Generator or Inverter for residential use?

[AchmatK]

Now to figure out time of use settings to use the battery until preset SOC levels but think I'll do that after the solar has been connected.

Hopefully this will also stop the aux load from restarting every hour.

 

[AchmatK]

Figured out that HM mode is the total electricity provided from the grid and includes all items before the inverter. This requires the CT sensor to be connected to record total grid power.

LD mode is the total load through the two inverter outputs, load output and aux output and does not need the CT sensor to be connected.

@adielk does not have to go through the trial error that I'm going through.

 

[wingnut771]

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?

i'm sure all decent inverters can set custom charge levels.

 

[Steamy Tom]

i'm sure all decent inverters can set custom charge levels.

this

 

[Steamy Tom]

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 dont think it quite works like that, i will try find it but there was a nice explanation of this on powerforum at some stage

 

[AchmatK]

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

I think i figured out what's happening with the aux output switching off and on again.

The aux output is designed to dump excess power to loads like pumps and heating elements that are always on and not in standby mode and therefore not drawing any electricity.

When my aircons and geyser are off, the only power being used is the display for the geyserwise which I think is too little to register a power draw on the inverter. So after a certain amount of time with no power being drawn on the aux output, it switches off but because my settings are set to turn on the aux output if the battery is higher than 70%, it turns the aux on again and the cycle repeats.

I have a few 10w LED floodlights outside that's on a day not switch and will connect this to the aux output to have a constant draw during the night and see if this resolves the issue.

Edit

This will not work. It just restarted while the geyser was drawing electricity and heating up at the time.

I have logged a ticket with sunsynk about the aux output restarting.

 

[TheChamp]

i'm sure all decent inverters can set custom charge levels.

First time I hear of this, but then I haven't seen too many decent inverters.

 

[wingnut771]

First time I hear of this, but then I haven't seen too many decent inverters.

i'm sure even the axpert inverter has "user" battery settings that you can set charge levels.

 

[Steamy Tom]

i'm sure even the axpert inverter has "user" battery settings that you can set charge levels.

it does indeed

 

[wingnut771]

i dont think it quite works like that, i will try find it but there was a nice explanation of this on powerforum at some stage

this is where i saw it:

How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries - Battery University

Discover what causes Li-ion to age and what the battery user can do to prolong its life

batteryuniversity.com

 

[cfvh600]

First time I hear of this, but then I haven't seen too many decent inverters.

Victron has this option

 

[Saba'a]

I think i figured out what's happening with the aux output switching off and on again.

The aux output is designed to dump excess power to loads like pumps and heating elements that are always on and not in standby mode and therefore not drawing any electricity.

When my aircons and geyser are off, the only power being used is the display for the geyserwise which I think is too little to register a power draw on the inverter. So after a certain amount of time with no power being drawn on the aux output, it switches off but because my settings are set to turn on the aux output if the battery is higher than 70%, it turns the aux on again and the cycle repeats.

I have a few 10w LED floodlights outside that's on a day not switch and will connect this to the aux output to have a constant draw during the night and see if this resolves the issue.

Edit

This will not work. It just restarted while the geyser was drawing electricity and heating up at the time.

I have logged a ticket with sunsynk about the aux output restarting.

Call Nick for advice? They offered his support once mine arrives for installation.

 

[AchmatK]

Turned on time off user this morning and it started to use only the battery and no grid power. For the most part, the inverter is silent. Fans went on for the first time this morning after turning on time off use and with the geyser on. It can get loud but the fans are not on all the time. The geyser was still being powered by the batteries and the fans switched off during this time. The fans only turned on when the load from the battery went over 4kw. Its running now from the batteries alone at 2kw and its completely silent.

 

[AchmatK]

Fans switched on for a few minutes while heating the geyser but then switched back off again.

Very happy as I expected the fans to be a constant drone while the inverter is running.

Still concerned as to why battery SOC has not dropped yet even though its been powering the house now for more than an hour.

 

[TheChamp]

Fans switched on for a few minutes while heating the geyser but then switched back off again.

Very happy as I expected the fans to be a constant drone while the inverter is running.

Still concerned as to why battery SOC has not dropped yet even though its been powering the house now for more than an hour. View attachment 880773 View attachment 880775

At 3.49kW it was supposed to have shown a difference after an hour, maybe it does that in stages, like from 100% to 80 and so forth?

 

[AchmatK]

At 3.49kW it was supposed to have shown a difference after an hour, maybe it does that in stages, like from 100% to 80 and so forth?

Will monitor and check.

 

[AchmatK]

SOC on pylontech is showing 66% but inverter is still reporting 100% SOC.

Inverter is set to Lithium and connected to the RS485 port on the master battery.

BMS info on inverter in bottom pic.

 

[AchmatK]

My efergy whole home energy monitor has now become useless to me. Going to post it in the classified but thought I'll post here first.

R700

Efergy energy monitor and one sensor.

Sensor can be attached to main feed into home to monitor whole home usage or to individual circuits.

 

[wingnut771]

My efergy whole home energy monitor has now become useless to me. Going to post it in the classified but thought I'll post here first.

R700

Efergy energy monitor and one sensor.

Sensor can be attached to main feed into home to monitor whole home usage or to individual circuits.

View attachment 880839 View attachment 880841

maybe try the can port?

 

[wingnut771]

SOC on pylontech is showing 66% but inverter is still reporting 100% SOC.

Inverter is set to Lithium and connected to the RS485 port on the master battery.

BMS info on inverter in bottom pic. View attachment 880833 View attachment 880835

or maybe baud rate?