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EG4 18kPV Q+A general thread

don't know how to request updates to the web app or the phone app but if anyone is listening would be great of one of the charts showed the solar production my time of day even incremental. so that we can see for example by 9am 2kw by 11 am was 5kw etc.
also there are several items not shown on the maintenance screen on the web app. as an example the PV air settings.

thanks
 
Quattrohead said:
There are new and improved firmware updates coming very soon, this may fix your problem.
I am running an interim firmware that drastically improved the load voltage regulation and power.
Click to expand...
I have a 2.5 ton unit that has a soft start installed and ran it flawlessly while on grid. This was with an additional 4-5Kw load. I also had grid shaving set up to .5Kw. Once I went off grid and it switches to EPS mode, It wont kick it on. I have turned everything else off and it fails to kick it on. It just powers down and restarts. Will the software issue solve this? I was under the impression that it was able to run 150% for around 5min.
I have 11 EG4LL 5.1KWh batteries in my system.
 
Forgivenpagan said:
I have a 2.5 ton unit that has a soft start installed and ran it flawlessly while on grid. This was with an additional 4-5Kw load. I also had grid shaving set up to .5Kw. Once I went off grid and it switches to EPS mode, It wont kick it on. I have turned everything else off and it fails to kick it on. It just powers down and restarts. Will the software issue solve this? I was under the impression that it was able to run 150% for around 5min.
I have 11 EG4LL 5.1KWh batteries in my system.
Click to expand...


That’s odd. I would say it may have something to do with firmware? Definitely try that route. I have a 2.5 and a 2 ton that mine starts. As well as all my other loads including water well.
 
Gavin Stone said:
That’s odd. I would say it may have something to do with firmware? Definitely try that route. I have a 2.5 and a 2 ton that mine starts. As well as all my other loads including water well.
Click to expand...
I have ver. fA 1. 0
Build Version: fAABj - 1110
Is this the same as yours?

I have another system of 2- EG4 6500 running "Upstream" on separate battery bank and arrays. I used these as Grid power as a test to utilize extra power, but the 18KPV doesn't seem to allow me to use grid shaving when using that as grid. I know this is crazy and breaks all kind of rules but I thought I would try it:). I was hoping to us the AC coupling feature on the Gen lines to perhaps utilize this back up power to go completely off grid. Is this a feasible option perhaps? I really appreciate all y'alls help!!!
 
Forgivenpagan said:
I have a 2.5 ton unit that has a soft start installed and ran it flawlessly while on grid. This was with an additional 4-5Kw load. I also had grid shaving set up to .5Kw. Once I went off grid and it switches to EPS mode, It wont kick it on. I have turned everything else off and it fails to kick it on. It just powers down and restarts. Will the software issue solve this? I was under the impression that it was able to run 150% for around 5min.
I have 11 EG4LL 5.1KWh batteries in my system.
Click to expand...
Mine has been off grid from the start, no updates done yet. I do see some limitations with my compressor all though it's physical size is much bigger than those videos showed for a 5hp motor. The Quincy compressor is kinda industrial in motor winding size for a 5hp but even if I unload the 80 gal tank the motor will grunt for 2 seconds and shut down with out a soft start, which I figure I need before the next try. I do notice I can run much more things at once with no light flicker. Ive never heard the fans kick on once yet but I'm use to conserving power. I like a lot about it all being in 1 box with large wire connections / a pv shut off / and many protections I may never use being off grid and possibly a longer use life sitting there just loafing.
 
Last edited:
Hi guys a few questions if you have experience.
1. has anyone mixed LL with Lifepro4 batteries? any issues? I am thinking to add one more using lifepro4 to my two LL's
2. I use SOC for batteries but notice that my max voltage is 56.4 - 56.7V and at 10% when they kick off it's 50.9 - 51.1V. those ranges sound ok. I did two full cycles from 100% to 0% using 47V-58V as high and low cut off but never saw them get to those extremes.

thanks
 
rmacgurn said:
2. I use SOC for batteries but notice that my max voltage is 56.4 - 56.7V and at 10% when they kick off it's 50.9 - 51.1V. those ranges sound ok. I did two full cycles from 100% to 0% using 47V-58V as high and low cut off but never saw them get to those extremes.

thanks
Click to expand...
It would take hours maybe even days of top balancing before you would see 58 volts.
 
Happy last day of the weekend!

Question- or two.
I read somewhere on the forums that the 18KPV PV1 inputs are in parallel and capable of 25A max combined input.
The manual agrees with the 25A but says nothing about the configuration internally. It makes sense that they are parallel.
With that said - couldn't you just make the parallel connection at the array and save the second wire pull provided the proper wiring was used?
Other than having the ability to run a smaller wire size and smaller currents to each input, I'm not seeing why the need for two inputs on PV1.
I'm curious.

Has anyone heard updates as to when the updated software is going to be released? "Soon" feels like awhile ago or am I impatient............

At some point I'd like to use the grid to assist if needed without back feeding. I get the impression from my reading here that the beta is working to prevent this along with some other tweaks. Personally I've been very pleased with the performance of my system so far.
 
Wes975 said:
Happy last day of the weekend!

Question- or two.
I read somewhere on the forums that the 18KPV PV1 inputs are in parallel and capable of 25A max combined input.
The manual agrees with the 25A but says nothing about the configuration internally. It makes sense that they are parallel.
With that said - couldn't you just make the parallel connection at the array and save the second wire pull provided the proper wiring was used?
Other than having the ability to run a smaller wire size and smaller currents to each input, I'm not seeing why the need for two inputs on PV1.
I'm curious.

Has anyone heard updates as to when the updated software is going to be released? "Soon" feels like awhile ago or am I impatient............

At some point I'd like to use the grid to assist if needed without back feeding. I get the impression from my reading here that the beta is working to prevent this along with some other tweaks. Personally I've been very pleased with the performance of my system so far.
Click to expand...

1- PV1 is paralleled at the inverter, yes you could run a single wire. (Note NEC awg requirements are more restrictive as amps go up)

2 - Software or Firmware? Note Firmware installed by SS or LUX may have other settings changed on the backend that aren't visible by the end user) example I had LUX install 1111 Firmware to stop grid backfeed. However during the process, before any Firmware was uploaded the backfeed was stopped and the inverter did a reboot. (I suspect a setting was changed that eliminated the backfeed and the firmware update may not have been necessary)

3 - if you want grid assist you need to stay on the public release.
 
Wes975 said:
Happy last day of the weekend!

Question- or two.
I read somewhere on the forums that the 18KPV PV1 inputs are in parallel and capable of 25A max combined input.
The manual agrees with the 25A but says nothing about the configuration internally. It makes sense that they are parallel.
With that said - couldn't you just make the parallel connection at the array and save the second wire pull provided the proper wiring was used?
Other than having the ability to run a smaller wire size and smaller currents to each input, I'm not seeing why the need for two inputs on PV1.
I'm curious.

Has anyone heard updates as to when the updated software is going to be released? "Soon" feels like awhile ago or am I impatient............

At some point I'd like to use the grid to assist if needed without back feeding. I get the impression from my reading here that the beta is working to prevent this along with some other tweaks. Personally I've been very pleased with the performance of my system so far.
Click to expand...

Correct, you can parallel the first PV input outside. Or use both the first inputs to parallel in the inverter itself. I ended up just doing it at the array. But it could help some people depending on how they have everything set up and their wiring.
 
Zapper77 said:
1- PV1 is paralleled at the inverter, yes you could run a single wire. (Note NEC awg requirements are more restrictive as amps go up)

2 - Software or Firmware? Note Firmware installed by SS or LUX may have other settings changed on the backend that aren't visible by the end user) example I had LUX install 1111 Firmware to stop grid backfeed. However during the process, before any Firmware was uploaded the backfeed was stopped and the inverter did a reboot. (I suspect a setting was changed that eliminated the backfeed and the firmware update may not have been necessary)

3 - if you want grid assist you need to stay on the public release.
Click to expand...
I probably should have used the correct term - firmware.
Currently I'm on the latest public release (July 1st) and will stay with the public releases. I've had my share of beta testing on other devices (original two way satellite internet back in the day). Glad that's over.
Did the latest public release solve the back feed issue? It's possible I missed the confirmation by others.

While it may be overkill, I've run everything in #8 so far hoping it will provide some upgrade potential in the future.

Thanks for the feedback, @Gavin Stone as well!
 
Forgivenpagan said:
I have a 2.5 ton unit that has a soft start installed and ran it flawlessly while on grid. This was with an additional 4-5Kw load. I also had grid shaving set up to .5Kw. Once I went off grid and it switches to EPS mode, It wont kick it on. I have turned everything else off and it fails to kick it on. It just powers down and restarts. Will the software issue solve this? I was under the impression that it was able to run 150% for around 5min.
I have 11 EG4LL 5.1KWh batteries in my system.
Click to expand...
I have a Goodman Package unit 4Ton and a pair of 18K's in an off-grid arrangement. They will start the compressor without a kit, while charging the car at 5.6KW, running the dryer about 4KW, and the rest of my house load (1.5-3KW). That being said, it did however cause a severe brown-out, even with practically 0 load. A 5-2-1 start kit took it to a significant rather than severe brown-out. I removed the 5-2-1 and put a 5ohm 24A, 600J thermistor inline. Now it blinks, the UPS's all click, TV on a ups blinks every other time, need a better ups. I doubled the thermistor to 10Ohms, compressor won't start, the fan cuts on the thermistor heats, resistance drops and I'm back to a hefty brown out. I think around 7Ohms cold would be ideal, and the devices hit 190C at load so it needs to be in an open space. I purchased a $300+ Micro-Air for a 4-ton. It's a really big box, mounting it is going to be challenging. It's 116 today, I'll probably install it next weekend when it's a teensie bit cooler, and I will see if it's better/worse than the $15 thermistor. I can live with the blink in the mean time, it's a little annoying but not huge. I will note the dip is much worse when the batteries dip below 10%
 
Wes975 said:
I read somewhere on the forums that the 18KPV PV1 inputs are in parallel and capable of 25A max combined input.
The manual agrees with the 25A but says nothing about the configuration internally. It makes sense that they are parallel.
With that said - couldn't you just make the parallel connection at the array and save the second wire pull provided the proper wiring was used?
Click to expand...
One thing that is interesting to me using the PV1 double connections is the ease of re-configuring PV strings if I eventually add a second inverter.
 
Zapper77 said:
3 - if you want grid assist you need to stay on the public release.
Click to expand...
there's a solution for grid assist with the no export firmware the public & test, by using grid peak shaving but it will pull 80-100watt from the grid all the time, this will prevent exporting to the grid, this has been tested and i also run with this kind of set up, and i know couple 18kpv owners use this set up to run with their heavy load appliances, mostly central air conditioning. ill be happy to help, DM is the key.
 
Luxpower_Gilbert said:
there's a solution for grid assist with the no export firmware the public & test, by using grid peak shaving but it will pull 80-100watt from the grid all the time, this will prevent exporting to the grid, this has been tested and i also run with this kind of set up, and i know couple 18kpv owners use this set up to run with their heavy load appliances, mostly central air conditioning. ill be happy to help, DM is the key.
Click to expand...
Good to know. I may try that in the near future.
 
Luxpower_Gilbert said:
there's a solution for grid assist with the no export firmware the public & test, by using grid peak shaving but it will pull 80-100watt from the grid all the time, this will prevent exporting to the grid, this has been tested and i also run with this kind of set up, and i know couple 18kpv owners use this set up to run with their heavy load appliances, mostly central air conditioning. ill be happy to help, DM is the key.
Click to expand...
Thank you!
Once I get everything in place, and off the road, I'll reach out.
 
Weekend regards to everybody here.
I've just gone through all the comments here, and I appreciate that a lot of important reminders were shared.
Working closely with the EG4 team, we will make the firmware updates (and the update log info) more organized. Additionally, within the next week, we should be able to submit the latest firmware update file to the monitoring system.
This update will include, at least, the following improvements:
1, Surge power capability under off-grid mode.
2, Considering AC coupled power as the second solar power source to program the system according to different needs.
3, Zero export with grid assistance.
Thank you all!
 
I'm about to pull the trigger on a 18kpv system through SS, but I have a few questions about wiring. I plan to install the inverter on the opposite side of a wall from my meter and main load (200amp panel) that is less than 10' from away. I use about 40kWh a day and installing a 13kW pv with 30kW battery backup for night. I plan on a 200amp main breaker under my meter, split the lines with polaris connecters, then to a transfer switch and grid load on inverter. The Load from inverter will go back out the wall to main panel breaker. I live in rural Texas with no permit besides electric co-op approval. (I do want it SAFE) just not bureaucracy safe :)

1. Should I fight with 4/0 copper or just use 3/0?
2. The manual has about 5 different fuses and breakers the wire goes through that I don't plan to use. Just Grid 200amp disconnect, inverter breakers, then 200amp on Main Panel. I only chose this because the solark 15k manual has no breakers between the grid disconnect and the inverter.
3. The neutral bar on the inverter says if fits 6-gauge wire. This seems small. Is there a way to fit a larger neutral for both the grid and the inverter load.
 
Last edited:
Mesquitemonkey said:
3. The neutral bar on the inverter says if fits 6-gauge wire. This seems small. Is there a way to fit a larger neutral for both the grid and the inverter load.
Click to expand...
The inverter neutral bus bar supports (4/0 awg) the same awg as the grid and load. The primary inverter ground bar is smaller but still may fit a 2awg.

Neutral bus shown with a 6awg. As you can see lots of room.
20230717_000241.jpg
 
In regards to the modbus registers, can someone point out which would show the ac coupled power/energy?
 
Mesquitemonkey said:
I plan on a 200amp main breaker under my meter, split the lines with polaris connecters, then to a transfer switch and grid load on inverter.
Click to expand...
FWIW I think you are much better off going with two breakers so you can de-energize power to the inverter without losing power to the house if you need to do repairs.
 
I used 4/0 fine strand in the battery connections with ease. Used No#2 for the load, plenty of extra room. Even 6 ga. will fit the ground lug of the pv area.
 
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