Overview

Create a group of tables to run in your PV layout.  Recommended groupings can be based around electrical equipment like a combiner box or mechanically based on a single motor driveline.  In order to create a PV block, a table has to be created first.



TABLE OF CONTENTS


Create a PV block

Before creating a PV block, a table has to be created first. 

  1. Go to the Block Creation tab.
  2. In Block name, give a name for the block
  3. Next, select a table that the PV block will be built with.  Select the desired table in the drop-down in Choose a table.
  4. Enter the number of rows in the Rows per Block input.  This is the number of tables in the north-south direction.
  5. Enter the number of rows in the Columns per Block input.  This is the number of tables in the east-west direction.
  6. Depending if the table selected is a single-axis tracker or a fixed tilt, the type of spacing will be different for the North-South Gap and the East-West Gap. 
    • If the table is a fixed tilt, choose the type of spacing based on Gap, Pitch, or GCR will be for the north-south spacing.  Then enter the spacing between tables based on the spacing type.  For the East-West Gap, enter the distance between the tables in the east-west direction
    • If the table is single-axis tracker, type of spacing based on Gap, Pitch, or GCR will be for the east-west spacing.  For the North-South Gap, enter the distance between the tables in the north-south direction.  Choose the type of spacing for the East-West Gap and then input the spacing depending on the type of spacing.
  7. [Optional] If you are need additional spacing for example creating a block based around an inverter, Additional block configuration can be enabled to add things like access roads.  
    • For the Additional North-South Gap input, choose how the additional spacing should be applied, either after a the number of tables (Rows) in the north-south direction or a distance in the north-south direction.  If using Rows, specify the number of tables in the Every input and then in Gap, enter the distance of the spacing.   If using Distance, specify the distance the additional spacing should be applied then in Gap, enter the distance of the spacing.
    • For the Additional East-West Gap input, choose how the additional spacing should be applied, either after a the number of tables (Columns) in the east-west direction or a distance in the east-west direction.  If using Columns, specify the number of tables in the Every input and then in Gap, enter the distance of the spacing.   If using Distance, specify the distance the additional spacing should be applied then in Gap, enter the distance of the spacing.
  8. Press the Create button and you will see a preview of your block.
  9. In the preview window, press OK to close the preview window. Your block is now ready for use in PV layout.


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Updating a PV block

Note: in order to update an existing block, a PV block must not be used in any layouts including in other projects or shared to others.

  1. In the Chose 'New' or existing Block, select the PV block that will be updated.  When the PV block is selected, the block information will populate in the inputs.  
  2. Make the changes to the input.
  3. After making the changes, press the Update button.  If the change is successful, a message will appear saying so and you will see the preview window of the updated block.  
  4. Press OK in the preview window and now the block is ready to run PV layout.


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