Overview
The Configuration Panel builds an electrical plan automatically from your inverter and ratio settings. You can then change it by hand: set how many strings each inverter or DC box takes, free strings and give them to another inverter, remove inverters or DC boxes, and add transformers. Every value you type stays as you typed it until you choose to rebuild the plan.
Prerequisites
A scope set in step 2 of Electrical sub-tab > Electrical Design, and the plan opened with Open Configuration Panel. The basic settings are explained in Defining DC Boxes, Inverters, and Transformers.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Change the strings on an inverter or DC box
Click the count in the STRINGS column of the row and type the new number. Other rows are not refilled: every inverter and DC box keeps what it shows. While you edit, → Apply to all appears next to the cell to give the same value to every inverter, or every DC box. A small ⚠ marks a typed count that differs from the majority (for example “4 fewer string(s) than the majority (24)”) and a string inverter with more strings than DC inputs. The marks are warnings; they do not block saving.
2. Stay within the strings you have
You may type a count above the strings that are left. Nothing is taken from other rows: the row is marked, the footer reads “Over by N string(s): lower another count to save”, and Save is off until the plan fits. Strings you free later, by lowering a count or removing an inverter, DC box or transformer, go straight to the short row.
3. Unassign strings
Click ✕ on an inverter or DC box row to remove it. Its strings drop into the unassigned pool and belong to no inverter. Removing a DC box leaves the other boxes as they are. A transformer row can be deleted only while the transformer is not placed.
4. Reassign strings from the pool
The strip at the bottom reads Unassigned: N string(s). Enter a Count, choose the Trafo and the Inverter (+ New creates an inverter of the default model; an existing one is extended), and click Add. Add is limited only by the strings in the pool. Select selects the unassigned strings in the drawing and zooms to them, with the panel still open. If you save with strings left in the pool, PVX.AI warns you: they stay unassigned.
5. Add a transformer
Click the faded + TR05 row (the number follows your last transformer) under the last transformer. It adds an empty transformer at the last one’s rating, not yet placed. Give it inverters from the pool with Add. New inverters are named after their transformer, for example INV05-1. A transformer with no inverters blocks Save.
6. Size string inverters by ratio or by count
In the TRAFO BUDGET strip, DC/AC ratio and Str/inv are linked: type one and the other follows, and the plan is sized from strings per inverter. The value is saved with the drawing. Max inv/trafo sets how many inverters each transformer takes.
7. Check the totals and save
DC CAPACITY shows strings times string wattage on each transformer, inverter and DC box row, and AC POWER shows transformer MVA and inverter kW. Transformer rows follow your edits below them. Click Save. Rebuild (discard edits) throws your manual changes away and rebuilds the plan from the current inputs.
8. Bring the drawing in line with the plan
- No devices placed yet: run Place Devices.
- Devices placed, only string counts changed: run Regenerate Cabling for that PV area.
- Transformers or inverters added or removed: Regenerate Cabling only re-routes between devices already in the drawing, so new ones are not cabled. Use Devices > Remove All Devices on that PV area (strings stay), then Place Devices again.
Tips & Recommendations
- The scope row of the Electrical Design panel shows No transformer: N with a Select button. Use it to find strings the plan left out; their cables are painted red.
- Renaming a transformer that is already placed changes the plan only. Its block and labels keep the old name until the devices are placed again.
- Transformer names must be unique in the drawing. A name another PV area already uses is refused on Save.
- You can also set strings per inverter while placing: in Manual placement, choose Manual distribution and pick each inverter’s strings. See Setting the Scope and Placing Electrical Devices.