You guys are a bad influence

Yet more stuff to think about. I've looked into the Growatt SPH 10k, and it does look pretty good, but I do wish it came with all the breakers that the EG4 kPV units come with. The EG4 12kPV is looking better and better the more I look into it. 8000w covers my typical peak usage, the surge capability is nuts, but just in case it doesn't cover the load it has an 80 amp pass-through capability which will more than easily handle the loads on my 100A service. The Growatt is a 10,000w max, so thats ~42 amps. On whatever inverter I go with, I'm planning on running all of my loads, so I don't want to be limited during abnormal high usage times. I have a hybrid water heater, and in the wintertime I can't run it on heat pump only mode, as the incoming water temperature is so low that the recovery time is terrible, so if that kicks on, theres 4500w, and if my heat pump is in full output heat mode, that's another 3570w. That doesn't give me much buffer. With the pass through capability of the 12kPV, that would be no problem at all, and if the power is out then I will know to be smarter anyways.

Also, with how massive the solar panels are that I ordered, the solar array setup will most likely change a bit. I do still plan on a solar pergola, but not for 18 440w solar panels. That would be insanely large. I want a shed anyways, so I am reworking the plan to have an array on the shed roof, and another on a solar pergola, and spread it out some. Assuming PVwatt is close, I don't really need the 8kW of all 18 panels anyways, but I ordered 18 so I would have enough, and have spares for other projects since the price was good and the supplier is getting out of solar completely.

going_commando said:

Yet more stuff to think about. I've looked into the Growatt SPH 10k, and it does look pretty good, but I do wish it came with all the breakers that the EG4 kPV units come with.

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Afaik the eg4 has a battery breaker and a load breaker. You'll have a load breaker in the panel anyway, and battery breakers are $30-80. You'll still be a lot of money ahead with the growatt.

It's also quieter

Post in thread 'New grid interactive inverter thread- GROWATT vs MIDNITE vs EG4 vs SRNE' https://diysolarforum.com/threads/n...-vs-midnite-vs-eg4-vs-srne.85896/post-1147330

going_commando said:

The EG4 12kPV is looking better and better the more I look into it. 8000w covers my typical peak usage, the surge capability is nuts, but just in case it doesn't cover the load it has an 80 amp pass-through capability which will more than easily handle the loads on my 100A service. The Growatt is a 10,000w max, so thats ~42 amps.

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Growatt is 62.5a passthrough- 15kw
After tax credit(it you qualify) TWO growatts cost about $1k more than 1 eg4 8kw so you could presumably have enough power to never ever have to pass through anything.

supersignman said:

I saw that thread too but when you read through it you realize the problem wasn't with Victron - the problem was with Signature Solar customer service.

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Hi @supersignman ! Would you mind sending me the thread? If it is the one I am thinking of from a couple of days ago, it was established that our customer service was not the problem, but if this is another issue, I'd really like to get it addressed!

1201 said:

Afaik the eg4 has a battery breaker and a load breaker. You'll have a list breaker in the panel anyeay, and battery breakers are $30-80. You'll still be a lot of money ahead with the growatt.

It's also quieter

Post in thread 'New grid interactive inverter thread- GROWATT vs MIDNITE vs EG4 vs SRNE' https://diysolarforum.com/threads/n...-vs-midnite-vs-eg4-vs-srne.85896/post-1147330


Growatt is 62.5a passthrough- 15kw
After tax credit(it you qualify) TWO growatts cost about $1k more than 1 eg4 8kw so you could presumably have enough power to never ever have to pass through anything.

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Ah, I looked through the specs this morning and didn't find a 62.5A pass through. Even though I want to just buy everything right now and have it, I am trying to be patient, take my time, and do my best to pick the right equipment to start with. There is nothing that I can find about tests of the growatt inverter (at least on YouTube), and id like to at least see a load test and such of it. I wonder if Will is going to do a test of it to compare to the 12kpv. I do very much appreciate all of your input, 1201, and I do like having options, I would just like to see someone else beta test the thing before I buy it, you know? I won't consider pulling the trigger on an inverter for a bit, but my panels will be here next week, so I'm getting excited, but hopefully not too impulsive (beyond buying 18 solar panels lol).

going_commando said:

Ah, I looked through the specs this morning and didn't find a 62.5A pass through. Even though I want to just buy everything right now and have it, I am trying to be patient, take my time, and do my best to pick the right equipment to start with. There is nothing that I can find about tests of the growatt inverter (at least on YouTube), and id like to at least see a load test and such of it. I wonder if Will is going to do a test of it to compare to the 12kpv. I do very much appreciate all of your input, 1201, and I do like having options, I would just like to see someone else beta test the thing before I buy it, you know? I won't consider pulling the trigger on an inverter for a bit, but my panels will be here next week, so I'm getting excited, but hopefully not too impulsive (beyond buying 18 solar panels lol).

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You are smart to be patient. Last year when i was starting to look it was solark 15k or xw pro. 15k was $8500, and xw pro setup was about 10k.

Then fortress came out with the envy at $7k iirc then the eg4 version came out at $5600. After about a year it's now $4900. The growatt has come out at $2750.

The competition keeps getting fiercer and us consumers keep winning. Hell, even victron just dropped their prices. Who knows what will be available a year from now.

going_commando said:

Ah, I looked through the specs this morning and didn't find a 62.5A pass through. Even though I want to just buy everything right now and have it, I am trying to be patient, take my time, and do my best to pick the right equipment to start with. There is nothing that I can find about tests of the growatt inverter (at least on YouTube), and id like to at least see a load test and such of it. I wonder if Will is going to do a test of it to compare to the 12kpv. I do very much appreciate all of your input, 1201, and I do like having options, I would just like to see someone else beta test the thing before I buy it, you know? I won't consider pulling the trigger on an inverter for a bit, but my panels will be here next week, so I'm getting excited, but hopefully not too impulsive (beyond buying 18 solar panels lol).

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SEI 12K has 63A pass-through. Two of those for less than $4K (delivered).

Danke said:

SEI 12K has 60A pass-through. Two of those is less than $4K.

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I haven't heard of SEI. Are they UL listed and on the California approved list? These are obstacles I have to hurdle to grid-tie with my power company.

going_commando said:

I haven't heard of SEI. Are they UL listed and on the California approved list? These are obstacles I have to hurdle to grid-tie with my power company.

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They are. Srne.
But, you have to get them shipped from China and you effectively have no warranty.

A couple of people here are using them and they have good things to say.

1201 said:

They are. Srne.
But, you have to get them shipped from China and you effectively have no warranty.

A couple of people here are using them and they have good things to say.

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They have actually shipped complete replacement units to other members when troubleshooting issues.
https://diysolarforum.com/threads/please-delete-no-longer-selling.73403/post-933177

Your probably more likely to get better warranty help from china since they are all about the social media/image more than their american counterparts are.

I would prefer to buy from a vendor and/or manufacturer who, if I have a problem I can pick up the phone and call and work through things. I call companies for tech support all the time. I fully expect to have teething problems and such, but I'm a phone talker when it comes to troubleshooting. From what I've read so far, Current Connected has the best distributor level support, so I was leaning towards buying from them.

going_commando said:

I would prefer to buy from a vendor and/or manufacturer who, if I have a problem I can pick up the phone and call and work through things. I call companies for tech support all the time. I fully expect to have teething problems and such, but I'm a phone talker when it comes to troubleshooting. From what I've read so far, Current Connected has the best distributor level support, so I was leaning towards buying from them.

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Megarevo has a new 12K & 16K with 200A pass-through. The sales guy I’ve spoken to travels to the US and speaks English well. Also, they have a local guy in Fort Worth for support.

Op should stay far away from megarevo

going_commando said:

Another fun thing I learned yesterday is my power company requires extra engineering and such with systems capable of outputting more than 10kW to the grid, which the 18k and other larger inverters can do, regardless of PV array size.

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Split your grid connection.
One side goes to 10kw inverter, the other side goes to a pair (or more) of 6000xp.

Your main panel connects to the 6000xp's.
All inverters connect to the same battery bank.

Each 6000xp had 50amp bypass, so 100 amps total for 2.
System incapable of exporting more than 10kW.

Grid up, you can use CT's on the 10kw inverter for immediate consumption, next to battery, the rest export.

Grid down, power goes to battery, where the 6000xp takes to supply home. Also option to install a transfer switch to select grid or 10kw inverter load port for the grid input for the 6000xp's.

going_commando said:

I would prefer to buy from a vendor and/or manufacturer who, if I have a problem I can pick up the phone and call and work through things. I call companies for tech support all the time. I fully expect to have teething problems and such, but I'm a phone talker when it comes to troubleshooting. From what I've read so far, Current Connected has the best distributor level support, so I was leaning towards buying from them.

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If this is your key criteria then a Midnite One AIO or two Rosie inverter/chargers, bought from Current Connected would be the ideal scenario. Very solid support from Current Connected but then also Midnite in WA available on the phone also.

going_commando said:

I would prefer to buy from a vendor and/or manufacturer who, if I have a problem I can pick up the phone and call and work through things. I call companies for tech support all the time. I fully expect to have teething problems and such, but I'm a phone talker when it comes to troubleshooting. From what I've read so far, Current Connected has the best distributor level support, so I was leaning towards buying from them.

Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum! I don't think you can go wrong with Current Connected. This is not an endorsement (personal or moderator), just my $.02 based on what I've seen on the forum. I don't think I've ever bought anything from them, but I have shopped their site.

I'm not a phone talker. I actively avoid talking on the phone. I prefer an email conversation first, then text and voice only when nothing else works.

So I discovered Schneider equipment today, and I am in love with it, but it is too expensive for me to start out with, but I want it badly, so I think I want to start with a cheap(ish) all-in-one, batter the hell out of it and figure out my actual needs with a transfer switch so if it gets all screwed up I can just bypass it as I figure it out. The family electrical business has been installing Square-D since 1945, which is now owned by Schneider, and I've been installing it for years. Their solar stuff is too expensive to start out with though, from my point of view.

So, as an aside, will the Growatt shut down the batteries when RSD is activated? Whatever I install has to be done to code, so I need to include a switch outside that shuts down the batteries. I won't need rapid shut down for the panels, but do need that, so if the RSD does that I can be happy camper. I know the EG4 18k does, so I assume the 12k does.

Also, I hope my constant questions and ideas aren't getting annoying. I like to get everything figured out before I launch (most of the time), and I know I bounce around a lot. I still do very much appreciate everyone's advice and opinions, and I do look into all of them and consider them, so if I don't directly respond I am not ignoring your comments. I just don't like doing tons of multiquotes to reply to each one.

ETA: I completely forgot about the relays we use for big motor VFD braking resistors that are rated to 1000v dc made by Tyco and are relatively cheap, so that would be perfect for a battery disconnect, i think.

going_commando said:

Also, I hope my constant questions and ideas aren't getting annoying.

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That's what the forum is here for. Better to ask (not really) stupid questions than to have to put out a stupid fire.