Have you had any export to the grid by doing this?
EG4 18kPV Q+A general thread
- Thread starter SignatureSolarJames
- Start date
Luxpower_Gilbert
Luxpert @Luxpower USA Team
So far when my DIY battery's are full the inverter is able to control without feeding back to grid(even do my inverter grid is my Tesla solar/Powerwall) it would give on error if tesla see my house load is producing/feeding back… keep in mind even do my setup has both dc and ac couple set up..
eXodus
Solar Addict
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2020
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Explain that again.
So you can configure the Eg4 18kPV in a way that it always draws power? I was looking for this feature on a AOI for long time.
I want Zero export - but since we have some weird local laws against going completely off grid. Going close to Zero would be attract attention.
I need to use some power. We have lots of seasonal homes around here - so having a low fairly constant draw would be perfect.
The other stupid idea I had was - just not using the input side of the AOI - hooking a 5A 48V to the grid -charge the batteries directly and just letting it run
But ideal would be to have the grid as a backup.
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
I don't want to run any more #2, but I looked at this and played with it a little, the manual is great about telling me there is a setting, but not real great about how the setting interacts. What do your settings look like? My panel is completely disconnected from the grid by a transfer switch when the inverters are on. At night when the batteries deplete to 10%, the inverters shut down. The transfer switch then kicks the load back over to the grid. I have a 40A breaker Feeding a j-box, I tried tying that to grid/generator/etc, but the inverter always seems to want to pull from that source first if you are on battery, basically not using the inverters. Do I need to put the sensors on wires from the panel to prevent it from pulling more than 35A or so? I'd really like the inverter output to be synced to the grid anyway, I was wondering if putting a trickle load on a grid fed circuit with the sensors would do that. Might give that a whirl as well.
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
So . . .
There are a couple of settings here that are "Used to set the maximum power that the inverter will draw from the grid". Based on GRV0423's comments I could turn this on, and set the power to 0.1. Leave the time(s) blank? set Start SOC1 to 15%?, or just don't set it at all? And then put the sensors somewhere? as the grid will not be tied to the panel.
There are a couple of settings here that are "Used to set the maximum power that the inverter will draw from the grid". Based on GRV0423's comments I could turn this on, and set the power to 0.1. Leave the time(s) blank? set Start SOC1 to 15%?, or just don't set it at all? And then put the sensors somewhere? as the grid will not be tied to the panel.
Zapper77
Renaissance Man
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2022
- Messages
- 2,329
BLUF - Inverter is pushing 0.7v higher than reported...bms request 56v and inverter will push 56.7v same for lead battery setting. (My Work around -is to program the LP4 battery Comm to request a Charge Voltage of 55.8v and the inverter will end up actually pushing 56.5v
Request - Can anybody with a 18KPV take a look at the battery information screen (while using closed loop battery communication) and see if the the voltages are accurate. My 18K is reporting.0.7V less than actual.
VBat - Voltage reported by the battery (By Comms)
VBat_Inv - Voltage reported by the Inverter (not accurate as tested at the battery connection point)
Vchgref - BMS requested max charge voltage
Ignore the I Maxchg/dischg of 50/100 (was testing out a few settings)
I wonder @SignatureSolarJames if the "vbat_inv" can be calibrated on your end for my inverter?
Request - Can anybody with a 18KPV take a look at the battery information screen (while using closed loop battery communication) and see if the the voltages are accurate. My 18K is reporting.0.7V less than actual.
VBat - Voltage reported by the battery (By Comms)
VBat_Inv - Voltage reported by the Inverter (not accurate as tested at the battery connection point)
Vchgref - BMS requested max charge voltage
Ignore the I Maxchg/dischg of 50/100 (was testing out a few settings)
I wonder @SignatureSolarJames if the "vbat_inv" can be calibrated on your end for my inverter?
rmacgurn
New Member
I have had mine up now about a full week of 24 hour days. I seems there are still a few issues in no grid feed back. I am set according to the latest guide (1.3) for self-consumption. But SS insists I need to have fast zero export enabled, the results is daily I am exporting from .3-.8 kw if that screen totals and charts are correct. the second issue is that in self consumption is should use panels first then battery and lastly grid but I find the inverter wants to bought between importing and exporting small amounts (back and forth) usually never more than .5-.9 kw. on import and about half that on export. I am attaching the data from today but last 4 days about the same even after the firmware update to 10.10 and a hard restart, anyone else seen this or a solution? after about 7am the PV is plenty for home load and even to change batteries, but that doesnt stop it from touching power in and out to/from the grid. I already got one warning from the utility about back feeding as it is currently not allowed here.
thanks
Luxpower_Gilbert
Luxpert @Luxpower USA Team
i had the same problem before either closed communication or open loop with open loop you can lower your absorb and float voltage by 0.6v. luxpower can calibrate for you but you have to make sure, that theres minimal drop voltage with your battery cable to inverter.
Luxpower_Gilbert
Luxpert @Luxpower USA Team
make sure you set the Grid Sell Back Power(kW) to (0.1) and set the CT Power Offset(W) (-25) to minimize exporting to the grid.
Luxpower_Gilbert
Luxpert @Luxpower USA Team
grid peak shaving setting will solve your problem, just set kw you want to draw from grid and the time you want to activate it. the gid will act like a big transformer when there's a big load or imbalance between the L1 & L2.Explain that again.
So you can configure the Eg4 18kPV in a way that it always draws power? I was looking for this feature on a AOI for long time.
I want Zero export - but since we have some weird local laws against going completely off grid. Going close to Zero would be attract attention.
I need to use some power. We have lots of seasonal homes around here - so having a low fairly constant draw would be perfect.
The other stupid idea I had was - just not using the input side of the AOI - hooking a 5A 48V to the grid -charge the batteries directly and just letting it run
rmacgurn
New Member
with the 18kpv in self consume I have the grid sell option set off, AC charge and Charge first set off, grid sell back power is set to 0, and you if you try to set it to .1 it gives an error code 3. which I assume is due to grid sell back set to off? where is CT power offset its not show in the web or app, is that only on the inverter screen?
lastly does anyone know how to set max SOC to 90 or 95% it's not listed as option in app or web interface so I'm guessing its in the battery screens?
thank you
Luxpower_Gilbert
Luxpert @Luxpower USA Team
must have grid power in the grid input of the inverter. the set the peak shaving power kw and time make it 5 minutes gap if you want it all the time for example Time 1 07:00 -06:55. this will turn on the feature at 7am and off at 6:55am (next day) it will go 5 minutes as self-consumption.
the inverter is capable of 200a, manual transfer switch is required for servicing the inverter but auto transfer switch is over kill. DM if you need help with setting.
Luxpower_Gilbert
Luxpert @Luxpower USA Team
i think you right about this when grid sell is off.
end user will not show on the web or app. must ask the installer or distributor to set it for you.
this can't be done with self-consumption in my experience but with ac charge and charge first (pv) it can be done. tell me about you system i might find a way to solve it.
For anyone not wanting a grid tie agreement, hard to recommend this inverter. The zero export and 200a pass through was the selling point for me. Seems like a nice unit for sure but now im thinking I should have gone with stackable off grid only units. Hopefully SS will continue to play with the software to actually have a zero export AIO inverter. I was hopeful it was just reading the export wrong but if the utility all ready gave a warning to rmacgurn then it really must be exporting. This issue probably should have its own thread to give a heads up to other potential buyers that are interested.
Luxpower_Gilbert
Luxpert @Luxpower USA Team
inverter is great if you set the right setting, I have mine for almost 9 months now and it's been great except with the 2 latest update it disables my closed communication with my DIY battery with Daly bms and interface board.
my inverter is under my main system Tesla/Powerwall (as a grid input of the inverter) my inverter also have ac couple and dc couple solar, zero export setting has been working great. if the 12k export to my main Tesla/Powerwall will trigger on error or will show that my Hause is producing power which is a big no...
rmacgurn
New Member
ok that for that input. I am basically the installer but I did contract out the final connections to a solar company here that I got the panels mounted from. they are looking at selling EG4 based on my final analysis. I love the system so far but for these quirks with grid in and out when not required. Since there is no distributor I am guessing then I have to ask Signature Solar to either add those options on my maintenance page or make that change to the CT offset?
system is directly wired to street meter with a 200amp disconnect between grid feed and 18kpv. load on the inverter is connected to my 200amp panel which also feeds a 120v sub panel using a 60amp breaker. I preferred this setup as I can run my 4 AC's, electric oven and led lighting and outlets from inverter as it is whole house, I also went this way as I needed whole house UPS due to working on internet all day long for Phoenix office law firm.
I have 2 5kw EG4 LL series batts (planning to add 1 more next month, and 18 Canadian Solar 440W panels. split on two stings and trackers,
Batteries from dead recharge by 11am usually and run me all night until about 4-5am, sun starts charging aging at 6am, so that is why adding one more battery. Currently the utility company does not allow grid feedback and I got one warning already,
that help? and thank you,
Quattrohead
Solar Wizard
That fast zero export setting needs to be an absolute zero power export ever. Like ducks arse closed. I don't need my power company giving me hassle about this so for now I only connect to the grid if I need to charge my batteries.
rmacgurn
New Member
yes makes sense but inverter still leaking power back to grid with all settings closing off export. that was my point at the start.
timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2022
- Messages
- 18,846
If you never want to export. Then the simple solution is to not be grid-tied.
I have the grid available for backup only. And my only connection to the grid is my chargeverter. If my SOC gets close to my low voltage cutoff setting. The chargeverter automatically kicks in and keeps the battery voltage just above cutoff. It will pull just what is needed to do so, until the sun comes back out.
I have the grid available for backup only. And my only connection to the grid is my chargeverter. If my SOC gets close to my low voltage cutoff setting. The chargeverter automatically kicks in and keeps the battery voltage just above cutoff. It will pull just what is needed to do so, until the sun comes back out.
EastTexCowboy
Solar Wizard
You're managing the automatic part by setting the voltage on the chargeverter to just above your low voltage cutoff?
I've been thinking this would be a decent workaround to the grid export problem, although I'd rather see SS resolve the grid export thing. With the potential of causing someone to get their meter pulled for feeding back to the grid I don't think that's an unreasonable expectation.
