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EG4 18kPV Q+A general thread

Alright...the shipment arrives today (18kpv + powerpro battery)!

I've been digging holes and trenching and have fallen behind on the inside of the house where the inverter and battery will go.PXL_20230910_204055435.jpg
It looks like this except now there is cement board added where the sparky stuff will live. The battery is going to stay on the floor because I don't trust my concrete anchoring skills for 500# of equipment.

I won't be ready to AC couple/DC couple/Grid/Load connect for a few weeks (waiting on my friend that has experience to be available), but if I get the inverter on the wall and the battery hooked up, can I safely power the unit to update firmware, get the wifi and app setup, click around in settings, then shut it down? I'm assuming the battery ships with at least some charge, and that even a small charge should give me hours to play around with the inverter?

I would love to have this thing as ready as possible for the limited time I have my "consultant" available.

Any info is appreciated, and I apologize for the number of stupid questions that I will be asking in the next few weeks.
 
y0bailey said:
Alright...the shipment arrives today (18kpv + powerpro battery)!

I've been digging holes and trenching and have fallen behind on the inside of the house where the inverter and battery will go.View attachment 173198
It looks like this except now there is cement board added where the sparky stuff will live. The battery is going to stay on the floor because I don't trust my concrete anchoring skills for 500# of equipment.

I won't be ready to AC couple/DC couple/Grid/Load connect for a few weeks (waiting on my friend that has experience to be available), but if I get the inverter on the wall and the battery hooked up, can I safely power the unit to update firmware, get the wifi and app setup, click around in settings, then shut it down? I'm assuming the battery ships with at least some charge, and that even a small charge should give me hours to play around with the inverter?

I would love to have this thing as ready as possible for the limited time I have my "consultant" available.

Any info is appreciated, and I apologize for the number of stupid questions that I will be asking in the next few weeks.
Click to expand...
Any specific reason that you didn't frame a complete wall?

Do you plan on slapping up a flame resistant ceiling?
 
Zapper77 said:
Any specific reason that you didn't frame a complete wall?

Do you plan on slapping up a flame resistant ceiling?
Click to expand...
Laziness really.

Just 5 tapcons into each 2x4 spaced at stud spacing, and slapping ply on there. I barely had to get out a tape measure and needed zero precision.

The ceiling is spray foam insulated with a fire-resistant coating required by code. I didn't think to add anything on top of that. If you think it's needed I could put a few more pieces of cement backer up there, but I've got to run huge 3/0 copper wiring/conduit for my 200a panel up in the open ceiling before I close things off.
 
Quattrohead said:
May I suggest you at least lift the battery off the floor by sticking it on some bricks or some 2x wood and a layer of plastic sheeting to stop moisture wicking from below.
Click to expand...
The concrete is sealed and humidity is controlled down there. But I was planning on putting it on a "500# moving dolly/platform" to keep it off the floor in case of flooding.
 
y0bailey said:
Laziness really.

Just 5 tapcons into each 2x4 spaced at stud spacing, and slapping ply on there. I barely had to get out a tape measure and needed zero precision.

The ceiling is spray foam insulated with a fire-resistant coating required by code. I didn't think to add anything on top of that. If you think it's needed I could put a few more pieces of cement backer up there, but I've got to run huge 3/0 copper wiring/conduit for my 200a panel up in the open ceiling before I close things off.
Click to expand...
Do I think it's necessary? No

I figured a full wall would be helpful for the added structural strength.

The 18Kpv isn't quite during heavy loads but it is when loads are under 6,000 watts.

I personally like the idea of having a walled off/isolated room for my equipment.
 
Zapper77 said:
Do I think it's necessary? No

I figured a full wall would be helpful for the added structural strength.

The 18Kpv isn't quite during heavy loads but it is when loads are under 6,000 watts.

I personally like the idea of having a walled off/isolated room for my equipment.
Click to expand...
I've hung from this wall (180 pounds) and purposefully tried to rip it down...it's strong. I'm sure it could hold the battery but I also like the thought of it living on a dolly I can move by myself if needed.

This is in an unused back corner of an unfinished basement. No traffic in the area.
 
OK...back to my original question after the distraction of my nightmare carpentry skills and nightmare basement (I'm not being snarky...I like all of the ideas and I need to keep my family safe, so if anyone thinks I need to re-do this I will).

Can I get the inverter on the wall and the battery hooked up, can I safely power the unit to update firmware, get the wifi and app setup, click around in settings, then shut it down? I'm assuming the battery ships with at least some charge, and that even a small charge should give me hours to play around with the inverter?
 
y0bailey said:
Can I get the inverter on the wall and the battery hooked up, can I safely power the unit to update firmware, get the wifi and app setup, click around in settings, then shut it down? I'm assuming the battery ships with at least some charge, and that even a small charge should give me hours to play around with the inverter?
Click to expand...
Yes

Inverter idle load is around 1.5 kWh per 24 hours. A 50% charged single powerpro has around 7 kWh of remaining capacity.
 
Last edited:
y0bailey said:
OK...back to my original question after the distraction of my nightmare carpentry skills and nightmare basement (I'm not being snarky...I like all of the ideas and I need to keep my family safe, so if anyone thinks I need to re-do this I will).

Can I get the inverter on the wall and the battery hooked up, can I safely power the unit to update firmware, get the wifi and app setup, click around in settings, then shut it down? I'm assuming the battery ships with at least some charge, and that even a small charge should give me hours to play around with the inverter?
Click to expand...

I'd actually hook up a temporary AC connection and start top balancing the battery.
 
Can I get the inverter on the wall and the battery hooked up, can I safely power the unit to update firmware, get the wifi and app setup, click around in settings, then shut it down? I'm assuming the battery ships with at least some charge, and that even a small charge should give me hours to play around with the inverter?

y0bailey, thats how I did mine, but the wifi and the app comes before the firmware update. I had about 54% on my EG4 Propower battery.​

 
Is there anyway to adjust EG4 18KW "Bat charge current limit (A) 250" to the recommended 160A for one EG4 powerpro? Thanks . I got it, it just did not want to change.
 
Zapper77 said:
Yes, and The BMS communication will take care of it automatically.
Click to expand...
Thanks for some reason it did not adjust it. I have had Schneider for many years, is on EG4 18KW, Grid Peak-shaving power (KW) the same as AC pass-through on Schneider 6048? thanks
 
BKY2003 said:
Thanks for some reason it did not adjust it. I have had Schneider for many years, is on EG4 18KW, Grid Peak-shaving power (KW) the same as AC pass-through on Schneider 6048? thanks
Click to expand...
Peak Shaving - can reduce max grid input during desired time window. In my opinion this is a method to avoid time of use charges and recharge batteries at night when energy is cheaper.
 
Zapper77 said:
Peak Shaving - can reduce max grid input during desired time window. In my opinion this is a method to avoid time of use charges and recharge batteries at night when energy is cheaper.
Click to expand...
So if I wanted to limit my grid tie to 25 amp, should I set "AC charge power " 6kw / Grid sell back power 6kw / Grid Peak-shaving Power 6KW. Should these setting guarantee no more than 25 amp go or come from the grid? Thanks
 
BKY2003 said:
So if I wanted to limit my grid tie to 25 amp, should I set "AC charge power " 6kw / Grid sell back power 6kw / Grid Peak-shaving Power 6KW. Should these setting guarantee no more than 25 amp go or come from the grid? Thanks
Click to expand...
You may look at the microgrid setting.
 
PXL_20231020_222221435.jpg

Well, getting this into the basement was more difficult than expected (the battery is freaking insanely heavy), and my conduit box was murdered in transit, but my 18kpv and battery survived the trip. I've successfully booted and have battery coms up and running.

PXL_20231020_174121085.jpg

RIP my friend.

I'll report in on the damage claim progress. It looked like the freaking transit company dropped something on the stack of parts. I guess it's "good" that the conduit box took the blow. I rushed to get everything up and running because I needed to get my claim submitted by Monday, and the inverter was stacked below the conduit box. The inverter box was also dented, but everything seems to be functioning. Looks like the bulk of the impact happened below the LCD, and the LCD is working, the lower cabinet opens normally with no dents...so I think I dodged that bullet.

Man...holy shit this battery is heavy!


Mistakes I've made thus far:

1) Me and my wife cannot move this battery. I thought I was the strongest man on earth. I am not. Reinforcements required. My "500# rated" Amazon dolly is scaring me. That will be replaced. The battery will be tethered to something on it's stronger dolly. I am sold on the dolly concept however...made my night much easier.

2) These battery cables are short. Like literally designed to only run from the battery, through conduit box mounted like the pretty stock pictures show (and not a smashed to shit conduit box), and then into the inverter with little wiggle room. I don't really want the inverter mounted higher (I'm not a tall man), and I want the battery off to the right side further surrounded by only concrete, so I'm going to have to look into longer cables. I also hate how finely stranded these battery cables are...getting them connected was a PITA. I am a beginner so that could be on me. Tips welcomed.

3) Battery coms took a few reboots to figure out. Will saved the day. I agree with his statement on a "quick start guide." I'm not even sure anymore what combination of things I tried made it work...but it does, so I'm happy.


Question for the group:

1) Longer battery cables and appropriate connectors for the PowerPro. Anyone have a good source for them? Also less annoying finely stranded cable if possible. I have done zero research here...just need to give my back a break and vent (and finish my victory beer)...but I can make them with some direction. I can figure this out on my own, but I'm tired and a push in the right direction is welcomed.

Thanks to everyone here...went from insanely depressed from transit damage to mostly happy tonight. Just bummed on the newest cable length problem.
 
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