Generator and Inverter

V

Veroland

Executive Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2005
Messages
6,525
Reaction score
455
Location
South Crest, Alberton
Hi

When I had my inverter installed (Deye) almost 2 months ago I asked them to keep my generator switch in place so I can charge the batteries from generator if needed. I have a a switch next my db box where I can switch between grid power and generator, and the power line to the inverter is installed after this switch, so I take it the generator power will show on the inverter as grid power.

I decided to run my generator for a bit today so that it does not just stand still for months on end and noticed the inverter does not pull any power from the generator.

When I switch to my generator is can see on my inverter that it is picking up the V, it show's 220V and 0.2A. Whereas on normal grid it shows around 223V 2.0A right now for instance. Also on normal grid the frequency is 49~51Hz but I when I run on generator it shows 0Hz on the inverter but on the generator's display it shows 52Hz.

Does anyone have an idea where to look before I contact the installers?
 
Veroland said:
Hi

When I had my inverter installed (Deye) almost 2 months ago I asked them to keep my generator switch in place so I can charge the batteries from generator if needed. I have a a switch next my db box where I can switch between grid power and generator, and the power line to the inverter is installed after this switch, so I take it the generator power will show on the inverter as grid power.

I decided to run my generator for a bit today so that it does not just stand still for months on end and noticed the inverter does not pull any power from the generator.

When I switch to my generator is can see on my inverter that it is picking up the V, it show's 220V and 0.2A. Whereas on normal grid it shows around 223V 2.0A right now for instance. Also on normal grid the frequency is 49~51Hz but I when I run on generator it shows 0Hz on the inverter but on the generator's display it shows 52Hz.

Does anyone have an idea where to look before I contact the installers?
Click to expand...
Maybe there is a setting on your inverter to make it accept "dirty" power from the generator, I am saying it's dirty because I suspect the inverter does not like what it's getting.

Do get the installers opinion, maybe they've come across this problem before.
 
TheChamp said:
Maybe there is a setting on your inverter to make it accept "dirty" power from the generator, I am saying it's dirty because I suspect the inverter does not like what it's getting.

Do get the installers opinion, maybe they've come across this problem before.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I did read online online that then inverter needs the frequency to stabilize.
 
You can also browse the Power Forum for ideas.

powerforum.co.za

Deye 8kw - weird issue when generator is running

My inverter gets supply from grid. I have 23kva generator inline. when grid goes down, generator kicks in and supplies to the house. this feed comes in to the inverter. When the grid is supplying, the inverter works fine. When the grid goes down (praise Cyril) and my generator kicks in, the inver...
powerforum.co.za powerforum.co.za
 
TheChamp said:
You can also browse the Power Forum for ideas.

powerforum.co.za

Deye 8kw - weird issue when generator is running

My inverter gets supply from grid. I have 23kva generator inline. when grid goes down, generator kicks in and supplies to the house. this feed comes in to the inverter. When the grid is supplying, the inverter works fine. When the grid goes down (praise Cyril) and my generator kicks in, the inver...
powerforum.co.za powerforum.co.za
Click to expand...
Cool, I didn't know about those forums
 
Something you can try, assuming you have two plugs on the generator, is to apply a small load on the second plug. This may cause the generator feed to change enough for the inverter to accept it.
 
Do you have a single connection from the changeover switch to the main DB which carries either the mains supply or the generator supply?

In our case we have two separate connections from our changeover to our main DB, one carries the mains supply and the other carries the generator supply, but only the mains supply cable has a CT on it which is connected to our SunSynk inverter. The inverter picks up that there is 'mains' supply at the DB when the mains is down but generator is running but the CT picks up nothing as the mains is down. I believe that this is the reason why we can't use the generator at the moment to charge batteries but it is just a theory, I haven't investigated it properly as I have never needed to charge batteries using the generator and hardly use the generator unless we have a major, long mains supply outage.
 
Neuk_ said:
Do you have a single connection from the changeover switch to the main DB which carries either the mains supply or the generator supply?

In our case we have two separate connections from our changeover to our main DB, one carries the mains supply and the other carries the generator supply, but only the mains supply cable has a CT on it which is connected to our SunSynk inverter. The inverter picks up that there is 'mains' supply at the DB when the mains is down but generator is running but the CT picks up nothing as the mains is down. I believe that this is the reason why we can't use the generator at the moment to charge batteries but it is just a theory, I haven't investigated it properly as I have never needed to charge batteries using the generator and hardly use the generator unless we have a major, long mains supply outage.
Click to expand...
As a test, what happens if you change to zero export to load for the generator?
 
Neuk_ said:
Change to 'Zero-Export + Limit To Load Only' while running the generator with no mains supply?
Click to expand...
Uhm, I'm not exactly sure what the Sunsynk equivalent is. On Deye it's simply "zero export to load", but that sounds about right.
 
Speedster said:
Uhm, I'm not exactly sure what the Sunsynk equivalent is. On Deye it's simply "zero export to load", but that sounds about right.
Click to expand...

These are the work modes, accessing via the web as I am not home...

1685534528144.png

When I am next at home during load shedding and have a chance to test I'll see what it does.
 
Veroland said:
When I switch to my generator is can see on my inverter that it is picking up the V, it show's 220V and 0.2A. Whereas on normal grid it shows around 223V 2.0A right now for instance. Also on normal grid the frequency is 49~51Hz but I when I run on generator it shows 0Hz on the inverter but on the generator's display it shows 52Hz.
Click to expand...
52Hz might be outside of the allowed parameters on your inverter, so the inverter isn't using the power from the inverter. Check the settings on your grid settings page.
 
Veroland said:
This is what I have in SA

View attachment 1533595
Click to expand...
As I mentioned I'm not sure what the Sunsynk details are. On Deye there are two options - "zero export to CT" and "zero export to load". If the CT is potentially giving errors, then limiting to load only would be a logical solution. Maybe one of the Sunsynk gurus can chime in here on what the setting would be.
 
Neuk_ said:
Do you have a single connection from the changeover switch to the main DB which carries either the mains supply or the generator supply?

In our case we have two separate connections from our changeover to our main DB, one carries the mains supply and the other carries the generator supply, but only the mains supply cable has a CT on it which is connected to our SunSynk inverter. The inverter picks up that there is 'mains' supply at the DB when the mains is down but generator is running but the CT picks up nothing as the mains is down. I believe that this is the reason why we can't use the generator at the moment to charge batteries but it is just a theory, I haven't investigated it properly as I have never needed to charge batteries using the generator and hardly use the generator unless we have a major, long mains supply outage.
Click to expand...
I will have to check it but I believe there is 2 cables to the change over switch and only from there to the db
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X