timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
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It's only for a few days. Do what you gotta do.
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BenFromSignatureSolar
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More likely to kill a lineman. If done correctly by someone who REALLY knows exactly what they're doing, (which they wouldn't be if they knew what they were doing) then it could probably work for a little while. The unfortunate truth however, is that there are too many people that have become experts watching YouTube videos. As was mentioned earlier, it's not a matter of if but when something goes wrong. The NEC is in place for a reason. The problem I've seen from time to time is when someone creates a loop in their system this way. Shortly following that is normally a pop then the code for a blown board.
realpinochet
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Is this advise coming from the same signature solar that sold, encouraged and made youtube videos on how to wire in auto transformers so EU inverters could be used on US electrical systems?
timselectric
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Nothing wrong with that. It's working great for many people, including myself.
BenFromSignatureSolar
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You're welcome to drop the link. May want to rewatch it first though.
BenFromSignatureSolar
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Actually I found it. Here you go
BenFromSignatureSolar
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Please just check out video. First few min should clear this up.
realpinochet
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Not saying it doesn't work just not the best way to approach it especially if you're not entirely off grid. A isolation transformer would be the best way to approach this..we have a thread here we're it's debated.
timselectric
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I've been a part of every debate. lol
If you know what you are doing, there's nothing to fear.
realpinochet
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How many people installed it the first way it was shown and now have a potential neutral interference with the grid neutral or on a breaker that might pop and take the artificial neutral out? Not trying to get into a argument ..just saying your post seemed somewhat hypocritical especially when mentioning the "NEC"
realpinochet
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Yes, but you know what you're doing. I believe you're an electrican and or sell electrical equipment if my recollection servers correct. I believe I started that thread on why people were doing it cause I saw david poz doing it and didn't know anything about the potential "loosing a neutral" or having the grid neutral and auto transformer neutral interfere with each other. I happened by chance to find a electrician that is on grid and also using the EU models they sell but went with a isolation transformer. After he explained why it's clear that's the best approach. IMHO
BenFromSignatureSolar
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I feel like you still haven't seen the video.
Maybe there is another video that I didn't know about, but SS doesn't offer an EU version.
timselectric
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An isolation transformer is the best way to go.
No extra thinking required.
No extra thinking required.
realpinochet
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"but SS doesn't offer an EU version"
Serious question, when you say this are you saying this solely on the fact that SS either removes the N/G bonding screw internally or as I've also heard the actual trace on the board is missing unlike the EU version? Are there any other differences? I'm curious because that's the way it was referred to here and on the internet...that it was a EU version that was made to work here via adding a neutral. If it was intended for the US market then why would it be single phase 240V seeing how our market is split phase for almost all applications this inverter would be used for?
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timselectric
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I like the fact that it makes people nervous. I'm picking up these things for half price. My system is getting cheaper and cheaper every day. This allows me to spend all of my money on lots of storage.
realpinochet
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Sometimes being nervous is a good thing that prompts one to question if they are doing things correctly. I'd say cautious with maybe a little nervousness. But, serious there's people out there that wired these things up that might not be the best solution and could cause issues down the line they were unaware of. Also, got the fact that if something does go wrong the insurance claim might not be valid if they decide a unit designed for another market was forced to work in another market with adding extra parts and hacked into place. Generally you don't have to add transformers and other parts to make something work in a market it was intended for which is why I asked the SS rep above to clarify. Just observations. This isn't a jab at the folks that have done it...I might still do it with a isolation transformer and put it in a solar shed instead of the house. Also might put a shunt trip breaker downstream perhaps.
realpinochet
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Growatt 5kW Stackable Off-Grid Inverter | SPF 5000 ES
Signature Solar provides solar panels, off-grid solar systems, grid-tie, and hybrid systems. Quality solar inverters, bifacial solar panels, complete solar kits, solar batteries. Featuring brands such as EG4 Electronics with their solar battery, LifePower4 and EG4 LLifePower4 and EG4 LL
signaturesolar.com
So what makes SS model different? Watts247 says on their page it's a European model?
BenFromSignatureSolar
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The model SS receives is discussed in detail in the video that I posted. It explains everything in the first 3 min.
Growatt 5kW Stackable Off-Grid Inverter | SPF 5000 ES
Signature Solar provides solar panels, off-grid solar systems, grid-tie, and hybrid systems. Quality solar inverters, bifacial solar panels, complete solar kits, solar batteries. Featuring brands such as EG4 Electronics with their solar battery, LifePower4 and EG4 LLifePower4 and EG4 LL
So what makes SS model different? Watts247 says on their page it's a European model?
It is manufactured with no grounding screw and there is added silicon insulation built into the PCB.
Other distributors in the past did not have access to the US model. This may have changed as the popularity of growatt is increasing, but at the time of the video we were the only distributor offering this model.
realpinochet
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Also, what auto transformer are you using and how many of them? How many inverters are you running now? The electrician that I followed his installed used one of these isolation transformers with 6 inverters and a shunt trip main breaker for the down stream feed.
HAMMOND SG3N0050LE D16 SNTL-G3 1PH 50KVA 240X480-120/240V AL 60HZ 150C 3R | Gordon Electric Supply, Inc.
HAMMOND SG3N0050LE D16 SNTL-G3 1PH 50KVA 240X480-120/240V AL 60HZ 150C 3R
www.gordonelectricsupply.com
timselectric
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Transformers are used in every system all over the world. A Transformer is how you have split-phase in your house right now.
timselectric
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Currently have one inverter and one Solaredge autotransformer connected. Everything else is just waiting for me to have time to build it out. I'm in the middle of some remodeling. Main priority is to get the rest of the panels on the roof, before winter. Then I can work inside when it's cold.
realpinochet
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I generally understand residential power but new to the solar inverter. If what you're saying then why does some inverters like the solark and other HF inverters say they do not have a transformer?
realpinochet
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Thanks for the reply. Your statement seems to concur what I thought. Clearly this was a inverter made for the "EU" market. In my personal opinion I don't believe removing a screw all the sudden makes it a "US" version. Generally a product made for a specfic market doesn't require adding or removing parts to make it work and I'm talking about adding a transformer here. Anyways, assuming you're more on point then why would I pay over $300 dollars for your version when I can save money buy buying from watts and remove the screw myself? What's the difference with you removing it at the manufacturing process and me removing it manually..just $300? I'm asking a serious question..is that the only difference in these two inverters from watts and SS?
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