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  • Post in thread: [Resolved] System is down Sungoldpower 8K Hybrid inverter - Need urgent help

    Those readings make no sense, according to the manual at https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/C1+4pwuzOSS.pdf the test leads should be disconnected while measuring amps, and only the clamp should be used. There's no way you are getting 40 amps out of series panels when they have an Isc rating...
  • Post in thread: Shelly Uni

    If you are getting arc faults at night, check your AC connections. Mine worked themselves loose and burned up a wire because I ignored spurious arc fault errors. Now I have a yearly reminder to tighten all the connections.
  • Post in thread: EG4 18KPV - What not to do in parallel

    Not assigning blame (the firmware developers from Elbonia deserve some credit here), but this is a "Should Never Happen" event. Don't care if you didn't think to test for it, don't care if your design reviews didn't turn it up, don't care if this is one for the Risks Digest, bad/miswired/wrong...
  • Post in thread: Inverter Bypass Switch

    I’m going to be using another interlockit.com breaker interlock for just this reason. One ‘grid’ and two ‘generators’ is non-standard, but they’ve been very helpful in helping me determine what I need and making something (semi)custom.
  • Post in thread: [Resolved] System is down Sungoldpower 8K Hybrid inverter - Need urgent help

    That inverter has TWO MPPT inputs. Each could connect to one string of between 3 and 9 panels.
  • Post in thread: My wife hates extension cords please help

    It's only a suicide cord if it can be energized while not plugged into a functioning grid, and then it's grid-tied, no? Clever!
  • Post in thread: Solar Assistant assistant

    Not sure (Raspberry Pi and Orange Pi are two separate products by different companies), but usually white is USB2 and blue is USB3
  • Post in thread: My battery's full!

    You definitely need more batteries, as you aren’t capturing the afternoon production, but that’ll just show production as being the weak link. I did it the other way around, doubled my production and then rescinding of Net Metering is ‘forcing’ me to add batteries. #FirstWorldProblems
  • Post in thread: [Resolved] System is down Sungoldpower 8K Hybrid inverter - Need urgent help

    Probably 7PM isn't the best time to determine if you are getting the proper output from your strings, but that first set of readings doesn't look unreasonable. What if you swap to the other string (when the sun is up), do you get similar readings? I'd probably put all eight panels into one...
  • Post in thread: Current limiter : how does it work ?

    Nowadays it’s almost certainly a switch-mode buck converter style circuit, so not a lot of waste heat to deal with.
  • Post in thread: MASSIVE Overpaneling -MPPT input current

    It's a speed-of-damage thing. The fuse has to overheat and melt to open, while the electronics can just break down and short out and fail within milliseconds
  • Post in thread: From Harbor freight special 12 Volt Off Grid learning system, to new ground up build off grid solar build plan.

    FYI: the electrolyte expands as it charges, so you should only top batteries off when they are fully charged.
  • Post in thread: Elegant way to pre-charge between 2 Anderson connectors?

    One Anderson with a resistor in parallel with another without a resistor. Plug the first one in, wait a second, plug the second one in.
  • Post in thread: [Resolved] System is down Sungoldpower 8K Hybrid inverter - Need urgent help

    Which inverter do you have exactly (this one: https://sungoldpower.com/collections/hybrid-solar-inverter/products/8kw-off-grid-solar-inverter-ul1741 ?), and what are your array details? Panels, configuration, wiring, etc?
  • Post in thread: My handtruck generator.

    Nice! I’d use an aluminum handtruck with pneumatic tires, but then everyone will have their own optimizations for this kind of thing. Yours is way better than mine, cause I haven’t built one!🤪
  • Post in thread: Elegant way to pre-charge between 2 Anderson connectors?

    Two Anderson connectors in parallel on each side. One has a resistor in series with the positive lead. Plug that one in first. Once the recharge time has elapsed, plug in the other one.
  • Post in thread: Battery charger efficiency?

    So My Watts Up Pro (by the same company) shows the power from the wall at 878 watts, so definitely something wrong with my metering. I'm going to convert over to Shelly Pro 1PM devices, because they never fail (except twice so far, sigh), and because the SC20s are long obsolete and require a...
  • Post in thread: EG4 18KPV - What not to do in parallel

    That’s what testing is for, design reviews, QA, etc.
  • Post in thread: Can you share EG4-LifePower4 with EG4 PowerPro ?

    Currently no, but I believe they’re working on firmware to make it work, as there’s a lot of call for that. For now, run one of the flavors open-loop
  • Post in thread: Clouds suck... Part 2

    AKA my First Wife.
  • Post in thread: Interesting problem over paneling with parallel strings

    How do you get such granular control over your MPPT?
  • Post in thread: 35,000 SF Commercial Office Building

    That's the point where I'd look at running the server room off a single phase, so you don't need a 3phase inverter with batteries
  • Post in thread: psa: Chargeverter is LOUD

    There are two power-in lines, IIRC blue and brown. Connect them to your power supply, either 120 or 240 volts. Yeah, the drawings are a little hard to decipher, but once you understand that it's an autoranging input, and there are two wires, you are good to go. Adapters will probably connect...
  • Post in thread: How non-linear is battery life?

    I am dreading the 300 pound batteries, the 600 pound batteries better be self propelled and self lifting.
  • Post in thread: EG4 18kPV Q+A general thread

    If the CTs are at the meter then yes. If the AC coupled inverter can’t/won’t throttle, that’s a different problem.
  • Post in thread: Grid-Scale Battery Storage

    He doesn’t, he wants to build a microgrid with batteries, inverters, solar panels. A DIY residential system on an (unspecified) larger scale.
  • Post in thread: Power line Backfeed Question…?

    This is indeed a problem. UL1741 means your inverter (not your generator) will shut down on loss of grid. Two other solutions: Now your generator is trying to power every house in the neighborhood and it can’t so it trips it’s breakers. Also linemen are wise to your foolishness and short...
  • Post in thread: Whats more energy efficient: Off-grid or Grid-tie ?

    If you have 1:1 net metering you have a virtual battery at 100% efficiency, infinite size, and zero cost. What was the question again? Now you know why the power companies don’t like it.
  • Post in thread: LifePO4 batteries getting cheap enough who cares if they last?

    I want my instant gratification right now!
  • Post in thread: A Honda inverter generator, an Ecoflow Delta Pro, and a tiny offgrid cabin in the woods. Next... solar! But how?

    I’ve been known to make an extension cord from a roll of 12/3 electrical wire with a plug (in your case, to fit the big plug on your generator) on one end, and a double duplex (metal) box with 20 amp outlet on the other. This really is indistinguishable from house wiring.
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