mecer 2400VA inverter not seeing solar panels

[alan vicente]

Hi how do i change the mecer 2400VA (1440W) mecer inverter bios/firmware settings to charge from my solar panels instead of the built in charger?
There seems to have been a design change to this model as the solar controller is now seperate from the unit where as the manual reflects that the controller was previously part of the ups.Sold in south africa as a mecer model: LOBO 2400/ivr-2400LBKS
There are no external plug in points on the inverter either rs232 serial or usb connector to load operational parameters.
Does this inverter use jumper switches on the board or must i remove the inverters cover to discover a plug in point?
The inverter front panel is not seeing my solar panels and reflecting that it is charging of my built in charger.
I am using the recommended solar controller for this unit. model EXT-SCC-2400LBKS.
Please note i am an ex pc technician trying to help myself with this issue so finding my way around the tricks and traps slowly.
Last point.I have checked wiring etc and appears to be correct.Two solar panels 360 watts each connected in series.

 

[TheChamp]

Hi how do i change the mecer 2400VA (1440W) mecer inverter bios/firmware settings to charge from my solar panels instead of the built in charger?
There seems to have been a design change to this model as the solar controller is now seperate from the unit where as the manual reflects that the controller was previously part of the ups.Sold in south africa as a mecer model: LOBO 2400/ivr-2400LBKS
There are no external plug in points on the inverter either rs232 serial or usb connector to load operational parameters.
Does this inverter use jumper switches on the board or must i remove the inverters cover to discover a plug in point?
The inverter front panel is not seeing my solar panels and reflecting that it is charging of my built in charger.
I am using the recommended solar controller for this unit. model EXT-SCC-2400LBKS.
Please note i am an ex pc technician trying to help myself with this issue so finding my way around the tricks and traps slowly.
Last point.I have checked wiring etc and appears to be correct.Two solar panels 360 watts each connected in series.

Firstly I don't think your inverter display is even capable of showing that the solar panels are now charging the battery, I could be wrong maybe the newer models do but as far as I am concerned it can't.

Based on the above I would say the inverter is really not intelligent enough to be able to differentiate the solar power from the in built charger, I suspect that the in built charger will simply use brawn to take over since it is mostly consistent unlike the solar output.

The way this is connected means that the solar output and the in built charger output are in parallel going to the battery, so without any intelligent monitoring it will be just two sources in parallel and the inverter won't know the difference.

 

[TheChamp]

Perhaps what you could do is to wire some switch to select between the built in charger and solar, during the day you can switch over to solar and switch back to built in charger at night, you can be creative with the various smart devices to make the process automated, sounds like a nice project.

 

[Grouter]

Start reading from here:

Mecer 2400VA Inverter (Community Support)

that is a 10KVA 3 phase inverter, show me a victron for that price... https://www.solar-shop.co.za/victron-inverters/227-victron-quattro-48-10000-140-100-100.html?sfdr_ptcid=13151_617_482940650&sfdr_hash=629b1623254823a8f17908e763c1193c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm4bWwfuA5wIVksreCh0eUQvDEAQYAiABEgKzg_D_BwE

mybroadband.co.za

My experience: there is a solar icon on the Mecer front panel, but, same as OP, I have never seen it light up. I know the solar is working as, if the sun is shining, I can turn off the batteries breaker, disconnect mains (eskom) power, and the inverter stays up and running on solar alone. I just ran the +ve and -ve of the solar to the same +ve and -ve connections as the battery input on the back of the inverter. Meh - it works.

 

[alan vicente]

Hi guys thanks for your responses,at least i know im not alone with this particular challenge.Thanks for the noddy badge/trophy.

 

[Lupus]

Start reading from here:

Mecer 2400VA Inverter (Community Support)

that is a 10KVA 3 phase inverter, show me a victron for that price... https://www.solar-shop.co.za/victron-inverters/227-victron-quattro-48-10000-140-100-100.html?sfdr_ptcid=13151_617_482940650&sfdr_hash=629b1623254823a8f17908e763c1193c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm4bWwfuA5wIVksreCh0eUQvDEAQYAiABEgKzg_D_BwE

mybroadband.co.za

My experience: there is a solar icon on the Mecer front panel, but, same as OP, I have never seen it light up. I know the solar is working as, if the sun is shining, I can turn off the batteries breaker, disconnect mains (eskom) power, and the inverter stays up and running on solar alone. I just ran the +ve and -ve of the solar to the same +ve and -ve connections as the battery input on the back of the inverter. Meh - it works.

Which solar controller are you using? What size batteries and how long does it take to charge?

 

[Grouter]

Which solar controller are you using? What size batteries and how long does it take to charge?

It's all there in the linky to the Mecer 2400 thread...

 

[Grouter]

Which solar controller are you using? What size batteries and how long does it take to charge?

Cheap generic solar controller, 4x 105 Ah batteries, charge depends on DOD.

 

[Lupus]

Cheap generic solar controller, 4x 105 Ah batteries, charge depends on DOD.

Don't mention the size of the panels? Cause I am looking at getting panels and a charger

 

[Grouter]

Don't mention the size of the panels? Cause I am looking at getting panels and a charger

 

[Lupus]

140w?

 

[TheChamp]

140w?

Yes.

 

[Lupus]

Yes.

Cool not to bad than