EG4-6500 switch from battery to utility

[Adam De Lay]

Are you saying if you are using SA for those settings then you change it manually on the inverter that SA changes the settings back? I'll be interested in your test results.

I’m not sure about the manual switch, guess I can add that to my test.

 

[Adam De Lay]

That can happen if the low and high settings are too close. No matter which device is controlling the switch.

Sure, I only originally noticed it with SA changing first.

 

[PreppenWolf]

Note if you hit Setting 12 the inverters will NOT revert to battery again until Setting 13 is hit regardless of what you tell it to do. It remembers Setting 12 was hit and will charge batteries with either solar or AC until the Setting 13 value is hit even if you change modes.

I'm unsure if SA can alter this as I am not using it.

 

[DIYPV]

Note if you hit Setting 12 the inverters will NOT revert to battery again until Setting 13 is hit regardless of what you tell it to do. It remembers Setting 12 was hit and will charge batteries with either solar or AC until the Setting 13 value is hit even if you change modes.

I'm unsure if SA can alter this as I am not using it.

You can change setting 13 to a value lower than the battery SOC voltage and the inverter will switch to battery mode. You can use this same method to go back to grid by changing setting 12 to a value higher than the battery SOC voltage; although it may be difficult to achieve this unless you run your batteries below the high limit of 51V for setting 12. You can also just switch to SUB to force inverter to grid.

 

[PreppenWolf]

You can force it to grid, but you cannot force it back to battery without hitting Setting 13. Yes you can lower 13 to help, but battery mode will be locked out until 13 is reached.

 

[EastTexCowboy]

You can force it to grid, but you cannot force it back to battery without hitting Setting 13. Yes you can lower 13 to help, but battery mode will be locked out until 13 is reached.

Good to know.

 

[PreppenWolf]

To be clear I am OK with this functionality. I think the behavior of the mode should be more clearly explained in the manual or in a FAQ. You just need to understand how it works or at some point you'll get very confused why it's doing what its doing.

It took 3 months for me to hit a strange situation and I only found it because I was playing with settings trying to test something else while Setting 12 was active.

 

[TomC4306]

This is my current settings.
Charging might be too aggressive for most people.

View attachment 132777

Holy sh**!
Your float is extraordinary.
Maybe watch a couple of Andy's videos about voltage curve.

 

[TomC4306]

Do you ever see Grid Ac in being used even when plentiful Solar is available? Today I had 2.5 KW coming in to each inverter and battery was around 54 volts and inverters were still accepting voltage from grid Ac in. I turned of grid AC in and PV input jumped up on each inverter to 3.5 KW. I hate to be wasting PV during the day.

If the battery declined to the point of your 'to grid' setting and then the sun came up it's in that cycle and stuck there until it reaches your 'back to battery' setting. so yes, it is possible that you would have lots of solar but still be on grid because you're back to battery voltage is set too high.
RTFM

 

[SolarScott]

If the battery declined to the point of your 'to grid' setting and then the sun came up it's in that cycle and stuck there until it reaches your 'back to battery' setting. so yes, it is possible that you would have lots of solar but still be on grid because you're back to battery voltage is set too high.
RTFM

I would understand that but this was well after early morning sun.....as soon as I cut off the AC in to the inverters it never linked backup after I turned the breakers back on. I hate to waste solar.

 

[TomC4306]

I would understand that but this was well after early morning sun.....as soon as I cut off the AC in to the inverters it never linked backup after I turned the breakers back on. I hate to waste solar.

Open the manual for your inverter charger. Go to the place where the settings are for to grid voltage and back to battery voltage.
Set back to battery voltage to a lower number!
The way you're doing it is interrupting a process. Sort of like powering off and back on your PC when it's in the middle of a boot.
Get the settings correct and it will operate the way you want it to.
Oi vey

 

[SolarScott]

Open the manual for your inverter charger. Go to the place where the settings are for to grid voltage and back to battery voltage.
Set back to battery voltage to a lower number!
The way you're doing it is interrupting a process. Sort of like powering off and back on your PC when it's in the middle of a boot.
Get the settings correct and it will operate the way you want it to.
Oi vey

Well now that's nice....I just checked the settings.....guess what, the inverters had reset themselves to 110 volt instead of 120, don't know why, they just did. I never touch this setting. Maybe it's when they decide to switch between host and slave at random times like they do. I then lowered the voltage return to inverter power and even though the battery was above this and was not using grid power at the time, everything shut down for a second or two.....shit, freeze drier now has to re-do a load.

 

[EastTexCowboy]

Well now that's nice....I just checked the settings.....guess what, the inverters had reset themselves to 110 volt instead of 120, don't know why, they just did. I never touch this setting. Maybe it's when they decide to switch between host and slave at random times like they do. I then lowered the voltage return to inverter power and even though the battery was above this and was not using grid power at the time, everything shut down for a second or two.....shit, freeze drier now has to re-do a load.

I've been hesitant to put our freeze dryer on solar so far. It has to run such long cycles for some stuff and, as you obviously know, it's a pain to have to restart a load. It's more seasonal use for us but when it's that time, man, that thing is an energy hog. How long have you been running yours on solar?

 

[SolarScott]

I've been hesitant to put our freeze dryer on solar so far. It has to run such long cycles for some stuff and, as you obviously know, it's a pain to have to restart a load. It's more seasonal use for us but when it's that time, man, that thing is an energy hog. How long have you been running yours on solar?

Just started yesterday. It was on it's own circuit from the grid, but I was not utilizing all my panels and felt like I was wasting them. Heck, I was running a load ( couple of towels and pair of pants) of clothes in the washer just so I could run the dryer....gotta use electricity to make electricity.....So like you said, it being a real energy hog, I started it on the solar. Now my only load not on solar is my heat pump. Might try getting a soft start or even a sperate mini-split to run off the solar.

 

[EastTexCowboy]

Just started yesterday. It was on it's own circuit from the grid, but I was not utilizing all my panels and felt like I was wasting them. Heck, I was running a load ( couple of towels and pair of pants) of clothes in the washer just so I could run the dryer....gotta use electricity to make electricity.....So like you said, it being a real energy hog, I started it on the solar. Now my only load not on solar is my heat pump. Might try getting a soft start or even a sperate mini-split to run off the solar.

I'd like to put at least one heat pump on solar but I'm dealing with existing wiring and figuring it out. I got a quote a few days ago on replacing all three units, a 3 ton and two 2 ton, mostly because they're 11 years old and I wouldn't mind something more efficient. But at $60k to replace 3 units I'm thinking I can keep these running a few more years. Gonna get more quotes but that seems nuts to me. That was for 18 seer Goodman, which isn't exactly top of the line. Ugh.

The tech in the current mini splits is pretty amazing. I don't want to go that route for the house but I'm going to keep it in mind for anywhere it would make sense.

 

[SolarScott]

I'd like to put at least one heat pump on solar but I'm dealing with existing wiring and figuring it out. I got a quote a few days ago on replacing all three units, a 3 ton and two 2 ton, mostly because they're 11 years old and I wouldn't mind something more efficient. But at $60k to replace 3 units I'm thinking I can keep these running a few more years. Gonna get more quotes but that seems nuts to me. That was for 18 seer Goodman, which isn't exactly top of the line. Ugh.

The tech in the current mini splits is pretty amazing. I don't want to go that route for the house but I'm going to keep it in mind for anywhere it would make sense.

If you can find an independent heating and air guy, I got mine form Budget Heating and Air in Houston and saved more than half from what most local guys wanted. Also some of those mini splits will heat down below sub zero outdoor temps now and they can be plumbed into an existing air handler.

 

[EastTexCowboy]

If you can find an independent heating and air guy, I got mine form Budget Heating and Air in Houston and saved more than half from what most local guys wanted. Also some of those mini splits will heat down below sub zero outdoor temps now and they can be plumbed into an existing air handler.

I had looked online at the same models I was quoted and yeah, big difference. I'll check out Budget for sure. I knew they would go down well below freezing but I didn't know you could plumb them to an existing air handler. I'm wondering what that would look like. I'll do some research on that. Thanks!

 

[EPicTony]

I've been hesitant to put our freeze dryer on solar so far. It has to run such long cycles for some stuff and, as you obviously know, it's a pain to have to restart a load. It's more seasonal use for us but when it's that time, man, that thing is an energy hog. How long have you been running yours on solar?

Get your switch over from battery to grid working properly. When this works perfectly, even when freeze drying it will bumplessly transfer from battery to grid and your freeze dryer will not be affected. We have been using our freeze dryer like this with no problems. Make sure you get your transfer from batt to grid working correctly first !

 

[SolarScott]

Get your switch over from battery to grid working properly. When this works perfectly, even when freeze drying it will bumplessly transfer from battery to grid and your freeze dryer will not be affected. We have been using our freeze dryer like this with no problems. Make sure you get your transfer from batt to grid working correctly first !

Your right, everything has been working seamlessly for over a month, but when you need to do an update, power is going off, even if it's just to throw my interlock switch and go strictly grid. Also, I wanted to get some real run time on the inverters before I was willing to trust that it would not fry an expensive freeze drier.

 

[EastTexCowboy]

Get your switch over from battery to grid working properly. When this works perfectly, even when freeze drying it will bumplessly transfer from battery to grid and your freeze dryer will not be affected. We have been using our freeze dryer like this with no problems. Make sure you get your transfer from batt to grid working correctly first !

It has worked properly during testing so I think I'm good there. I'm also keeping an eye on total amps and the FD pulls about 10 to 15 amps, depending on the cycle. We've had some stuff take 48 hours so that's could be a factor if we have a lot of other stuff kicking on and off. I'd rather have a heat pump than the FD if I can only support one. Working it out. I suspect I've set myself up to become so addicted to solar I'll have to upgrade my inverters at some point. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. I could always repurpose them for some solar in my shop.

 

[EastTexCowboy]

Your right, everything has been working seamlessly for over a month, but when you need to do an update, power is going off, even if it's just to throw my interlock switch and go strictly grid. Also, I wanted to get some real run time on the inverters before I was willing to trust that it would not fry an expensive freeze drier.

Exactly! Sounds like we're on the same timetable. I've got a lot of circuits on solar already so I'm thinking let's just run this for a while and see how it does. I ran it for about a month with just two garage freezers on it and I'm glad. As I was tweaking stuff I wasn't shutting down things that would cause my wife to have to demonstrate her disapproval. And she would seriously hurt me if I blew up the freeze drier. I don't even want to think about it.

 

[EastTexCowboy]

If you can find an independent heating and air guy, I got mine form Budget Heating and Air in Houston and saved more than half from what most local guys wanted. Also some of those mini splits will heat down below sub zero outdoor temps now and they can be plumbed into an existing air handler.

I just priced a 3 ton 21 seer from Budget including some of the accessories for under $7k. That's a great price! The HVAC company quoted me $22K for a 3 ton 18 seer, same brand - Goodman. I realize there is a lot of labor involved but that seems exorbitant to me. Thank you for the reference! Now I just need to find a local installer. Hopefully that won't be too much of an issue.

When you connected your heat pump how did you handle the circuit for the blower? Mine has the condenser on a 30 amp breaker and the heat strips on a separate 40 amp breaker. The problem is the blower is also running on the same circuit as the heat strips. I think I'm going to have to run a separate 240V circuit if I want to put condenser and blower on solar without also putting the heat strips on solar (my setup won't handle that many amps.) I'm thinking leave the heat strips on the grid and if I don't have grid and it's that cold then I'll just have to get by with whatever the heat pump can deliver. Looking for suggestions or options.

 

[SolarScott]

I just priced a 3 ton 21 seer from Budget including some of the accessories for under $7k. That's a great price! The HVAC company quoted me $22K for a 3 ton 18 seer, same brand - Goodman. I realize there is a lot of labor involved but that seems exorbitant to me. Thank you for the reference! Now I just need to find a local installer. Hopefully that won't be too much of an issue.

When you connected your heat pump how did you handle the circuit for the blower? Mine has the condenser on a 30 amp breaker and the heat strips on a separate 40 amp breaker. The problem is the blower is also running on the same circuit as the heat strips. I think I'm going to have to run a separate 240V circuit if I want to put condenser and blower on solar without also putting the heat strips on solar (my setup won't handle that many amps.) I'm thinking leave the heat strips on the grid and if I don't have grid and it's that cold then I'll just have to get by with whatever the heat pump can deliver. Looking for suggestions or options.

I was amazed at the price difference at Budget. I have one, my mother and my son has one. Shipping can be a problem....you have to check for damage from the freight company. OUt of the three, one was damaged and Budget made it good, but of course it took another week to get it back. I found a local independent guy to hook mine up. From my meter base that was existant at the time, they came straight out and installed a new panel box. This is where all my breakers for the heat pump system are located. That made it convient for me to use this panel box as my AC input to my inverters and then I treat my main panel box as the AC out put for the inverters. Use a generator interlock to keep from being two different AC in feeds. I think your idea of leaving the heat strips on grid makes perfect sense. I am wasting so much solar during the day now, I may go out and purchase some plug in electric heaters to take advantage of it and turn down my heat pump.

 

[SolarScott]

I just priced a 3 ton 21 seer from Budget including some of the accessories for under $7k. That's a great price! The HVAC company quoted me $22K for a 3 ton 18 seer, same brand - Goodman. I realize there is a lot of labor involved but that seems exorbitant to me. Thank you for the reference! Now I just need to find a local installer. Hopefully that won't be too much of an issue.

When you connected your heat pump how did you handle the circuit for the blower? Mine has the condenser on a 30 amp breaker and the heat strips on a separate 40 amp breaker. The problem is the blower is also running on the same circuit as the heat strips. I think I'm going to have to run a separate 240V circuit if I want to put condenser and blower on solar without also putting the heat strips on solar (my setup won't handle that many amps.) I'm thinking leave the heat strips on the grid and if I don't have grid and it's that cold then I'll just have to get by with whatever the heat pump can deliver. Looking for suggestions or options.

 

[SolarScott]