New Lux Power LXP-LB-US 12k / GSL-H-12KLV-US with 200A AC Passthrough Current (US Market)

[summit]

The only thing that will happen if you don't consume or discard the excess energy is that the AC voltage will rise to unacceptable levels on the inverter outputs and your house, and once that happens the AC-coupled PV inverters will turn off completely. They are required by law to disconnect from the AC source immediately when the voltage level becomes abnormal. They will then wait for around 5 minutes before they will start sampling the voltage levels again and then turn on if all is right.

so technically the over voltage shut-off is a secondary guard while frequency shifting being the primary throttling ? would that be sufficient to avoid a dump-load requirement to prevent smoke (other than throwing away production) ? typically solar inverters are designed to keep cycling to check grid-AC integrity anyway, such as during outages, which can go for hours/days.

Also, is generator AC clean enough to AC-couple ? may be the newer inverter type generator. Has anyone successfully AC-coupled from generator power ? Thank you, it's like the more I learn the more I don't know

 

[derekja]

I'm just getting set up. Not quite to the point of AC coupling, but I'll let you know soon I hope.

Generator is a 6kW multiquip diesel. The power seems fine for the inverter. I can charge just fine from it as passthrough to the eps connections works well.

Strangeness - I got an error unexplained in the manual 'trip by Fac abnormal'. I had a similar weirdness with the mpp lv6548 not lock on. When I put a load on the generator separately (a 1500W heater) it slowed the generator enough to lock on properly and the fault cleared. It was able to charge well.

Two things I'm not yet successful at. The first is bms communication - eg4 lifepower4 is not able to connect as a lithium battery to the inverter as far as I can tell. I can use it by voltage rather than state of charge from the bms by setting it to lead acid mode. I may end up putting a raspberry pi in the middle with solar assistant to convert pylontech to eg4.

The other is silly. I can't figure out what I turn to tighten the PV input connectors! I need to turn something to tighten the circled connector. It looks like a tine square or Allen key but I can't find anything that fits.

(Finally, thanks to Hrschk for the password. As expected I waited until the weekend to start setting it up!)

 

[fromport]

I can't figure out what I turn to tighten the PV input connectors! I need to turn something to tighten the circled connector. It looks like a tine square or Allen key but I can't find anything that fits.

You put a small flat screw driver in the square hole and you pivot the screw driver with the handle towards the top of the inverter

That will open the metal part in the round opening, you insert the stripped wire there.
Then you release the screw driver and the cable is fastened by a spring.
There is no tightening, no special tool

 

[derekja]

Thank you! That makes perfect sense.

 

[tyrone]

Thank you! That makes perfect sense.

Just insert an appropriately sized flathead screwdriver as per the attached photos and give it a twist. It has a strong spring tension but that is good to ensure a strong clamp. It is also advisable to use wire ferrules.

 

[derekja]

Thanks. I am getting a good connection now. I am not yet successful in getting any power in, but I think it is likely a settings problem. Still working on it.

For reference, though, I have two strings of 10 470 watt panels each. I'm seeing roughly 480 volts when I have the inputs disconnected. With pv1 and pv2 strings connected I see no voltage across anything.

I am off-grid, but running my generator in to the grid inputs (so that in future I can configure smart loads panel) and have "PV first" set in the charge menu. I have "feed-in grid" unchecked. On advanced, I have selected "pv1, pv2 independent" and "1:ct" set and the ct clamps are attached. I have selected RSD disable and removed the jumper.

I have no warning lights and no faults, but no PV generation.

 

[Hrschk]

Thanks. I am getting a good connection now. I am not yet successful in getting any power in, but I think it is likely a settings problem. Still working on it.

For reference, though, I have two strings of 10 470 watt panels each. I'm seeing roughly 480 volts when I have the inputs disconnected. With pv1 and pv2 strings connected I see no voltage across anything.

I am off-grid, but running my generator in to the grid inputs (so that in future I can configure smart loads panel) and have "PV first" set in the charge menu. I have "feed-in grid" unchecked. On advanced, I have selected "pv1, pv2 independent" and "1:ct" set and the ct clamps are attached. I have selected RSD disable and removed the jumper.

I have no warning lights and no faults, but no PV generation.

I found it easiest to set up my system with only the PV and batteries first and turn off all of the AC stuff in the beginning. So, you would turn off AC Charging and turn off forced discharge. Also, turn on Fast Zero Export. As to the CTs, mine have the arrows pointed the wrong way, so I had to face them TOWARD the AC source as opposed to facing them to the inverter for no net metering. So, you might check that to see if that is a problem. But, in your case, I'm assuming you have the CTs on the cables coming from the inverter, going into the AC ports.
I know this is a dumb question, but you did turn on the PV on the left side of the machine, right? the guy helping me actually didn't do this, so I just thought I would ask.

 

[derekja]

Oh no, please check the dumb assumptions! I suspect I've missed one of them. The switch on the side isn't it, though.

I've actually pointed the ct's to the generator, since that is acting as my grid, although the attached image makes me wonder if I have them right (generator is pushing in 800w but it shows 800w out to utility)

I was getting a "trip by Vac abnormal" when not running the generator, but batteries output through inverter ok without the generator running.

(Edit: no change in pv behavior with ct's on the output panel off the eps terminals)

 

[fromport]

For reference, though, I have two strings of 10 470 watt panels each. I'm seeing roughly 480 volts when I have the inputs disconnected. With pv1 and pv2 strings connected I see no voltage across anything.

With your PV strings connected you should see 480 volts at where you insert the screwdriver to open the clamps.
If you do see voltage there but none on the display, the only other thing could be the switch on the left of the inverter.
That is a DC disconnect switch.
Make sure that one is in the ON position and you should see an input voltage at the color LCD

 

[Hrschk]

Oh no, please check the dumb assumptions! I suspect I've missed one of them. The switch on the side isn't it, though.

I've actually pointed the ct's to the generator, since that is acting as my grid, although the attached image makes me wonder if I have them right (generator is pushing in 800w but it shows 800w out to utility)

I was getting a "trip by Vac abnormal" when not running the generator, but batteries output through inverter ok without the generator running.

Yeah, makes me wonder if it's a problem with the arrow sticky on the CTs or if it's a problem with the inverter. I ran my central heat and air the other day with my batteries and PV turned off and it told me it was exporting power (like 24kw!!). But, I couldn't possibly have been because there was no power to export and the power meter showed me buying power, not exporting it. I need to check to see if I've gotten a firmware update because after I had this problem in the beginning, GSL had me face the CTs the other direction (the wrong direction). And, the problem was fixed. but, now it's back again, so maybe they've updated the firmware on my box.

The CTs need to be pointed to the thing that is receiving the power. So, whether it be the grid or the generator, it should be pointed toward the inverter because that is the direction you are sending the power.

 

[fromport]

Yeah, makes me wonder if it's a problem with the arrow sticky on the CTs or if it's a problem with the inverter. I ran my central heat and air the other day with my batteries and PV turned off and it told me it was exporting power (like 24kw!!). But, I couldn't possibly have been because there was no power to export and the power meter showed me buying power, not exporting it. I need to check to see if I've gotten a firmware update because after I had this problem in the beginning, GSL had me face the CTs the other direction (the wrong direction). And, the problem was fixed. but, now it's back again, so maybe they've updated the firmware on my box.

The CTs need to be pointed to the thing that is receiving the power. So, whether it be the grid or the generator, it should be pointed toward the inverter because that is the direction you are sending the power.

There is also a software setting to reverse the CT direction

 

[Hrschk]

There is also a software setting to reverse the CT direction
View attachment 119350

I don't think that setting works. I've tried it multiple times with no change in the data or on the graphic view.

 

[derekja]

With your PV strings connected you should see 480 volts at where you insert the screwdriver to open the clamps.
If you do see voltage there but none on the display, the only other thing could be the switch on the left of the inverter.
That is a DC disconnect switch.
Make sure that one is in the ON position and you should see an input voltage at the color LCD

I do not see the voltage there. I see the voltage when the wires are not connected to the terminals, but when connected there is about 1.5V.

 

[elusivesd]

I do not see the voltage there. I see the voltage when the wires are not connected to the terminals, but when connected there is about 1.5V.

Triple check to make sure the spring contacts are not sitting on the insulation of the wire. Do you get voltage at the end of the PV wires? (Obligatory - be careful in testing this, as this level of DC voltage can kill!)

BTW, you can ignore the CT's at this stage, as they do not affect PV voltage or generation as seen by the inverter at all. The inverter will run fine without CT's attached, it will just show all energy produced as going to load.

 

[fromport]

I do not see the voltage there. I see the voltage when the wires are not connected to the terminals, but when connected there is about 1.5V.

You forget to mention it is NEGATIVE 1.5 volt. Something is serious wrong
You are 100% sure the wires are stripped long enough, if the metal clips on the insulation it will make no contact.
should be at least 1/2-3/4 " stripped.
What I am about to suggest is possibly lethal, so don't do this if you don't feel comfortable doing so.
taking one of the wires out of the connector, leave the other one it.
put one of your multi meter pins on the one wire that stays in the connector, with the other one touching the stripped naked copper wire.
If you measure 400+ volts, but not when connected in the inverter, you have a high resistance in your chain of panels somewhere.
Also please note the polarity
If it shows -400+ volts you somewhere made a wrong connection.
I believe this unit has a reverse polarity protection but that would explain why you see -1.5 volt when connected!

 

[derekja]

Ok! I can now confirm that I am an idiot, and that this machine has advanced anti-idiot reverse polarity protection!

Thank you. I had reversed my wires as they came into the external PV fuse box and not noticed the negative voltage indicator.

(Just editing to add the lovely picture of charge and invert happening

 

[OutlawSolar]

Any news on the new firmware?
Hope they fix most of the problems found in the current release.

 

[fromport]

Any news on the new firmware?
Hope they fix most of the problems found in the current release.

Crickets...
But without any release notes from each new firmware release, we can only guess what they fixed.

 

[ssean]

Is GSL still the recommended vendor to purchase from?

 

[Not Aerosmith]

Is GSL still the recommended vendor to purchase from?

My vote is no that GSL is not the recommended vendor.

However, I'm waiting on delivery for two from GSL with extremely low expectations. Admittedly, I have no hands on experience with these inverters. I only have buyer remorse from all the reported issues and problems. So far, GSL support has been limited to saying that a new firmware update will be release within a week.

Yes, and there has been many firmware releases. As fromport pointed out, they are without any firmware release notes, so no idea what was supposedly fixed, if anything. After weeks of firmware updates, to my knowledge, these inverters are still not performing all functions per their advertised specifications. I don't even know, what reported issues or problems were actually fixed.

However, the opinions that really count are the people that have actually installed these units.