As a solar novice, here are some of my first impressions of the EG4 6000 EX Inverter/Charger, the LL V2 batteries, and the battery racks.
First, to set the stage, I recently purchased 2 ea. 6000 EXs, 6 ea. LL V2 batteries w/rack, 6 ea. LP4 batteries w/rack, and a Chargeverter (not arrived yet).
Also got battery wiring and breakers and panel disconnects.
My property is totally off grid for now, I visit on weekends. Power is readily available at the road. I have had a small 12V PV system for several years powered by a few panels, a 1200AH battery, a Midnite Solar Kid charge controller, and an inverter. I used a Honda EU 3000I generator for air conditioning and electric heat needs.
The inverter powered the small loads.
I have a small cabin and a shed for my RV.
In the near future, I will build a house.
During the build, I will be using lots of 120V power equipment, and fairly unbalanced loads, so I decided to go with low frequency split phase equipment.
I just recently set up 1 ea. 6000 EX, and the rack of LL V2 batteries.
They feed my main panel, which powers my buildings.
I do not have any solar panels yet. I just charge the batteries with an 8000w generator through the 6000 EX until I get my Chargeverter.
I plan to build a rack of 8S2P 460W bifacial panels per EG4 inverter in the very near future.
When I get the second rack of panels built, I will install the second 6000 EX, the rack of LP4 batteries, and parallel everything together.
That should suffice until I move into the house.
When I get the house built, I plan on using a Sol-Ark 15K to power my main panel, and the 6000 EXs, (fed by the Sol-Ark/main panel) to power my resistive load subpanel. It will power quite a few pumps, refrigeration, and HVAC units.
I will have 2 ea. LL V2 battery racks for the Sol-Ark, and the LP4 battery rack for the EG4 Inverters.
2 arrays of panels for the EG4s, and 3 arrays for the Sol-Ark.
Now, my impressions of the components.
I have decades of experience as a licensed industrial/commercial maintenance electrician & HVAC/R service technician. My DC electrical experience is light, and my solar experience is beginner level.
The battery racks seem functional, though there could be more room between the busses and the batteries for routing large cables. The alignment of the battery mounting holes is barely adequate. They seem solid.
The LL V2 batteries could be a little easier to attach battery cables, and comm cables. The LP4 batteries were easier to wire.
The 6000 EX is extremely annoying to wire up.
The screws that hold on the access panel are microscopic, and my fingers are not as dexterous as they once were. I promptly dropped/lost one.
The wiring area is infuriating. You get a few measly inches to work in. They could have made it so you can actually get your fingers in there to get the wires into the wire terminals. When you use conduit, you have about an inch to bend 4 ea. 8AWG wires to fit the terminals. Not easy. Did I mention the clumsy fingers?
The Program 14 “EG4” parameters for the batteries did not do what the manual said. I got battery voltage instead of percentage.
I ended up using the “USE” setting.
Program 9 appears to show that it is possible to back feed to the grid, though it is not certified to do so in the U.S.
Program 9 actually does not even show up in the menu, and SS treats it like black magic when you ask about it.
I am not experienced enough to comment on the functionality of anything yet.
The manuals for the batteries, and controllers were lacking in the extreme.
EG4 appears to be geared to entry level budget/beginner level DIY users.
We are the people who need good manuals the most.
Give complete, accurate information. Please.
These do not.
A good manual will cut down on the tech. requests, so it is in EG4's/SS's best interest to provide it.
I can afford more expensive controllers, but these looked adequate for my current needs. I don't like spending money unnecessarily.
Time will tell if I stay satisfied, as my experience level increases.
I researched the products before buying, and my expectations were not “world-class-at-budget-price”.
I got a budget product at a budget price, but I am still disappointed with the poorly written manuals.
Signature Solar responded to every tech request I sent. Not immediately, but they did reply.
The replies were helpful, but I did disagree with their advice for the size buss to parallel the battery racks.
Overall, I started with moderate expectations, and other than the manuals, I have not been too disappointed yet.
Nothing has blown up so far. That's always a plus.
Hopefully, I will like them better as I learn more.
First, to set the stage, I recently purchased 2 ea. 6000 EXs, 6 ea. LL V2 batteries w/rack, 6 ea. LP4 batteries w/rack, and a Chargeverter (not arrived yet).
Also got battery wiring and breakers and panel disconnects.
My property is totally off grid for now, I visit on weekends. Power is readily available at the road. I have had a small 12V PV system for several years powered by a few panels, a 1200AH battery, a Midnite Solar Kid charge controller, and an inverter. I used a Honda EU 3000I generator for air conditioning and electric heat needs.
The inverter powered the small loads.
I have a small cabin and a shed for my RV.
In the near future, I will build a house.
During the build, I will be using lots of 120V power equipment, and fairly unbalanced loads, so I decided to go with low frequency split phase equipment.
I just recently set up 1 ea. 6000 EX, and the rack of LL V2 batteries.
They feed my main panel, which powers my buildings.
I do not have any solar panels yet. I just charge the batteries with an 8000w generator through the 6000 EX until I get my Chargeverter.
I plan to build a rack of 8S2P 460W bifacial panels per EG4 inverter in the very near future.
When I get the second rack of panels built, I will install the second 6000 EX, the rack of LP4 batteries, and parallel everything together.
That should suffice until I move into the house.
When I get the house built, I plan on using a Sol-Ark 15K to power my main panel, and the 6000 EXs, (fed by the Sol-Ark/main panel) to power my resistive load subpanel. It will power quite a few pumps, refrigeration, and HVAC units.
I will have 2 ea. LL V2 battery racks for the Sol-Ark, and the LP4 battery rack for the EG4 Inverters.
2 arrays of panels for the EG4s, and 3 arrays for the Sol-Ark.
Now, my impressions of the components.
I have decades of experience as a licensed industrial/commercial maintenance electrician & HVAC/R service technician. My DC electrical experience is light, and my solar experience is beginner level.
The battery racks seem functional, though there could be more room between the busses and the batteries for routing large cables. The alignment of the battery mounting holes is barely adequate. They seem solid.
The LL V2 batteries could be a little easier to attach battery cables, and comm cables. The LP4 batteries were easier to wire.
The 6000 EX is extremely annoying to wire up.
The screws that hold on the access panel are microscopic, and my fingers are not as dexterous as they once were. I promptly dropped/lost one.
The wiring area is infuriating. You get a few measly inches to work in. They could have made it so you can actually get your fingers in there to get the wires into the wire terminals. When you use conduit, you have about an inch to bend 4 ea. 8AWG wires to fit the terminals. Not easy. Did I mention the clumsy fingers?
The Program 14 “EG4” parameters for the batteries did not do what the manual said. I got battery voltage instead of percentage.
I ended up using the “USE” setting.
Program 9 appears to show that it is possible to back feed to the grid, though it is not certified to do so in the U.S.
Program 9 actually does not even show up in the menu, and SS treats it like black magic when you ask about it.
I am not experienced enough to comment on the functionality of anything yet.
The manuals for the batteries, and controllers were lacking in the extreme.
EG4 appears to be geared to entry level budget/beginner level DIY users.
We are the people who need good manuals the most.
Give complete, accurate information. Please.
These do not.
A good manual will cut down on the tech. requests, so it is in EG4's/SS's best interest to provide it.
I can afford more expensive controllers, but these looked adequate for my current needs. I don't like spending money unnecessarily.
Time will tell if I stay satisfied, as my experience level increases.
I researched the products before buying, and my expectations were not “world-class-at-budget-price”.
I got a budget product at a budget price, but I am still disappointed with the poorly written manuals.
Signature Solar responded to every tech request I sent. Not immediately, but they did reply.
The replies were helpful, but I did disagree with their advice for the size buss to parallel the battery racks.
Overall, I started with moderate expectations, and other than the manuals, I have not been too disappointed yet.
Nothing has blown up so far. That's always a plus.
Hopefully, I will like them better as I learn more.
