Hey all, looking at the Victron Quattro inverters. Tentative plan is 48V system in a partial home backup setup (including well pump) with 2x Quattro 48V 5 KVA units in split phase configuration with generator backup and auto-start. One of the main reasons I'm attracted to these is the ability to continuously load a generator to programmable optimal efficiency while accommodating various loads/inductive transients etc., whereas it would appear that most of the EG4 inverters (et al. that all appear to be manufactured by one company in China with that exact same manual format) don't support any sort of continuous load charging off a generator. Specifically referencing the EG4 6000EX split phase model, it doesn't support simultaneous charging and and discharging of the battery bank to maintain continuous load on a generator. The best I could do is configure a low charge rate, but for example on the 3 KVA generator at 1KVA charge load would leave me with 2 KVA for all loads including starting a well pump.
I think I pretty well understand most of this inverter but I'm a bit stuck on the battery options. A few possibilities:
Assuming I were to go with the EG4:
EDIT: Update I do see a forum reference that the SOK server rack batteries support Victron communication. Still unclear on what portion of the Victron setup are handled by such communications.
I do see instructions here that claim it supports BMS and SOC info.
EDIT 2: alright I also see the Schneider XW series is an LF inverter that supports "generator support" though online suggests they've had a few hiccups/issues with their units. Allegedly many of these are fixed. Schneider seems compatible with EG4.
I think I pretty well understand most of this inverter but I'm a bit stuck on the battery options. A few possibilities:
- I see Victron makes some batteries that interoperate with their BMS, but they seem to run about $0.82/watt-hour without BMS.
- I see the new EG4 LL offers Victron CAN bus compatibility at a more palatable $0.36/watt-hour but they don't seem officially supported by Victron and there's very little documentation out there on what this entails. I do see an option for this referenced in the EG4-LL manual under CAN settings.
Assuming I were to go with the EG4:
- I believe the EG4 has internal BMS, so presumably I don't need the Victron BMS?
- Does it include coulomb counting in a manner that's compatible with the Victron or do I need one of their shunts?
- Is there any precise documentation on what's supported for EG4 LL with Victron?
EDIT: Update I do see a forum reference that the SOK server rack batteries support Victron communication. Still unclear on what portion of the Victron setup are handled by such communications.
I do see instructions here that claim it supports BMS and SOC info.
EDIT 2: alright I also see the Schneider XW series is an LF inverter that supports "generator support" though online suggests they've had a few hiccups/issues with their units. Allegedly many of these are fixed. Schneider seems compatible with EG4.
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