EG4 new AIO rated 12K output and 18kPV aka "EG4-18Kpv-12LV"

[rakitejada]

Today i reached 75 days after installing the 18kpv and i’m lucky have round numbers:

75 days
4000kWh Solar Production
5400kWh Consumption through the inverter

Im in love with this thing, doesn’t get old

I still haven’t been able to grid tie, when i finally get that done, production will average much higher because usually the batteries are full by noon and there is a lot wasted energy from 12pm-5pm

I have my neighbors charging their Tesla twice a week at home because its just sad to not have all that energy used.

20 x 460w solar Panels = 9200w

14 x 550w solar Panels = 7700w

16700w total

The max pv input ive seen for more than 3 minutes is 11,000w… thats 34% less than nominal value. Is this normal? Other than cleaning my solar panels with ive already done 1 month ago. Any recommendations to get better results? My panels are pointed perfectly to south and at the proper angle also, so Ive got that covered.

Thank you all

 

[Will Prowse]

Today i reached 75 days after installing the 18kpv and i’m lucky have round numbers:

75 days
4000kWh Solar Production
5400kWh Consumption through the inverter

Im in love with this thing, doesn’t get old

I still haven’t been able to grid tie, when i finally get that done, production will average much higher because usually the batteries are full by noon and there is a lot wasted energy from 12pm-5pm

I have my neighbors charging their Tesla twice a week at home because its just sad to not have all that energy used.

20 x 460w solar Panels = 9200w

14 x 550w solar Panels = 7700w

16700w total

The max pv input ive seen for more than 3 minutes is 11,000w… thats 34% less than nominal value. Is this normal? Other than cleaning my solar panels with ive already done 1 month ago. Any recommendations to get better results? My panels are pointed perfectly to south and at the proper angle also, so Ive got that covered.

Thank you all


View attachment 170901

Fantastic

What is your latitude? What type of panel?

 

[rakitejada]

Fantastic

What is your latitude? What type of panel?

(18.4483419, -69.9480740)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

460w Peimar mono-crystalline
550w JaSolar mono-crystalline

 

[Will Prowse]

(18.4483419, -69.9480740)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

460w Peimar mono-crystalline
550w JaSolar mono-crystalline

Oh strange, you should have a bit more output. Are they used panels? How are they wired? How are they connected to the 18K? Can you post your PV data from a sunny day on here?

 

[Will Prowse]

(18.4483419, -69.9480740)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

460w Peimar mono-crystalline
550w JaSolar mono-crystalline

What current are you seeing on the 460W strings? Should be around 13A at STC. But I am not seeing NOCT. So I would think around 11A:



The 550W should be around 11 at NOTC:

 

[rakitejada]

Oh strange, you should have a bit more output. Are they used panels? How are they wired? How are they connected to the 18K? Can you post your PV data from a sunny day on here?

Brand new panels

Mppt1a10 x 460w
Mppt1b 10 x 460w

Mppt2 7 x 555w

Mppt3 7 x 555w

Edit: i had posted 550w but they are 555w

 

[Will Prowse]

Mppt1a10 x 460w
Mppt1b 10 x 460w

Mppt2 7 x 555w

Mppt3 7 x 555w

Edit: i had posted 550w but they are 555w

Ok that all looks good. What current do you see in each pv conductor when you put a clamp meter over each one?

 

[rakitejada]

Ok that all looks good. What current do you see in each pv conductor when you put a clamp meter over each one?

I’ve never done that before, i’ll have to do it and post it here.

 

[rakitejada]

Oh strange, you should have a bit more output. Are they used panels? How are they wired? How are they connected to the 18K? Can you post your PV data from a sunny day on here?

Here are the pics @Will Prowse

 

[Will Prowse]

Here are the pics @Will Prowse

Looks like a 900W difference on string 2 and 3. Same angle to the sun? Might have a problematic panel in string 2

 

[rakitejada]

Looks like a 900W difference on string 2 and 3. Same angle to the sun? Might have a problematic panel in string 2

Red rectangle is mppt1a and mppt1b
Purple is mppt2
Yellow is mppt3

All pointing south at the angle

 

[Will Prowse]

Red rectangle is mppt1a and mppt1b
Purple is mppt2
Yellow is mppt3

All pointing south at the angle

Oh I see. Are trees shading the purple string? Even a small amount of shading will cause what you're seeing

 

[rakitejada]

Red rectangle is mppt1a and mppt1b
Purple is mppt2
Yellow is mppt3

All pointing south at the angle

Interesting! Ill have to check it tomorrow

 

[Quattrohead]

Oh I see. Are trees shading the purple string? Even a small amount of shading will cause what you're seeing

Like even 1 whole cell covered will limit production from that panel, add a few more covered cells and the whole string is useless.

 

[Zapper77]

Time for the next upgrade.

 

[rakitejada]

Like even 1 whole cell covered will limit production from that panel, add a few more covered cells and the whole string is useless.

Im so happy i shared that drone picture and got this input from you guys. Awesome community

 

[rakitejada]

Oh I see. Are trees shading the purple string? Even a small amount of shading will cause what you're seeing

@Will Prowse YOU WERE RIGHT! Following your advise took pictures and after:




I dofnt have the equipment to cut the branches bothering so i tied them together just a temporary fix and YES the results were immediate.




Thank you so much @Will Prowse !

 

[Zapper77]

 

[rakitejada]

View attachment 171195

???

 

[Will Prowse]

@Will Prowse YOU WERE RIGHT! Following your advise took pictures and after:

View attachment 171188View attachment 171189
View attachment 171190

I dofnt have the equipment to cut the branches bothering so i tied them together just a temporary fix and YES the results were immediate.


View attachment 171192View attachment 171193View attachment 171194

Thank you so much @Will Prowse !

Fantastic!!!!!!

 

[rakitejada]

I have another update, on saturday it was around noon and with temporary solution it seemed ok.

But this morning, pv2 was producing almost 75% less than pv3:


So i flew the drone and found this:



So sadly, they had to go:




Now we are back in business!!




10,000w at 10:00am that makes me happy… charging the Rivian at 30amps and a couple of things at home is the load of 7,500w the rest going to the batteries.



Thanks @Will Prowse for your advise, this was all you.

But I also want to thank @Gavin Stone because both of you were my inspiration and reason why i am enjoying this 18kpv.

I’ll keep you posted have a great week

Raki

 

[Quattrohead]

I hope you asked "her indoors" for permission before chopping down her garden

 

[rakitejada]

I hope you asked "her indoors" for permission before chopping down her garden

And I quote “it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than to get permission” ?… she came in very late from work today and did not notice it, im sure she’ll notice tomorrow when all that sun comes into the dining room ?

 

[rakitejada]

I have another update regarding shadows, I have been noticing that at the later hours of the afternoon pv2 and pv3 have been dropping drastically compared to pv1. Example:



So again I flew the drone today and THERE IT WAS! A huge tree from my neighbor is causing this shade and basically cancelling the last two hours of production of 14 panels! ?




So i offered the gardener $1000 pesos (which is around US$18) and he’s going to cut all the top part of the tree so i get my production back.

I hope i can reach 80-85kwh per day

 

[rakitejada]

update:

Around 30% of the branches that will be trimmed were done today, still a lot of shading after 4:15pm

Still, the production is breaking records for me:


Thanks @Will Prowse !!