PHOTON International The Photovoltaic Magazine

Beacon launches 5 kW inverter with battery back-up

The Wilmington, Maine-based Beacon Power Corp. will introduce its first inverter in September. The nominal power of the Smart Power M5 is 5 kW; the MPP lies between 50 and 85 V. The secret to the new device: in the event of a grid power outage, an uninterrupted power supply can serve as an energy source.

	© Beacon Power Corp.
Back up: In case of a grid outage, the Smart Power M5 serves as an energy source.

The technology is based on the inverter MM 5000 of Advanced Energy Systems – a liquidated company whose intellectual property and product inventory Beacon acquired earlier this year. For five seconds, the inverter can supply up to 8 kW – for instance, time enough to start a refrigerator.

The maximum efficiency at 50 percent power output is 93 percent. The inverter has an integrated charge controller with a maximum power point tracker, an anti-islanding technology, and a battery back-up (UPS) capability. It loads 48 V batteries with a maximum current of 100 A. Monitoring software and PC interfaces can optionally be ordered. The inverter has UL listing and is certified according to IEEE 929. The enclosure NEMA-3 is suitable for outdoor use.

The standard guarantee is five years; the delivery time is eight weeks. The retail price for the product is $6,499. An offgrid version, the M5 plus, will be available in the first quarter of 2004. At this point
Beacon plans to start export of both inverter
models to Europe and Asia.

datasheet

Beacon Power Corp.
234 Ballardvale Street
Wilmington, MA 01887, USA
phone +1/ 978-694-9121, fax -27
info@beaconpower.com
www.beaconpower.com