begins operation in the early hours of the morning and works late into the evening. In addition, energy yields are also increased thanks to an integrated ‘IntelliGrid’ function. This function allows the ES 3.6 to adapt better to grid faults, and electricity feed-in is more rarely impaired as a result.

In addition to the new inverter, Mastervolt will showcase a selection of its complete inverter product range, including the transformerless CS 10, the XS 3200 and the Soladin.

3 MW Solar Power Plant with 121 Mastervolt Inverters Installed

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:52:02 +0200

A distribution centre belonging to an international supermarket chain is now home to one of Belgium’s largest solar power plants employing string inverters. The plant, located the Brussels suburb of Zellik, was installed by Enerdeal NV/SA and has a total capacity exceeding 3 MWp, measures around 52,000 m² and is equipped with 121 SunMaster CS20TL inverters supplied by Dutch manufacturer Mastervolt.

Despite the high total capacity of the plant, Enerdeal deliberately opted for string inverters in order to simplify installation, optimise plant output, minimise the effects of potential faults and improve plant monitoring. More specifically, they chose to use SunMaster CS20TL inverters as they are easier to install than other devices with similar power ratings: they are lighter in weight, have compact housings and can be configured with great speed. This improves cost efficiency, particularly when large numbers of devices are used, and results in a significantly lower cost of ownership.

Furthermore, the transformerless CS series is characterised by its versatility and the outstanding performance of its MPP trackers, which have a dynamic efficiency of 99.8%. As a result, high yields can be achieved with just one inverter model by grouping three different PV module types being used.

A compact, IP65-rated housing also allows the device to be installed directly on the roof, and the inverter display screen supplies helpful information regarding installation and troubleshooting potential faults at string level. Furthermore, rubber feet on the bottom of the housing protect the device when placed on the floor, and the communication drawer is fully removable for easy wiring. These features add a simple to manage, but highly appreciated layer to Enerdeals’ quality control concept.

"It wasn’t only the technical quality of the SunMaster product that won us over, but also the working relationship with the Mastervolt team. The engineers gave us constructive support throughout the project, even in the preparatory phases, and thus contributed to its success. The devices themselves have likewise proven to be exceptional: both installation and start-up went smoothly and the plant’s output is exceeding our expectations," states Filip Verboven from Enerdeal.

1.6MW photovoltaic power plant with 80 Mastervolt inverters on the Isle of Wight

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:49:04 +0200

London/Amsterdam, 01.03.2012 – One of the Isle of Wight’s largest solar power plants near Newport is completed. The Isle of Wight, located off the southern coast of Britain, has few conventional power plants and also receives its electricity from the main land. So the new solar power plant will make a valuable contribution in supplying the electricity grid on the island. The ground mount installation with an output of 1.6 MWp consists of 80 strings with 88 solar modules each. Each string is equipped with a SunMaster CS20 inverter from Mastervolt. This makes the plant one of the largest systems with string inverters in Britain.

"The Isle of Wight has long been an important location for Mastervolt: Many of the yachts cruising the magnificent sailing resorts around the island use our independent power supply systems. After all, Mastervolt is the global market leader for these systems. Being able to implement our largest British photovoltaic project to date on the Isle of Wight makes us particularly proud," says David Craig, General Manager, Mastervolt UK and Ireland.

The solar power plant has its own 33,000V transformer for grid feed-in. The plant was planned and constructed with Mastervolt’s support. Even though plants of this size often use central inverters, the plant owner opted for string inverters to provide high availability and redundancy in the design. This decision was driven by the high efficiency of the SunMaster CS20, the IP65 housing for weather-resistant open-air mounting and its suitability for the LDK solar modules used.

About the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is an island off the South coast of England. The popular holiday destination boasts scenic hiking paths and one of the world's most famous sailing resorts off the city of Cowes. Additionally, the Isle of Wight Festival attracts more than 50,000 visitors every year.

About Mastervolt

Headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Mastervolt International BV has been specialising in the development and production of inverters and grid-independent power supply systems for solar, marine and automotive applications since 1993. Mastervolt has seven offices across Europe, the United States and Asia, and sells its products in more than 60 countries. From January 2011, Mastervolt became a subsidiary of Actuant, a globally operating technology consortium.

New Alpha Pro Charge Regulator

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 16:29:40 +0200

Mastervolt, the leading manufacturer of electrical and marine systems, is pleased to announce the launch of a brand new model of Alpha Pro regulator, effectively replacing four earlier models with just one, able to communicate with all Mastervolt products and work together as a complete system.

With the need to rapidly charge batteries from limited engine hours, Mastervolt developed the Alpha series of highly efficient alternators. These serve as primary or secondary alternators to a yacht’s main engine, making the very best use of the running engine when under propulsion.

The Alpha Pro regulator maximizes the output of Mastervolt Alpha alternators or any other alternator by regulating the alternator in a way that the batteries receive the optimum charge. The proven three-step+ charging regime used by all Mastervolt chargers guarantees the most efficient way to top the batteries up.

The new Alpha Pro regulator is designed as a ‘fit all’ solution, so now just one unit is needed for both 12V and 24V applications, with a simple selector switch to set the regulator to the right voltage. The unit can also be used on any other brand of alternator that has a standard Bosch connector, with a cable supplied as standard in the box.

Easy operation LEDs on the body of the regulator indicate the charge phase. The new Alpha Pro is also fully connectable to the MasterBus CANBus system, allowing easy monitoring via a single wire to a MasterView touch screen. In a MasterBus system the voltage drop over the battery cable will also be compensated automatically, as will battery temperature, improving the charging time without having to install additional cabling. When used in combination with Mastervolt Li-Ion batteries, the charging curves will be communicated automatically between the battery and the Alpha Pro regulator, ensuring the quickest and safest charge again without installing any additional cabling or components.
The Alpha Pro helps to cut emissions by requiring less run time because it maximises the power from any alternator; a battery can be charged quickly even at very low RPM, especially when connected to an Alpha series alternator. By connecting the Alpha alternator to a Battery Mate or Battery Isolator, several battery banks can be charged simultaneously.

"Combining highly efficient recharging with ease of installation and monitoring has always been a Mastervolt objective," said Marc Persoon, Actuant’s Global Power Conversion Product Manager for the Marine and Mobile Group. "The Alpha series, with the new ‘fits-all’ Alpha Pro regulator is a major step in easy operation and system functionality. Ultimately, by providing a higher efficiency of charging, you therefore gain a greater independence afloat."

Each Alpha Pro regulator carries a 2- year guarantee, and is supplied with two cables and an installation manual.

Brand new PowerLab!

Tue, 29 May 2012 16:31:23 +0200

Mastervolt, the Dutch-based leader in marine, solar and off-grid power products has invested in a major new research laboratory to drive forward its quest for ever more efficient electrical generation and propulsion systems. This will greatly assist the company in further developing its extensive range of hybrid and electrical drives for boats, with longer ranges and an even greater ability to regenerate underway.

Now part of the giant American Actuant Group, Mastervolt has access to a wide range of new – and previously competing – power products, especially within the mobile, solar and marine markets, and these products are gradually being merged into one impressive portfolio of solutions.

The modern and extensive new laboratory carries state-of-the-art equipment, such as the Ametek RS90-SNK High Power AC Source. This is one of only two such units in theNetherlands, and cost over €100,000 alone. The RS90 can exactly simulate 3-phase AC utility grids with all the peaks, troughs and sudden blackouts that boaters have suffered when connected to some of the world’s less reliable shore power hook-ups. It will be used to expand Mastervolt’s range of intelligent and highly efficient inverters. True to its renewable energy mission, Mastervolt specified the ‘green’ version of the RS90 (for an extra €45,000) that enables the lab to regenerate 80% of the power used during testing.

Also included in the new Power Lab are three Regatron 1000V/40A/32kW DC Sources to simulate the output of solar cells in a variety of conditions, from sunrise to sunset, under grey skies, blazing sunshine, or partial shade. Data is collated by a new Yokogawa WT1800 High Precision Power Analyser, which can measure power conversion down to literally hundreths of a percent.

In order to simulate climatic conditions in an engine room anywhere from the polar ice caps to the Equator, a Votsch WK1000 climatic chamber has been installed which can set any temperature between -85^oC and +180^oC, and change relative humidity to any value between 10% and 99%. Innovations destined for life in the most challenging of engine spaces will be trialled here.

Other equipment includes three diesel cabins for testing diesel/electric hybrids, and an electrical propulsion torque bench, enabling the R&D team to analyse both electrical and mechanical output and regeneration potential from an electrical propulsion system to the highest degree of accuracy. This new bench can handle loads of up to 20kW, replacing an earlier 5kW tester.

"The Power Lab is a major investment in our bid to take our products forward with a constant programme of development, improvement and innovation," said Daan Hobbelen, Product Development Manager, Marine & Mobile, Mastervolt. Hobbelen will be closely involved with the new Power Lab, particularly in the field of e-propulsion with an emphasis on regeneration.

"The new Lab will enable us to test products of up to 50kW," he said. "We are convinced that highly efficient electrical propulsion sourced from renewable sources such as solar panels, wind power and the free-wheeling propellers of boats under sail is the future for the leisure boating industry. This Lab will help us to achieve new goals for conversion efficiency."

The new Lab is based at Mastervolt’s headquarters in Amsterdam, and became operational in May 2012.

A new dynamic at Mastervolt with the promotion of Marc Persoon and Laura Willems

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:54:38 +0200

Mastervolt, the leading Dutch-based electrical specialist, has promoted former Marketing Manager Marc Persoon to the post of Global Power Conversion Product Manager for the Marine and Mobile Group. Also promoted to fill his previous role, is former Brand Manager Laura Willems, who now takes on the new position of Marketing Manager.

The promotions are part of Mastervolt’s ambitious plans to grow its global position within the marine, mobile and solar markets over the coming years, with the continuous launch and management of innovative power conversion products.

Marc joined the company in 2005, and has since become a well-known authority on Mastervolt’s cutting-edge portfolio. He is also a familiar personality to journalists and customers at International exhibitions. His new role will extend across all the Actuant owned brands of Mastervolt, Marinco, BEP Marine and ParkPower. Marc will focus on product commercialisations and liaise with the company’s customer base and with the talented engineers.

Taking over his role as Marketing Manager is Laura Willems, who joined Mastervolt 18-months ago as Brand Manager. Before that, she enjoyed a fast-paced 10-year career with global companies such as Cadbury Stimorol and Perfetti Van Melle. In the coming months and years, Laura will be bringing her expertise to bear with the in-house marketing team by identifying Mastervolt’s ongoing marketing priorities.

Commenting upon the promotions, General Manager Hans van Nikkelen Kuijper said, "As part of our strategy for growth, it is very important to define the right products and solutions, and to manage our customers’ needs with technological possibilities and competitive product prices. I am very pleased that Marc and Laura are taking on these new positions; they are a great asset to the company, and I am confident that both will do an outstanding job for us."

Marc Persoon added, "I’m absolutely delighted with the new role in product management. Now I have the opportunity to be even more closely involved in the integration of marketing, sales, and engineering of our branded products. We have many great new ideas taking shape, and being right at the heart of these developments is very exciting."

Outlining her new role in marketing, Laura said, "Mastervolt has a very discerning client base, and my job will be to increase the brand awareness through a wide variety of International media, and highlighting the benefits of investing in our premium product range."

New Mastervolt ES Inverter

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:18:21 +0100

At Intersolar 2011, Stand B4.250, Mastervolt will showcase the first member of the brand new SunMaster ES series with a power rating of 4.6 kW. The Mastervolt philosophy behind the ES range is to maximize annual yield under realistic conditions even if they are less favourable.

The ES 4.6 can start early in the morning and continue late at night because of a low self-consumption of less than 10 W and an intelligent start-up sequence, which extends the operating hours up to 40 minutes a day. An improved dynamic MPP tracking reduces overall tracking losses to below 0.2% in the whole range of climatic conditions, including partial shading. A high system voltage reduces cable loss up to 75%. The peak efficiency reaches 97.5%, the EU efficiency 97.0%.

The devices of the ES series rarely stop feeding-in into the grid in the event of grid disturbances, which further increases the yield. The adaptive Optima Cooling ensures thermal stability and reduces the probability of power derating.

The ES concept is extremely versatile and is particularly easy to install and operate. Thanks to the wide input voltage range of 395-1000V the ES 4.6 can be used with a variety of PV modules, including all crystalline PV modules and numerous thin-film modules. The IP65-rated electronic housing offers protection against water and dust.

As with most other Mastervolt inverters, the ES 4.6 meets the German requirements on the reactive power performance of inverters. It is equipped with an AC plug for easy installation, integrated carrying handles, a bracket for wall mounting and a retractable communication module for easy cabling. Moreover, the ventilation module can be removed, making it easy to clean. Settings for over 20 countries have been pre-programmed. A large, intuitive display screen with a multimeter and a 30-day data logger makes the device complete.

New country regulations demand updated inverter hardware

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:17:41 +0100

The complete Mastervolt SunMaster XS series now complies with the French UTE C 15-712-1 regulations. The firmware has been updated and a complementary grounding clamp supports easy installation according to the new requirements in France. The inverters also support larger diameter wires up to 10mm². In larger installations, where longer cables are required, this will help to reduce cable losses.

Mastervolt’s SunMaster XS series are in readiness for German VDE-AR-N 4105 regulations. As a result, the inverters will not shut down at a frequency of 50.2Hz, instead they will gradually reduce output power. Not shutting down at a fixed frequency will result in a higher yield as the inverters will stay connected to the grid during a longer time. The XS6500 is able to provide reactive power as required in Germany.

Traditionally, Denmark has been famous for its wind energy market. But price decreases have led to renewed interest in solar PV. Reasons for Mastervolt to certify the XS series to Danish regulations.

The European standard EN 50438 provides generic requirements for connection of PV inverters to the utility network. A country specific section lists national exceptions, derived from the Teknik Forskrift for elproducerende anlæg på 11 kW eller derunder, issued by www.energinet.dk.

Mastervolt verified the suitability of the SunMaster XS series for the Danish grid using a series of lab tests. This resulted in a Declaration of Conformity and full TR 3.2.1 test report available on www.mastervoltsolar.com

Certificates for SunMaster XL and IS products will be available within the next weeks as ongoing tests reach their completion.

Solar project 'Zonnestroom' on school buildings chooses Mastervolt inverters

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:13:14 +0100

Mastervolt has been selected by the Oskomera Group to supply one of the largest inner-city solar projects in theNetherlands. Sixteen CS15 model inverters produce environmentally friendly power in six school buildings and three other county-buildings. For the total project 2,800 solar modules have been used, with an expected output of 467.500 kWh per year. The installations also supply data to display panels, letting pupils know exactly how much power is being generated from above them up on the roof.

The display panels are not the only attempt to make the use of solar power more tangible. The solar systems are also discussed in lessons, where their component parts, and how solar technology works, is explained to the children.

The project was financed through a national subsidy and a joint venture between the solar power plant's operator and a renewable energy supplier. The operator takes care of installing and running the system safely while the energy supplier purchases the power generated. People living near the schools are able to buy this solar power for their own needs, making the project more widely known locally.

Project ‘Zonnestroom’ has now been nominated for the most sustainable project 2011!

Inverters certified for First Solar modules

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:11:48 +0100

First Solar Inc. has certified Mastervolt inverters for use in systems featuring its thin-film solar modules. In order to be eligible for use under the full First Solar module warranty, inverters must be approved in the System Design and Application (SDA) process. All inverters of the current Mastervolt Sunmaster XL, XS and CS series have achieved the SDA standard required and can therefore be utilized with the First Solar FS-Series 2 and FS-Series 3 modules.

First Solar warrants the FS-Series 2 and 3 modules according to the First Solar Module Warranty Terms and Conditions provided the modules are installed, operated and serviced as described in the First Solar User Guide and in the System Design and Application document.

The aim of the First Solar system design and application (SDA) process is to ensure that solar installations containing First Solar modules operate reliably and achieve high system efficiencies. The location of the plant and installation of the modules are tested, as well as the plant design and operating conditions.

David Bassie, product manager solar at Mastervolt states: "Such approval from First Solar is further confirmation of the versatility of the Sunmaster’s system design. When developing Mastervolt inverters, this versatility is one of the most important goals. Our devices are intended to be suitable for use in the most diverse projects and with all solar modules. This allows installers to focus on a small number of devices types but yet meet the requirements of many different customers."

New office for Mastervolt France

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:11:29 +0200

Present inFrancefor 15 years, Mastervolt, leading supplier of electrical power solutions to the worldwide marine, mobile and solar markets, has recently moved into new premises that are located in a large business centre in Mouans Sartoux. Still in theCannesarea, on the French Riviera, the French team wished to remain close to their marine customers, but made the move due to needed expansion of their working and warehousing space.

Stuart Ingram, Director of Mastervolt France, explained, "The new premises now offer a 350m² building, with modern training and service facilities and larger storage areas at our disposal. The move allows the whole team to work in a more professional environment and we now plan to offer regular training courses for installers and customers in both the marine and solar business."

In addition to the new offices, MastervoltFrancehas also recently begun to work with Vidal Diffusion Marine (VDM) as the new distributor for Mastervolt products, specialising in the electric-propulsion range. Chosen for their high level of customer service, VDM is an active existing distributor of technical parts for the marine industry with a range including mechanical equipment linked to e-propulsion systems. This makes them a perfect choice for Mastervolt and their growing e-propulsion portfolio and other product ranges.

Situated nearToulonin the south ofFrance, VDM is in an ideal location to work closely with Mastervolt as well as being in close proximity to the large marine customer base in the south. Furthermore, VDM’s nationwide network of installers is able to service all areas of France.

"Franceis a key market for Mastervolt and we want to offer optimum service to our customers here," Stuart Ingram commented, "We believe our new partnership with VDM will improve this service. I am also looking forward to working with some of the key e-propulsion specialists on their team, to jointly further the e-propulsion market potential inFrance."

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