RedEarth ENERGY STORAGE Drop Bear Single and Three Phase Models Instruction Manual

RedEarth ENERGY STORAGE Drop Bear Single and Three Phase Models

Product Information: DropBear Home Battery System

• Product Name: DropBear
• Product Type: Home Battery System (On and Off-Grid)
• Models: Single and Three Phase
• Manufacturer: RedEarth Energy Storage
• Year of Installation Manual: January 2023
• About RedEarth Energy Storage:

RedEarth Energy Storage is an Australian-owned and operated manufacturer of energy storage systems. It was co-founded by CEO Charlie Walker, CTO Chris Winter, and non-executive director Bruce Ebzery in 2013. Initially focused on research and development for battery energy storage systems in the Australian market, RedEarth has expanded its product range to include off-grid, on-grid, commercial, industrial, and residential systems. All their products are designed to be modular and scalable, allowing customers to update their systems according to their changing needs.

Contact Information

Sales Enquiries: sales@redearth.energy
Technical Support: support@redearth.energy
Address: 15 Fienta Place, Darra BRISBANE QLD 4076
Phone: 1800 733 637
Website: www.redearth.energy

Safety Information

The DropBear Home Battery System should only be installed by suitably qualified personnel who have read and are familiar with its operation and hazards.

• Refer to the operating instructions.

• Indicates additional information, emphasized contents or tips that may be helpful.

• Caution, risk of electric shock.

• Caution, risk of danger.

• Do not touch live parts until 10 minutes after disconnection from the power sources.
  The wiring diagrams and installation instructions are given as a guide only and compliance to appropriate standards is the responsibility of the installer. Relevant standards are listed below:AS/NZS 3000:2018| Wiring rules
  ---|---
  AS/NZS 5033:2021 (and 1&2)| Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays
  AS/NZS 4509.2:2012| Stand-alone power systems—Design
  AS/NZS 1170.2:2011| Structural design actions—Wind actions
  AS/NZS1768:2007| Lightning protection
  AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2017| Electrical installations—Selection of cables
  AS4777.2:2020| Grid connection of energy systems via inverters
  AS/NZS 5139:2019| Electrical installations—Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment

• The DropBear must only be installed by suitably qualified personnel who have read and are familiar with its operation and hazards.

• The battery provided with this system must be charged only by the Selectronics inverter. Do not attempt to charge the batteries with any other charger device or connect any devices directly to the DC battery bus unless approved by RedEarth.

• In the event of a fire evacuate the area and call emergency services. A dry agent fire extinguisher should be readily available and used. DO NOT use water.
  Note: MSDS document is provided with the system and can be found at www.redearth.energy

• Do not use a damaged battery. Batteries should only be disposed of at an appropriate recycling centre. Please contact RedEarth for advice.

• A battery can present a risk of electrical shock and high short-circuit current. The following precautions should be observed when working on batteries:

  • Disconnect charging source prior to connecting or disconnecting battery terminals.

• In our efforts towards constant product enhancement, this document is subject to change at any time. Please visit http://www.redearth.energy and download the appropriate and latest version manual.

Table of Contents

• 3-phase switch gear
• Components supplied
• Installation–8 steps for installation and customer handover
• Appendix A
• Appendix B

Relevant Standards

• AS/NZS 3000:2018 – Wiring rules
• AS/NZS 5033:2021 (and 1&2) – Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays
• AS/NZS 4509.2:2012 – Stand-alone power systems–Design
• AS/NZS 1170.2:2011 – Structural design actions–Wind actions
• AS/NZS1768:2007 – Lightning protection
• AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2017 – Electrical installations–Selection of cables
• AS4777.2:2020 – Grid connection of energy systems via inverters
• AS/NZS 5139:2019 – Electrical installations–Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment

Overview

The RedEarth DropBear is an Australian-made ready-to-run energy storage system for On or Off-Grid and single or three-phase applications.
The system is designed to be easy to install and use. It is assembled and factory tested prior to shipment and requires only limited programming on-site for standard configurations.
It uses Selectronics SP Pro battery inverters together with RedEarth’s TROPPO 4841 lithium batteries (LFP). As standard it is combined with Selectronic- certified Fronius inverters (single or three phase versions depending on the system ordered) making it an AC-coupled system.
It is supplied with everything needed to connect the PV Solar array and a generator (either 2-wire auto start or manual start), or the grid for grid- connected systems.

The DropBear is designed to be installed indoors or outside in a shaded and weather-protected area and fixed against a wall. A changeover switch is included in case there is a problem with the system. In this case the loads are run solely off an alternate power source (e.g., generator or the grid) until the system is operational again.
Remote monitoring is available subject to mobile phone coverage. This uses RedEarth’s EMU app.
DropBear installations require the electrical connection of:

• The customers load – there are dedicated terminals inside the unit to connect to.
• Arrays of PV solar panels to the Fronius inverters. In 3-phase systems, the Fronius inverters are outside the system and need to be connected to the AC MCBs pre-Installed within the DropBear.
• Grid or Generator – there are dedicated power, generator auto-start and generator trickle charger terminals inside the unit to connect to.
• Remote monitoring uses RedEarth’s RedPi edge device as well as Electronics SelectLive- The RedEarth-supplied RedPi has a built-in SIM card (requires mobile coverage), otherwise connects the internet via LAN cable. Starlink satellite communications can also be used.

For a smooth installation, RedEarth offers installation training as well as tech-support during installation. RedEarth requests that the Installer contact RedEarth’s Tech Support once the system Is turned on during Installation to confirm the operation.
Note: Selectronics allows more complex installations to be installed (such as dual phase or high-power grid T-connections) To do these, the installer should have experience with Selectronics and have received training directly from them. RedEarth primarily supplies and supports our standard configurations. If they are modified for a particular installation, then the responsibility for these changes passes to the certified installer.
During factory testing, all parameters are pre-set for correct operation between the SP Pro inverter, the Fronius and the battery bank. However, some parameters may need to be adjusted during installation (e.g., generator size, maintenance run, etc). Please consult this manual as well as the Selectronics Manual and comprehensive Selectronics website.

Dimensions and Clearance/Positioning Information

DropBear Weight
367kg for 1-phase with x2 Fronius PV inverters and without any Troppo batteries (42.5kg per battery)

Dimensions:
203.2 cm H x 155.7 cm W x 68.8 cm D

DropBear Minimum Clearance to allow access:
2.4 m H x 2.0 m W x 1.3 m D

Positioning information summary:
Minimum Clearance around SunRise where no windows doors etc are allowed, according to AS/NZS 5139.

Components

This is an overview of the DropBear. It has two main sections. The top section contains the inverters and switch gear, and the isolated bottom section contains the TROPPO batteries. Each section has a key-lockable double door. The image below shows the 1-phase version of the DropBear.

DropBear 1-phase version with 7.5kW Electronics inverter and two Fronius PV inverters (Selectronics certified) setup for off-grid operation. The Fronius inverters are rated at 1 x 8.2kW and 1x 6.0kW to remain under the 15kW maximum specified by Selectronics for their 7.5kW inverter.

The two images below show the 1-phase and 3-phase version of the DropBear. In the 3-phase version, the Fronius PV inverters are installed outside the DropBear.

The switch gear in the top section is labelled for easy identification as shown below. There is a 1-phase and 3-phase version.
The installer can make a minor change in the switchgear between the on-grid and off-grid versions. In the off-grid versions the switches are setup for generator input, meaning that the Neutral is also switched. This is not done when connected to the grid in an on-grid installation. In this case the installer can replace the Generator switches with either a 1 or 3-pole switch or just choose to use the active poles of the existing generator switches.

Removing the panel with the switch covers in the top section exposes all the cable connection points and switch gear wiring. Depending on whether you have a single-phase or three-phase version, the configuration will be as shown below.

The lower enclosure is where the TROPPO batteries are installed. The DropBear can hold up to 14 batteries (4.1kWh x14 = 57.4kWh nominal).
Front and rear rails secure the batteries in place as shown below.
Because of the characteristics of RedEarth’s TROPPO lithium battery, it is possible to install additional batteries in your system at a later date, please contact RedEarth to purchase extra TROPPO batteries.

The enclosure is pre-wired with battery cables for all 14 batteries via the bus-bar system attached to the top plate. This makes adding additional batteries a simple process of plugging in the spare battery cables into the connectors on top of each battery.

Components supplied

The DropBear you receive on the pallet includes the following items:

• DropBear system – pre-wired as ordered – either single or three-phase, on or off-grid
• Selectronic inverter installed – 1 or 3 depending on the configuration ordered
• Fronius inverters as ordered – Primo for 1-phase and Symo for 3- phase
• Parts Kit Box
  • 2x Wall mount bracket to secure the DropBear to the wall
  • Selection of screws/ Dyna-bolts for fixing the base and wall brackets
  • Sticker Kit for PV & battery
  • Glands and plain-to-screwed adapters for sealing the cable entries
  • MC4 connectors
  • Aerial for 4G connection
  • 2x Blanking plates for forklift holes
• DropBear Installation Manual
• DropBear User Manual
• Electronics SP PRO user manual
• Fronius inverter manual
• Battery SDS
• Warranty Information

Installation—8 steps for installation and customer handover

The DropBear is designed to be easy to Install. It includes prewired connection points and comprehensive labelling and parts kit to simplify the installation.
Technical support is available directly from RedEarth during installation if required.
Selectronics also has detailed information and support available, especially for more advanced installations.
8 steps to complete your DropBear installation:

1. Transporting – getting the system to site

2. Positioning – the system in its final location

3. Solar Installation

4. Electrical connections to the DropBear
   AC Connection

   • Load Connection

   • Grid / Generator connection

   • Generator Auto-Start and Charger

   • Generator Requirements
     DC Connections

   • Battery installation and connection 4.2.2. PV Connections

   • Communication Connections

5. Start-up and Shutdown procedure

6. Commissioning

7. Monitoring via RedEarth’s EMU app and Selectlive

8. Customer Handover – including their access to the EMU app

Transporting the DropBear

Step 1.

The DropBear system is supplied strapped down to a pallet. It is fully ready to run, just requires the batteries to be installed. The system weighs around 367 kg without batteries. The system requires lifting equipment to be removed from the pallet and placed in position.
The base of the system has spaces for either a forklift or a standard trolley jack to be used.
If the DropBear is too heavy to manage, the Inverters can be removed and then replaced once the system is in position.

WARNING: Personal Injury
Use safe lifting techniques and standard safety equipment when working with this equipment.

Positioning the DropBear

Step 2.
The DropBear is designed to be placed against a wall in a shaded and weather- protected area with the system securely connected to the wall using the wall brackets included in the parts kit. Air inlet vents are on the side and base of the system. Do not block them and ensure they are kept clear at all times.

IMPORTANT: Before positioning the DropBear, be sure that there is a minimum available area of 2.4 m H x 2.0 m W x 1.3 m D
This will allow a minimum of 90⁰ open door angle as well as lateral ventilation.

At the installation location, mark a height of 1925mm from the
floor. As shown in the picture at right, this mark indicates the centre of the two large holes in the brackets (marked “B”). The two brackets should be positioned so that are securely fastened to the wall (e.g., wall studs).
The wall bracket has two sets of different size holes “A”s and “B”s. As illustrated (below), set “A” is for screwing into a wall stud with the screws (supplied) and set “B” is for a solid concrete/ brick wall to be secured with Dyna-bolts (supplied).

Once wall brackets are firmly attached to the wall, move the DropBear into place with the help of a trolley jack (or forklift) lifting it high enough to clear the bracket and slide in behind it.
On the base of the DropBear, there is a hole at the front on each side. These holes are for securing the base with supplied Dyna-bolts, then plug these holes with supplied 25mm plugs to minimise pest ingress. Masking tape has been positioned in
between the doors and the unit for transportation. These are common rubbing spots, and the purpose of the tape is to avoid paint chipping during transportation. This can now be removed.

Solar Installation

Step 3.
The PV Array should be designed and installed in accordance with AS/NZS 5033 and the latest CEC Installation guidelines. Caution should be taken in selecting PV panels and wiring method to ensure Open Circuit Voltage (VOC) and Short Circuit Current (ISC) is not exceeded.

• PV array frame must be grounded
• Ensure that the array is within the inverter specification and polarity of the array is correct.
• PV modules must have an IEC61730 Class A rating
  WARNING: The Solar DC Isolator on the Fronius inverters must be in the off position before any solar panels are connected

Electrical connections

Step 4. Before any electrical connections are made, check all DropBear internal connections are secure and have not come loose during transport.
Ensure all breakers and isolators, as well as those supplying power to the unit, are turned OFF.

With the DropBear in place, rotate the handles on the top and bottom door counterclockwise to open the doors. Remove the Control Panel covers by unscrewing all identified screws shown in the picture. By doing this, you will have access to all AC and DC, wire connection terminals and the “Comm’s Area”.

**AC Connections

**

All AC cables should be brought through the 25mm or 32mm holes on the rear panel, sealed with a gland or plain-to-screwed adaptor (note: that the supplied glands are designed to be used with 25mm flexible conduit).
The cables are then connected to the correct terminals of the MCB as shown below, as well as the Earth and Neutral bars as required.
PV inverters that are pre-installed in the DropBear are pre-wired to their respective AC breakers (1-phase system only). However, if a PV inverter is installed externally such as in the three-phase model, the AC cables must be attached to the dedicated PV inverter breakers. There are three 3-phase breakers pre-installed for this purpose, as shown below.

Single phase model – showing load and generator connection point (the Fronius PV inverters already wired in)

Three-phase model – showing load, generator and Fronius PV inverters connection points. (up to three)

Load connection
The Active wires are terminated into the bottom of the Load circuit breaker (1 or 3-phase), as shown in the above picture. Earth and Neutral must be terminated into the respective busbars.
NOTE:: See SLDs in the back of this manual.

Grid / Generator termination
For a generator, both the Active and Neutral wires must terminate into the bottom of the generator circuit breaker. Earth must be terminated into an empty slot in the Earth Bar.
If the system is grid-connected, then the Neutral wire must connect directly to the Neutral busbar and not be wired into the MCB.

Generator Auto-Start and Charger
The DropBear contains a trickle charger for the generator battery as well as a 2-wire AutoStart feature. There are four terminals in the Comms area to connect these to the generator. These terminals are shown in the picture at right and can be identified as:

• Gen Start: Dry contact
  The two terminals on the left must be connected to a cable to activate the generator 2-wire auto-start.

• Positive Terminal (charger)
  The third terminal from the left must be connected to the positive (+12V) terminal of the generator’s battery.

• Negative Terminal (charger)
  The fourth terminal from the left terminal must be connected to the negative (0V) terminal of the generator’s battery.

Generator Requirements
For the SPMC482 (7.5kW), the recommended generator size by Selectronic is 14kVA. For a 3-phase system with 3 x7.5kW Selectronics Inverters the recommended size Is at lest 42kVA.
NOTE: Inverter-generators are recommended for use with DropBear because of their better power quality. If voltage, frequency, or current waveforms of the generator are not of a high enough quality, then it will be rejected by the inverter.

Please ensure that your generator meets or exceeds the following specifications:

• Generator waveform THD: < 10%.
• Generator Vrms range: 180 ~ 264Vac
• Generator voltage crest factor (Vpeak/Vrms): < 1.6
• Generator peak voltage: <380V
• Frequency range: 45Hz ~ 55Hz
• Frequency slew rate: <0.3Hz/sec

DC Connections

Battery Connection
The batteries located are in the lower enclosure, behind the bottom double doors.
These are usually supplied separately for ease of transportation; unbox the batteries, place them on the battery shelf, re-install the front battery rails and finally attach the battery cables.

PV Connections
For the 1-phase DropBear with Fronius inverters installed inside the system, the PV cables should be brought through the 25mm holes on the rear of the unit using the supplied glands or plain-to-screwed adapters.
Terminate the PV cables with the MC4’s connectors provided, confirm polarity, and then plug them and into the pre-terminated tails as shown below.

For the 3-phase DropBear, where the Fronius inverters are installed externally the PV cables are brought directly to the Fronius inverter. Only the AC cables (and communication cable) from the Fronius inverters are brought into the DropBear via the
25/32mm glands and connected to any of the 3 MCBs preinstalled into the system.

Communications

The DropBear has RedEarth’s RedPi edge device installed. It includes a 4G SIM card and provides for easy monitoring of the system operation using your mobile phone.
The equipment is located on the right side of the switchgear, under the cover with the Selectlive device attached to it.

For the 4G monitoring to work the included antenna must be installed in an area where it has sufficient mobile coverage. The cable of the antenna can pass through one of the 25mm holes in the rear of the DropBear and be screwed into the top of the RUT240 modem as shown in the image above.
Note that if there is no mobile phone coverage, however, there is a hard-wired internet connection available, this can be used by passing the Cat5/6 cable through one of the holes in the rear of the DropBear and connecting it to the LAN terminal in the RUT240 as shown here. Starlink satellite communication Is also an option.
Note: once a connection is established you can contact RedEarth to confirm that remote monitoring is functioning.

 Turn ON and Shutdown procedure

Step 5: Once the DropBear is in place and correctly wired up, you may start the system. To power up the unit follow the steps below:

1. Turn on individual DC battery breakers on top of each TROPPO battery.
   This will pre-charge the capacitors inside the Electronics inverters. The LED on the inverter will flash and beep. Wait for approximately 10 seconds

2. Turn on the Main Battery Breaker

3. Turn on the PV isolator located under each Fronius, whether they are installed inside the DropBear or externally.
   Before step 4, confirm the inverters are powered up but not inverting (outputting AC power)

4. Turn on all AC circuit breakers

5. Turn ON the Selectronic by pressing and holding the “ON” button on the top left-hand side of the inverter. Start with the left-most Electronics if more than one is installed. This is the MASTER inverter.

Commissioning

Step 6: The DropBear has been commissioned and tested in RedEarth’s factory to confirm correct operation of the system prior to shipment. This is based on the system specifications provided when it was ordered, e.g., off- grid or on-grid operation, as well as the specific sizes and numbers of Fronius inverters required.
However, some last-minute parameter adjustments may be required (e.g., generator size or weekly run-time to exercise the generator). Carefully follow the procedure below on how to make these alterations without compromising the existing configuration.
NOTE: This must be done by a qualified person.
NOTE: The program Selectronic SP Link is required to make these parameter changes and can be downloaded from Selectronics’ web page (http://www.selectronic.com.au/)

Step One

With the system powered up, connect a computer to the Selectronic SP Pro (master) using the USB cable supplied in the Parts kit as shown at right.

Step Two

Open the program “Selectronic SP Link”. The following page will appear:

Step Three

Click on the “Connection” tab and then on “Connect”.

The program will request you to “Save Site” before proceeding. Fill in a site name and then click “Save Site”.

Step Four

Click on “Configuration Settings” tab and then on the “Get SP PRO’s Configuration” button to download existing settings from the SP Pro to your laptop.

Step Five

Adjust the required parameters (any altered settings will be highlighted in yellow) and then click on the “Configure SP PRO” button to send the new settings back to the SP Pro.
NOTE: In case of a factory reset on the parameters, the installer may contact RedEarth Energy Storage and by providing the DropBear’s serial number (on the QR code sticker) request the configuration file.

Monitoring via RedEarth’s EMU App and Select.live

Step 7:

RedEarth EMU App Monitoring
RedEarth’s pre-installed RedPi edge device includes a 4G SIM card and provides for easy monitoring of the system operation using your mobile phone.
NOTE: Remote monitoring assumes that you have mobile phone coverage and that your system was connected during installation.

To setup monitoring via the EMU App follow the steps below.
Download the RedEarth EMU app for Android or iPhone.
Open the app then scan the QRcode using the app. Make an installer account by following the directions in the app. Then enter the installer’s email address.
If you require any assistance, please call RedEarth Tech support.

Select.live monitoring
Contact RedEarth Tech support if you want to use the Select.live portal.

Customer Handover

Step 8: Before handing the system over to the customer ensure the following items are completed:

• A MEN link is installed as required.

• The system is correctly earthed, either via the customer’s local earth or through a locally installed earth stake.

• If a 2-wire auto-start generator is connected, ensure that it can be started by the DropBear. Also ensure the supplied Victron battery charger is connected to the generator starter battery.

• When the bypass switch is in By-pass mode the generator provides power directly to the customers loads

• The battery and DC terminal connections are tight. (Check during installation)

• Insert the supplied blanking plugs into the unused holes in the rear of the unit and reinstall the side vents.
  Handover to customer

• Confirm that the customer has scanned the QR code and entered their information, including an email address. Have the customer download RedEarth’s EMU App. They will be able to register their system and begin monitoring it immediately in the app. Otherwise, provide the customer’s contact details to RedEarth to complete onboarding the customer at a later time.

• Explain to the customer how the system operates and demonstrate the operation of the generator auto-start.

• Also demonstrate the operation and effect of the By-pass switch, which runs all loads from the generator.

• Obtain any customer signatures required for claiming STC’s
  Finally, provide the required documentation to RedEarth. This also ensures the full RedEarth warranty applies.

Services and Options Available for Your DropBear

As a RedEarth DropBear system owner you have the choice of joining our customer community. You just need to register your contact details with RedEarth.
You can receive regular relevant communications from RedEarth.

Other benefits include:

• Access to our PPP (Private Power Plant) stream of benefits to you
• Remote monitoring service if required. Includes recommendations for system upgrades.
• Additional batteries for system expansion
• Extended warranty option
  In addition to the DropBear system RedEarth offers other systems for both on- grid and off-grid applications. Contact RedEarth for more information.

Appendix A

Single Line Diagram—Single Phase Power

Appendix B

Technical Specifications—DropBear 1-phase

PV Input

Number of trackers| 4 (2 per Fronius Primo)
MPP Voltage Range| 80VDC – 600VDC (per tracker)
Max. Input Voltage (VOC)| 600VDC (per tracker)
Max. Input Current| 18.0ADC (per tracker)
Short Circuit Current (ISC)| 27.0ADC (per tracker)
Battery
Battery type| Lithium Iron Phosphate
Nominal Energy Capacity| 4.1kWh per Troppo 4841 battery

(4.1 / 8.2 / 12.3 / 16.4 / 20.5 / 24.6 / 28.7 – 32.8 /

AC Input and Output
Rated AC Voltage| 230V
Rated AC Frequency| 50Hz
Max.Continuous Output Power| 7500 W
Max.Continuous Output Current| 31.3 AAC
Peak Output Power (60s)| 13 000 W
Peak Output Current| 56.5 AAC
Safety Class/Enclosure| Class I – IP 41
---|---
Topology (Solar/Battery)| Transformer-based isolated

Isolated

Pollution degree (PD)| 2
Ambient Temperature| -25⁰C … +40⁰C
Maximum Altitude| 1500m
Overvoltage Category| III (GENERATOR), II (PV)(BATTERY)
Decisive Voltage Class| DVC-C

Technical Specifications—Selectronic SP Pro SPMC482

Technical Specifications—Fronius Primo and Symo PV inverters

Technical Specifications—Battery Specifications

Short-circuit Current (ISC)

1x| 0.4 kA
2x| 0.8 kA
3x| 1.2 kA
4x| 1.6 kA
5x| 2.0 kA
6x| 2.4 kA

RedEarth Energy Storage
For sales enquiries contact sales@redearth.energy
For technical support: support@redearth.energy
15 Fienta Place, Darra BRISBANE QLD 4076 | 1800 733 637 | www.redearth.energy

References

• Red Earth Energy Storage – Off Grid Solar Storage Specialists – Put the power back in your hands. Australian-made, on-grid and off-grid energy storage solutions that store solar power and can make you income through your very own Private Power Plant. Austr
• Home - Selectronic Australia

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