New Growatt hybrid inverter SPH10000TL- HU-US split phase

1201 said:

Ok when I choose min th it asks to connect to a network but when I choose sph it brings up the camera to scan the serial or enter it manually.

I think that's the problem @upsideup is having? It doesn't accept the serial number?

No bueno

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Correct. Doesn't accept serial number at that point. Also, no Wifi networks are visible so even if it did not sure it would work?

Talking with self2solar. I am sure it will get figured out.

Cars are charged....Battery is almost charged... the house is not using much.....

upsideup said:

Also, no Wifi networks are visible

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Not visible to what? You should see the inverters Wi-Fi signal on your phone where it shows all the Wi-Fi signals it sees - if not either something is wrong with inverter or your phone

MajicDiver said:

Not visible to what? You should see the inverters Wi-Fi signal on your phone where it shows all the Wi-Fi signals it sees - if not either something is wrong with inverter or your phone

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Yes this is what I suspect....obviously not my phone haha

upsideup said:

Yes this is what I suspect....obviously not my phone haha

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I turn the Wi-Fi off on my phone sometimes, been burned by that……..

Any confirmation on ability to prioritize or schedule battery over grid when grid is online? (without Solar Assistant)

jahyde said:

Any confirmation on ability to prioritize or schedule battery over grid when grid is online? (without Solar Assistant)

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Yes, to an extent. You can use the Time Of Use function and set when and to what level to discharge the battery to. There is a lower limit on the discharge for some reason. If using battery % as your method of metering that limit is 36%. Once the battery hits 36% it will switch back to using the grid.

The configuration takes some fiddling but I have a reasonable understanding now.

upsideup said:

Correct. Doesn't accept serial number at that point. Also, no Wifi networks are visible so even if it did not sure it would work?

Talking with self2solar. I am sure it will get figured out.

Cars are charged....Battery is almost charged... the house is not using much.....

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Hi I notice the date is showing as all zeros on the screen. Is that a bug?

Also how are you using your inverter? Which operating mode are you on? Thanks

1201 said:

Hi I notice the date is showing as all zeros on the screen. Is that a bug?

Also how are you using your inverter? Which operating mode are you on? Thanks

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The date and time were all zeros for the first day or so, then it randomly, on its own, updated to 1990. I was able to get it to get the datalogger connected and then updated it using the app so it is correct now. To close the loop on that, Growatt said the inverter serial number was not in the database, but I still could not get it to work after they added it. I was able to get it work after making an installer OSS account on web browser and then using the O&M user option in the ShineTools app. The manual shows using the "End User" login option. Then it accepted the serial number.

Currently using Zero Export mode, with Grid Peak Shaving and Time of Use to force it to discharge the battery before drawing from the Grid.

There are a few things I am still working on with them.

1. In the App (shinephone) and web interface it will not display Load Consumption. It just shows 0 at all times. On the inverter itself it shows correctly.

2. There is some issue with Exported vs Imported Grid power. I am relatively confident I have followed the instructions correctly for installing the CTs and the behavior of the inverter seems correct at least based on what it showing on the main screen. With the battery charged the PV output will follow the load requirement and shows 0 on the Grid Line. But when drawing from the Grid when battery is discharged and Load exceeds PV output or when it draws a small amount of power here and there, that all is being logged on the inverter and the app as "exported", even though on main power screen it shows it coming into the system not going out...So that seems to be a rather large bug. The attached image is part of what I sent to Growatt.

Also wanted to add this "Operating Modes Introduction" they sent me, which adds clarity to a few things the main manual is not very clear on. They sent it to me directly, I did not see it on the website.

Looking at the attached image from the manual L1-p and L2-p seem to be internal current sensor power. But maybe the reason it is showing export is because in my photo above those are showing as negative for some reason. Right now I am only using the "grid" output and not the "Backup Load".

It is a bit confusing but I could see how the inverter is "exporting" that power to the Grid output line (on the inverter) but in reality, it is going to the home load on the Grid line. The CTs are working correctly to regulate the so-called export to ensure power is not flowing into the grid. If that is the case it is an error to use the internal current sensor on the inverter to measure power going to the grid. Maybe they did it like that so the CTs are no necessary in some Grid-tied installs, but when using "zero export" the software should switch to using the power shown on the external CTs. Anyways, I could be wrong just my theory.

upsideup said:

Looking at the attached image from the manual L1-p and L2-p seem to be internal current sensor power. But maybe the reason it is showing export is because in my photo above those are showing as negative for some reason. Right now I am only using the "grid" output and not the "Backup Load".

It is a bit confusing but I could see how the inverter is "exporting" that power to the Grid output line (on the inverter) but in reality, it is going to the home load on the Grid line. The CTs are working correctly to regulate the so-called export to ensure power is not flowing into the grid. If that is the case it is an error to use the internal current sensor on the inverter to measure power going to the grid. Maybe they did it like that so the CTs are no necessary in some Grid-tied installs, but when using "zero export" the software should switch to using the power shown on the external CTs. Anyways, I could be wrong just my theory.

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Ah! I see what you mean.

But wait - if the cts' are at the meter, shouldn't it accurately measure any power that's coming in or going out?

Example- 1000w load ,zero export. Inverter is supplying the 1000 to the grid line- if it's measuring correctly, ct1 and ct2 should show about zero. Nothing coming or going from grid.

At the same time l1p and l2p should show about 1000w total flowing to grid line

1201 said:

Ah! I see what you mean.

But wait - if the cts' are at the meter, shouldn't it accurately measure any power that's coming in or going out?

Example- 1000w load ,zero export. Inverter is supplying the 1000 to the grid line- if it's measuring correctly, ct1 and ct2 should show about zero. Nothing coming or going from grid.

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Yes and the CTs do, I just think Growatt is using this Internal Current sensor reading from L1-p and L2-p for the "export" calculation for some reason. They should just use the reading from CT1 and CT2 as you are saying, at least when the settings are configured as I have them.

upsideup said:

Looking at the attached image from the manual L1-p and L2-p seem to be internal current sensor power. But maybe the reason it is showing export is because in my photo above those are showing as negative for some reason. Right now I am only using the "grid" output and not the "Backup Load".

It is a bit confusing but I could see how the inverter is "exporting" that power to the Grid output line (on the inverter) but in reality, it is going to the home load on the Grid line. The CTs are working correctly to regulate the so-called export to ensure power is not flowing into the grid. If that is the case it is an error to use the internal current sensor on the inverter to measure power going to the grid. Maybe they did it like that so the CTs are no necessary in some Grid-tied installs, but when using "zero export" the software should switch to using the power shown on the external CTs. Anyways, I could be wrong just my theory.

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Just a guess, there is likely a setting somewhere to tell it what to do with the two sets of CT’s. Will be curious what Growatt eventually tells you. I also suggest that you look through the available settings in the 4 different places they are available to you at, with a new product it may be that the setting you need is only one place:
1. The inverter interface
2. ShineTools
3. ShinePhone
4. The Growatt website, I assume you have added the inverter there and can see live data? There should be a settings page for it there also.

upsideup said:

Yes and the CTs do, I just think Growatt is using this Internal Current sensor reading from L1-p and L2-p for the "export" calculation for some reason. They should just use the reading from CT1 and CT2 as you are saying, at least when the settings are configured as I have them.

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If that's the case I hope they fix it. Highly inaccurate otherwise.

In your picture you posted can you walk me through what was happening there?

Internal sensors showing 1398w and 1315w going to support your home loads? (I assume negative number is inverter discharging battery?)

But it was still pulling 959w from grid?

Why is it still pulling from grid?

Is it the grid peak shaving where the minimum is 1000w?

1201 said:

If that's the case I hope they fix it. Highly inaccurate otherwise.

In your picture you posted can you walk me through what was happening there?

Internal sensors showing 1398w and 1315w going to support your home loads? (I assume negative number is inverter discharging battery?)

But it was still pulling 959w from grid?

Why is it still pulling from grid?

Is it the grid peak shaving where the minimum is 1000w?

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You have it right as I remember it. Took that photo a few days ago.

1. Yes, The internal sensors are showing what is going to home loads on the Grid line

2. Yes, it was taking 959w from the grid

3. Yes, it was in peak shaving where the min is 1000W, but I found out a bit later if you change the Time in Use battery discharge % down to the min (36% for some reason) then it allows 100% of the power to come from the battery until that %, then switches back to using the grid.

My current settings pages are attached.

upsideup said:

You have it right as I remember it. Took that photo a few days ago.

1. Yes, The internal sensors are showing what is going to home loads on the Grid line

2. Yes, it was taking 959w from the grid

3. Yes, it was in peak shaving where the min is 1000W, but I found out a bit later if you change the Time in Use battery discharge % down to the min (36% for some reason) then it allows 100% of the power to come from the battery until that %, then switches back to using the grid.

My current settings pages are attached.

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Nice. Glad it's working well now.
I wonder why the 36% limit for tou. That couldn't be from the bms could it?

1201 said:

Nice. Glad it's working well now.
I wonder why the 36% limit for tou. That couldn't be from the bms could it?

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Attached is a photo of the web browser config tool, which shows the allowed settings are 36-100%. I have the BMS set to allow discharge to 10% so idk....

upsideup said:

Attached is a photo of the web browser config tool, which shows the allowed settings are 36-100%. I have the BMS set to allow discharge to 10% so idk....

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I hope they get that fixed too. How does one access the web browser config tool?

1201 said:

I hope they get that fixed too. How does one access the web browser config tool?

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Once you get past the serial number issues I had earlier and you have the device and datalogger added to your account then go to https://server-us.growatt.com/

Login and scroll down on the main page. There is a section "My Photovoltaic Devices". You should see the inverter listed with the correct serial and datalogger numbers. On the right, there is a Settings button that accesses the same menus found on the device, remotely over the wifi connection.

upsideup said:

Once you get past the serial number issues I had earlier and you have the device and datalogger added to your account then go to https://server-us.growatt.com/

Login and scroll down on the main page. There is a section "My Photovoltaic Devices". You should see the inverter listed with the correct serial and datalogger numbers. On the right, there is a Settings button that accesses the same menus found on the device, remotely over the wifi connection.

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Oh that's great. Thanks!

Just read this in the manual for zero export. What is the ‘meter’ and does it come with inverter?:

Zero Export Limit: Hybrid inverter will not only provide power to the backup load connected but also provide to the home load connected. If PV power and battery power is insufficient, it will take grid energy as supplement. The hybrid inverter will not sell power to grid. In this mode, a meter is needed. The installation method of the meter please refer to chapter 2.6 Meter Connection. The external meter will detect power flowing back to the grid and will reduce the power of the inverter only to supply the local load, charge battery and home load. Enable "PV Sell",

I don't believe it comes with it, and this is the meter I assume they're talking about. https://us.growatt.com/products/smart-meter-us

ChrisG said:

Just read this in the manual for zero export. What is the ‘meter’ and does it come with inverter?:

Zero Export Limit: Hybrid inverter will not only provide power to the backup load connected but also provide to the home load connected. If PV power and battery power is insufficient, it will take grid energy as supplement. The hybrid inverter will not sell power to grid. In this mode, a meter is needed. The installation method of the meter please refer to chapter 2.6 Meter Connection. The external meter will detect power flowing back to the grid and will reduce the power of the inverter only to supply the local load, charge battery and home load. Enable "PV Sell",

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The growatt comes with two cts standard that can be used for zero export. I believe this is what @upsideup is using

It can also be used with the optional growatt sm200 meter. Although I think this may be a requirement if paralleling two or more inverters

1201 said:

The growatt comes with two cts standard that can be used for zero export. I believe this is what @upsideup is using

It can also be used with the optional growatt sm200 meter. Although I think this may be a requirement if paralleling two or more inverters

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It’s not clear in the manual when it should be used and seems required for zero export for any number of inverters, similar to the new Hoymiles meter:

upsideup said:

I have the BMS set to allow discharge to 10% so idk....

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@upsideup I assume you are referring to the battery BMS? What settings are you using in the inverter? See screen grab from manual below