Most reacted posts

Okay, I see this discussion has derailed into something else. I just wanted to give a final update as SS called me today and asked how they could make this right by me. I told them I was still waiting for the refund for a previous shipped disconnect - return started with a RMA and not related...

I don't want to beat this horse down anymore but your comment is begging for a follow up: have you actually seen the "operating manuals" that are coming in with some of these products? There is barely anything even to be read. Literally.

I totally see this, but it seems like it comes with the forum life package. No grid connection. 1. Yes, that was my understanding as well. 2. Understood, I needed clarification regarding the grounding wiring and how to connect the two leads into one point in the inverter. In all honesty, this...

I wanted to circle back and close on this thread: I was able to replace the broken pump with a new 115/230V pump. I also bought a 2-pole circuit breaker and re-wired the breaker for the pump, so that I could run it 230V. Everything went well and I better understand how the 240V Split Phase...

Okay, I'll update V3.32 and also update InsightHome and see how this affects my system. Thank you.

Man... I don't want to be responsible for another person's stroke or heart attack. I am a free man with a clean conscience. Your help comes with this anger and is not worth for me. Please, simply block me and you won't come across these "stupid posts" from me.

This setting won't stick and reverts back to 100Ah. Not sure why. The battery BMS charging rate comes from the battery itself and it is not a variable setting. I believe it is only informational. Regardless, my charger is limited to 45A which divided for 3 batteries is equal to 15A a battery...

Oh... hold on there Cowboy! Just because the manual for YOUR SPF 5000 ES lists running idle, who said the manual of mine GroWatt SPF DVM-MPV Series also does? Who are you? In this case, some glasses and politeness needed.

Oh shit.. I almost got it right though. At least I got the concept right! :giggle: I see it now., thanks! Got it... the grounding bushing goes inside the plastic box and the EGC that is running inside the box is connected to the grounding bushing and out of the box, uninterrupted. This gives...

I believe you are correct. I was relying on battery BMS SOC and suddenly got the carpet pull from underneath my feet. Working on slowly charging and balancing the batteries.

Yes, I already started the warranty process. Part of the documentation was to show them the reduced capacity.

I have a different question: why in the world someone with 700+ posts in this forum cannot figure out why people buy EG4 batteries? That is puzzling to me..... I only can speak for my experience and despite having issues with GroWatt & SigantureSolar costumer service, I've had ZERO issues with...

(y) (y) I changed to fixed absorption & 4 hours and the settings showing below (55.2V absorption & 45A total charge (~15A per battery). And today the pack hit 100% SOC, within minutes of each other - to my surprise actually.

Here it goes: https://www.small-cabin.com/forum/

Whew... I read it but don't even need to say anything... I came here to ask for HELP and I am not interested in pseudo-help tactics to engage with angry people disguised as helpful beings. Help is an action for others, not for one self. It is clear to me from his "thirst to be proven wrong" he...

Yes, 2 strings simplifies a lot. I guess I needed to go over the exercise to to better understand the science behind it. It has been a bit painful but worth it. Here is what I have for the 2-string configuration: Moving to a 2 string config I wouldnt have the combiner box but I think I would...

I happen to also be installing the same GroWatt inverter in my off grid cabin and I have to agree that their documentation is lame and missing crucial information. I just finally received some stud connectors that I was missing for the final wiring and during this waiting time I had to clarify...

I will need to take better pictures next time I am in the cabin. But I was under the impression from posting some photos of the panel earlier that the loads were actually balanced. In any case, I suspect this is something that if confirmed not balanced, that I should be able to move some...

My current off-grid setup has no grounding and I would like to address it but I am not sure what is the correct and/or best way for doing so. The setup is the following: - (1) 12kW Split Phase Generator located outside in a shed - (1) 8kW Growatt AOI Split Phase inverter coupled to (1) EG4...

Shawn, you I think he is talking about the collapse of modern society.... maybe couple with a new wave of coronavirus zombies. I suspect a lot of people in these self-reliance forums may share some of these feelings... maybe not so much about zombies. In sense a bit of urgency and...

Amazing, thank you very much!

Thanks for the feedback. Okay, I am currently set to charge the EG4 at 35A and it seems like a good number for my setup. I will be adding a second battery soon and my charger is rated for up to 45A.

True and as far as I know, this is the current model we live under. It has been said or suggested that NYS charges off-grid users for their production but I have not found anything that proves that. As a matter of fact, I am 100% off grid in NYS and have never heard of such a thing. I suspect...

Thank you! I have no idea what you are trying to say here. I suspect this is higher level information that I don't necessarily need to fully understand it.

I don't want to burst your hate bubble towards "the NYS evil machinery" but I feel like it needs a push back. If you were to read about PSC and Distributed Energy in NYS, you would learn that they have been putting together one of the best platforms for DG in the country. Says who? Ironically...

You have a tough job bro, they are lucky to have you.

A side question regarding the Conext BMS: since it has SOC and communication with Conext via Xanbus, would SOC AGS (generator) setpoints be possible to be programmed? I have a Conext SW connected to EG4 batteries but no communication. I currently do not like the way I am limited to voltage...

Ben, sure. DM sent.

Thank you! If that's the case, then I'll likely go with Option B which renders a shorter busbar-inverter wire. Cheers again!

Very good find, thank you.

Holy shit, it actually worked!! Power flicked for a second than the display changed to what I believe is the Utility Charging mode. Here is the photo: Thank you very much! Do you happen to also know about the following: - How to connect the generator to the GroWatt AGS? I know my generator...

My 48v pack has been holding up well, despite being only on cycle #12 ?? I'm happy with it and I intend to add at least another pack next year.

The vent is for the woodstove and it needs to be cleaned from the outside. I don't think I could layout the 12 panels safely on one half of the roof only. My intent was to keep a greater clearance by the roof eave.

Got it! My plan is to eventually get a Schneider Battery Monitor next spring when I will also add more battery capacity. Until then i'll be messing with the voltages. I also hope to be able to eventually connect the EG4 to the Conext via BMS - just waiting for Signature Solar to get their shit...

Right now I can only assure I have a set of Victron Busbar 4P 250A rated for 250A @ 70V. I am not checking for copper purity levels. (y)

Thank you both of you! I will check how to remove the breaker first then order the matching type. If different than in the link, I'll likely post it here again. Cheers!

Moving the woodstove vent is out of question but I was able to move the panels around in addition to portrait layout. Considering the cabin orientation (roof plane to mount panels facing East), what do you think about the revised layout?

Thank you for your royal authorization. I am glad you are allowing me to spend my money they way I choose to. I was waiting for you to authorize it before pulling the trigger and now I am ready.

Hi Harpo, I am in a similar situation near PA and this past winter I decided to haul my EG4 battery back to my winter residence because I wasn't sure. So in summary, is it okay to leave these batteries in the cold weather when NOT in use (for storage purposes only)?

@Travis_signaturesolar Thanks for the prompt reply. Right now I only see one battery (the existing one) under the "SEMB_BMS" device. All (3) batteries are EG4 LifePower4 batteries. And they all have the same firmware update @JacksonSolar posted in the forums last year - if you search for his...

Well, I started there with a 6S2P configuration but somehow ended up trying to get the 3S4P to work... Please send link when out!

It looks like a busbar but from what I can see busbars are for connecting common wires together. The connector I am looking for is not a busbar. If you see it in the picture I posted each connecting bolt is individual and does not bond to the next bolt.

Amazing! Thank you very much with all the help!

Understood. So I am grounding the frames but my PV system is classified as ungrounded. Got it, I need a 2-pole switch to properly isolate the system. Thanks for clarifying it.

Jackson, that is great you were able to jump on this and possibly have the correct firmware file for the EG4 LP4 48V HW0207 batteries. Could I just ask that you upload this file on Signature Solar website or have another one of your SignatureSolar colleagues confirm the authenticity of this...

Wait, what?! I could have a 240V breaker inside my existing split phase panel? :oops::oops: I'll try to post a photo of the panel, I believe it is standard US.

I believe it is a little clearer now, thanks for clarifying.

I can see how easily this prediction could turn into reality. A very slippery slope! I need to be careful here. MPPT has (2) inputs, I think I will connect each array separately instead of combining them in a 6S2P configuration. I suspect this could help limit shadow issues with the parallel...

Understood and it seems like my intuition was correct: 230VAC is not the same as 120/240 split phase. Thanks!

Our energy shed is NOT insulated... this solution seems simpler to implement but not sure how well would perform... Good idea though...

Ken, Could you expand a bit on the relationship of my existing split-phase generator and the inverter type I should be considering in order to work properly with my generator? I am a little lost on what specs the inverter needs to have because the generator is 240V service in split phase...

Thank you. We are almost there!

Here is goes @Markus_EG4 : On the top end the batteries are not balanced with almost 300mV cell discrepancy, reducing drastically my overall battery capacity: On the lower end, the batteries go from 40% SOC to 0% SOC + undervoltage alarm, shutting down my system. This is happening with a...

I don't know exactly why but the short answer is: the previous cabin owner built it like that. I suspect he wanted space between the breakers? Maybe he was anal about the wiring spacing? I have no idea.

Thanks for the clarification. And good to know acceptable values are 10 to 15 mV. I already reached out to the vendor, (SS) and I will follow up if the issue persists. I have a 48V 8A charger that runs at 58.4V constant charging voltage. I do not have a 55V charger. Can I still make this...

Found this article explaining double x single pole breakers, but of course, they only show the wiring diagram for the 1-pole breaker! https://www.cooltoday.com/blog/whats-the-difference-between-a-single-and-a-double-pole-breaker I think I am getting the idea. I will need to get the panel...

Here it goes..

I am back in the city now... we had no running water so we decided to come back to sort this out. I will have to finalize this once I am back in the cabin. But I am confident on the pump replacement and in the 240V wiring. Ordering the pump now! I really appreciate the help!

No MPPT at this time, only the Conext inverter and the standalone charger. So change all charger settings to 54.85V and see how much charge goes in then increase charging voltage and so on? Okay, I can try that. So it sounds like I am still away from the target... dang it.

Yes, very clear. Are you referring to a connector like this here: They are still 30A. Here is one possible ways I could wire a 4P in my situation, as I currently understand it: Using a 4P Combiner Box - run all (4) sets of PV wires on roof to Ironridge JBox, - connect PV wire to THHN/THWN-2...

This is for an off-grid 15 KWh 48V battery bank (3x EG4s) connected to a Schneider 4048 Inverter in split-phase. The system has been running well for over a year. I would like to get feedback on how you'd deal with these warnings if you were running this system. I have a total of (3) alarm and...

Okay, I'll update my InsightHome. But what settings do you want me to add/change that will help me with the EG4s? What exactly will I be looking for once I update Insight Home? Please clarify which settings you recommend I change?

Who are you and where did you get this file?

You really can't imagine why would anyone allow (subscribe) this? One man's "redistribution nightmare" is another's "investment dream". I highly suspect these programs in TX are voluntary just like in NY & CT and many other states and the only reason consumers of all scales participate in...

The short answer is yes: - I was able to connect the EG4 to the Schneider Conext - Conext reads battery info correctly - I can read EG4 data on InsightHome local network The issue I thought I was having seems to be random and it hasn't happened again. The only issue I seem to have is the...

Bro, you have no idea. My boss is under spell. GroWatt + EG4 seems like a really viable option. I hear third design iteration is a charm and usually the last one. :) Magnum > SunGoldPopwer > GroWatt It just happens that it is cheaper and better looking than SGP! And despite the lack of...

Thank you!

I have a similar system and it seems like your charging settings are too high for the EG4 specs. I recommend you read the EG4 specs and set your charger to those voltages. For me, I had to reduce even more the setpoints because of overvoltage errors. IIRC they list 56.2V for bulk but I ended up...

Amazing! Just incredible how this little thing called internet actually works sometimes! It has taken me at least two weeks just to figure out where I was stuck and how /what to ask for help... Thanks again!

That seems well balanced to me. But how do I address and get the vendor to support this?

I am struggling finalizing the PV package for my off-grid cabin and could use some help. One package seems to be border line oversized risking high voltage on the MPPT and if I upgrade package sizing, adding two more panels and upsizing MPPT I then risk being too low on minimum required MPPT...

How could the battery be at 10% when BMS SOC tells me it is about 50%? Only thing is, 15 mins after I post this thread and the system goes down. I connect to the EG4s and they are now reading 0% SOC. How is this possible? I've been relying on the BMS SOC info and that showed 48% a bit over 30...

You are correct, it is 48V SW. It must be a typo in the description. I checked all the DC connections, no issues. But I am puzzled that the system turned off on low voltage and the EG4s were reading out 47% SOC and then instantly went to 0%.

You are correct, the problem seemed more manageable once I was able to create a CAD drawing for it. Here is my current drawing for this installation, which shows a minimum of 1'-10" clearance to the roof edge.

Believe me, if that works and it provides the safety required, then that's the one. It is very very required. Thank you.

I just double-checked, the manual @SignatureSolarUS has for download under the product page DOES NOT include 240V Split Phase wiring diagrams, despite the description for the product clearly stating it is a 240V split phase inverter: Growatt 8kW Split Phase Off-Grid Inverter | SPF 8000T...

Max V diff is about 0.628V. I don't know if this is too high or normal. But how does this explain the SOC going from 48% to 0%? The Battery BMS is currently reading 0% SOC. Yes, the last screenshot is straight from the EG4 BMS.

Very good stuff, thanks for sharing it. I researched some 108cell panel and came across an very good alternative: Canadian Solar HiKu6 400W at 67.8" x 44.6" dimensions. With a panel this size I would be more comfortable making the installation with 22" clearance to the edge. (y)(y)(y)

I took your advice and did some research on PWM controllers. All of them are at least 7A. The solar panel I have connected to the genset starter is only a 7W and 600mA. And to be honest, not a lot of sun exposure where the panel sits - I tried moving it around and cleaning it.

I am coming to the same conclusion. I feel like I wasted a solid 6 months trying to get him to guide me finding a good off-grid solution for my cabin but instead he terrorized me. Literally. "Everything will explode. Nothing is possible. Nothing will work". Constantly.

I totally see this now. My original intent was to "discover" as much as possible on the forums and then double-check the information with him, after all this science could be intimidating at first. I just felt like this was a good plan to also have an electrical engineer that I know in person...

Very clear, thank you.

This was for a Siemens AC disconnect, which I returned way before even realizing the inverter was not functioning properly. After receiving the product back and once I started the claim for the inverter, SS simply said they could not proceed with the refund until the case had been solved with...

You are correct, I am currently charging off a generator and would like to find that sweet spot between charging current & voltages and generator runtime. Follow up question: how does one actually know that the voltage is too high? What are the symptoms or side effects that I should be on the...

After reading the Schneider Conext SW 4048 manual I was not able to determine whether it would work with my EG-4 LifePower4 Lithium battery. It raised me concerns since the product literature does not mention lithium batteries at all. Could someone clarify why this inverter, as well as the...

Oh shit.. Does that mean at minimum I'll need the two arrays to have the same panel quantities?

Very good recommendation! I've read the entire documentation for the Magnum MS4448PAE series and it seems like a very solid product, i could tell by the quality and detail of the installation guides and manual. I was not able to find the AE series product page, not sure why. Do you know the...

Did you finalize your install? I ask because I have a very similar condition (6S2P) arrays in the roof, shed about 30 feet away from the the roof. Slightly higher rated PV panels. I am trying to decide whether to combine PV arrays at the roof (combiner box X MC4 splitters) or at the shed...

Yes. The generator is a Kohler 14RESA. The installation manual has the following language: How do I determine if the generator is N-G bonded? What should I look for in the actual installation?

I have been told about this brand/product, but ehri website seemed confusing with many different options and selection. Did you install on a shingle roof? If so, could you list exactly the part numbers you used?

Actually 50W is tolerable. I called those guys at Signature Solar and they told me over the phone about 100W? How could this be possible? I would need to buy a battery just to keep the inverter running.

Here is my current setup: (3) EG4 48V Batteries (2) Victron Busbar 4P 250A (1) 400Lbs 12U Server Rack - I am ordering (2) sets (black/red) of 3 wires same length, busbar to each battery - I am also ordering (1) pair of black/red wires, same length, inverter to busbar I suspect aside from the...

Very clear response, thank you. You seem to know their product, maybe I could pick your brains: any big winner between the Victron SmartSolar MPPT 150/45A Charger x MagnaSine PT-100? Or both comparable? TIA!

The setup is running with no issues, just can't determine the correct setpoints to program the Temperature Controller. Anyone with a similar chest-freezer-to-fridge setup could share their setpoints? Compressor ON / Compressor OFF / Compressor Time Delay? My current setup is: - Magic Chef...

This is for an installation in the USA, more precisely NYS.

I need a temporary solution for the rest of the year and early spring, until I can have the funds & technical confidence (and ability) for a permanent solution. I have (4) QCell Q.PEAK DUO L-G7.2 405 405W Solar Panel already delivered to the cabin. My understanding is that out of the Solar...

Welcome to my life! This is my first winter also running lithium batteries and I had to deal with the same problem a couple of weeks ago when we dipped below 30F where I live. A few things you should consider: 1. Find out from your battery specs exactly the temp limitations. For instance, my...

I knew something was missing. How do I find the correct shelf brackets? Are they universal for any server racks or depend on the manufacturer? ???? Lots of options in this website! Do you know how to select the proper busbar for my application? I intend on having a total of (3) EG4 batteries...

Because I want to keep the existing wiring and panel INSIDE the cabin intact and simply connect the new inverter to the batteries and generator inside the exterior insulated shed. And because the existing generator and wiring going to the cabin is 240v split phase, i was locked into 240v split...