I set up the Ecco worthy bundle:
Ecco Worthy 3000w, 2x12.8v 100Ah....trips using small space heater
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mikefitz
Solar Wizard
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- May 28, 2020
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The Ecoworthy kit is perhaps not the ideal way for a newcomer to set up and successfully use an off grid system?
The batteries need to be is a resionable state of charge, showing an unloaded voltage of over 26.4 volts. The inverter itself, based on Amazon consumer reports, seems unreliable.
Are there any error codes shown on the inverter display?
To clarify the solar panels are working, in the summer days I was running an exhaust fan on the system to pull air out of the greenhouse. Even used some power tools doing work in their. So the panels are recharging the batteries. Just this one heater on its own causes the inverter to shut off
42OhmsPA
Who likes Electrical Gremlins?
So you're running your batteries in series, correct?
What's the max discharge current of your BMS?
What's the max discharge current of your BMS?
42OhmsPA
Who likes Electrical Gremlins?
BarracudaBob
Harvesting free photons from clean fusion
Everything about a space heater makes me want to double my batteries. Oil filled slow up and steady for evening warmth. Heat pump or something besides glowing hot wires. That idea keeps me up at night.
42OhmsPA
Who likes Electrical Gremlins?
Oil filled radiator on low running in the basement and mini-split upstairs.
You could always build a 280Ah pack (or 6) and sleep well at night
Rednecktek
Expert Newbie
His batteries are in series, so 24v × 100a > 1500w heater. It should work fine, there's something else going on.
Do you have a Kill-A-Watt handy? Will the heater run on low? It sounds like the inverter is only 1500w/3000w surge which puts it just barely too small to run a heater and it's fan.
42OhmsPA
Who likes Electrical Gremlins?
Ahh, I always thought you were still limited to the 12V 100A BMS output in series.
Looking up the kit so that I can see what is being discussed I can see a few possibilities leading to the inability to run the 1500W space heater.
The first being inadequate sized wires to the inverter.
Faulty inverter
Faulty space heater
Batteries being insufficiently charged up or imbalanced.
The last one will happen eventually since the kit includes a rather low quality PWM SCC. I will say looking through the kit's components about the only thing of value is the solar panels. Sorry about that.
The first being inadequate sized wires to the inverter.
Faulty inverter
Faulty space heater
Batteries being insufficiently charged up or imbalanced.
The last one will happen eventually since the kit includes a rather low quality PWM SCC. I will say looking through the kit's components about the only thing of value is the solar panels. Sorry about that.
Thanks for all the responses. I'll look in to the battery cables to see if they are causing the problem but they did come with the set up.
Pretty sure the batteries are fine and they appear balanced and charged.
The heaters fan does run fine. It has multiple settings for heat and economy running, but even on low after a few minutes it trips.
I don't have a KillaWatt thinking it would be a good investment.
Also I'm now looking in to lower watt heating options but I think 1500w seems like the lowest that can do any real heating anyway.
One of the above threads suggested another battery. From other sources I have read going to 4 would be the best option. Just seems like a lot of expense to heat my green house through the winter. But I'll get that killawatt meter and see if it's drawing 1500w first
Typically the cables that come with a inexpensive mobile inverter are next to worthless. Often undersized for the inverters demand at 100% and may even be CCA (copper clad aluminum) with steel lugs. When the cables cause too much of a voltage drop under heavy load demand the inverter shuts off due to low voltage.
One other comment. Understand the demands that a heater puts upon a battery is important. Your 1500W heater in an hours run time will consume 1500Wh. A 100ah 24vDC battery has at best 2400Wh (usable is likely closer to 1800-2000Wh) when fully charged. This would run your heater for just over an hour.
I'll have to look that up. If that's too low would that cause the inverter to trip there's just not enough power getting to it
TomC4306
Solar Obsessive
Put your multimeter across the inverter input wires and turn on the heater. See what the voltage does.
42OhmsPA
Who likes Electrical Gremlins?
It's possible but appears I was incorrect in my assumption you would be limited to the discharge current of the single 12V battery per post #10.
Rednecktek
Expert Newbie
So, just to throw it out there because I'm a fanboy, but since the general consenus on heating is "Anything But Solar", have you considered a diesel heater? They sip fuel, run on 24v DC if you get the 24v versions, and will cook you out even on low pretty quickly. For $100 you can get the kit, get some cheap ducting (I've used dryer hose in the past) and a 5gal jug of diesel and you're set. Being uninsulated as a greenhouse, I'd guesstimate if it's well below freezing outside you might need 10gal/week to kerp the greenhouse at about 70F.
Just a thought. Even having to buy diesel it's a lot cheaper than trying to get enough battery to run an electric heater at 1500w/hr when the diesel heaters are putting out almost twice that at about 20w/hr.
Just a thought. Even having to buy diesel it's a lot cheaper than trying to get enough battery to run an electric heater at 1500w/hr when the diesel heaters are putting out almost twice that at about 20w/hr.
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