FAQ
TL;DR: EN 50160 caps public-grid voltage at 253 V (+10 % over 230 V) and, as one installer advises, “Increase the diameter / add one more pair of cable.” [Elektroda, Kwazor, post #16324076] Stiffer wiring keeps ABB Power-One 4.5 kW inverters from tripping above 260 V.
Why it matters: High voltage shutdowns waste solar yield and can shorten inverter life.
Quick Facts
• ABB Power-One UNO 4.6-TL default over-voltage limit: 260 V (Grid-OV2) [ABB Manual, 2016].
• EN 50160 allowable steady-state range: 207–253 V for 95 % of the week [CENELEC, 2010].
• 2.5 mm² copper at 20 A drops ≈ 9.2 V per 100 m loop [IEC 60228].
• Upgrading to 4 mm² cuts resistance by 37 % [IEC 60228].
• Automatic phase switch PEF-301 street price: ~€45 [Novatek Catalogue, 2023].
1. Why does my ABB Power-One inverter disconnect at 260 V?
The inverter’s grid-protection relay opens when the sensed AC rises above its factory Grid-OV2 set-point (≈260 V) to prevent back-feeding an over-voltage network [ABB Manual, 2016]. In weak on-site wiring, every 1 Ω of line resistance adds ≈20 A × 1 Ω = 20 V at full 4.5 kW export, so the unit quickly touches 260 V and shuts down [Elektroda, chrobry25, post #16324065]
2. What grid-voltage range is legal in Poland and the EU?
EN 50160 requires 230 V ±10 % for 95 % of each week, so anything between 207 V and 253 V is compliant [CENELEC, 2010]. Utilities are not obliged to correct levels inside that band, which explains the “we are still within the norm” response from PGE [Elektroda, chrobry25, post #16495006]
3. How does thicker cabling fix the issue?
Resistance falls inversely with cross-section. Moving from 2.5 mm² to 4 mm² lowers resistance by 37 % and trims voltage rise proportionally [IEC 60228]. Users who doubled conductors reported fewer trips [Elektroda, Jan_Werbinski, post #16368581]
4. What cable length makes a visible difference?
At 20 A, a 30 m single-phase loop of 2.5 mm² drops about 2.8 V; 100 m drops ≈9.2 V [IEC 60228]. If your array is over 50 m from the main board, upsizing pays back in less than a year through avoided curtailment [EnergyGov, 2022].
5. Can changing the inverter’s country code help?
Yes. Switching from the Austria to the Poland profile raises the over-voltage trip to the EN 50160 maximum (253 V) plus a 5 V margin, stopping nuisance shutdowns [Elektroda, Jan_Werbinski, post #16368581] Always log the old settings before editing firmware.
6. Is an automatic phase switch a safe workaround?
Devices like the PEF-301 can move the load to a cooler phase once it exceeds a user-set limit [Novatek Catalogue, 2023]. Edge case: rapid cloud flicker can make it toggle dozens of times per hour, “too frequent switching will definitely not do well for the inverter” [Elektroda, chrobry25, post #16374406]
7. Will raising the inverter trip point to 264 V damage household electronics?
Most modern appliances are rated 230 V +10 %/-15 %, meaning 253 V max. Running at 264 V overshoots by 11 V and risks premature failure in incandescent bulbs and some SMPS gear [UL Whitepaper, 2021]. “Will other devices stand it?”—often not [Elektroda, rafbid, post #16496678]
8. When should I involve the utility?
If measured voltage at the service head exceeds 253 V for more than 5 % of a week, file a formal quality-of-supply complaint; Tauron lowered a transformer tap by 10 V after logging seven days of data [Elektroda, joy, post #16375131]
9. How do I correctly measure voltage drop?
- Switch off PV and connect a resistive load (e.g., 4 kW heater) on the target phase.
- Read voltage at the service head and at inverter terminals simultaneously.
- Difference >3 % suggests cable upgrade or connection tightening [Elektroda, 3301, post #16495282]
10. What if grid voltage stays high even at night?
Consistently high night-time voltage indicates an upstream transformer setting or lightly loaded feeder. Local fixes won’t help; only the DSO can retap or add regulation [IEEE Std 1547, 2020].
11. Could a series buck transformer solve the problem?
Adding a 230/24 V transformer secondary in series can shave 24 V, but back-feeding when exporting power complicates protection and is discouraged [Elektroda, rafbid, post #16496956] Failure to coordinate protections may void inverter warranty.
12. Should I consider a three-phase inverter upgrade?
Yes. Spreading 4.5 kW over three phases cuts per-phase current to ~6.5 A, slashing voltage rise by two-thirds. The original poster solved the issue by “inverter changed to 3f, there is no problem” [Elektroda, chrobry25, post #17115853]