HELP PLEASE!! PowMr POW-Sunsmart-sp5k inverter - DC voltage on AC-out + more strange voltage readings!

[JoKeRz42o]

I recently purchased the PowMr Sunsmart 5k hybrid AIO for my off-grid install. I DO NOT have a N-G bond at main. I got everything installed and it seems to be powering things without issue but while I was testing the AC-Out and AC-in terminals I got some strange reading with my DMM. Even stranger, I was detecting DC voltage on the AC-In and AC-out terminals. Let me start by saying I've verified the measurements with 2 other DMMs including a Fluke and Klein tools which are tested and proven units so it's not an issue with the tool.


Ill also link a few videos of me taking these measurements

Note: AC-in didnt have anything connected to it when I first got these readings. I thought it might be a grounding issue where the inverter builds but static voltage so I ran my EGC #6 wire from ground rod directly to the G terminal of AC-In but it didn't change anything.

Note2: Measurements were taken at night with PV disconnect on/closed, then repeated with disconnect off/open with identical results.

Note3: I have 2x 48V batteries wired in parallel powering the inverter

Note4: Don't think it's relevant but if anyone wants to know I have 9x 320w panels wired in series with a VOC of approx 400VDC.

AC OUT (Feeding my panel via 63A breaker)
N-G : 29-37 VAC /// 99VDC
L-N : 120 VAC /// 0VDC
L-G : 87-96VAC /// 100VDC

AC IN ( No connections except EGC to G.)
N-G : 29 VAC /// 99VDC
L-G : 29 VAC /// 99VDC
L-N : 0 VAC /// 3VDC

PV Input (PV wires disconnected)
33-34 VDC

Can anyone make any sense of this for me please? I've been going back and forth with their tech department for a couple weeks now and I keep getting the run-around.

Link to the videos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1m2gSEpKw3DT7hmtL-xyl97h1nST1d-oH

The 4min video shows all the readings mentioned above.

 

[Mattb4]

What do you have for setting #63? From your AC voltage readings it looks as if you are not getting a NG bond in your AIO. I am suspicious of DC voltage measurement readings when you have AC from an inverter. I suspect they are just an artifact and have no meaning.

The PV voltage readings are likely part of how the SCC is able to read the output from the panels and use MPPT to load them. Be aware that high voltage AC may be on the PV terminals. This can give you a nifty shock if you do not ground the panel frames due to transformer effect.

 

[JoKeRz42o]

What do you have for setting #63? From your AC voltage readings it looks as if you are not getting a NG bond in your AIO. I am suspicious of DC voltage measurement readings when you have AC from an inverter. I suspect they are just an artifact and have no meaning.

The PV voltage readings are likely part of how the SCC is able to read the output from the panels and use MPPT to load them. Be aware that high voltage AC may be on the PV terminals. This can give you a nifty shock if you do not ground the panel frames due to transformer effect.

Unfortunately my unit doesn't have setting #63... Which is odd bc I purchased it less than a month ago and from what I've read on some other posts, the more recent version should have that option. But I did check check N-G continuity and the tester was beeping cyclically... Not the typical continuous beep. I believe one of the vids in my share folder has that as well.

Should I "enable" the N-G bond inside my panel? I just don't want to end up have 2 separate N-G bonds.

The voltage on PV input wasn't a big red flag but I brought it up bc it's very close to the 30vdc I was getting so I thought that might be relevant.

As for the panels, I have a #6 bare copper connected to each panel which runs alongside the PV wires and connected to the ground rod.

 

[Mattb4]

Sorry I am data constrained and rarely look at videos. Checking NG continuity can give deceiving results using a DMM. I find that the simple polarity tester plugin (less than $5) works best. If after your inverter wired to a standard AC outlet the plugin gives you any indication less than all good you likely need to work on getting a proper GN bond.

 

[robbob2112]

Sorry I am data constrained and rarely look at videos. Checking NG continuity can give deceiving results using a DMM. I find that the simple polarity tester plugin (less than $5) works best. If after your inverter wired to a standard AC outlet the plugin gives you any indication less than all good you likely need to work on getting a proper GN bond.

View attachment 301089

Yeah, these are good for a quick check... but they won't tell you if the N and G are reversed --- sometimes those dang DIYers get things screwed up

 

[Mattb4]

Yeah, these are good for a quick check... but they won't tell you if the N and G are reversed --- sometimes those dang DIYers get things screwed up

Hmmm... I would think it would be uncommon to find things wired with NG switched but who knows? Bit hard to test for that.

 

[Mulcra]

I recently purchased the PowMr Sunsmart 5k hybrid AIO for my off-grid install. I DO NOT have a N-G bond at main. I got everything installed and it seems to be powering things without issue but while I was testing the AC-Out and AC-in terminals I got some strange reading with my DMM. Even stranger, I was detecting DC voltage on the AC-In and AC-out terminals. Let me start by saying I've verified the measurements with 2 other DMMs including a Fluke and Klein tools which are tested and proven units so it's not an issue with the tool.


Ill also link a few videos of me taking these measurements

Note: AC-in didnt have anything connected to it when I first got these readings. I thought it might be a grounding issue where the inverter builds but static voltage so I ran my EGC #6 wire from ground rod directly to the G terminal of AC-In but it didn't change anything.

Note2: Measurements were taken at night with PV disconnect on/closed, then repeated with disconnect off/open with identical results.

Note3: I have 2x 48V batteries wired in parallel powering the inverter

Note4: Don't think it's relevant but if anyone wants to know I have 9x 320w panels wired in series with a VOC of approx 400VDC.

AC OUT (Feeding my panel via 63A breaker)
N-G : 29-37 VAC /// 99VDC
L-N : 120 VAC /// 0VDC
L-G : 87-96VAC /// 100VDC

AC IN ( No connections except EGC to G.)
N-G : 29 VAC /// 99VDC
L-G : 29 VAC /// 99VDC
L-N : 0 VAC /// 3VDC

PV Input (PV wires disconnected)
33-34 VDC

Can anyone make any sense of this for me please? I've been going back and forth with their tech department for a couple weeks now and I keep getting the run-around.

Link to the videos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1m2gSEpKw3DT7hmtL-xyl97h1nST1d-oH

The 4min video shows all the readings mentioned above.

Yeah, unfortunately support@powmr.com is terrible; they don't seem to know much at all.

 

[mattsgarageshop]

Any progress on this? I used a test procedure to verify that my off-brand inverter did not have N-G bonded internally. Which allowed me to bond at my panel and have a property wired and safe system. I also had (harmless) ghost voltages, which can be unnerving until you sort this out. Thread here. Hope this helps.