timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
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EG4 18kPV Q+A general thread
- Thread starter SignatureSolarJames
- Start date
Zapper77
Renaissance Man
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rmacgurn
New Member
nothing except they are they are working with EG4 to resolve. its clear that none of their tech know. and the one I have been working with over a week says he is going to a different department and wants me to call and start another ticket....
Markus_EG4
I am from Germany. Don't mean to come off rude
I can help you out Sir. Who were you talking to from EG4 if so I can get that situated if you dont mind telling me.
Markus_EG4
I am from Germany. Don't mean to come off rude
I cant write that unless I know what you are looking for as far as setup. Also need to see your settings so I can help you better.
I guess what I am not understanding is why does it appear to be difficult to configure it never to export any power to the grid? That seems like it should be a single checkbox in the UI and not matter what other settings there are. That single checkbox should override/alter any other settings required to accomplish that.
Markus_EG4
I am from Germany. Don't mean to come off rude
Ok so their is a new firmware for Zero export to fix the bug its having now. I have this firmware i can load it onto your inverter no problem. It will be added to the App very soon.
timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
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I'm not very keen on the idea needing someone to remotely adjust my settings to get it to perform as I want. If it's too complicated for me to use, that gives me pause.
Markus_EG4
I am from Germany. Don't mean to come off rude
Well your settings are probably correct you just need the firmware
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
This is a really new product, so ... We get it.
This whole no-export situation should be simple. All we need is the 18K to act like a 'chargeverter' when it gets AC input. Ideally I would think this would use the generator input and here's why:
Suppose you have (like me) a 100A panel that runs everything. My average/mean load is about 5 KW/H. I spike from time to time up into the 18KW demand range (75A or so). So supposing we have our inverter, a bank of batteries and NO solar panels. I should be able to hook up a ~6KW generator and run my house using the batteries as a demand buffer. This is the same principle as an online UPS, the inverters run all the time and provide all load output.
At present if I make my 6KW 'generator' (240v/25A) a feed from the grid on a 30A breaker, as soon as my panel load exceeds 30A, the breaker trips. I've tried a number of settings, but it's kind of annoying to test. What would be better is if the 'generator' input simply fed the AC->DC battery charging circuit 100% of the time. This REALLY ought to be simple.
An even NICER-TO-HAVE would be a sync between the grid and the inverters. Currently I feed a transfer switch inverter primary, grid secondary. I've got my inverters set to shut down at BAT/10%. Works ok, but the phase shift can cause a pretty big bang on the AC if it's running, which brings us to:
So this thing does turn back on. I was looking for a setting, I may have missed it, but it appears that in the morning once the charging starts, when the batteries hit 15% it turns on the inverters. This is about right, but it would be great to have a little more control using time. I may implement this myself, I just connected the RS-485, I'll start polling the box, and see what I can do. Ideally I'd like to make the on/off thresholds a mix of generated power and time of day... For example in the early am as PV is ramping up, allow the batteries to dip to say 8%, but shut them off at night at say 20%. Winter TOU here is 5-9.5-9, So keep a reserve, but kick everything on at 5AM... Dunno yet.
.
This whole no-export situation should be simple. All we need is the 18K to act like a 'chargeverter' when it gets AC input. Ideally I would think this would use the generator input and here's why:
Suppose you have (like me) a 100A panel that runs everything. My average/mean load is about 5 KW/H. I spike from time to time up into the 18KW demand range (75A or so). So supposing we have our inverter, a bank of batteries and NO solar panels. I should be able to hook up a ~6KW generator and run my house using the batteries as a demand buffer. This is the same principle as an online UPS, the inverters run all the time and provide all load output.
At present if I make my 6KW 'generator' (240v/25A) a feed from the grid on a 30A breaker, as soon as my panel load exceeds 30A, the breaker trips. I've tried a number of settings, but it's kind of annoying to test. What would be better is if the 'generator' input simply fed the AC->DC battery charging circuit 100% of the time. This REALLY ought to be simple.
An even NICER-TO-HAVE would be a sync between the grid and the inverters. Currently I feed a transfer switch inverter primary, grid secondary. I've got my inverters set to shut down at BAT/10%. Works ok, but the phase shift can cause a pretty big bang on the AC if it's running, which brings us to:
So this thing does turn back on. I was looking for a setting, I may have missed it, but it appears that in the morning once the charging starts, when the batteries hit 15% it turns on the inverters. This is about right, but it would be great to have a little more control using time. I may implement this myself, I just connected the RS-485, I'll start polling the box, and see what I can do. Ideally I'd like to make the on/off thresholds a mix of generated power and time of day... For example in the early am as PV is ramping up, allow the batteries to dip to say 8%, but shut them off at night at say 20%. Winter TOU here is 5-9.5-9, So keep a reserve, but kick everything on at 5AM... Dunno yet.
.
Markus_EG4
I am from Germany. Don't mean to come off rude
Im trying to support you on this and the only way i can at the moment is update your firmware. For Zero Export
Last edited:
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
@timselectric I have a chargeverter, bought it for this very purpose with some low end inverters that failed. I'm fairly certain tying the AC to to load is for efficiency even if it sucks for my objective. I'm wondering how much I will lose by basically running my load thru the chargeverter. 10%? I've been running my setup now for 2 days. I have exceeded my PV input estimate (84KWH) significantly (~95KWH), but on Monday and Tuesday I charged my EV's, so my nitetime battery fill was only 80%-ish. Tonight I should hit 99%ish, So I was going to run via the transfer switch for a couple days, then use the chargeverter method for a couple of days and compare. I'll get some more batteries as money permits.
From my LPC for the last 31 days:
From my LPC for the last 31 days:
timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
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I would guess about 10%. It's very efficient for a charger.
EastTexCowboy
Solar Wizard
Markus - Just FYI, but Tim doesn't have an 18k. He's only been trying to help others here who do have one.
timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
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Correct
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
Oh yea, and firmware updates should really be under user control. There is a web-page for the wifi dongle, it has a firmware section... Should be a 'upload' or some such. I think they have some things in mind.
Zapper77
Renaissance Man
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I estimate around 6%
SignatureSolarJames
Try Solar, the Grid will always take you back
7%. 93% efficiency
Okay.. that simply wasn't stated before.. only that someone "can fix this for you"... It makes much more sense that you need to simply update your firmware which was not communicated well before. A "a new version of firmware is required to fix this issue" would have clarified it for everyone as well as information on when it would be released. If not already released then what actions can be done to get a pre-release version.
