EG4 6000XP Generator Wiring Question--Sig Solar Couldn't Answer

[Frog760]

I just ordered one of these with two BABs (big ass batteries). I'm going to install as a home battery back up. A/C main will run to the 6000 and output will go to a subpanel with critical circuits. Two 280ah batteries in parallel will then power the critical circuits in the subpanel when power goes out. I have 14 solar panels that I can lay in the driveway for extended outages. QUESTION is where to place the generator input. The 6000 has a generator input and I could use that...but I would then want to backfeed the main panel from the subpanel and install a custom made interlock to feed say a microwave, washing machine or water heater if I wish. The custom made interlock would only allow 6000 to feed the panel when the main breaker AND the breaker feeding the 6000 are off. OR should I just feed the generator into the main panel with a standard interlock and forget the double wiring between the panels? Will generator/main power the 6000...thus charge batteries and run the subpanel? What changes with solar is added? Sig Solar couldn't answer how the A/C side worked--said they deal with D/C side of things. How does the automatic transfer switch control power flow in the 6000? Where does generator power input on the 6000 go? Thanks...

 

[dspence73]

On my 18Kpv, I have a standby generator with a 2 wire start setup, the way it works is:

1. Solar feeds loads first while charging the batteries.
2. If solar is not enough to power loads then the inverter will pull what it can from solar and batteries together to power loads.
3. If battery power is low and solar it low then the generator port acts as a 'boost' to run the generator to power the loads and try to charge the batteries back up if desired. (It's in the settings).

You can install a gen port on your critical panel directly but then you would back feed the inverter so you would have to turn off the breaker to it (I maybe wrong as someone may point out but I would not want to fry my inverter back feeding dirty gen power).

 

[Tuggs]

On the 6000xp, the generator input is the last set of breakers on the right of the unit.
You can configure the generator input behavior in the settings and add dry contacts for remote start. Please refer to the EG4 manual for guidance on setting this up. I would not recommend adding the generator to your panel as the inverter already has an input breaker designed for use with a generator.
Here is a link to the manual. https://eg4electronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EG4-6000XP-Manual.pdf

 

[Frog760]

I've read the manual cover to cover twice. I've watched lots of videos. I spoke with Sig Solar. My generator is a Ryobi pull start that will give me 240 at 30a. Wiring generator to the main panel will be less confusing--only one breaker to shut down (main) instead of main and breaker feeding the 6000. If the 6000 treats generator power and main power the same...just put generator on the main panel. If it operates differently, what is that difference? When power goes out batteries come one...solar is added to help power the subpanel and charge batteries. When generator is added to the 6000, does it power the subpanel along with the solar panels and extra power charge batteries...or does it power the subpanel and the solar panels exclusively charge the batteries?

 

[BentleyJ]

If the generator is connected to the main panel, the 6000XP will treat it exactly the same as utility power and will either feed gen power through to the subpanel or use Solar and Battery per the Settings in the 6000XP.

One potential exception to the above would be if the Ryobi Gen has too much harmonic distortion or experiences significant voltage sags when large loads are turned on and off. In these cases the Inverter could fail to qualify gen power completely or may randomly disconnect from the gen but that wouldn't be a big problem as inverter will switch over to battery/solar.

All things considered, probably better to connect the Gen to the main panel with a standard interlock, then both panels have power. Even if the inverter doesn't like Gen power you can always get a stand alone charger and plug that into a circuit powered by the main panel. This will keep the batteries charged and the inverter will supply the subpanel in an outage.

 

[Tuggs]

I agree with @BentleyJ above on using an interlock on the main panel, especially if not all of your loads are going through the 6000XP. EG4 also has a chargeverter that can take dirty generator (inconsistent waveform) power and charge the batteries directly without going through the inverter.

 

[Frog760]

What BentlyJ wrote is what I was thinking. Curious what the engineer was thinking by adding Gen input on the 6000.

 

[Sparkyaz]

DON'T hook the generator into the panel or the inverter......

That generator is not powerful enough to take the load of the house and charge the batteries.

The Chargeverter as mentioned above is the easiest and safest way to do what you want.