Oklahoma Connection
New Member
I'm posting as a Newbie even though I've run my off-grid system for a couple months already. I'm an old EE with tons of industry experience, but have found out that this means I'm still a dummy on Solar stuff. I'm running with about 10KW of PV input, 60 KWH of batteries (EG4 LiFePo4) .... totally capable of handling my entire complex electrical load (aver 30 KWH/day 90% of the time ... 45 KWH/day when all the kids are here (who have zero idea of what Load Management means). I built it all myself, so I know what I've got and how the parts fit together.
My auto-start generator is a new Champion HSG 12.5 KW on propane .... works great .... Inverter start/stop works just fine .... THD is LT 5%. About 2 weeks ago, the Inverter quit "using" the generator .... it would start it based on my settings for backup battery charge [or I could start the Gen manually] ... the Gen Icon pops up on the Inverter LCD screen but doesn't "connect". Loads are not powered, Batteries not charged. Useless. I've checked all settings .... Signature Solar has checked all settings and watched it on remote .... we're all puzzled. I've looked all over for technical leads ... or for somebody else with this problem .... Nada so far.
Questions: 1) Any idea what is going on here? Note that for at least 6 weeks, the 18Kpv managed (and beneficially used) the Generator perfectly .... until it didn't.
2) The Gen output is about 244 VAC with frequency 61 or 62 Hz ... it's obviously a synchronous Gen, so that's not unusual (at least for my experience). Sig Solar doesn't seem to be worried about that either. [Note .... again, this is all clearly evident on the LCD display while the Gen is running .. and can be verified with a multimeter.]
3) Sig Solar kinda wants to run the Gen power into the Grid port (which is open, of course) instead of the Generator port, and "run it as a MicroGrid". My question to them is: "Why don't we just troubleshoot the real problem .... instead of trying one-off, slight-of-hand magic." Maybe I'm just nervous about this mode of operation .... lacking any experience with MicroGrid, and unable to find a who lot of doco ... any comments? And, just for the record, I have zero interest in Smart Load sophistry.
My whole objective with this PV System is to leave my grandkids with a stable, manageable Electric supply ... particularly when the geniuses in the US Goverment manage to completely crater the USA Power Grid .... which they are making rapid progress in doing. So it needs to stay as simple as possible, and with no Grid-Tie whatsoever.
Any thoughts, inputs, and comments greatly appreciated .... and I am not sensitive about being called an old fool. HIt me with your best shot!
Thanks guys!
My auto-start generator is a new Champion HSG 12.5 KW on propane .... works great .... Inverter start/stop works just fine .... THD is LT 5%. About 2 weeks ago, the Inverter quit "using" the generator .... it would start it based on my settings for backup battery charge [or I could start the Gen manually] ... the Gen Icon pops up on the Inverter LCD screen but doesn't "connect". Loads are not powered, Batteries not charged. Useless. I've checked all settings .... Signature Solar has checked all settings and watched it on remote .... we're all puzzled. I've looked all over for technical leads ... or for somebody else with this problem .... Nada so far.
Questions: 1) Any idea what is going on here? Note that for at least 6 weeks, the 18Kpv managed (and beneficially used) the Generator perfectly .... until it didn't.
2) The Gen output is about 244 VAC with frequency 61 or 62 Hz ... it's obviously a synchronous Gen, so that's not unusual (at least for my experience). Sig Solar doesn't seem to be worried about that either. [Note .... again, this is all clearly evident on the LCD display while the Gen is running .. and can be verified with a multimeter.]
3) Sig Solar kinda wants to run the Gen power into the Grid port (which is open, of course) instead of the Generator port, and "run it as a MicroGrid". My question to them is: "Why don't we just troubleshoot the real problem .... instead of trying one-off, slight-of-hand magic." Maybe I'm just nervous about this mode of operation .... lacking any experience with MicroGrid, and unable to find a who lot of doco ... any comments? And, just for the record, I have zero interest in Smart Load sophistry.
My whole objective with this PV System is to leave my grandkids with a stable, manageable Electric supply ... particularly when the geniuses in the US Goverment manage to completely crater the USA Power Grid .... which they are making rapid progress in doing. So it needs to stay as simple as possible, and with no Grid-Tie whatsoever.
Any thoughts, inputs, and comments greatly appreciated .... and I am not sensitive about being called an old fool. HIt me with your best shot!
Thanks guys!
