How can I test my new purchase as I dont have a battery yet ??

Urge38 · May 7, 2023

Hi People

Ive just taken the first steps into solar/off-grid/storage etc and purchased a Schneider inverter from eBay
The inverter/charger (Schneider conect WX) is New, but it was old stock.

Its supossibly still new and in its box.

How can I safe guard myself and test it as soon as it arrives ??? even though I dont have a 48V battery to hook it up to !!!

Will I be only able to hook it up as a bye pass inverter ???

All I have here as yet, is grid (mains in the uk) and a small Honda generator.

I would like to test the new purchase and or meter it to confirm its all working (with a electrical meter)

Mattb4 · May 7, 2023

Since an inverters task is to take in DC and output AC you will need a DC source of appropriate voltage to do any testing. I do not think it will turn on even for AC bypass operation unless it has DC input.

Urge38 · May 7, 2023

I am wondering if a 230v a/c to 48v D/C power supply would work for testing ??

Not sure if I could find one with enough amps to run it properly

Mattb4 · May 7, 2023

If you already have a bench power supply that can output enough voltage it likely would work to power on the inverter. Many of them are 5a or more. This would give testing but you would not want to do any loading of the output. But to buy one if not usable elsewhere is spending money that is best placed towards your future battery.

Urge38 · May 7, 2023

Mattb4 said:
If you already have a bench power supply that can output enough voltage it likely would work to power on the inverter. Many of them are 5a or more. This would give testing but you would not want to do any loading of the output. But to buy one if not usable elsewhere is spending money that is best placed towards your future battery.

yes you are not wrong, money I could spend on other things

Unfortunately the Schneider cost me 2K (us sterling) and I really need to be sure it works as you only have 30 days for a refund

Mattb4 · May 7, 2023

Urge38 said:
yes you are not wrong, money I could spend on other things

Unfortunately the Schneider cost me 2K (us sterling) and I really need to be sure it works as you only have 30 days for a refund

Perhaps find somewhere or somone that has the tools/battery that you could test it?

Urge38 · May 7, 2023

Uk anyone is a nightmare let alone someone willing to help.

But thanks, I take on board everything you say

400bird · May 7, 2023

How many cars and friends do you have that would lend you a car battery?
4 car batteries in series is 48 volts. But, then you'd need to buy/build battery cables.

I'd let you connected to my 48v battery, but California is a long drive for you ?

Rednecktek · May 7, 2023

You may end up buying some cheap leisure batteries and building a 48v setup for testing and troubleshooting. Fortunately a 100Ah flooded acid deep cycle battery should be around $100 out the door from your local big box stores so $400 isn't too horrible an investment and gives you a functioning battery bank to work with and play with while you spec and wait for the big batteries I'm sure you have planned.

Sure, it's not a huge amount of capacity, only 2400Wh usable, but it's cheap, should be readily available, and just works without any weird configuration settings or the like. It'll get you up and running cheap.

timselectric · May 7, 2023

Buy 4 junkyard batteries.

Urge38 · May 7, 2023

timselectric said:
Buy 4 junkyard batteries.

May well just do thar

Other than that, does anyone know off a good laboratory power supply with variable voltage and high ish amps

Would much rather buy one off them as I'd could always use it as a charger

Or what about a charger??? Forklift charger perhaps???

timselectric · May 7, 2023

Urge38 said:
May well just do thar

Other than that, does anyone know off a good laboratory power supply with variable voltage and high ish amps

Would much rather buy one off them as I'd could always use it as a charger

Or what about a charger??? Forklift charger perhaps???

Depends on the charger.
Most need to see a battery connected, before starting up.

Urge38 · May 7, 2023

timselectric said:
Depends on the charger.
Most need to see a battery connected, before starting up.

Is DC voltage not simply DC voltage

No matter if it comes from a battery or transformer????

Rednecktek · May 8, 2023

Urge38 said:
Is DC voltage not simply DC voltage

No matter if it comes from a battery or transformer????

Many modern "smart" chargers won't output current to the leads if it doesn't detect a battery connected as a safety feature. If you have an old school one that just puts out power it would probably work just fine.

timselectric · May 8, 2023

That ?

How can I test my new purchase as I dont have a battery yet ??

Urge38

New Member

Mattb4

Solar Wizard

Urge38

New Member

Mattb4

Solar Wizard

Urge38

New Member

Mattb4

Solar Wizard

Urge38

New Member

400bird

Solar Wizard

Rednecktek

Solar Wizard

timselectric

If I can do it, you can do it.

Urge38

New Member

timselectric

If I can do it, you can do it.

Urge38

New Member

Rednecktek

Solar Wizard

timselectric

If I can do it, you can do it.

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