slowroller
DIY Hack
While looking up information for that last post, I discovered something changed in the GRIDBOSS documentation. This is not good.
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Gridboss with Flexboss not handling 21kW pass-through
- Thread starter slowroller
- Start date
Brucey
Velcro Man
I think the key there is gridboss can pass through "upto 200A"
But you'll need multiple flexbosses at 90A each to get there.
jeff.lankford
Solar Enthusiast
It sounds right and shouldn't be a problem. You're not using the Flexboss pass through. When used with the Gridboss, the Flexboss only has a connection to its Grid input port, and not its Load port. right?
If there is no grid passing through the Flex (input->output) why does it matter. Should be 200amp always in gridboss
Brucey
Velcro Man
With a standalone 18kpv, if running in grid support and your heater calls for an extra 20kW of power, does it seamlessly go into bypass? Seems like some firmware tweaking should allow the same for flex and gridboss combo
slowroller
DIY Hack
I can see that I was not clear. The change to the User Manual was for the GRIDBOSS. It can no longer pass through 200A, only 90A. A 55% reduction.
jeff.lankford
Solar Enthusiast
I've always assumed that GB + FB at least equals the feature set of the 18Kpv, and sometimes exceeds. So I've assumed the 200A pass-through in the GB specs operates the same as the 18K. After reading through the GB manual, now I'm not so sure. Brucey may be right. "Pass-though" in GB terminology may not be the same thing as "Pass-through" in 18K terms.
jeff.lankford
Solar Enthusiast
<EDIT>
removed my comment about bait-and-switch.
Looks like current GB manual is 1.1.5 and states 200A. Brucey is correct in the comment below.
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Brucey
Velcro Man
But the second extract is talking about the flexboss not the gridboss?
slowroller
DIY Hack
OH. You are right. I messed up. I was comparing the wrong two paragraphs. My mistake. I am breathing again.
slowroller
DIY Hack
Sorry, My mistake. You were correct in your assumption.
jeff.lankford
Solar Enthusiast
But in reading through the GB manual's operating modes, I am no longer sure that "Pass-though" in GB terminology is the same thing as "Pass-through" in 18K terms. I can't find anything in the GB manual that describes a full 200A pass-through to the Backed Up Loads port.
<EDIT>
This seems to be a very wrong conclusion. Please ignore the above statement.
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Can confirm standalone 18kpv will seamlessly pass though grid when needed. Here's a screenshot of my heat pump doing a defrost cycle:
Can you send screenshots of your settings page, specifically "Working Mode" and "Max. AC Input Power(kW)"? There's a lot of info that's missing and seeing your settings can help clear things up quicker.
I don't think EG4 missed this, as it would be the starting point for main Grid connection pass through.
from the spec downloads the GB seems to be rated even higher than the 18Kpv
GB download:
SERVICE ENTRANCE RATED
200 Amp service entrance with a 22 kAIC main breaker, acts as service entrance equipment in conjunction with a utility meter and a 200A Eaton braker (CSR25K).
INTERNAL BUS RATING 350A
INTERNAL FUSE RATING 315A
Can the GB main Grid relays / contactors be seen?
The 18K's exposed accessible units appear to be the models linked below...
I ordered a couple a while back and also a set of 100 amp sets, for (just in case) and "projects".
Also maybe in the settings ? Does the GridBoss also have the input power KW setting as posted by blueforce?
18K :
Max. AC Input Power(kW) (?)
Set [ No Limitation ]
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jeff.lankford
Solar Enthusiast
It appears I got this very wrong. I've gone back through the entire thread and studied the GB manual trying to recreate my thought sequence that lead me to this conclusion, and I honestly don't know why I felt the need to write that. On the GB wiring diagram there's clearly a path from the Grid port to the Backup port limited only by 200A breakers. I wasn't drunk, and the post was too late in the morning to have needed more coffee. I had a brain fart and shouldn't have written it down. I'd like to delete that post and go hide under a rock.I don't think EG4 missed this, as it would be the starting point for main Grid connection pass through.
from the spec downloads the GB seems to be rated even higher than the 18Kpv
GB download:
SERVICE ENTRANCE RATED
200 Amp service entrance with a 22 kAIC main breaker, acts as service entrance equipment in conjunction with a utility meter and a 200A Eaton braker (CSR25K).
INTERNAL BUS RATING 350A
INTERNAL FUSE RATING 315A
Can the GB main Grid relays / contactors be seen?
The 18K's exposed accessible units appear to be the models linked below...
I ordered a couple a while back and also a set of 100 amp sets, for (just in case) and "projects".
Also maybe in the settings ? Does the GridBoss also have the input power KW setting as posted by blueforce?
18K :
Max. AC Input Power(kW) (?)
Set [ No Limitation ]
No biggie, Anyone that posts on forums probably has made a post or two they later thought maybe I got it wrong, Know I have ...
I many times learn more from my mistakes , and what is learned tends to stick. And this is not totally settled / resolved yet
The actual settings on the AC input of the GridBoss in question are of interest at this point. Looking back to the first week of my single 18K I found a 24KW+ spike and no hick ups. Following this thread with interest, at some point I will likely add another 18K inverter and battery or shift to adding GridBoss another inverter and batteries to the existing 18k PV, At an absolute minimum More battery storage.
wpns
Solar Joules are catch and release
No biggie, it's a learning experience.
You can edit your post, though you can't edit responses that include it, but we've all made mistakes. Admitting them is the proper action. I mean we haven't seen 'crowl' for a couple of weeks now. I hope he's back in school or hiding under a rock and not in a burn ward or worse.
slowroller
DIY Hack
Update: Working with S2, EG4 and LuxPower via DM. S2 loaded a FW update to GB earlier this week. It failed less often, but still tripped occasionally under loads above 20kW.
After some testing on their end, Luxpower loaded another new FW into the gridboss yesterday afternoon. Initial test went well. I turned on everything I could think of. 20kW of Heat Strips, EV charger, oven, toaster oven, microwave, hot water heater... You can see that I pulled a ton of power. It didn't trip. It is still running this morning, but it has not been cold enough to engage EM heat without manual override like I did during the test.
After some testing on their end, Luxpower loaded another new FW into the gridboss yesterday afternoon. Initial test went well. I turned on everything I could think of. 20kW of Heat Strips, EV charger, oven, toaster oven, microwave, hot water heater... You can see that I pulled a ton of power. It didn't trip. It is still running this morning, but it has not been cold enough to engage EM heat without manual override like I did during the test.
slowroller
DIY Hack
The GridBoss tripped just before 1am this morning. This time it threw some error codes. When I reset the system by cycling grid power to the GridBoss, I also turned the breaker off to 1/2 of the heat strips, so that I could hopefully get some sleep.
I turned the 2nd heat strip breaker back on when I got up at 6:30. At about 6:45, EM heat was running with no issue. When I turned it off, the GridBoss tripped again. I don't think the problem is solved. I am running Gridboss Firmware version IAAB-1200 and FlexBoss version FAAB-1E1E.
I turned the 2nd heat strip breaker back on when I got up at 6:30. At about 6:45, EM heat was running with no issue. When I turned it off, the GridBoss tripped again. I don't think the problem is solved. I am running Gridboss Firmware version IAAB-1200 and FlexBoss version FAAB-1E1E.
Brucey
Velcro Man
Given the firmware issues even with the 18kpv now years after release, it much be a nightmare for the firmware guys getting gridboss and flexboss playing nice together. You are truly on the bleeding edge.
wpns
Solar Joules are catch and release
Looks like the heat strips run for a while and then gradually draw more current until something shorts out? Just guessing here, it's clearly something very far out of the ordinary. Do you have a clamp ammeter you can measure the individual heat strips with to see if there's any significant difference or change over time?
Edit: When you turned the heat strips _OFF_ the GridBoss tripped out on overcurrent? Was it just the second heat strip breaker?
Are you using the breakers to enable/disable your heat strips? _Shouldn't_ be a problem, but not sure they are rated for a lot of cycles.
Did GB log the error codes?
Edit: When you turned the heat strips _OFF_ the GridBoss tripped out on overcurrent? Was it just the second heat strip breaker?
Are you using the breakers to enable/disable your heat strips? _Shouldn't_ be a problem, but not sure they are rated for a lot of cycles.
Did GB log the error codes?
slowroller
DIY Hack
I use the breaker to "enable" the heat strip banks. When I turned off EM heat this morning, I did that with the HVAC thermostat. As soon as I clicked it, the lights went out.
I can check the currents, but I bet they creep up as they warm up. Are there error codes I should look for besides the stuff I posted from the event log?
wpns
Solar Joules are catch and release
Yeah, check the event log for things that happened in the first trip just before 1AM, that's either a smoking gun or a red herring. 8*)
Load dumping from turning off the heat strips might send some power back to the grid, but shouldn't throw an overcurrent fault.
Load dumping from turning off the heat strips might send some power back to the grid, but shouldn't throw an overcurrent fault.
Brucey
Velcro Man
I'm guessing this common use case wasn't tested during gridboss development. Waiting for the heat pump to be blamed for being "noisy".
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