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SolArk 15k Questions

K

K1ng0011

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Few questions about the Solark 15K. Thanks for your input.

Can it be installed outside on an exterior facing wall exposed to sun and rain? The wall I would put it on has no real overhang to protect it from the weather or sun. I live in western Washington so we don't have tons of sun but plenty of rain.

When passing through grid power can it passthrough 200 full amps? Not including battery or solar.

If a part of the inverter fails will it continue to pass through grid power or should you install some sort of manual bypass?

Is the EG4-PowerPro battery compatible with the solark 15k?
 
I believe the 15k is outdoor rated - IP65? Put a cover over the screen so the sun doesn't bleach it out.

It can passthrough 200 amps from the grid. I think that is the Load port limit too (don't get 250 amps).

Install a manual bypass. You will want that for maintenance.

Eg4 is compatible. Check sol-ark 's page if you want to verify closed communications.
 
Thank you that information was helpful. Any links to a diagram that shows how to do a manual switch bypass?

I found documentation that says its IP65.

IP65 = Water resistant. “Protected against water jets from any angle”
 

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I would as a minimum place it under an overhang or small roof.
Having heavy rain often hit the chassis is...debatable.
In a carport or garage would be better than outside.
 
KSowell said:
I believe what you are looking for is in the manual. Page 53

https://www.sol-ark.com/wp-content/uploads/15K-2P_Manual.pdf <-link
Click to expand...
Thanks this is what I am looking for and it makes perfect sense.

LydMekk said:
I would as a minimum place it under an overhang or small roof.
Having heavy rain often hit the chassis is...debatable.
In a carport or garage would be better than outside.
Click to expand...

Maybe worth asking SolArk to see what they would say. My only other option is to 40ft worth of wire to the north side of my house which would work but I have a bump out for a water heater on my back porch that has to be removed first. Its a path I do not want to go down if possible.
 
Personally I would lean toward some type of shelter too. If you look up the IP rating charts it will give you a better idea of what IP65 is. There are differences in the amount of water and pressure used. The 6 is for "solids" I believe. I have seen them installed outside though. If batteries are in your future, check their specs as well for operating temps, etc.
 
I have never seen an LCD screen last very long when exposed to direct sunlight even if it's for just a couple of hours per day.
You should at the very least make sure the whole plastic surface of the screen interface is blocked from direct sunlight.
Personally I would put it in a cabinet if you have that much rain.
 
robby said:
I have never seen an LCD screen last very long when exposed to direct sunlight even if it's for just a couple of hours per day.
You should at the very least make sure the whole plastic surface of the screen interface is blocked from direct sunlight.
Personally I would put it in a cabinet if you have that much rain.
Click to expand...
Yeah. It's the third question on the warranty page currently. About the location protected from direct sunlight for the LCD.
 
I could just tape a piece of plastic over the screen or something. Not something I am incredibly worried about mostly just the rain and water.
 
muaddib721 said:
Works with the EG4 Power Pro batteries. I have two 15ks and 3 power pro batteries and they work great.
Click to expand...
I also have EG4 Power Pro Batteries. Works well. One thing to calculate first is how much cabling you will need to attach the "master" EG4 Power Pro to the Sol-Ark 15. The batteries use Amphenol Connectors and the Sol-Ark uses 2/0 wire with 3/8 lugs. You need TWO wires to run from the last battery to the inverter (actually 4 - two pos and two negative) if you want to be able to get the full ampacity. The wires I got from Signature Solar were too short for the the negative cables for the way I mounted my system so I had too splice some extra cable on with a 3/8 lug. They're kind of set up to just go UP from the battery to an inverter directly overhead like the EG4 Inverter with a box in between.

The EG4 Power Pro manual has Sol-Ark as on option when connecting the coms cable but the Sol-Ark doesn't have EG4 as an option for battery type. I think I left it as "battery #0" and it worked although I am having a weird output reading on my "load" diagram. I'm going to post it and see if anyone knows. Do you know which number you choose on the Sol-Ark 15 for battery type? To parallel two or more batts I got the "kit" which is a pos and neg 2/0 cable with amphenol connectors and a comms cable. They are long enough to mount the batteries 1 foot apart which is what they recommend

1709906905589.png

this is from page 32 of the manual. When you click BMS Lithium Batt you get a new box that asks for type of battery or something like that and it defaults to 0 but you can choose 0-6.

Any idea which is the best choice?
 
Zero, I’d like to see what weird output readings you’re getting on the load side? Are you splitting the battery com to use Solar Assistant? By the way I also have 6 LLV2 batteries connecting with the three Power Pros and they’re all talking to the Sol-Ark. it took updating the firmware on all the batteries to get everting working. I’ve been tracking my deep cycle runs on spread sheets. With every deep cycle run the numbers get closer. The BMS is doing its thing.
 

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niccolosartor said:
I also have EG4 Power Pro Batteries. Works well. One thing to calculate first is how much cabling you will need to attach the "master" EG4 Power Pro to the Sol-Ark 15. The batteries use Amphenol Connectors and the Sol-Ark uses 2/0 wire with 3/8 lugs. You need TWO wires to run from the last battery to the inverter (actually 4 - two pos and two negative) if you want to be able to get the full ampacity. The wires I got from Signature Solar were too short for the the negative cables for the way I mounted my system so I had too splice some extra cable on with a 3/8 lug. They're kind of set up to just go UP from the battery to an inverter directly overhead like the EG4 Inverter with a box in between.

The EG4 Power Pro manual has Sol-Ark as on option when connecting the coms cable but the Sol-Ark doesn't have EG4 as an option for battery type. I think I left it as "battery #0" and it worked although I am having a weird output reading on my "load" diagram. I'm going to post it and see if anyone knows. Do you know which number you choose on the Sol-Ark 15 for battery type? To parallel two or more batts I got the "kit" which is a pos and neg 2/0 cable with amphenol connectors and a comms cable. They are long enough to mount the batteries 1 foot apart which is what they recommend

View attachment 200818

this is from page 32 of the manual. When you click BMS Lithium Batt you get a new box that asks for type of battery or something like that and it defaults to 0 but you can choose 0-6.

Any idea which is the best choice?
Click to expand...
 

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niccolosartor said:
I also have EG4 Power Pro Batteries. Works well. One thing to calculate first is how much cabling you will need to attach the "master" EG4 Power Pro to the Sol-Ark 15. The batteries use Amphenol Connectors and the Sol-Ark uses 2/0 wire with 3/8 lugs. You need TWO wires to run from the last battery to the inverter (actually 4 - two pos and two negative) if you want to be able to get the full ampacity. The wires I got from Signature Solar were too short for the the negative cables for the way I mounted my system so I had too splice some extra cable on with a 3/8 lug. They're kind of set up to just go UP from the battery to an inverter directly overhead like the EG4 Inverter with a box in between.

The EG4 Power Pro manual has Sol-Ark as on option when connecting the coms cable but the Sol-Ark doesn't have EG4 as an option for battery type. I think I left it as "battery #0" and it worked although I am having a weird output reading on my "load" diagram. I'm going to post it and see if anyone knows. Do you know which number you choose on the Sol-Ark 15 for battery type? To parallel two or more batts I got the "kit" which is a pos and neg 2/0 cable with amphenol connectors and a comms cable. They are long enough to mount the batteries 1 foot apart which is what they recommend

View attachment 200818

this is from page 32 of the manual. When you click BMS Lithium Batt you get a new box that asks for type of battery or something like that and it defaults to 0 but you can choose 0-6.

Any idea which is the best choice?
Click to expand...
Make sure all batteries are up to date on firmware on both com ports, and that each battery is set to the Sol-Ark protocol. On the subject of the 2/0 cable part of your post….

You can either buy a 2/0 multi tap connector and extend each cable with 2/0 cable you will purchase

Or

Do what I did… buy 2/0 long enough for the run from the master battery to the inverter, and then add Amphenol connectors to the other end to connect to the battery. You can purchase the Amphenol connectors from Signature Solar on their website. I’ve done it many times.
 
K1ng0011 said:
Few questions about the Solark 15K. Thanks for your input.

Can it be installed outside on an exterior facing wall exposed to sun and rain? The wall I would put it on has no real overhang to protect it from the weather or sun. I live in western Washington so we don't have tons of sun but plenty of rain.

When passing through grid power can it passthrough 200 full amps? Not including battery or solar.

If a part of the inverter fails will it continue to pass through grid power or should you install some sort of manual bypass?

Is the EG4-PowerPro battery compatible with the solark 15k?
Click to expand...
When passing through grid power can it pass through 200 full amps? Not including battery or solar.
Yes - but keep in time continuous trip time for the breaker - Anything over 160A for an extended period will likely trip your breaker. (20% rule)
If a part of the inverter fails will it continue to pass through grid power or should you install some sort of manual bypass?
The idea is yes it will. - Get a manual bypass.... The method used to connect to the grid is a normally open relay. Certain failures will still cause a cut-off to power, our "Bypass" is meant to help limit the number of times you will completely lose power, but it's not full proof. Get a manual bypass if you can.
Is the EG4-PowerPro battery compatible with the solark 15k?
We are compatible with almost any 48V battery as long as they fit within the inverter's battery voltage range. Lots of customers use EG4s with the Sol-Ark. Hard to beat the $/kWh. Closed-loop communication is a different story. They are not a battery partner so their CLC has not been tested with us. Use CLC at you own risk with the Sol-Ark. Many people use it worry-free, I've also had problems.
 
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