Sol-Ark 12K inverter limiting ?

[MikeNKerri]

My name is Mike

I have a self-installed, ground mounted, 7.2KwH, 18 panel (400W QCells), grid-tied Sol-Ark12K inverter.

The system has been up since Dec 2024 and has never shown more 4.7Kw in the Solar Power Production view. Cloudless skies, and unobstructed - I do have it unintentionally limited?

Thank you in advance for any and all input.
Mike

 

[a619]

Can you share Isc/ Voc of your panels along with the how your strings are configured, ie, how many panels per strings in series/ parallel?

 

[MikeNKerri]

Hopefully, these answer your questions

 

[DIYrich]

How much power does each MPPT show?
Export allowed?
Batteries?

 

[robby]

So not many things come to mind. There is a setting under the "Plant Info" that sets the Maximum Amount of PV on the system but I have yet to see this number actually be used for anything other than your profile info.

Your string config seem to be fine and would not be overloading the voltage or clipping the current.
I think the Individual MPPT power as @DIYrich suggested plus a Graph of the Voltage and current for both MPPT's would be helpful.

Now digging into the Weeds in case we missed something in your setup.
How much battery power do you have and what is the charge current set to?
I assume they are being used fully every night? I ask because if your system only has a single pack connected and set to charge with 25 amps (1280W) the house might be drawing around 3000W then your solar would probably never go much past the 4000W region.

 

[MikeNKerri]

Ok, I will try to figure out how to get the graphs for each MPPT. No batteries are installed yet

 

[DIYrich]

No batteries are installed yet

The look for some setting that might limit export.

 

[robby]

Equipment - Inverter - Click on Inverter Serial Number - Select Parameters -
V-pv-L1 and I-pv-L1 for the first graph then screen save it.
V-pv-L2 and I-pv-L2 for the second graph then screen save it.
P-pv-L1 and P-pv-L2 for the third graph then screen save it.

 

[robby]

Ok, I will try to figure out how to get the graphs for each MPPT. No batteries are installed yet

I assume you have used the system with heavier loads than 5Kw?
You should get at least two batteries. The Sol-Ark is under a lot more strain when it has no batteries to fall back on.

 

[MikeNKerri]

I assume you have used the system with heavier loads than 5Kw?
You should get at least two batteries. The Sol-Ark is under a lot more strain when it has no batteries to fall back on.

Per Sol-Ark tech support, you need 48v. I initially bought 2 SFK kits and (8)EVE LF304 Grade A Cells - 3.2V LiFePO4 304Ah Battery, to go in them. I need to buy/build 2 more sets.

My question was, is there something limiting what is coming in as the most i've seen is 4.8

 

[robby]

No there is nothing I know of that would limit the PV coming in.
You should get about 75% to 85% of what your panels are rated for. The Summer heat is what causes extra losses of about 15-25% of the rated output. Depends on how hot your area is.

 

[Jose_Sol-Ark]

Per Sol-Ark tech support, you need 48v. I initially bought 2 SFK kits and (8)EVE LF304 Grade A Cells - 3.2V LiFePO4 304Ah Battery, to go in them. I need to buy/build 2 more sets.

My question was, is there something limiting what is coming in as the most i've seen is 4.8

Hi @MikeNKerri, I'm Jose from the Sol-Ark team. Regarding your question, the Sol-Ark will limit the PV production in different scenarios:

• When the inverter is programmed to limit the PV production to only what your loads need. This is when the inverter is programmed in Limited to Home or Load without "Grid sell" enable, for any of these work modes you will need batteries.
• The "Max Solar Power" limits all the solar production the inverter can provide (energy used for loads and to export), while "Max sell Power" limits the maximum power the inverter can send back to the grid (power that can be exported). These two parameters are located in the Settings --> System Work Mode.
• When the inverter is working in Limited Power to Home and the external CT sensors are not correctly installed.

If your system is operating without batteries, the work mode we recommend operating is "Grid sell", but you should be allowed to export to the grid as in this mode the inverter will produce solar energy without limitation. Since there is not a critical loads or backup panel in your diagram, the Sol-Ark should be programmed in this mode, so the inverter can send the power to the main service panel and the rest to the grid. But as I mentioned before, this depends on whether you are allowed to export or not.

Hope this helps.

 

[robby]

.

• The "Max Solar Power" limits all the solar production the inverter can provide (energy used for loads and to export), while "Max sell Power" limits the maximum power the inverter can send back to the grid (power that can be exported). These two parameters are located in the Settings --> System Work Mode.

Hope this helps.

I learned something new.
I thought that "Max Solar Power" only came into play if the "Solar Sell" option was turned on, because that option is under the Sell Settings.
I have my Sell off and I just tried it and it does limit the PV output.