Zapper77
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Disconnect any third party connections. Such as SA, HA, etc
EG4 18KPV Problems and Solution
- Thread starter lucl
- Start date
EJansen
Solar Enthusiast
It has in the past, but it didn't this time.
I just rebooted it, and now it appears to be moving.
Zapper77
Renaissance Man
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The 2nd file update took a while. 1st file went fast.
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
Easy enough to grok with a meter. There is a "load" lug set and a "grid" lug set. Cut off the grid, and only the load lugs will have power when the inverter is running. If you think about it it makes sense... You don't want power from your inverter backfeeding to the whole neighborhood! As bad as the manual is, this -is- in there. Pictures are good too...
LOAD L1/L2 will always have output from the inverter. There is a relay that bridges GRID/LOAD when you are tied and the grid is on. Disconnect power from GRID and you should see 240v on Load L1/l2 when the inverter is on.
You did not elaborate on the battery cable issue. I have two inverters, they came with two cables, one for inverter-inverter on for inverter-bmc. The cables were labeled with a white band, the inverter-bmc cable will not work if it is backwards. A picture is worth 1000 words.
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
There should have been a grey cable:
If you have an RJ-45 crimper you can easily make this cable 7/8 => 1/2. This is an RS-485 serial signal very slow very robust. You can cut a patch cord and twist the wires:
Cut a xx ft cable 10 inches from one end. The pins should be1-8: ORT ORG GRT BLU BLT GRN BRT BRN. This short end will be the inverter. From the short end, grab the brown trace (7) tie it to orange trace (1), then tie brown(8) to orange(2). That should be all you need. The blue wires are for CAN bus (4/5=>4/5 is straight thru), but the unit should be using 485 AFAIK.
Inverter - Battery => 7/8 - 1/2. These are RS-485 A/B
I'm having trouble getting the 18k to communicate with my Lifepower4 batteries. I'm sure it's here somewhere but I haven't found it. Should the Battery addressing start at 0 (all switches off) or 1 (switch 1 On) or some other configuration? I saw some one say the cable has to be oriented as the labels show but I haven't tried reversing it in case it's backwards, I'll try that tomorrow. (Battery setting as Lead Acid at this time.)
Zapper77
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ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
Cryin out loud, this is not that hard to diagnose. Your LP4 came with an RS-485 comm cable? If not buy a 485 adaptor from amazon, $10. Cut 10 inches off a patch cable, strip the long end, ORT -> A ORG -> B. Download the tool from eg4:
Load up on a laptop and test the batteries by themselves. 1st battery in the chain is zero, next is 1, then 2. right to left daisy chain just like it's shown in the manual. Cord in 0/left. Verify the firmware on the batteries is the latest if not, download and flash the latest. -- This is important --.
Once you confirm the batteries communicate, and are up to date, if you don't think you have the correct cable read the postings above, I posted a picture of the cable. If not, take the 10" piece, strip it get the brown pair, pull the ort/org on the long piece out of the 485 adapter and connect BRT-ORT BTN-ORG, tape it up and stuff it in the RJ-45 slot on the inverter. If something aint working, take a picture and post it.
Samsonite801
Solar Wizard
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FYI, I posted an 18kpv issue (problem) here last night, perhaps I should add it here?
diysolarforum.com
At the current time, it is a problem with documentation.
EG4 18kpv Alarm - 'Trip by Vac abnormal' and 'Trip by no AC' - Inverter AC power output turns off
Ok, I have a neighbor who has one of the new 18kpv inverters, with 6 Lifepower4 batteries. All hooked up fine and working great for a couple days so far. Then today they came over to my lot, and told me the power went off. I go and check it out, find that inverter keeps shutting off the...
diysolarforum.com
At the current time, it is a problem with documentation.
Hi guys
Have an 18kpv and the best way I can explain the problem is that it doesn’t constantly send pv power to the house and back to the grid. It does it sometimes for just a minute then switches back to grid and then only pv power runs to the battery to keep it charged…for reference the setup is whole house backup with feeder taps as per diagram 4.4 in the manual.
Have an 18kpv and the best way I can explain the problem is that it doesn’t constantly send pv power to the house and back to the grid. It does it sometimes for just a minute then switches back to grid and then only pv power runs to the battery to keep it charged…for reference the setup is whole house backup with feeder taps as per diagram 4.4 in the manual.
Zapper77
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Can you do us a favor and post your wiring diagram and your settings as shown on the monitoring website.
How long has your system been running?
Is this a new issue?
It’s a new install so has been doing this for a week and troubleshooting with SS.
have small battery 100ah set to lead acid even though it lithium ion as there is no communication to it.
also could the issue be because currently the solar array is producing in the range of 240-250v and so it’s in the range of the utility so it’s getting confused, as I can rewire the array to output 500v instead?
and thank you for any assistance…
have small battery 100ah set to lead acid even though it lithium ion as there is no communication to it.
also could the issue be because currently the solar array is producing in the range of 240-250v and so it’s in the range of the utility so it’s getting confused, as I can rewire the array to output 500v instead?
and thank you for any assistance…
Zapper77
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How many total watts is your array?
How many mppt inputs?
What's the pv voltage reading with no load?
Currently total watts is 5600. In 2 strings going to mppt 1. Each string is 7x 400w panels and voltage is 259 no load.
The other solar panels will be connected in a couple of weeks going to mppt 2 and 3 And these will be 14 panels to each mppt 2 and 3. Total at that time will be 16800W.
I can make those 2 strings into 1 and double the voltage If that fixes it.
The other solar panels will be connected in a couple of weeks going to mppt 2 and 3 And these will be 14 panels to each mppt 2 and 3. Total at that time will be 16800W.
I can make those 2 strings into 1 and double the voltage If that fixes it.
Zapper77
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Zapper77
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Are you using peak shaving?
I did 10 intentionally to see if it would make a difference. It was 65 as that is what the battery bms can do.The battery is basically not for storage but just to keep powering the inverter. The grid is my backup.
no I am not using peak shaving.
Last edited:
Zapper77
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I'm out of ideas. Unless your mppt strings are borderline to low and the slightest shadow drops the amperage result in a voltage drop when the mppt trys to pull the pv load.
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