And that's fine if you're happy doing that each time, some of us are going to need this to work without monkeying with the automation. It's going to be more of an issue with a 4k generator wound at 120V. What's the lowest charge rate you can set on the chargeverter?
EG4 Chargeverter help.
- Thread starter johnskdyvn
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Gavin Stone
Solar Addict
I think it’s 10 amps? I can check when I hook it up again. They’ll eventually have a soft start option on the newer ones.
DIYrich
Solar Wizard
4 amps DC output. I tried lower amps, but it always reset to 4 amps.
DIYrich
Solar Wizard
I know that Bently said not to alter the male end of the cord (and you shouldn't alter the other end if you don't know what you are doing). ...
You can use the adapter in the amazon link if:
On the CV, only 3 of the 4 wires are connected in the male plug. The prong with the hook is the ground. Leave that one alone. On both sides of that are "X and Y'. Take one of them (doesn't matter which) and move it to the open prong (prong across form the one with a hook). Attach it to the adapter, and use duct tape or electrical tape to tape them together semi-permanently. Include a warning that plug has been rewired, and must be restored if disconnected.
Disclaimer: Do the above at your own risk.
Note: If you ever do plug it into a real 240v socket (without fixing it), you will only get 120v, and not 240v. You need the prong/wire that was moved in order to get 240. With the re-wire, you have one leg of split phase and neutral, which is 120v. You need two legs of split phase to get 240v.
You can use the adapter in the amazon link if:
On the CV, only 3 of the 4 wires are connected in the male plug. The prong with the hook is the ground. Leave that one alone. On both sides of that are "X and Y'. Take one of them (doesn't matter which) and move it to the open prong (prong across form the one with a hook). Attach it to the adapter, and use duct tape or electrical tape to tape them together semi-permanently. Include a warning that plug has been rewired, and must be restored if disconnected.
Disclaimer: Do the above at your own risk.
Note: If you ever do plug it into a real 240v socket (without fixing it), you will only get 120v, and not 240v. You need the prong/wire that was moved in order to get 240. With the re-wire, you have one leg of split phase and neutral, which is 120v. You need two legs of split phase to get 240v.
timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
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No
That adapter won't work.
timselectric
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You don't need an electrician.
It's very simple to replace the cord end.
Get the one that matches your generator.
The cord has 3 wires. The end has 3 screws.
Yellow wire with green strip is ground. The screw connected to the prong that has the L shape, is for ground. The other two wires go on each of the other two screws. It doesn't matter which one goes where. Just one on each.
It's very simple to replace the cord end.
Get the one that matches your generator.
The cord has 3 wires. The end has 3 screws.
Yellow wire with green strip is ground. The screw connected to the prong that has the L shape, is for ground. The other two wires go on each of the other two screws. It doesn't matter which one goes where. Just one on each.
RV10flyer
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I think he was trying to avoid voiding his warranty. If it was me or you, that’s what we would do. I don’t really count on getting anyone to stand behind a warranty at SS, Aliblabla or AliExpress.
timselectric
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Can't void the warranty if you follow their posted pinout.
In my opinion.
Just switch the old end back, before returning it for warranty work. There's no way of telling it was done.
In my opinion.
Just switch the old end back, before returning it for warranty work. There's no way of telling it was done.
I don't know if they really could void the warranty on it for changing the plug. Would have to show a failure is due to that, and really unless you connected a live line to the ground (which would be blatantly obvious from damage caused) you cannot even mess it up.
I do count on SS to honor their written warranty, they're a business out of Texas and there are various laws to protect consumers against selling products with a set of terms that you will not honor. You ship products out of China, you're going to expect some failures and returns. And frankly, there have been posts here about SS honoring product warranty... How easy that is, that's a different issue.
It's going beyond me how SS is going to determine what products get approved for warranty and which do not when we've got devices leaving receiving that require internal board changes to work right - that means cracking the case and although I think this is beyond the depth of most consumers, apparently it's OK and does not result in an unwarrantied item (in specific cases with specific changes). My thought would be if they show how to modify or use it in a manner, that shouldn't void the warranty.
Will this work?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MT3R2KG
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MT3R2KG
timselectric
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I want to plug the chargeverter into my 120v wall outlet and then directly to my battery rack of 6 EG4 LifePo4 batteries. The goal is to top them up at home before transporting them to my off grid cabin for installation with my solar array.
Am I correct in understanding that a simple L14-30 to 120v adapter will not work?
If so, then how *exactly* should I modify the adapter OR the chargeverter male end plug to make it work with 120v wall outlet?
Am I correct in understanding that a simple L14-30 to 120v adapter will not work?
If so, then how *exactly* should I modify the adapter OR the chargeverter male end plug to make it work with 120v wall outlet?
timselectric
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Correct
Replace the cord end with a 120v one.
Brown wire = line (hot)
Blue wire = neutral
Green/yellow stripe = ground
Okay, this might be a stupid question, but................
If the adapter wiring is not correct, will the chargeverter get power from the generator at all?
I am having issues with very low amperage charging from the chargeverter. See my post: https://diysolarforum.com/threads/eg4-chargeverter-5000-not-charging.70474/#post-892025
If the adapter wiring is not correct, will the chargeverter get power from the generator at all?
I am having issues with very low amperage charging from the chargeverter. See my post: https://diysolarforum.com/threads/eg4-chargeverter-5000-not-charging.70474/#post-892025
I did this and it worked perfectly. Thank you.
$7 120v male plug on the end of the chargeverter cord. It’s charging now at 10A to keep it slow and low and avoid any breaker freak outs.
timselectric
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schmism
Solar Addict
fuel use per energy output is roughly the same across the same scale of generators.
said another way 3kw output on a 3500w generator will use the same gal/hr as a 3kw load on a 5kw genset or even 10kw genset.
also 3kw output on a 3500w generator for 3 hrs is going to consume about the same fuel as 9kw output for one hr on a 10kw genset. So as previously suggested, selling one or 2 of the gensets and buying one that has normal 220v output off marketplace is a very reasonable solution.
Because of the receptacle or the generator output? I thought I had to keep it at 15 or less so 25 would be awesome.
timselectric
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Well SS tech customer service does it again... They don't know the product, give a solution that MIGHT works, then never follow up until you forget about why you even bought them product.
The latest episode for us living OG is the generator dies in the middle of a rainy wind storm. No one has 240V Generators but I can get a Champion 120v generator to charge my batteries with the EG4 chargerverter... NOPE! Doesn't work! Some new guy MATTHEW at SS gives me the run around and a couple times consults with some tech ID--- and wanted to put the blame on the brand spanking New Generator instead of, hmmm maybe the wiring on the plug works for 240v and not 120v.
So I removed that china-knock off so-called male end and HARD wired it....
Thanks FOR The picture. Now THE YELLOW BRICK Runs 120v and charging amazing slow... Can't wait till my big generator is fixed TO get back to 240v
Thanks SS. I THINK ILL CANCEL MY ORDER AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE....
SignatureSolarJess
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Hi @Patmos
I am so sorry that you are feeling this way after speaking with our tech department. After reviewing your ticket from 12/18, I see that Matthew requested photos but has not yet received them. If you would like to follow up with him with those photos, I'm very sure he will be able to get to the bottom of your issues. It also shows in your ticket a concern that the generator you have may be the problem and he has reached out to EG4 for some information on this. He is waiting for a reply from their team and will be responding to you with those details once they get back to him. Please let me know if I can help any further, but I have asked Matthew to request a rush update on the questions asked to EG4 and hopefully, he can get those answers to you today!
We figured it out ourselves. When we bought the chargeverter we expected it to also charge at 120v without having to modify the plug end... The call is documented. We responded here because SS said first that they would provide the rewiring documents from EG4 before the talk of sending pictures. Let's get the facts straight...
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