Archive for the ‘National Semiconductor’ Category

Thursday, December 31, 2009 12:36 am | Edgar A. Gunther

SolarMagic, Solar Strategy

A few thousand reference design SolarMagic units shipped in Fiscal 2Q10. Smart photovoltaic modules with integrated SolarMagic chips to debut in the second half of calendar 2010?

While “National Semiconductor’s SolarMagic Power Optimizer Wins Renewable Energy Design Award at 2009 Elektra Awards” was the early December headline, per the “National Semiconductor F2Q10 (Qtr End 11/30/09) Earnings Call Transcript” on December 10, 2009, National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM) President and Chief Executive Officer Donald Macleod said: Another power management growth area for us is in renewable energy and in particular in the solar area. We aim to be the power electronics leader in this completely new power efficiency communications and monitoring capability, and we do this by improving the efficiency of solar installations and also electric vehicle batteries. Read More >>

Tuesday, July 28, 2009 11:46 pm | Edgar A. Gunther | 2 Comments »

SolarMagic: “How does it work?”

The Solar Magic explained. [San Francisco, CA USA] At Intersolar North America, Ralf Muenster, Director Renewable Energy Segment, National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM) presented Maximizing PV Output with Power Optimizers” in the program session: Photovoltaic Technology (3): System Technology, Inverters & Off-grid Systems Large Scale PV Power Plants & Concentrating PV Perhaps bucking to competitive pressure, Mr. Muenster addressed the perennial SolarMagic question, “How does this device work?” Please see SolarMagic, Solar Magic for background. I didn’t catch the presentation, so I asked Mr. Muenster for the correct description of nominal operation and with SolarMagic installed

Monday, June 8, 2009 1:54 am | Edgar A. Gunther | 1 Comment »

SolarMagic, Solar Magic – Part 2

SolarMagic Outside Demo on the Freigelände at Intersolar 2009. After visiting the SolarMagic stand, I managed to swing by the SolarMagic outside demo opposite Hall B5 before the National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM) Intersolar 2009 SolarMagic press event (please see SolarMagic, Solar Magic). I received a cordial reception in contrast to my previous experience as the Photovoltaic Blogger banned from SolarMagic "Sneak Peek" Show. From Intersolar 2009: SolarMagic Outside Demo on the Freigelände After waiting for a group to finish (yes, I can be patient at times), I got the demo run through by Ms. SolarMagic herself

Tuesday, June 2, 2009 2:37 am | Edgar A. Gunther | 5 Comments »

Intersolar 2009: My Photovoltaic Top 10 List

[Munich, Germany] Photovoltaic power electronics are hot! Clocking in with 1417 exhibitors covering 104000 square meters across nine halls and an outdoor area, I was competing with about 60000 visitors to capture my unfair share of Intersolar 2009 over three days at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre. Given the massive size and my ongoing hiatus recovery, I could have used another day to investigate more stands. With that caveat, here are my subjective views of the best Intersolar 2009 had to offer mimicking the Late Show with David Letterman format. A Picasa slideshow of the Photovoltaic Top 10 List is displayed at the

Thursday, May 28, 2009 8:10 am | Edgar A. Gunther | 4 Comments »

SolarMagic, Solar Magic

[Munich, Germany] SolarMagic Power Optimizer repositioned as a solution for Mismatch.SolarMagic Wins Intersolar 2009 Award” “How does this device work? From National's SolarMagic at Intersolar 2009 On the same day as its 50th anniversary, National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM) announced “National Semiconductor Launches SolarMagic Power Optimizers in Europe, North America” and held an Intersolar 2009 press event hosted by Chairman and CEO Brian L. Halla and the SolarMagic executive team. Mismatch supplanted Shade Happens as the key problem SolarMagic helps to solve. Beyond SolarMagic’s ability to recover disproportional power

Thursday, April 9, 2009 2:29 am | Edgar A. Gunther | 1 Comment »

Photovoltaic Blogger banned from SolarMagic "Sneak Peek" Show

National Semiconductor boosts the voltage on SolarMagic Hype. SolarMagic Specification Sheet not released either. When I was surfing over at RenewableEnergyWorld.com earlier this week, I noticed a Leaderboard ad for SolarMagic from National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM). Unable to resist, I clicked it and was led to the new SolarMagic website (http://www.solarmagic.com). Clicking on the News & Events tab, I found the upcoming Road Show for Installers & Dealers and sent an email requesting to

Friday, March 20, 2009 5:08 am | Edgar A. Gunther | 1 Comment »

National acquires Act Solar for headlining PowerString

SolarHype (Solar Hype) gets practical to deliver real value to solar installations. Is PowerString the real SolarMagic? With “National Semiconductor Acquires Act Solar, Extending Its Solar Energy Efficiency and Management Capabilities”, National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM) purchased a string based photovoltaic (PV) DC power optimization solution in favor of its overpriced module based product. Per “National Semi Buys Act Solar” by Ucilia Wang in the Green Light blog at Greentech Media, “National Semi declined to say how much it paid for Act Solar. Jenkins said