EG4 3kW Off-Grid Inverter

[tangle]

Is it possible to run 2 EG4 3kW Off-Grid Inverters in parallel with on being on one leg the of breaker box and the other on the other leg?

EG4 3kW Off-Grid Inverter | 3000EHV-48 | 3000W Output | 5000W PV Input | 500 VOC Input

Power your off-grid setup with the EG4 3kW Off-Grid Inverter (Model 3000EHV-48), ensuring reliable energy conversion and performance for residential and small commercial applications. Available now at Signature Solar.

signaturesolar.com

 

[BenFromSignatureSolar]

This would actually not be parallel but split-phase. It is quite possible. There is a diagram in the manual on the website

 

[tangle]

Thanks, I am not sure how I missed that.

 

[tangle]

Would that be the drawling on page 55 of the manual? If so, would this allow me to run 240V and 120V appliances at the same time with 2 inverters set up like this or do I need to purchase a 240V inverter?

 

[BenFromSignatureSolar]

Page 55 is correct. Give me some time to talk to R&D about that that second question. I have a pretty good idea as to how that works, but I don't want to tell you the wrong thing.

 

[tangle]

Thanks

 

[tangle]

I noticed the 240v inverter is in stock. Did you get an answer yet.

 

[BenFromSignatureSolar]

With the 3ks you can run 120/240V at the same time.

With the new 6k inverter, it will do the same thing with one unit.

 

[LifeWAT]

@BenFromSignatureSolar I have a couple questions regarding the EG4 3kW Off-Grid Inverter

1. Will Prowse has shown the "normal" idle consumption for this unit, but I understand there is a standby mode that offers lower consumption. What is the idle consumption when in standby mode?

2. Is a battery connection required to use EG4 3kW Off-Grid Inverter, or is it possible to use it in specific use case scenarios simply by connecting a PV array to the unit?

3. My PV array is 5220w total. Would this be safe to connect to ONE EG4 3kW Off-Grid Inverter which has a rated max PV input of 5000w?

4. This unit has the ability to prioritize Solar Input > then autoswitch to battery if solar is not available > then autoswitch to utility if nothing else is available, correct?

 

[BenFromSignatureSolar]

1. I'm not sure on the standby mode consumption, but it is minimal. I will look into it.

2. No. It will require two sources of power to operate.

3. I would need to know the number of panels, panel specs, and your array set up to answer this question.

4. Yes

 

[LifeWAT]

2. After posting, I saw here in the demo video that running from PV power only IS possible without any additional power source. Awesome!

3. I have twelve of the SunPower 435W panels: Spec Sheet here
I would love to parallel connect two series strings of 6 panels each, but that would be 513.6v (open circuit) which I assume would not be safe for the inverter having a max input voltage of 500w? The other option would be to do 4 panels in series, and parallel the three groups, which would give a Voc input of 342.4v, which would be a very comfortable range for the EG4 3k unit.

 

[BenFromSignatureSolar]

So some of that is going to depend on your location. The first option you offered for PV set up is most likely feasible, but if you end up with optimal conditions you could very certainly over volt the unit. I like the 4s3p set up you offered as the secondary option.

In regard to running with no battery, you will likely get it to power on and work for a short amount of time but it will be unreliable at best.

 

[Mithril]

So some of that is going to depend on your location. The first option you offered for PV set up is most likely feasible, but if you end up with optimal conditions you could very certainly over volt the unit. I like the 4s3p set up you offered as the secondary option.

In regard to running with no battery, you will likely get it to power on and work for a short amount of time but it will be unreliable at best.

Sorry to hijack thread, BUT it is about this off grid inverter so it's related

It's not 100% clear to me from the manual: When running off a generator (or AC power) will it (or can it) limit input or is the limit only for charging?
In other words, let's say I have a 3KW generator and there is 1KW of AC load on the inverter and the battery SOC is such that the unit will try to charge them. In that scenario can I limit the TOTAL draw to 3KW (without having to constantly adjust the charging limit if the demand on the inverter changes).

Related, can the inverter be set to NOT pass through AC input, only use AC input to charge batteries and run the inverter?

 

[tangle]

I have two inverters in split phase 120/240. When I connect AC input to 2p1, it does not charge the batteries. If disconnect 2p2 and set 2p1 to sig, the AC charges the batteries. Do I need the AC input to be hooked up to both inverters in parallel mode?

Another question I have is, if I where to set up 4 or 6 inverters in split phase 120/240, could I attach AC from the grid and make up the power my solar array does not produce? Like a grid tie but not feeding back into the grid.

 

[BenFromSignatureSolar]

It's not 100% clear to me from the manual: When running off a generator (or AC power) will it (or can it) limit input or is the limit only for charging?
In other words, let's say I have a 3KW generator and there is 1KW of AC load on the inverter and the battery SOC is such that the unit will try to charge them. In that scenario can I limit the TOTAL draw to 3KW (without having to constantly adjust the charging limit if the demand on the inverter changes

I'm not 100% clear on what you are asking here. But the unit is a current sharing device so it will pull power from any available source if there is not adequate power from the primary source (based on output priority). You won't be able to set total draw based on wattage.

Related, can the inverter be set to NOT pass through AC input, only use AC input to charge batteries and run the inverter?

You can set your output priority to SBU so that you are only pulling grid power if you do not have adequate Solar and Battery. The utility power will only be drawn if your other power sources are incapable of meeting demand.

 

[Mithril]

I'm not 100% clear on what you are asking here. But the unit is a current sharing device so it will pull power from any available source if there is not adequate power from the primary source (based on output priority). You won't be able to set total draw based on wattage.

So in theory the unit could need full charging current from AC and full passthrough current to loads (worst case scenario), which would mean a 70 AMP breaker on AC input? (Includes NEC 80%) But from the manual I see this: "Recommended spec of AC breaker is 30A on the input" which seems a lot more reasonable and suggests that even if not configurable, there is an over all limit to AC input current of some sort.

You can set your output priority to SBU so that you are only pulling grid power if you do not have adequate Solar and Battery. The utility power will only be drawn if your other power sources are incapable of meeting demand.

Setting 10 is a bit brief. It looks like by default the load does NOT bypass the inverter when AC power is connected and otherwise OK (within range)? In that mode would it behave as in my question, AC in charges batteries at the configured limit (or lower) while inverter powers loads? I would almost prefer this when a generator is needed, since the inverter is going to produce cleaner power and the generator would be running at a more constant and efficient load (based on charging limit).


Based on the wording of that setting and the suggested AC input breaker size I feel like the following may be true: "The unit my either pass through utility/generator AC power OR use it to charge the battery, but not both". That's my interpretation.


Basically I'm trying to figure out "worst case" for winter day with snow (low to no solar), utility power failure, and using a generator as needed (size of generator, gauge of cable to it, etc). Better to be prepared, know, and set things up correctly

 

[matt2006]

@BenFromSignatureSolar I have a 48v off grid solar system I just setup and had technical problems with getting two of these inverters to run together. (2 of 3000EHV-48)

Aiming for split phase.

With comm cable connected; it had BOTH of them have the P icon blinking (what manual calls MASTER)
So the slave wasn't Set
I tried setting 1st to 2p1, other to 2p2. setting would not save.
later noticed that the default frequency was 50hz? thought that was why it couldn't save split phase
Then I had trying to set as parallel; one unit stopped OUTPUTTING even 120V; said warning 19 for Lithium battery communication error
I set battery to LI 4 (EG4 battery) and then tried li 1 as well.
Could not get it to work even back on 120V; kept doing warning 19

images attached

 

[tangle]

You have to set the 1p2 and 2p2 setting when in standby mode. I would make all changed in it initially.

 

[Riwall]

The parallel communication connections are on the side (there are two RJ-45s, both need to be connected). The bottom ports are for battery and RS-232 Modbus for the WiFi adapter or other monitoring setup. Those are v2 and my units are v1 so maybe it's different now.

 

[matt2006]

The parallel communication connections are on the side (there are two RJ-45s, both need to be connected). The bottom ports are for battery and RS-232 Modbus for the WiFi adapter or other monitoring setup. Those are v2 and my units are v1 so maybe it's different now.

THIS WAS MY PROBLEM!

I didn't use those ports

 

[Mithril]

Is there a way to set the inverter to ONLY change the batteries when in SBU mode? I tried switching the "bypass" setting and it seems like in both cases as soon as the batteries reach the SOC % that triggers charging from utility, utility powers the load and charges.

I'd love to use an existing 2KW generator during power outages as it's fairly efficient and dual fuel. I'm fine with manually changing the utility charge limit, but I'd need to either cap the total power consumed or set the charge current max and do ONLY battery charging.

 

[Riwall]

Is there a way to set the inverter to ONLY change the batteries when in SBU mode? I tried switching the "bypass" setting and it seems like in both cases as soon as the batteries reach the SOC % that triggers charging from utility, utility powers the load and charges.

I'd love to use an existing 2KW generator during power outages as it's fairly efficient and dual fuel. I'm fine with manually changing the utility charge limit, but I'd need to either cap the total power consumed or set the charge current max and do ONLY battery charging.

I'm afraid not. These all in ones only have one inverter/rectifier that's used for both charging and inverting. Only one mode can occur at a time so the output must be supported by bypass while charging from utility.

 

[Mithril]

I'm afraid not. These all in ones only have one inverter/rectifier that's used for both charging and inverting. Only one mode can occur at a time so the output must be supported by bypass while charging from utility.

Darn, thanks!
What is the auto/manual bypass setting for then? I'm not sure I understand from the manual (I had assumed that's what it was for, but it seems not)
Not sure if I want to dive into possibly using the SCC and rectified AC-DC (it would be within voltage spec) in Winter/emergencies or just buy a higher power battery charger, hmm. (I have a 48V 5Amp unit but that wouldn't do much to charge off a generator)

 

[Riwall]

Darn, thanks!
What is the auto/manual bypass setting for then? I'm not sure I understand from the manual (I had assumed that's what it was for, but it seems not)
Not sure if I want to dive into possibly using the SCC and rectified AC-DC (it would be within voltage spec) in Winter/emergencies or just buy a higher power battery charger, hmm. (I have a 48V 5Amp unit but that wouldn't do much to charge off a generator)

In my case, I ended up buying a larger capacity AC charger. I got a 25 amp charger from Alibaba to run from my generator for about $250.