EG4 18kPV Q+A general thread

Markus_SignatureSolar said:

You have all the settings you need access to on your screen the display of the inverter. The rest of the settings you don't have access to are not meant for the consumer. you could set your inverter up completely without anyone remoting in with the settings you have available on your inverter display. The password is 00000 when you are asked for this.

Here is a settings guide that is being added to the manual currently.

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SignatureSolarJames said:

This is the hybrid inverter with the most access via remote of any other inverter by far. we are responsive to input but if we go too fast things will not work well.

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I feel like maybe what I'm saying is being missed. There are clearly MANY more settings available via the inverter screen than there are via the web interface.

Is there a functional reason we can't have the same access both places?

Again, I don't know what settings are missing from the LCD screen of the inverter. But I'd sure like to see the web interface and LCD have continuity. Maybe there is a reason this isn't implemented, but hopefully it can be?

goldserve said:

IMHO, this debate about settings is totally overblown. If the settings don’t match the manual and if there are settings that are crucial to make things work, please identify them and update software and manual. I don’t need access to calibration settings and such. Every manufacturer has these settings and it was luxpower’s fault to even mention them.

Instead of asking what settings users want to see, those with privileged access should help keep track of the most common settings they are having to set to make things work and then come up with a plan to expose those settings in an easy to understand manner to the users.

I would say, please give luxpower and SS some slack. They are already very receptive to changes and asking for the keys to the kingdom won’t help.

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I agree, I am not asking for wild calibration setting access, I imagine there is a very small number of people that need "direct code access".

My main gripe is that it feels very limited via the web browser.

There also seems to be changes to firmware/manuals that don't match what I see on certain screens. Maybe there can be some form of "user manual in progress" utilizing something along the lines of Google Docs where notes can be added as they go, so we as users can always have access to the most up to date information.

On Android you can enable developer options to have access to a whole lot more settings and features... I think something similar would make sense in this situation. Like I said pages ago I can see both sides of it. If I'm buying something I want full control of it and feel I should have the right to fully screw something up that would not be warrantied, obviously.
Give the end user a warning that modifying settings in x menu may cause the inverter to spontaneously combust and possibly be fatal, then remind them one more time when they check a box that they are certain they want to continue.
I would want to be able to recalibrate sensors, adjust timers, and see everything that can be changed. This would be incredibly helpful troubleshooting if there are issues.
The system would be off the interwebs 99.9% of the time, especially when I find my dream location with no cell service or communication lines running into the building.

There is a great point made about the internet going down. I feel people rely on it way to much, just like electricity, so much so that they take it for granted.

Watts Happening said:

I feel like maybe what I'm saying is being missed. There are clearly MANY more settings available via the inverter screen than there are via the web interface.

Is there a functional reason we can't have the same access both places?

Again, I don't know what settings are missing from the LCD screen of the inverter. But I'd sure like to see the web interface and LCD have continuity. Maybe there is a reason this isn't implemented, but hopefully it can be?

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Here's one.

Some of those settings can be added in time maybe even all of them who knows, but for now we are letting this evolve and keep a full report going on these things. I have said several times we are looking for feedback on what settings should be added.

Watts Happening said:

I agree, I am not asking for wild calibration setting access, I imagine there is a very small number of people that need "direct code access".

My main gripe is that it feels very limited via the web browser.

There also seems to be changes to firmware/manuals that don't match what I see on certain screens. Maybe there can be some form of "user manual in progress" utilizing something along the lines of Google Docs where notes can be added as they go, so we as users can always have access to the most up to date information.

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Let’s see if Eddie can respond to this one. I agree that the web interface should better mirror the built in LCD interface settings. I like how my outback skybox web interface is a direct mirror of the lcd interface and the web settings mostly configure the same settings as the lcd interface, just easier.

Yes, please consider some community contributed manual like a wiki or google docs.

I’m just sitting on the sidelines watching how things pan out before I jump in and replace my outback system btw.

goldserve said:

Let’s see if Eddie can respond to this one. I agree that the web interface should better mirror the built in LCD interface settings. I like how my outback skybox web interface is a direct mirror of the lcd interface and the web settings mostly configure the same settings as the lcd interface, just easier.

Yes, please consider some community contributed manual like a wiki or google docs.

I’m just sitting on the sidelines watching how things pan out before I jump in and replace my outback system btw.

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I'd also like to clarify I'm not even saying it needs to be a community manual, but I do like that idea. I was just thinking they keep a manual available and as they receive questions and develop answers they can add notes in sections.

However we accomplish that, I think it will be beneficial for everyone including them. Imagine the ability of all their techs to quickly reference a continually updated manual with notes and solve problems with ease. Quickly referring customers to the exact same information.

I think some of this is a little silly. I've been in the computer business forever. The modbus manual is going to have pretty much all the operational settings, they have 'advanced' settings on this box which you can change if you are so inclined. There are always factory things that you should not need to ever touch once set. I mean I probably could change the micro-code inside my EPYC cpu's but I can't think of any reason I would want to, nor any reason not being able to would somehow render the product unusable. The biggest problem to me is the clarity of the manuals and documentation, of which I have overtly opined my satirical displeasure. As far as hacking the unit from the web site, frankly when I get mine like I want, the dongles will likely get removed, and the system will only go online for a firmware upgrade or something.

I've still not encountered a working example of modbus against this darn thing. I've got modbus functions for 5 different devices I wrote, this one is not cooperating, likely because I'm struggling understanding the docs. That being said, the box has only been out for months. We are going to be ironing out how to use this thing probably for a year.

Markus_SignatureSolar said:

I know Luxpower has been around for 5 years in Europe and Africa. With the same set up as far end user and all with no complaints. Less then a % failure rate. Me and Eddie are asking for feedback for settings. I dont know what else to say.

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I spelled it out. Your response was “luxpower has been this way in other countries for 5 years”
They don’t know what to ask in comparison to the installer settings as they have no access to installer settings

Are you seeking feedback or explaining away every qualm?

GOO5E said:

I spelled it out. Your response was “luxpower has been this way in other countries for 5 years”
Are you seeking feedback or explaining away every qualm?

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Just stating that this has not been a issue in the past. Obviously America is different and feedback is a very important part we are looking for.

Markus_SignatureSolar said:

Just stating that this has not been a issue in the past. Obviously America is different and feedback is a very important part we are looking for.

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Idk how long the internal menu is so this next idea may not be logically feasible.
Is it possible to simply post screenshots of what the installers/tech support sees? It may end up that options visible are in fact not demonstrably different than the dongle/user access. Then everyone sees what “they don’t see”

All they have to do is look at there display options basically

I already posted this settings guide as well it shows all settings

ksmithaz1 said:

I don't think we are reading carefully. My inverter sits behind a transfer switch. If my inverter were grid-tied there would be no phasing issues. When the inverter turns on/off, it is out of phase with the grid, the transfer switch kicks back to the grid, sometimes this causes a wierd disruption with the HVAC, it will start making odd sounds, that will go away when (if when its 118F) it cycles the compressor off and on. The simplest thing might be to trip the cycle off when this event occurs.

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Can you pm me about this I would like to know more

Markus_SignatureSolar said:

I already posted this settings guide as well it shows all settings

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I was going to mention that you posted a settings pdf a few pages back, didn't want to waste my breath...eww (finger tips).

ksmithaz1 said:

I don't think we are reading carefully. My inverter sits behind a transfer switch. If my inverter were grid-tied there would be no phasing issues. When the inverter turns on/off, it is out of phase with the grid, the transfer switch kicks back to the grid, sometimes this causes a wierd disruption with the HVAC, it will start making odd sounds, that will go away when (if when its 118F) it cycles the compressor off and on. The simplest thing might be to trip the cycle off when this event occurs.

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The "normal" way to address this is to use pre-transfer contact accessories from the transfer switch to stop larger motors; you can rig one up with a few relays and a timer.

Isn't the inverter starting up in Standby? I would expect it to sync to grid once it is enabled; the normal failure mode is the transfer switch re-transferring to utility after the local source was free-running.

Watts Happening said:

You're telling us we have access to them all via the touchscreen.

You're also telling us we can't have access to them via a browser because you don't want people to break things.

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Careful what you wish for there; hopefully they have great security on their end, but some of the settings changes could potentially create safety issues if used nefariously. While inconvienent, this is actually fairly standard practice.

Shimmy said:

Careful what you wish for there; hopefully they have great security on their end, but some of the settings changes could potentially create safety issues if used nefariously. While inconvienent, this is actually fairly standard practice.

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Agreed, this is why we use 2FA

Watts Happening said:

There are clearly MANY more settings available via the inverter screen than there are via the web interface.

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Are there ? I know of the battery setting only because I have weird batteries and was trying to get them talking. I started whining about it because I was sweating my thingies off and couldn't get it to work.
This inverter is the most advanced project to come from eg4 to date and surely it will be a learning curve on both sides. Some of these very questions and concerns could be asked of Solark and Schneider and probably the other well-known inverters in the USA and around the world. This isn't your average growatt.... hang on try and get any information from them whatsoever.

Quattrohead said:

Are there ? I know of the battery setting only because I have weird batteries and was trying to get them talking. I started whining about it because I was sweating my thingies off and couldn't get it to work.
This inverter is the most advanced project to come from eg4 to date and surely it will be a learning curve on both sides. Some of these very questions and concerns could be asked of Solark and Schneider and probably the other well-known inverters in the USA and around the world. This isn't your average growatt.... hang on try and get any information from those them whatsoever.

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It takes about 20-30 seconds for my 18Kpv to recognize when battery comms are connected. I have eg4 Lifepower4 batteries so may not help in your case but primary battery needs to be 0000