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Turn off AIO. Will solar still charge batteries?

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kholmz

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I've seen a couple threads touch on this topic but there was no real definitive answers. So here is the question:

Is there currently any manufacturers of AIO that allow you to turn off the unit but will still allow the solar panels to charge the batteries?

I have an off grid cabin and when I leave (especially in the winter) I would like to turn off the AIO to avoid the 20W-100W idle currents but still have my solar panels charge the batteries. I think the idle currents would kill the batteries constantly when there is no sun for weeks.

I know I can use an external MPPT charge controller to rectified the situation, but that's pretty stupid knowing that there is a MPPT built into the AIO.

I've been looking at Growatt, Temank, Eco-worthy and Renogy, but it's really hard to answer my question by just looking at the specifications.

Thanks.
 
From what I remember setting up my TP6048 the batteries would charge with the inverter powered off. I never measured idle consumption with the inverter off.
 
12VoltInstalls said:
Many

MPPSolar is one that has that feature
Click to expand...
Thanks, but I wouldn't say "Many". I haven't found one yet that has been confirmed to do so. Is there any literature to prove that MPPSolar AIO will continue to charge the batteries via solar when the unit is switched off? I'll try to confirm this through tech support.

I'll also look into SunGoldPower. The TP6048 is too big for me but they do have smaller units. I'll see if I can confirm if they have this feature and post my results if tech support actually gets back to me with a non-cryptic answer.
 
TomC4306 said:
My MPPSolar units also work that way. The on-off switch is only for the inverter
Click to expand...
Hi TomC4306. Do you know where this is said in writing? I've been looking through the specification and user manual and can't see this documented anywhere. I've asked tech support but it looks they are going into Chinese New Year so I probably won't hear back anytime soon.
 
There was a Thread from a fellow that was trying to shut off his AIO overnight to minimize idle loss and it resulted in him getting repeated unit boot up and alarm conditions. I will see if I can dig it up.

ETA: Somebody did dig it back up since I see it in the What's new list of the Forum. It is the Growatt 3000w bypass error one.
 
Last edited:
kholmz said:
I've seen a couple threads touch on this topic but there was no real definitive answers. So here is the question:

Is there currently any manufacturers of AIO that allow you to turn off the unit but will still allow the solar panels to charge the batteries?

I have an off grid cabin and when I leave (especially in the winter) I would like to turn off the AIO to avoid the 20W-100W idle currents but still have my solar panels charge the batteries. I think the idle currents would kill the batteries constantly when there is no sun for weeks.

I know I can use an external MPPT charge controller to rectified the situation, but that's pretty stupid knowing that there is a MPPT built into the AIO.

I've been looking at Growatt, Temank, Eco-worthy and Renogy, but it's really hard to answer my question by just looking at the specifications.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
My Growatt 3K on my truck camper charges with the inverter off. I installed a remote switch inside by the fridge and it's handy to turn the inverter on when ever we need it.

There will be some overhead to run the SCC, but if net charging is occurring then it is covered. However, one problem with my GW is in low light conditions, the SCC sees the PV voltage and it boots up off battery power. In low light, PV production is low, when the SCC loads the PV the voltage drops and the SCC shuts down. It will continue this cycle until PV production is high enough to keep voltage up. The problem is each time it boots up it draws power from the battery. https://diysolarforum.com/threads/growatt-3000-cycling-on-off-and-beeping.46267/post-586533

Do you intend to use LFP batteries? You will need to add some type of temp control to keep batteries above 32F for charging.
 
Thanks Zwy. Is the panel still lit when you have your Growatt turned off? How do you know that your MPPT controller is cycling when in low light conditions?

I was reading the Growatt 3K Q&A on Amazon.ca and one of the answers implied that it would not charge batteries via solar if the unit was switched off.

Question:
Does it charge with solar when inverter is off
Answer:
Is the switch of the inverter turned off manually? Or is it shutting down because of low battery voltage? If it is the former, it will not charge even if it has solar energy. The latter, will resume charging after have solar energy
By Y-SOLAR SELLER on January 4, 2022

 
I have MPP solar PIP-1012LV-MS (40A/20A) and LV- MK (80A/60A), the charging function still work when the Inverter Power switch is turned off, I use my unit as Solar charger and utility charger, I do not use the internal 1000W inverter, I use external inverter instead.
The MPPT section does cycle (I can hear the MPPT relay section clicking on and off) at the early morning and late evening due to not enough Solar power for unit to draw power from the panel, so the charger tries to come on but when the current is drawn the power drops down so it cannot stay on, then the cycle repeats until enough solar is strong enough to keep the charger staying on.
 
Last edited:
If we get some sun I'll whip out my solar dolly and run the test and post results. Unfortunately it's winter in Seattle so it might be 2 or 3 or 4 months before the sun comes out again. :cry:
 
kholmz said:
Thanks Zwy. Is the panel still lit when you have your Growatt turned off? How do you know that your MPPT controller is cycling when in low light conditions?
Click to expand...

When the SCC boots up, the panel will turn on. I had the rig parked in the shop with the overhead doors open and could hear the GW boot up and shut down in an endless cycle.

kholmz said:
I was reading the Growatt 3K Q&A on Amazon.ca and one of the answers implied that it would not charge batteries via solar if the unit was switched off.

Question:
Does it charge with solar when inverter is off
Answer:
Is the switch of the inverter turned off manually? Or is it shutting down because of low battery voltage? If it is the former, it will not charge even if it has solar energy. The latter, will resume charging after have solar energy
By Y-SOLAR SELLER on January 4, 2022

Click to expand...
If there is sufficient PV, it will charge. On the truck camper we only turn on the inverter when we need AC power, batteries still charge.
 
I can confirm that my spare EAsun I-solar 3kw unit charges with the inverter switch in the off position. I get no alarms even when I started with insufficient morning sunshine (was enough to show that solar was connected and available). It is now up to 200w from 400w worth of panels.

ETA: I do not know how much power the unit consumes in this type of operation. Bit hard to separate out how much the SLA battery is charging with incoming PV power considering normal charging loss.

Final edit: Unit charged up the batteries and shut off charging at around 2pm. So rather definitively for this model of AIO it will charge from Solar with power switch off.
 
Last edited:
12VoltInstalls said:
Here it is in writing:

I have an MPPSolar 1012LV-MK in which the SCC still functions when I turn the switch off.
Click to expand...
It's not like I don't believe that the 1012LV-MK does this, but it's not a model I would consider. I need something a little bigger. It would be nice to have a definitive statement from the manufacturer, because it's hard where I'm at to order and return product like this.
 
i can tell you the LVX6048WP can charge the battery with inverters off as long as the breaker is open for solar. Although I wouldn't recommend the unit for other reasons.
 
koppted said:
i can tell you the LVX6048WP can charge the battery with inverters off as long as the breaker is open CLOSED for solar. Although I wouldn't recommend the unit for other reasons.
Click to expand...
FTFY!

As a quick aside, mostly because I was curious, we had some sun yesterday so I whipped out my solar dolly and threw a panel on it. The inverter was switched off and my amp clamp meter still showed about 3a going into the battery. The only load on the battery was my Aili shunt showing the battery was charging.

So yes, at least the MPP 1012 does charge from solar with the inverter off.
 
Last edited:
kholmz said:
I've seen a couple threads touch on this topic but there was no real definitive answers. So here is the question:

Is there currently any manufacturers of AIO that allow you to turn off the unit but will still allow the solar panels to charge the batteries?

I have an off grid cabin and when I leave (especially in the winter) I would like to turn off the AIO to avoid the 20W-100W idle currents but still have my solar panels charge the batteries. I think the idle currents would kill the batteries constantly when there is no sun for weeks.

I know I can use an external MPPT charge controller to rectified the situation, but that's pretty stupid knowing that there is a MPPT built into the AIO.

I've been looking at Growatt, Temank, Eco-worthy and Renogy, but it's really hard to answer my question by just looking at the specifications.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
My growatt does that. Not super fast but it does charge in off position. No grid connected.
 
My EG4 3000's will charge from the PV arrays when turned off. I turn one off my 2 inverters at around 10pm every night to save the idling current and it shuts off completely after a while of sensing no PV input. At 7am when I come to turn it on again it is already using power from the PV and charging
 
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