Markus_EG4
I am from Germany. Don't mean to come off rude
Try out the new working modes now available
Complete guide for 48V using EG4 18k
- Thread starter Jdcarrol
- Start date
Quattrohead
Solar Wizard
Can we save the present settings into a file so that we can go back to it easily?
Markus_EG4
I am from Germany. Don't mean to come off rude
This is an option already that I can have unlocked. The set record can give you this information and there is another option to download your settings to a pdf as well
Quattrohead
Solar Wizard
This could be a great option for all, a full settings file that can be restored to the unit would be even better.
@Markus_EG4 can you detail how to do this? Who does the "unlocking". I have been asking EG4 for a while to do this exact task. I have to change my settings 2 times a year to keep up with the charges of my local utility. Right now I don't even know what EG4 did during commissioning to make my 18k PV inverter work perfectly, but in May I have to change the settings. I need to download the existing setpoints and also know where the changes would be made. The firmware for the PC app, cell app, and inverter screen all appear to have a different level of detail and the manual does not match all of them at this point. Also I second the motion to be able to save a firmware file and be able to upload it if anything happens or like me you just want to make annual changes.
This would indeed be VERY helpful! @Markus_EG4
jjww
Stuck in PG&E Land
This is what my system does- one 18kPV inverter, 2 powerpro batteries, whole house just like Filterguy but I have no PV disconnects, just a remote RSD switch by the main panel and next to the PG&E meter approx 70 ft away from my inverter/battery room and i just received my final inspection today! YAY!!
Markus_EG4
I am from Germany. Don't mean to come off rude
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
Aluminum Blue Eurotrash
18k(pv for Tim) all the way! Victron needs to come up with a decent split phase AIO to stay relevant. Over time reliability improves and costs fall with lower component counts and better integration. We are already seeing this in the current batch of AIO systems coming to market. There are those that still purchase component stereo systems with lot's of boxes, pre-amp, amp, equalizer, ....
If that's the case, all-in-one ESS will be a better choice for those who don't want to deal with the mass number of components.Aluminum Blue Eurotrash
Victron needs to come up with a decent split phase AIO to stay relevant. Over time reliability improves and costs fall with lower component counts and better integration. We are already seeing this in the current batch of AIO systems coming to market. There are those that still purchase component stereo systems with lot's of boxes, pre-amp, amp, equalizer, ....
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
Victron ESS i"Energy Storage Systems" s a concept with PDF's and papers that use the various Victron components, Like a Quattro, which requires a separate auto-transformer for split-phase operation. None of their products seem ideal for the North American market. Their power cable 'manglement' is also sub-optimal. Kind of like buying a B&O stereo system. Looks wickedly cool, performs reliably, and adequately, but costs twice as much.
By all-in-one ESS, I mean Tesla Powerwall or FranklinWH.
Victron is never considered all-in-one.
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
A non modular approach makes sense when the consolidation is because the components have become relatively inexpensive and equally reliable. A Solar system logically globs into three pieces: Panels (they are external), Batteries (they are subject to failure/replacement/scaling), and Control/distribution (MPPT/charging, Inverting, etc). Nutanix comes to mind when you over integrate. It's fine as long as you don't want more disk, now I have to buy compute I don't need to get the storage I do. I think the EG4 products (And Sol-Ark, and others) may not be as sexy (Like B&O) but a more practical approach to getting a system scalable to meet the needs of a wider range of environments. Tesla is a bundled system and Franklin is not really anything more than a bundled system both with the same three core AIO style components.
What do you think about all-in-one modular systems like Anker X1 and Bluetti EP800?
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
They are pretty. Will likely cost you quite a bit more for the same performance level, every time you make a seperate box with stuff in it you have to buy the box along with the guts. If cosmetics were important I'd consider it if the price was in the neighborhood. Personally I'm not going to put my inverters and batteries in my living room, nor will I be stapling them to the front of my house, so I want it functional and neat but it doesn't have to be enclosed in custom cabinetry. You'd have to look at the specs for the various things like MPPT input limits and how much battery you can get / need.
The other problem with all this "pretty" stuff is expected lifetime, and repair/upgrade. I have two different 30KWH battery racks. No problem. I have a proprietary battery pack in a sexy custom cabinet, the company is no longer: "In business, making this product, the same it was purchased, supporting, ...." I want more battery / have a problem battery / .... and I can't get anything that looks like that, so now I have this large purple and orange . . . If you get enough "pretty" batteries they won't be pretty anymore.
Or the more typical HP/IBM approach, this is fully scaleable we will sell you this system 1/2 full of drives, you can get the other 1/2 later. Later you find out that it's going to cost twice as much to buy the rest of the drives than you paid for the whole system. Just beware.
calc30
New Member
Newbie here!
I'm hoping for some help, I'm a DYI kinda guy, but electricity gives me pause. My PV is 12.3KWh or 9.4KWh real world. I'm hoping to add a battery and inverter to help offsite my dependency on my utility co (APS). I'm looking at the EG4 18K, but I'm not sure about the battery/batteries just yet. I don't use a lot of power, but just the thought of giving APS free money grinds on me. My PV producton for May was: 2.3MWh
My question is this, I have three 10 panel strings, but not sure amps and volts are too much for the 18K. I've added in the specs below with my diagram too. Would someone chime it?
12.3Kwh system here are the specs:
MODULES: (30) REC: REC410AA PURE 410W MODULES
SYSTEM SIZE: 12.30KW
INVERTER: (30) ENPHASE IQ8M-72-2-US @ (240V) MICROINVERTERS
PANEL: (E) 225A MAIN SERVICE PANEL WITH (E) 200A MAIN BREAKER
ARRAY #1
(30) REC: REC410AA PURE
(N) 60A UTILITY SYSTEM DISCONNECT
(N) UNI-DIRECTIONAL METER
(E) GAS METER
(E) 225A MAIN SERVICE
PANEL, 240V
I'm hoping for some help, I'm a DYI kinda guy, but electricity gives me pause. My PV is 12.3KWh or 9.4KWh real world. I'm hoping to add a battery and inverter to help offsite my dependency on my utility co (APS). I'm looking at the EG4 18K, but I'm not sure about the battery/batteries just yet. I don't use a lot of power, but just the thought of giving APS free money grinds on me. My PV producton for May was: 2.3MWh
My question is this, I have three 10 panel strings, but not sure amps and volts are too much for the 18K. I've added in the specs below with my diagram too. Would someone chime it?
12.3Kwh system here are the specs:
MODULES: (30) REC: REC410AA PURE 410W MODULES
SYSTEM SIZE: 12.30KW
INVERTER: (30) ENPHASE IQ8M-72-2-US @ (240V) MICROINVERTERS
PANEL: (E) 225A MAIN SERVICE PANEL WITH (E) 200A MAIN BREAKER
ARRAY #1
(30) REC: REC410AA PURE
(N) 60A UTILITY SYSTEM DISCONNECT
(N) UNI-DIRECTIONAL METER
(E) GAS METER
(E) 225A MAIN SERVICE
PANEL, 240V
Attachments
calc30
New Member
My apologies for the HIjack.
And, do I still need the Enphase combiner box 4 with the 18K?
And, do I still need the Enphase combiner box 4 with the 18K?
zanydroid
Solar Wizard
AC or DC coupling?
DC: Are you unmounting the microinverters and selling them, along with converting all intervening wiring to be compatible with DC electrical code?
AC: feed into “generator ” port of 18kpv. In which case the AC output of the grid tie inverters cannot exceed the 12kw AC charging rating
Batteries: your simple choices are the 9540 approved EG4 batteries. Only two or three. You’re welcome for my collapsing of your design space
zanydroid
Solar Wizard
The combiner IIRC gives you the per panel monitoring along with an appropriately rated busbar to join all the branches together. It probably ends up being a neater install.
I am not sure you are allowed to forgo it for warranty/serviceability reasons (settings and firmware updates).
Also search for IQ8 compatibility threads to see if you are satisfied with the somewhat recent firmware fixes to make it actually work
zanydroid
Solar Wizard
I think you are going to be seeing a 15+ year ROI for the privilege of giving POCO the finger. Might as well hire someone to
on them for cheaperHere in California I already have a 8 year ROI with our expensive electricity.
FilterGuy
Solar Engineering Consultant - EG4 and Consumers
Your current system intrigues me.
1) What is the current rating of the Busbars in your main pannel? Many 200A AIO service panels like yours only have 200A busbars. If yours are 200A busbars, it would mean the system can exceed the NEC 120% rule by 11.25A.
2) What is the meter on the PV used for? Who reads it?
Putting those 2 questions aside...
Yes, the 18Kpv can handle your existing PV arrays. You have a few choices for how to set up the 18Kpv.
1) DC coupling.
With DC coupling, you would remove all of the enphase inverters, combiner box and IQ envy. You would then add Rapid Shutdown devices to the panels and hook the 3 strings into the 3 MPPTs of the 18Kpv.
2) AC coupling.
With AC coupling, you would keep all of the Enphase gear but re-route the PV power output to the Gen port of the 18Kpv.
For cost and simplicity of the change, AC coupling wins hands down. You also keep the ability to observe production data at the panel level.
However, with AC coupling you have the added complexity (and lower reliability) of all of the Enphase gear. I hear the newer Enphase products have improved, but at least the older Microinverters from Enphase have a reputation of failing after a few years. (Enphase will replace them under warranty, but will not pay labor cost for replacing them)
zanydroid
Solar Wizard
The SLD says 225A busbar (I looked at it last night)
Pretty sure the 30 IQ8M's add up to low enough power such that the 18kpv can handle it.
FilterGuy
Solar Engineering Consultant - EG4 and Consumers
Nice! That means there is no issue with the 120% rule.
IMHO. Any 200A main panel being installed for a residential system today should have at least 225A bus bars even if there is no current plan to add solar.
I conquer. Each string has ten 400W panels for a total of 4000W each or 12000W total. The 18Kpv can handle 18KW of PV on the MPPTs and 21K of AC coupled power on the Gen port.
Similar threads
