Generator or Inverter for residential use?

[AchmatK]

Gen input port settings. This is the configurable input/output port and set to use the gen input as aux load output and defined as Smart Load.

It's set to switch off supply to the aux output when the battery reaches 40% and restart supply to the aux output when the battery reaches 70%.

 

[AchmatK]

Touchscreen on the sunsynk is very responsive.

 

[Sinbad]

Figured out why your 2ndary load keeps switching off yet?

 

[Tun@]

Just so your aware of it before it happens - The Pylontechs if they end up sitting on a UPS only system where they might sit at 100% can go into a sleep mode if they stay like that for 3 days. The master will throw an alarm & turning the master off/on will reset it till the 3 days happens again. It doesn't always happen but if it does thats whats going on.
Once you using them daily with panels there it won't be a problem.
With Victron inverter i got out of that problem by enabling ESS that makes the battery do something to keep it out of the sleep mode.

 

[AchmatK]

Figured out why your 2ndary load keeps switching off yet?

Not yet but I think when the geyser and aircons are off then the inverter stops supply to the aux output for a few seconds and then reconnects every hour.

There's a firmware update I need to request from sunsynk and hopefully it will resolve that. If that fails then the bedroom aircon will be moved to the normal load output.

 

[Steamy Tom]

Just so your aware of it before it happens - The Pylontechs if they end up sitting on a UPS only system where they might sit at 100% can go into a sleep mode if they stay like that for 3 days. The master will throw an alarm & turning the master off/on will reset it till the 3 days happens again. It doesn't always happen but if it does thats whats going on.
Once you using them daily with panels there it won't be a problem.
With Victron inverter i got out of that problem by enabling ESS that makes the battery do something to keep it out of the sleep mode.

mine have never done this and my priority is SUB

 

[Tun@]

mine have never done this and my priority is SUB

SUB meaning you have panels connected so the battery is doing some work sometimes?

 

[cfvh600]

I think this weekend I am going to rewire my panels. They're in 2 rows of 5, each row of 5 being a series string, connected in parallel.
I have a tree that shades the panels from the right. Going to split the panels into left and right strings, rather than top and bottom... At least that way I'll get peak performance out of the left hand string for longer...

Cut/trim the tree down an option? I have 2 palms that's causing shade too late in the afternoon this time of year. Thinking of cutting them down.

 

[cfvh600]

Anyone know of a fitting I can buy that will tilt my individual panels on their rail mountings a bit?

Installation is facing ENE, and would like to angle the panels a little towards the north... Since I'm going to have to remove and remount most of them to get to the wiring ....

Not aware of anything other than changing the orientation by 90 degrees, and changing mounting structure could be expensive. Might be cheaper to just add more panels if possible?

 

[Steamy Tom]

SUB meaning you have panels connected so the battery is doing some work sometimes?

I am not 100% on that, if anything maybe very small cycles i guess but i didnt think it works this way

 

[Tun@]

I am not 100% on that, if anything maybe very small cycles i guess but i didnt think it works this way

Ok, The use of ESS for me should also not be necessary as i'm UPS only system but from what i understand using it makes a bit of current flow back & forth from the batteries , just enough to make them not sit idle & keep that sleep mode from kicking in so maybe something similar with the SUB setting perhaps.

 

[AchmatK]

We finished up late last night with the setup and didn't have time to test and simulate grid failure and how the inverter responds. Will simulate load shedding tomorrow morning and test a few other scenarios with the electrician.

I have a feeling that something might not be wired correctly. Not home right now to do the testing.

System has been running since last night and the reports from the app is showing very little data.

The CT sensor must still be connected so I only expect the grid input from the mains to be zero but it should be showing usage from the load output and the aux output.

 

[AchmatK]

Got home and turned on the geyser.

Can see from the first screen that grid power (LD) in second column shows electricity from the grid. UPS LD column shows the output through the inverter. No battery power is being used.

Second screen, top right icon shows the total load and that smart load (aux output) is on. Bottom left icon shows grid input.

Current efergy reading is showing 4.2kwh. The difference would be the usage from the outbuilding which is before the inverter.

 

[Sinbad]

Cut/trim the tree down an option? I have 2 palms that's causing shade too late in the afternoon this time of year. Thinking of cutting them down.

Nope. It's a magnificent pin oak, probably 40m tall and 40m wide.
Shading only happens for 3 or 4 months of the year.

 

[shyskillz]

yes, it will keep the battery charged. you should also simulate a power failure and run it on battery (don't drain battery past 50%) every now and then to "exercise" the battery, maybe once a month.

Thanks for the response

 

[wingnut771]

Thanks for the response

no probs.

i then read this article after the fact which suggests not leaving it on float but rather open circuit, then recharge every week or two:

Five ways to extend the life of your lead acid battery. Part I [Victron Energy]

www.victronenergy.com

 

[Saba'a]

no probs.

i then read this article after the fact which suggests not leaving it on float but rather open circuit, then recharge every week or two:

Five ways to extend the life of your lead acid battery. Part I [Victron Energy]

www.victronenergy.com

View attachment 880585

But I assume lithium can be left connected to Sunsynk? With no intervention required, even without PV panels?

 

[AchmatK]

Success.

Changed a setting on the inverter from "HM load & zero export" to "LD load and zero export"and now the app is recording grid input and load output.

 

[wingnut771]

But I assume lithium can be left connected to Sunsynk? With no intervention required, even without PV panels?

i've read reports that for lithium storage it's better to store at 70-80% charge, as 100% charge ages them aswell without cycling. so i would say between loadshedding set charge level to 70% then when we're hit with blackouts, set it back to 100%.

 

[TheChamp]

i've read reports that for lithium storage it's better to store at 70-80% charge, as 100% charge ages them aswell without cycling. so i would say between loadshedding set charge level to 70% then when we're hit with blackouts, set it back to 100%.

I know there are plenty theories around batteries but I would strongly advise anyone to just connect the battery to the inverter and let it do its thing without any external intervention.

Can you even set the charge level?