6000xp Weekly Generator Run

[Madcodger]

The external bus bar definitely will make it more complex. The cleanest version of a bus bar that I've seen would be lynx distributor.

Lynx Distributor - Victron Energy

Monitor the status of each fuse and see its condition with a LED on the front of the Lynx Distributor. Find a Victron Energy dealer near you.

www.victronenergy.com

Yes, yes it would, @EG4_Eric . So if I'm buying three of your 6000XP inverters, three of your Powerpro batteries, and want to use three of your conduit boxes and one or more of your Chargeverters, can you please shed more specific light on how those would all be connected via an external bus bar such as the Victron product? What most confuses me is how to ensure the batteries charge and discharge equally, using the Chargeverter(s).

Basically, you folks have a great system for battery > conduit box > inverter, and it seems simple to interconnect multiple of those together, but the moment you introduce one or more Chargeverters into the equation, it's a bit of, "Now what??", for me, and others, it seems.

 

[murmeister]

Basically, you folks have a great system for battery > conduit box > inverter, and it seems simple to interconnect multiple of those together, but the moment you introduce one or more Chargeverters into the equation, it's a bit of, "Now what??", for me, and others, it seems.

Count me in the "others" camp.

If someone has done this - even with another vendor's inverter, I'd like to see pictures.

 

[Madcodger]

Count me in the "others" camp.

If someone has done this - even with another vendor's inverter, I'd like to see pictures.

I have all this stuff sitting in a truck somewhere between Current Connected and Maine, and in a few weeks, when the building is up and we're ready to install it all, they promise to draw me a diagram. In the interim, I'm dealing with contractors and such. Wish me luck, as I think the solar part will be easier than this end of the build.

 

[Brucey]

These might be some dumb questions, but...

1) If entirely off grid and have generator connected directly to the gen input, can we just turn on generator and let it run for several minutes, without a worry? I don't want the generator powering loads when that happens - I just want it to run and cycle the generator, perhaps charging the batteries a bit with the power produced, but not powering loads.

2) I plan to purchase a chargeverter and use that with an inexpensive, somewhat small (~ 6-10 KW), NON inverter generator, purely to recharge batteries during extended cloudy periods. I know EG4 recommends a generator 1.5 inverter size for every inverter in use, but come on... that's beyond excessive if you don't want the generator to run the whole house. I don't want or need the generator to power loads through the inverter, as I'll recharge before battery SOC is excessively low, and just need to recharge batteries when sun doesn't cooperate for a few days. So, can the 6000 XP be programmed to use gen input ONLY for battery charging, and not powering loads? If not, what's the best way to connect chargeverter to 6000XP and Powerpro batteries?

Thanks!

I believe best practice when exercising a generator is to load it up. Just starting it and letting it idle with no load is not ideal.

 

[wpns]

I believe best practice when exercising a generator is to load it up. Just starting it and letting it idle with no load is not ideal.

This. The cooling fan in my generator disintegrated and it passed it’s weekly test with flying colors. Would have melted down when needed if I hadn’t caught it during a routine check/oil change.

 

[wpns]

Powerpro batteries

What’s wrong with using the busbars built into the PowerPro batteries? Actual currents are low enough compared to the interconnect cables and internal busbars that I’m not convinced it’ll make much difference.

I tied my brain in knots trying to figure out how to integrate two 18Kpv and six PP Outdoor batteries with two ChargeVerterGC boxes till I realized that ‘just hook them up’ is a pretty good paradigm. The ChargeVerter is good for 100A, the busbars are good for 600A, the 18Kpv has a peak of 250A. I mean don’t be stupid, but I’m putting the 18Kpv above battery 1, 2 and 3 go in front of that, and the CV connects to 3. Adding more battery is just putting more in front of 3 and moving the CV to the (new) end. Ditto for the other 18Kpv and 3 more batteries, then connect the two wall-hung batteries together and Bob’s Your Uncle. _Can_ the batteries get temporarily (dis)charged to different SOC? Sure. But will they equalize? Also sure. All EG4 components, won’t even need to crimp my own Degson connectors unless the CV wires get too long, and then we’re still only talking 100A.

 

[Madcodger]

I believe best practice when exercising a generator is to load it up. Just starting it and letting it idle with no load is not ideal.

But isn't that what most generators are set to do? My Kohler runs for about 10 minutes every Friday afternoon, but not under load. Auto-start generators are common here in the boonies, and that seems to be the case for all of them. I agree with the idea that running under load periodically would be better, but as far as I can tell, it's not the normal test that manufacturers and installers set up for the weekly test runs.

 

[Madcodger]

What’s wrong with using the busbars built into the PowerPro batteries?

Well, I have that same question, but apparently there's a better way. I got a note back from Current Connected (a retailer I trust) that says they'll give me a diagram when we're ready to set it up. I have a couple of extra bus bars in the order based on their suggested design, so I figure I'll know soon enough. I suspect it may have to do with trying to keep the batteries better equalized. If EG4 is OK with having us just use the Powerpro bus bars for connecting the Chargeverter in a multi-inverter / multi-battery installation (something that's certainly not uncommon), I wish they would just say so. Otherwise, it's good for the bus bar folks, I guess.

 

[wpns]

Well, I have that same question, but apparently there's a better way. I got a note back from Current Connected (a retailer I trust) that says they'll give me a diagram when we're ready to set it up. I have a couple of extra bus bars in the order based on their suggested design, so I figure I'll know soon enough. I suspect it may have to do with trying to keep the batteries better equalized. If EG4 is OK with having us just use the Powerpro bus bars for connecting the Chargeverter in a multi-inverter / multi-battery installation (something that's certainly not uncommon), I wish they would just say so. Otherwise, it's good for the bus bar folks, I guess.

I had the same discussion with SS, but when I pushed back on the requirement for bus bars, they went back to their technical folks and realized that the builtin busbars are fine. Might be that past a certain point (3 batteries per inverter?) you need external bus bars to meet some mythical Code? EG4 should make Degson Bus Bars!

 

[JungleTim]

You should always try to have some load on your gen during the weekly exercise. Why can't it be called to charge the batteries? Or take your solar offline and let the gen kick in once a week?

 

[Brucey]

But isn't that what most generators are set to do? My Kohler runs for about 10 minutes every Friday afternoon, but not under load. Auto-start generators are common here in the boonies, and that seems to be the case for all of them. I agree with the idea that running under load periodically would be better, but as far as I can tell, it's not the normal test that manufacturers and installers set up for the weekly test runs.

Probably because there would be a momentary interruption in power in the house while it transfers from grid to gen (assuming no inverters/ESS in play).

For those with inverters/batteries/comms capable of starting a generator they can control the loads and seamlessly bring load on to the generator without interrupting power during regular testing.

Back in my data center days the generators would have integrated load banks to allow for regular testing without transferring the UPS units from grid to gen.