ACDC Converter to run EG4 18kPV for Testing

[joe_s]

Hi All,

Unconventional "test" use case here for the EG4 18kPV.

I am building a tiny house adjacent to a warehouse (temporary build location) and have all my panel branch circuits wired into the panel, and am currently running both sides of the panel with the same single phase 120V circuit off an extension cord from a regular 20A outlet in the warehouse. My 240 breakers are off and the rest of the 120 breakers have been working fine for a few weeks. In final configuration, the panel will receive each end of the split-phase output of the inverter, but my issue is I have no way to generate 120/240 split phase from the inverter until my batteries are installed (likely 1-2 months out). There is no split phase available at the warehouse without a huge extension cord that is cost prohibitive.

I'd like to fully wire my panel and inverter interconnects AND be able to run/test 240V appliances (stove and heat pump hot water heater). My idea is to complete all this wiring and purchase a beefy 120VAC --> 48VDC converter and connect this to the BAT terminals of the inverter, which hopefully the 18kPV will just treat as a battery it cannot communicate with.

Obviously the system will be MUCH less capable from a power perspective - basically the limit of the wall outlet (2400W) before conversion losses, but I just need it temporarily for "testing" and running lights and my HVAC heat pump (low load, generally 10A max at 120VAC, I measured it).

Anyone see any issues with this? I am aware that a beefy converter is not cheap, but I'd likely use it for future projects as well.

 

[DIYrich]

M

Thread '18KPV with no battery?'

Mar 8, 2024

For a grid tied EG4/Luxpower 18KPV, what happens if it has no battery attached?

There was some comment that the unit would not work properly in these circumstances, that is required a battery to be stable or operational. If so, this seems like a weakness since loss of the battery (for service, fault, or otherwise) would disable the unit and that seems operationally fragile.

If there is no battery and tied to the grid with no PV input, I'd hope the grid powers everything. If there is PV input and grid, the system would convert the PV input to AC which feeds local loads and the remainder...

• mciholas
• Replies: 18
• Forum: All-in-One Systems

You might just need 20v to power the RSD to get the panels working.

If you want a "beefy converter", I would get a chargeverter.

 

[joe_s]

Good note on the chargeverter, they're currently backordered on most shops but I'll keep it in mind

 

[GXMnow]

What about just using a Victron (or other) 120/240 volt autotransformer?
The 32 amp rated Victron is about $500. It's not cheap, but it's a lot less than a DC power supply that can run the 18K-PV. Your 20 amp input could give you up to 10 amps of 240 volts and not stress the transformer at all. Growatt also has a 5KW autotransformer for just $300