EG4 18k PV back-feeding on GEN port
- Thread starter Gubman
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ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
You said you connected the "load" lugs to "the house". What do you mean by that exactly? If you use the "Load" lugs on the 18kpv that should not be connected to anything that has AC on it. . . ie I would expect "Load" to be connected to an isolated / critical loads panel all by itself, maybe behind an ATS or something if you supply the panel from two sources.
Mixing enphase / micro inverter stuff with an AIO just seems like a bad idea from the start, but people are doing it here and there.
Mixing enphase / micro inverter stuff with an AIO just seems like a bad idea from the start, but people are doing it here and there.
Gubman
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That's EXACTLY what I expected. This is also the reason why support is scratching their heads and wants details and this post was created.
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Gubman
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Since I'm off-grid, any load is a house load from the lonely LED strip up to the water heater and everything in between. I cannot do any critical loads since utility power is not an option. Take a look at the diagrams above. None have an outside GRID lugs attached to a meter.
In general, Enphase prefers not to "play" with other systems & they don't like to be "off-grid" (hence the WX Pro experiment), but physics being the equalizer, there are ways to make things work. As mentioned in the original post, this did work, initially. At this stage its a question of how to keep it that way and not the current state of a back-feed from 18K GEN to Enphase LOAD (into the batteries).
I do recall an install in Savannah, GA that paired a Sungoldpower with a grid-tied Enphase battery storage and IQ micros, running for several years now. At that time (not sure if that's since changed) Sungold was not UL so I was not interested in that solution.
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Gubman
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My concern in creating this post is that I have demonstrated that the 18K does back-feed on its GEN port. In my specific case, I have a place to absorb that extra amperage (45A on each leg at 240AC) whereas in a "physical ICE generator" scenario provided the same 18K behavior, one could see a bit of dance, followed by some fireworks.
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Gubman
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I realized recently why you jumped on this topic as quickly as you did since this back-feed of 18K GEN port (a consumer port, taking charge in to a producer port, pushing charge out) can be catastrophic to many. This also explains why the folks at support want so many details because the initial reaction is that a mistake was made somewhere, but the only change made after successfully charging the LLs was to transfer the house from the Enphase LOAD port to the 18k LOAD port. Keep in mind that the 18K software configuration is not in question, since they were given live access to the 18Ks settings during the support phone conversation.
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The gen port of the 18kpv can be configured as a load port, correct?
Gubman
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I'm still learning the nuances of the 18K and its certainly behaving this way, but not by my intent. I want the GEN port to take charge not to produce any as the LOAD port is designed to do.
To rule it out, you do not have smart load enabled, correct?
Gubman
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nope, keeping things simple while I work this out.
Yes, I am aware that Smart Load can push power out over GEN (Page 76, https://eg4electronics.com/backend/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/EG4-18KPV-12LV-Manual-2.0.2.pdf)
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Gubman
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I am traveling for several more days, but itching to get back! I need a solution sooner than later since the EG batts are just sitting idle. If the 18k is going to simply replace your Outback and you are not running any other AC system (like I am) you should be fine - and hopefully I'm not going to eat my hat! The 18k is a very nice piece of hardware, but not knowing your system details I can only generalize.
I do frequently have to run my generator to charge the batteries back up so that would be a crucial piece that needs to work, if that's what you mean by another AC system?
Gubman
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no, I have an Enphase AC battery pack that can take in or put out some crazy amperage (exact amount escapes me at this time) at 240v whereas a generator cannot take anything, just put amperage out. In my case, for whatever reason, the 18K is going in reverse (on the GEN port). If that was to happen to a generator, it will smoke and dance as one post mentioned earlier. I know the 18K can go in reverse - the mystery is why? Support does not have an answer at this time.
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Gubman
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quick update - after returning from trip, each battery was at 45.22v +/- .1v and SOC 48%?????? WTF!?!
.Obviously nowhere close to 48% in reality. As soon as I began troubleshooting, the batts dropped to 0% SOC and the 18K would NOT stay on from GEN power so the day of testing was over.
I do not have a 48v charger - perhaps time to get one if this adventure keeps producing more surprises.
.Obviously nowhere close to 48% in reality. As soon as I began troubleshooting, the batts dropped to 0% SOC and the 18K would NOT stay on from GEN power so the day of testing was over. I do not have a 48v charger - perhaps time to get one if this adventure keeps producing more surprises.
Gubman
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No 48v charger, yet (it is now on order), but PV input works so the batts are trickled & at 3% at this point. Tested further with support - no success. GEN port contacts refuse to close. Support created a trouble ticket and "promised" to call back. At this point I am stuck with a >$5K partially working AIO.
