I have know idea. I know I ran the same setup with 2 6548's and not once did the AC not start for 2 summers. When I first installed this inverter it shut down trying to start AC. Now after numerous firmware changes it will run AC.
18kpv Issues
- Thread starter Dyotat100
- Start date
Electric_Blue
New Member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2022
- Messages
- 17
Damn, that looks almost identical to mine. When you say "lights flashing" is that only during the start ramp or do they continue flashing following the start on the run cycle?
Only flashes/blinks when AC is starting. Now that I have the AC start amps lower then they have ever been, I would have thought it would have been better. But I was on 1312 firmware before, and now I'm on 1616. Before, it was a blink/flash. Now, it is multiple blinks/flashes.
I'm still curious how you got 2x the rated output of the inverter. 12,000w at 1.35% is 67.5 amps. Can you explain?In my video im not using anything no soft start at all. 1x18k No Grid and the 5 ton Self Contained Unit. I dont know what else to say.
Markus_EG4
I am from Germany. Don't mean to come off rude
It’s a surge only for 1 sec it’s not continuous. Have you tried to use 1919 you can update with your phone.
So far yes. They have changed my firmware a few times. I also changed out soft start. This is my 3rd one. When I first had issues I went with a different brand that SS sells. It was no different so I went back to Micro Air so I can see the start amps. I just installed a new Micro Air. Not sure what was changed to change it. It runs AC no problem right now. But it's only 79 degrees here today. But seems like start amps are consistent and stay under 38 amps. Starts AC with 3000w load. When I get home I'm going to put 6000w on it and see how it does with AC
Here is what I just tested. Started AC with 6824 w already on. Went to 9884w with AC. Then I turned on a couple burners on oven and it went to 13.5kw. So all is good so far.
Inverter was great all winter. Just wasn't happy with my AC and now it seems happy all the time
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What's in a title?
13.5kW is impressive for the 12k. How long will it handle that load without bypassing to grid? Are your loads well balanced between legs?
I don't have grid hooked up. It says 10 min at 14.7 kw and 5 min at 15.5 kw with solar. 13.5 kw with no solar.
I look at it as 12 kw. Playing the game of running more will end up shutting down your house. Nice to have a cushion. But I just would turn off any load over 12kw
I look at it as 12 kw. Playing the game of running more will end up shutting down your house. Nice to have a cushion. But I just would turn off any load over 12kw
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PotusGobbleBottom
Corn Pop was a bad dude.
MY useless comment deleted. By me
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ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
Interesting on the micro-air. I would be curious to try without the micro-air at all. Thanks for the update.
trdstarlet
New Member
Might try it tomorrow... I removed my micro-air to have it serviced last year. Ill try it on the 18k prior to installing back. the only difference is I'm running a 3 or 3.5 ton I forget.
trdstarlet
New Member
@ksmithaz1 didn't work for me... forgot to update yall here 
.
Current setup: 18kpv with 20kw server rack and 4/0 cable. The 18kpv shut down and restarted on my three attempts. Also, I have 5kw+ of solar hooked up. I just had the 3.5 HVAC hooked up to give it a fighting chance. I need to try it again and take some readings. Also, I'm off-grid, so no grid assistance.
.Current setup: 18kpv with 20kw server rack and 4/0 cable. The 18kpv shut down and restarted on my three attempts. Also, I have 5kw+ of solar hooked up. I just had the 3.5 HVAC hooked up to give it a fighting chance. I need to try it again and take some readings. Also, I'm off-grid, so no grid assistance.
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Markus_EG4
I am from Germany. Don't mean to come off rude
What’s your station name? PM@ksmithaz1 didn't work for me... forgot to update yall here
Current setup: 18kpv with 20kw server rack and 4/0 cable. The 18kpv shut down and restarted on my three attempts. Also, I have 5kw+ of solar hooked up. I just had the 3.5 HVAC hooked up to give it a fighting chance. I need to try it again and take some readings. Also, I'm off-grid, so no grid assistance.
Me and I can help you out.
trdstarlet
New Member
@Markus_EG4 sending DM
Quattrohead
Solar Wizard
Markus will get you sorted, these 18k inverters can handle 3-5ton AC systems easily.
Funny story. Today I was chasing a problem at my new home build with strobing lights when the inverter AC was running. We tried a couple of different firmware's on the 18K but nothing was making any difference at all. At Markus's suggestion I connected my Sol-Ark 12K to the house instead. Fortunately for the 18K and unfortunately for the AC system the problem continued (it needs a new inverter board even though it actually runs fine, weird). I'm working in the house laying flooring so I just turned the lights off and let the AC do it's thing. Then I needed to use the table saw to cut some vinyl plank and as soon as I hit the switch everything went off..... I didn't even think to consider how delicate the Solark 12K is when it comes to surge output.
So the 18K was promptly wired back up and I don't have to think about surge loads again.
Funny story. Today I was chasing a problem at my new home build with strobing lights when the inverter AC was running. We tried a couple of different firmware's on the 18K but nothing was making any difference at all. At Markus's suggestion I connected my Sol-Ark 12K to the house instead. Fortunately for the 18K and unfortunately for the AC system the problem continued (it needs a new inverter board even though it actually runs fine, weird). I'm working in the house laying flooring so I just turned the lights off and let the AC do it's thing. Then I needed to use the table saw to cut some vinyl plank and as soon as I hit the switch everything went off..... I didn't even think to consider how delicate the Solark 12K is when it comes to surge output.
So the 18K was promptly wired back up and I don't have to think about surge loads again.
Kant_Hack_It
New Member
So, we were having the same issue. I noticed the yellow arrows were feeding power to the EPS rather than standard consumption. I'm not sure what the EPS stands for but by reading what I did it was meant to be hooked up to a critical loads aka backup panel. Following the flow charts in the manual gets it set up this way.
What we did to fix it was turn OFF off grid mode. This moved the arrows to consumption mode rather than EPS. I don't know why EG4 labeled it the way it did, but EPS mode does not like very high inrush current. By switching this, we went from an 18kpv that wouldn't even start a 2 ton ac to one that would not only start the two ton, but start a 4 ton on an easy start with the 2 ton running and about 2k worth of normal loads.
I'm not sure how it'll work without grid connection but I would think it would do the same.
In brief, if your 18kpv won't start ac even with micro air soft start, turn OFF off grid mode.
What we did to fix it was turn OFF off grid mode. This moved the arrows to consumption mode rather than EPS. I don't know why EG4 labeled it the way it did, but EPS mode does not like very high inrush current. By switching this, we went from an 18kpv that wouldn't even start a 2 ton ac to one that would not only start the two ton, but start a 4 ton on an easy start with the 2 ton running and about 2k worth of normal loads.
I'm not sure how it'll work without grid connection but I would think it would do the same.
In brief, if your 18kpv won't start ac even with micro air soft start, turn OFF off grid mode.
Markus_EG4
I am from Germany. Don't mean to come off rude
This is with no Grid. How much load was your house running at the time. Or maybe there is something else. A 2 ton is nothing to start.
