New 10kw NHX AIO From Watts247

[Zwy]

This is my house panel. I prefer a transfer switch to allow quick switching between grid or inverter power with the ability to bypass the inverters.

I'd prefer having grid assist in case I ever needed it. I can always run 3 inverters and not just a pair.

 

[Zwy]

Just wanted to give a brief update. I am testing the 10kw NHX right now with self-consumption - feeding power back in through the grid port, with the CT's positioned in my basement sub-panel (main panel is upstairs). It is reliably offsetting the loads of my basement subpanel, from battery. I've been testing in the evening so no solar coming in while testing unfortunately. I will be able to test that this weekend.

The basic functionality works fine. I don't have the equipment for the fine sub-second analysis to see how much if any that it is feeding back beyond the CT's. Obviously, it's not 0, as that is pretty much impossible. And it is feeding back on L1 and consuming on L2, so it's not attempting to balance the phases while feeding back. Net is 0 between L1 and L2 back-feeding.

Will pass more along as I do more testing. One thing I noticed is that the grid sell limit does not seem to be used when you are in self-consumption. Also, the battery limits for DOD only set alarms but don't stop the inverter from continuing to offset loads even after hitting the EOD discharge percent number. Battery cut-off voltage does work as you'd expect. Solar-Man - which I have never used before only shows statistics and doesn't appear to permit remote changing of settings on the inverter, which is a disappointment. If I've missed it - please someone educate me.

Oh, and I didn't mount it to the wall yet - I built a frame out of 4x4 posts and some cross members as temporary mounting structure. If all goes well, this will replace my EG4 6000xp which I will sell to recoup a bit of cash. The NHX is what I really wanted when I bought the 6000xp. 6000xp works great for what it is, but I really wanted at least some basic grid interactive features even if it doesn't back-feed.

More to come...

Next question, any light flicker when connected to grid power? Great info BTW, thank you.

 

[CuriousJohn]

Next question, any light flicker when connected to grid power? Great info BTW, thank you.

No, no light flicker. But right now I have nothing connected to the output. I'm using it only to offset loads by pushing power into my home grid. I'll be reconnecting my critical loads to the output probably this weekend and will report back if there's anything like flickering lights or whatever.

 

[CuriousJohn]

The NHX is the newer generation of megarevo inverters. So it’ll have differences. The LCD display would be a large one

Gotcha - didn't know that. I hadn't looked that closely at it, but saw the strong resemblance.

 

[CuriousJohn]

I will double check my setup tonight. I believe I have it set to Lead Acid. I've only had the thing hooked up for two nights. Seems like there might have been another option on setup - I'll report back.

So reporting back after I rechecked my settings. When I set it up a couple days ago, I chose Lead Acid/Custom. There is no other non-lithium choice, and if you choose lithium, you need to have comms connected or you will get an error.

So - running on lead acid, with no comms so far isn't terrible. For how I'm using the inverter, I can live with setting the battery disconnect voltage at 50 volts, and just always keep the grid connected. My main use case right now is to offset loads on my basement panel, so I'm ok with this. I do hope that once I get comms set up, I'll have better control over the output based on the battery voltage.

Another thing to consider - there may be more options if I chose battery-first priority. I'll look into that next.

 

[1201]

So reporting back after I rechecked my settings. When I set it up a couple days ago, I chose Lead Acid/Custom. There is no other non-lithium choice, and if you choose lithium, you need to have comms connected or you will get an error.

So - running on lead acid, with no comms so far isn't terrible. For how I'm using the inverter, I can live with setting the battery disconnect voltage at 50 volts, and just always keep the grid connected. My main use case right now is to offset loads on my basement panel, so I'm ok with this. I do hope that once I get comms set up, I'll have better control over the output based on the battery voltage.

Another thing to consider - there may be more options if I chose battery-first priority. I'll look into that next.

So at disconnect voltage of 50v it just stops supporting the loads until pv comes back and recharges the battery right? The inverter doesn't shut down?

 

[CuriousJohn]

So at disconnect voltage of 50v it just stops supporting the loads until pv comes back and recharges the battery right? The inverter doesn't shut down?

No the inverter doesn't shut down. I'm connected to the grid, so the grid supports.

Another thing I just realized (feeling a little foolish now). If you look at the battery menu, very clearly the DOD percentages are in a circled area labeled Lithium specifically. Since the only way to use a lithium setting is with comms, then we should not be surprised that in order to depend on those controls, you have to have battery communicates. Kind a sucks, but as I said - not the end of the world. I will be getting comms set up in the coming weeks. See below:



Oh, and I tried out the battery first priority - no new voltage controls on behavior based on battery voltage.

 

[1201]

No the inverter doesn't shut down. I'm connected to the grid, so the grid supports.

Another thing I just realized (feeling a little foolish now). If you look at the battery menu, very clearly the DOD percentages are in a circled area labeled Lithium specifically. Since the only way to use a lithium setting is with comms, then we should not be surprised that in order to depend on those controls, you have to have battery communicates. Kind a sucks, but as I said - not the end of the world. I will be getting comms set up in the coming weeks. See below:

View attachment 207010

Oh, and I tried out the battery first priority - no new voltage controls on behavior based on battery voltage.

Very nice. I just wanted to make sure it didn't shut down, which means voltage based control works just fine. Ie I want the battery to support loads until x volts after that sign off.

I don't see a problem here.

 

[Kornbread]

Very nice. I just wanted to make sure it didn't shut down, which means voltage based control works just fine. Ie I want the battery to support loads until x volts after that sign off.

I don't see a problem here.

Grrr ... I see a problem. With all the TOU options this inverter has, well, if all those options cannot be used with voltage settings sans battery comms, it just about neuters this inverter.

 

[1201]

Grrr ... I see a problem. With all the TOU options this inverter has, well, if all those options cannot be used with voltage settings sans battery comms, it just about neuters this inverter.

That is a problem! If you can't set any of those factors based on voltage.

 

[CuriousJohn]

I haven't looked at the time of use stuff. Can take a look tonight.
I'd shoot Ian an email and ask him directly. He worked with the mfg on updates to the firmware and would probably be able to answer those types of questions easily.

 

[Kornbread]

I said my dumb ### was NOT going it alone ...

3/4" plywood with 1/4" backerboard, compressed fibre cement board, overlay. The backerboard makes for a decent fire retardant.

That's an spf6k on the right. Looks small compared to the nhx, while the Growatt sc48120 looks absolutely tiny.

 

[Kornbread]

Going over the manual again and only seeing settings in % soc, not voltages. Trying to figure out how to get the jk bms's to communicate with this inverter. They already communicate with the Pi and SolarAssistant, wonder if something can be done with that?

 

[1201]

Going over the manual again and only seeing settings in % soc, not voltages. Trying to figure out how to get the jk bms's to communicate with this inverter. They already communicate with the Pi and SolarAssistant, wonder if something can be done with that?

I think I read pylontech comms only.

Also, does this unit calculate soc based on voltage? Or does it require an external bms for soc?

 

[CuriousJohn]

Did a little more last night. Couple of things.

Good news first -
I had the inverter in Self Consumption before I left for work yesterday, but I left it set so that the battery would not be used. I was under the impression that any solar that came in would charge the battery, but instead I was pleasantly surprised to see that the solar that came in directed offset the loads on the grid input, utilizing the CT's to prevent back-feeding. In other words, it behaved like a grid tie inverter with limiter - passing solar to loads without allowing back-feed.

Not as good of news -
Last night, I set up time of use, just an entry for the whole day, setting it so that the battery should only go down to 52.5 volts, and not discharge from the battery after that. I had the main setting in Self Consumption, allowing for battery discharge, supporting loads on my subpanel, up to the point of feedback past the CT's. The inverter did not honor the battery voltage but continued to discharge past the set point. Would guess you need battery comms for that to work. I have no doubt that the main voltage cutoff for the batteries would have prevented total drain.

So without battery comms, the inverter works, but you don't have the fine control over voltages and/or battery SOC that we really want. Inverter will work in some use cases, so in my opinion - for my needs, still worth it. Don't regret spending the money on this. However, I do want battery comms and control over the fine grained behavior of the inverter. I'll be getting that going soon.

Impression of the software is that it works, but it is a little hinky in places - or its just that I don't truly understand the intent of some of the settings. The manual is OK, but desperately needs explanation of what some of the settings are trying to do, not the repeating facts that are obvious.

 

[1201]

Hopefully they can get a firmware update to allow voltage based control.

 

[Kornbread]

@Watts247 - Ian Roux Will these inverters operate to their full capacity using lead acid/voltage settings, or only if battery comms are functioning? See the last few posts above.

 

[CuriousJohn]

Did a little more last night. Couple of things.

Good news first -
I had the inverter in Self Consumption before I left for work yesterday, but I left it set so that the battery would not be used. I was under the impression that any solar that came in would charge the battery, but instead I was pleasantly surprised to see that the solar that came in directed offset the loads on the grid input, utilizing the CT's to prevent back-feeding. In other words, it behaved like a grid tie inverter with limiter - passing solar to loads without allowing back-feed.

Not as good of news -
Last night, I set up time of use, just an entry for the whole day, setting it so that the battery should only go down to 52.5 volts, and not discharge from the battery after that. I had the main setting in Self Consumption, allowing for battery discharge, supporting loads on my subpanel, up to the point of feedback past the CT's. The inverter did not honor the battery voltage but continued to discharge past the set point. Would guess you need battery comms for that to work. I have no doubt that the main voltage cutoff for the batteries would have prevented total drain.

So without battery comms, the inverter works, but you don't have the fine control over voltages and/or battery SOC that we really want. Inverter will work in some use cases, so in my opinion - for my needs, still worth it. Don't regret spending the money on this. However, I do want battery comms and control over the fine grained behavior of the inverter. I'll be getting that going soon.

Impression of the software is that it works, but it is a little hinky in places - or its just that I don't truly understand the intent of some of the settings. The manual is OK, but desperately needs explanation of what some of the settings are trying to do, not the repeating facts that are obvious.

Just wanted to clarify - today, I have about 2kw coming in on PV. The inverter is set to self-consumption. It is set to NOT export from the battery. The PV is charging the battery and exporting to my sub-panel, offsetting loads there, without backfeeding the grid. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT IT TO DO!!!! Overall really pleased with this inverter. Getting the COMMs working will make it even better.

 

[CuriousJohn]

The inveter uses Pylontech protocol. The lifepower4 batteries dont use that. But the lifepower battery hub does have that option. I just couldn’t get it to work in RS485. I didn’t fiddle with it long though.

So you may have some luck with the hub.

Gavin - just wondered if you have any more info on this. You said you tried to get it working briefly over RS485. I see that both the inverter and the EG4 hub support CAN as well as RS485. I guess I'm ready to buy the hub, but would like to know it will work... I definitely want the added control that battery comms will give with the NHX.

 

[Gavin Stone]

I didn’t have any luck with the rs485 and Pylontech with the hub. It didn’t offer that in CAN.

However I think the Deye protocol might be the same thing. And that is on the CAN protocol with the hub I believe. Unfortunately I don’t have it on my wall anymore to test it.

You could try verifying with EG4 if the Deye protocol on the hub is actually Pylontech.