MPP Solar

[cul8rm8]

I am trying to change the power settings on my MPP Solar 5kw MPI plus Hybrid inverter from OFF GRID to GRID TIE AND BACKUP. I am using SolarPower software of which is connected to the inverter via usb. Every time I press SAVE, it doesn't save it just says fail.

Do I have to use a db9 cable from the inverter to change any settings?

Any help much appreciated.

 

[timselectric]

If it's not currently connected to the grid, it probably won't accept the setting.
Also, are you sure that it really has the hybrid function?
Sometimes inverters are marketed as "hybrid" , when they are not.

 

[cul8rm8]

Yes, this is a genuine MPP Solar hybrid inverter. It is connected to the grid as it should be. I was thinking it may not be able to accept usb to actually change setting and it needs a db9 cable.

 

[timselectric]

Yes, this is a genuine MPP Solar hybrid inverter. It is connected to the grid as it should be. I was thinking it may not be able to accept usb to actually change setting and it needs a db9 cable.

Not sure. But I would think that if it can receive information, it should also be able to send it.

 

[cul8rm8]

I'm thinking about connecting with solarpower software and resetting it to default settings. BUT....does anyone know what the default settings of solarpower to a MPP Solar Inverter is? GRID TIED WITH BACKUP, GRID TIED OR OFF GRID?

 

[timselectric]

I've never heard of Solarpower software , hopefully someone else can help.
Most of us use Solar Assistant, for control and monitoring.

 

[42OhmsPA]

Did you power them off / put them in standby to make the changes?

 

[cul8rm8]

Not yet, I will try this tomorrow.

 

[cul8rm8]

Ok, got a little bit further. I was trying to change the power source with a usb cable directly from the inverter with no success. Since then, I have updated the solarpower software (from MPP Solar website) and also purchased a db9 seriel cable to try.
I managed to change the power setting from off grid to Grid Tie and backup successfully.
Now begins my quest to work out how when the grid goes down, my generator kicks in automatically.
Wish me luck, hopefully I won't hurt myself in the process.

 

[cul8rm8]

Ok so I have my power settings on grid tied and backup. I set my system to go to grid power (generator) when the batteries reached 48v, when this happened, my generator kicked in but it did not start charging the batteries. The batteries were still discharging slightly and was on grid power.

I know when the sun eventually rises this morning, the pc charger will start charging the batteries as normal but still cant work out why grid or generator won't charge the batteries.

 

[cul8rm8]

Another question folks. Would my generator be cabled straight into my inverter or would it be through the meter?

 

[42OhmsPA]

I would run the generator through a breaker then to the inverter.
Some inverters are very picky about using generator power to charge, they will happily pass through the dirty power to your house.

 

[OffGridForGood]

I would run the generator through a breaker then to the inverter.
Some inverters are very picky about using generator power to charge, they will happily pass through the dirty power to your house.

I have no experience with the 5048, only the 6048, however I can confirm the 6048 never had any issues accepting power from a cheap Champion generator. I don't know how to measure the THD of the generator but these are not top of the line units, I expect they have terrible distortion hahaha.
Seemed to me the MPP was pretty tolerent of poor quality genny power for charging/passthrough.

 

[cul8rm8]

I noted that the generator had an output of over 300 volts, so I would need to adjust this to match the nominal 230 v 50hz

 

[cul8rm8]

Still months have passed and I have no I dea why, when my generator kicks in, It does not charge my batteries. Anyone???

 

[Dagoth Ur Does Solar]

I own one of the little 12V MPP units, so not the same one as you. It's also obviously not a hybrid inverter. But just a few sanity check things here:

• That's a traditional generator, not an inverter, correct? The one time I tried to connect a traditional generator to my unit, it did not like the dirty power and would not charge. Would be worth testing with an inverter generator, portable power station, etc.
• You said "SolarPower" but that looks like a SolarAssistant screenshot; If you're having issues saving settings, I would contact SolarAssistant directly, and make sure your install is updated. I would also, for testing purposes, set up the unit as the MPP manual describes and maybe completely disconnect SolarAssistant until you resolve the issue.
• What is the display showing your unit doing? I have noticed that my unit, if there is -any- PV voltage, even 1 volt, it will see PV as being present and stay in PV charging mode. What are your charge settings set to? PV only, PV and utility, etc? I would try disconnecting PV entirely from the system and see what happens.

To me this sounds like a settings issue. I would want to resolve it charging from grid first before anything else.

 

[cul8rm8]

The generator I have is a Genergy Creta Sol, designed to attach to solar inverters.

Solarpower is the name of the software that is used to change the main settings of the Inverter (comes with the Inverter). This is needed as SolarAssistant can not change these settings (yet) Grid Tied/ Grid Tied with backup /Off-Grid.

My Settings are set to Off Grid with backup (III).

If anyone cares to look at the attached manual just to see if you can figure it out, please feel free to do so. This would be a great help to me.

There are virtually no information in the manual on how to set settings for a backup generator,

This is how I expected my setup to perform but as I said previously, I seem to have got nowhere with it.

Solar panels (5kw) worth generates power to my Inverter which is a 5KW Hybrid.
Attached is Pylontec 10.7kw batteries,
When my load exceeds 5kw, it switches to the grid then continues to charge batteries with Solar PV.
Once the load is reduced, it powers the loads with Solar PV and continues to charge batteries.
When Solar PV is unavailable, batteries power the load until depleted then the load is powered by grid.

What I expected it to do was:
During the day, Solar PV powers the load but if the 5Kw load is exceeded, the generator would start and power the load up to 7.5kw (Genergy Creta Sol 7500w). This does not happen, if the load exceeds it, again reverts to grid power. In the evening with no PV, the batteries would power the load until it reaches its set voltage (47v) ish. The inverter does stsrt automatically at this point but does not charge the batteries but powers the load. I seem to think that at this point many months ago,I isolated the Grid but Im not too sure.
Am I correct in thinking that this is how it should work, as above?

I haven`t seen the Generator OR the grid charge my batteries yet. I would need to check if my settings are set to charge with PV only. (I`m now thinking this may be the case)

If anyone has any Ideas this would be very helpful. Thanks in advance