Predictika · Solar combiner box orders

An AI sales agent's solar combiner order, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares an order for a 1500 V high-current combiner box, with a model variant, a number of input circuits, an output rating, output conductors, fuse size and site conditions. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the datasheet rules and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: Shoals 1500V High Current Combiner orders (variants AC, AP and AO): input circuits, output rating, output conductors, fuse size, voltage and ambient temperature. See everything this validator covers

This validator models orders for the 1500V High Current Combiner in the public Shoals datasheet, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Model limits — each variant takes a different number of input circuits (up to 12 on the AC and AP, up to 14 on the AO), offers different rated output currents (AC 400 or 500 A, AP 400 A, AO 400, 500 or 600 A) and accepts different output conductor sizes for one or two conductors per pole.
  • Ratings — input fuse size against the 65 A maximum overcurrent protection, system voltage against the 1500 VDC maximum and ambient temperature against the 50 degrees C rating.
  • Stated figures — an enclosure height stated on the order is compared with the datasheet height for the selected variant (24, 36 or 30 inches).

Any order for this combiner that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (Shoals publishes no list prices for these combiners, so this validator produces no price build-up or line-item quote), other Shoals products such as the Big Lead Assembly, recombiners and harnesses, the choice of disconnect, enclosure and surge protection brands (no compatibility rules found), fuse sizing for a particular project (the datasheet says it needs project information), and the datasheet variants for other standards.

The AI sales agentBuilds the combiner order from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
A rated output current that differs by variantOnly with care
Each variant has its own list of offered ratings, so each needs its own compatibility rule, and a new variant adds more rules to maintain.		The variant and the rating are in one request and compared on every call.
An output conductor limit that depends on the variant and on one or two conductors per poleOnly with workarounds
The maximum depends on two other choices, so it takes a lookup that must be kept in step with the datasheet.		The variant, the conductor count and the size are in one request and the limit is worked out and compared on every call.
A stated enclosure height that disagrees with the datasheetOnly with workarounds
The figure the agent states is free text or a separate field, so it takes an extra rule that compares it with the value the variant implies.		The stated figure is part of the request and is compared with the datasheet value on every call.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the order is saved or a step is completed, so a rep often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1The quote has 13 input circuits; the selected model offers 1 to 12.
2The quote has 15 input circuits; the selected model offers 1 to 14.
3The quote has 0 input circuits; the selected model offers 1 to 14.
4The rated output current of 600 A is not offered on the selected model (AC: 400 or 500 A; AP: 400 A; AO: 400, 500 or 600 A).
5The rated output current of 500 A is not offered on the selected model (AC: 400 or 500 A; AP: 400 A; AO: 400, 500 or 600 A).
6The rated output current of 700 A is not offered on the selected model (AC: 400 or 500 A; AP: 400 A; AO: 400, 500 or 600 A).
7The output conductor size of 801 MCM is above the 800 MCM the selected model accepts for that number of conductors per pole.
8The output conductor size of 701 MCM is above the 700 MCM the selected model accepts for that number of conductors per pole.
9The output conductor size of 1,251 MCM is above the 1,250 MCM the selected model accepts for that number of conductors per pole.
10The quote has 3 output conductors per pole; the datasheet lists one or two.
11The input fuse size of 66 A is above the 65 A maximum overcurrent protection in the datasheet.
12The system voltage of 1,501 VDC is above the 1,500 VDC maximum.
13The ambient temperature of 51 degrees C is above the 50 degrees C maximum rating.
14The quote states an enclosure height of 24 inches, but the datasheet lists 36 inches for the selected model.
15The quote has 14 input circuits; the selected model offers 1 to 12.
16The input fuse size of 70 A is above the 65 A maximum overcurrent protection in the datasheet.
17The system voltage of 1,600 VDC is above the 1,500 VDC maximum.
18The ambient temperature of 55 degrees C is above the 50 degrees C maximum rating.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Large combiner order: An AP combiner with 14 inputs, a 500 A rating and two 1,000 MCM output conductors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a Shoals 1500V High Current Combiner, model variant AP, with 14 input circuits, a rated output current of 500 A and input fuses of 30 A, two 1,000 MCM output conductors per pole, for a 1,500 VDC system at an ambient temperature of 40 degrees C. The quote states an enclosure height of 36 inches. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Input circuits outside the model range. The quote has 14 input circuits; the selected model offers 1 to 12.
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  • Output rating not offered on this model. The rated output current of 500 A is not offered on the selected model (AC: 400 or 500 A; AP: 400 A; AO: 400, 500 or 600 A).
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  • Output conductor larger than the model accepts. The output conductor size of 1,000 MCM is above the 900 MCM the selected model accepts for that number of conductors per pole.
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2. Large combiner order: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a Shoals 1500V High Current Combiner, model variant AO, with 14 input circuits, a rated output current of 500 A and input fuses of 30 A, two 800 MCM output conductors per pole, for a 1,500 VDC system at an ambient temperature of 40 degrees C. The quote states an enclosure height of 30 inches. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 14 input circuits at 500 A rated output; the selected model takes up to 14 inputs and an output conductor of up to 800 MCM; enclosure is 30 inches high.
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3. Rating, fuse, voltage and temperature: An AC combiner at 600 A with 70 A fuses, 1,600 V, 55 degrees C and a 900 MCM output conductor

    
The agent's request. Please quote a Shoals 1500V High Current Combiner, model variant AC, with 12 input circuits, a rated output current of 600 A and input fuses of 70 A, one 900 MCM output conductor per pole, for a 1,600 VDC system at an ambient temperature of 55 degrees C. The quote states an enclosure height of 24 inches. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Output rating not offered on this model. The rated output current of 600 A is not offered on the selected model (AC: 400 or 500 A; AP: 400 A; AO: 400, 500 or 600 A).
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  • Output conductor larger than the model accepts. The output conductor size of 900 MCM is above the 800 MCM the selected model accepts for that number of conductors per pole.
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  • Fuse above the maximum overcurrent protection. The input fuse size of 70 A is above the 65 A maximum overcurrent protection in the datasheet.
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  • System voltage above 1,500 VDC. The system voltage of 1,600 VDC is above the 1,500 VDC maximum.
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  • Ambient temperature above the rating. The ambient temperature of 55 degrees C is above the 50 degrees C maximum rating.
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4. Rating, fuse, voltage and temperature: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a Shoals 1500V High Current Combiner, model variant AC, with 12 input circuits, a rated output current of 500 A and input fuses of 60 A, one 900 MCM output conductor per pole, for a 1,500 VDC system at an ambient temperature of 55 degrees C. The quote states an enclosure height of 24 inches. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Output conductor larger than the model accepts. The output conductor size of 900 MCM is above the 800 MCM the selected model accepts for that number of conductors per pole.
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  • Ambient temperature above the rating. The ambient temperature of 55 degrees C is above the 50 degrees C maximum rating.
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5. Rating, fuse, voltage and temperature: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a Shoals 1500V High Current Combiner, model variant AC, with 12 input circuits, a rated output current of 500 A and input fuses of 60 A, two 700 MCM output conductors per pole, for a 1,500 VDC system at an ambient temperature of 45 degrees C. The quote states an enclosure height of 24 inches. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 12 input circuits at 500 A rated output; the selected model takes up to 12 inputs and an output conductor of up to 700 MCM; enclosure is 24 inches high.
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6. Inputs, conductors and enclosure: An AO combiner with 15 inputs, three output conductors and a wrong stated enclosure height

    
The agent's request. Please quote a Shoals 1500V High Current Combiner, model variant AO, with 15 input circuits, a rated output current of 500 A and input fuses of 40 A, three 700 MCM output conductors per pole, for a 1,500 VDC system at an ambient temperature of 45 degrees C. The quote states an enclosure height of 24 inches. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Input circuits outside the model range. The quote has 15 input circuits; the selected model offers 1 to 14.
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  • Output conductors per pole not 1 or 2. The quote has 3 output conductors per pole; the datasheet lists one or two.
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  • Stated enclosure height differs from the datasheet. The quote states an enclosure height of 24 inches, but the datasheet lists 30 inches for the selected model.
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7. Inputs, conductors and enclosure: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a Shoals 1500V High Current Combiner, model variant AO, with 14 input circuits, a rated output current of 500 A and input fuses of 40 A, two 800 MCM output conductors per pole, for a 1,500 VDC system at an ambient temperature of 45 degrees C. The quote states an enclosure height of 30 inches. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 14 input circuits at 500 A rated output; the selected model takes up to 14 inputs and an output conductor of up to 800 MCM; enclosure is 30 inches high.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares an order for a 1500 V high-current combiner box, with a model variant, a number of input circuits. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the datasheet rules and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. Please quote a Shoals 1500V High Current Combiner, model variant AC, with 12 input circuits, a rated output current of 600 A and input fuses of 70 A. The quote states an enclosure height of 24 inches. The rest of the request is on screen.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
    5. 
      
  5. Blocked, with five findings, all in one answer. The rated output current of 600 A is not offered on the selected model (AC: 400 or 500 A; AP: 400 A; AO: 400, 500 or 600 A). The output conductor size of 900 MCM is above the 800 MCM the selected model accepts for that number of conductors per pole. The input fuse size of 70 A is above the 65 A maximum overcurrent protection in the datasheet. The other two are on screen.
    6. 
      
  6. The validator returned five blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other.
    7. 
      
  7. What this shows: for an output conductor limit that depends on the variant and on one or two conductors per pole, a rules-based CPQ can do this only with workarounds.
    8. 
      
  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the rated output current to 500 A, the input fuse size to 60 A and the system voltage to 1,500 VDC.
    10. 
      
  10. It calls the validator again.
    11. 
      
  11. Still blocked, with two findings, all in one answer. The output conductor size of 900 MCM is above the 800 MCM the selected model accepts for that number of conductors per pole. The ambient temperature of 55 degrees C is above the 50 degrees C maximum rating.
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  12. Three findings cleared. Still blocking: output conductor larger than the model accepts and ambient temperature above the rating.
    13. 
      
  13. The agent resubmits once more.
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  14. The revised request. It changes the output conductors per pole to 2, the output conductor size to 700 MCM and the ambient temperature to 45 degrees C.
    15. 
      
  15. It calls the validator once more.
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  16. This time the validator clears it.
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  17. Both earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's figure matches the quote.
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  18. Five problems caught in one call, fixed in two passes, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    19.