Odd behaviour from Ecco Inverter

[Lisasie]

Hi everyone! I wonder if anyone can provide some insight ‍
I have an Ecco 1kw pure sine UPS Inverter, but I also have a generator and my idea is that the inverter doesn’t have to use battery power when the generator is running as that is a waste.
My generator was producing between 217 and 222 volts (+-) and the inverter was driving me mad kicking in every few seconds when the voltage would drop below 220v (with 4 beeps every time it kicked in and one every time it was happy with the power again). After extensive research I have adjusted the AVR on my generator to give slightly higher voltage, and I thought this would solve the issue but the inverter is running off battery even though there is decent AC power input ‍ (Photo 1)

It did jump to “normal” for about a split second and then went back to battery mode.

Once the power was back we were all back to normal and working (photo 2)


And then tonight (on Eskom power) it started randomly turning off with one beep (not the usual 4 beeps when the power goes out and it changed from AC to battery. In this case the input stays visible and the output falls to 0 and everything that was plugged in turns off. (Not that much, just a printer a screen and a laptop charger at this stage so definitely not close to overload) - And I now see the output voltage has also decreased after all of this and doesn’t seem to be coming back to normal. (photo 3- most recent)



I am not sure if I possibly changed a mode setting somewhere during the course of the evening and that’s why the voltage looks weirdly low now, but I can’t find my hard
copy of the manual and I can’t seem to find it anywhere online so if anyone has a copy please send to me

 

[Lupus]

For the generator to inverter, put a small load on the generator before connecting the inverter to it. For the disconnection even on Eskom power, check your batteries.

 

[one poster]

In this case the input stays visible and the output falls to 0 and everything that was plugged in turns off.

looks like these inverters possibly have an "energy saving mode". Maybe you are lucky that with the modest load you had connected it simply goes in/out energy saving mode.

from the many similar inverters on alibaba:
"Energy saving mode: If the power of the connected AC loads is lower than 5% of the inverter’s rated power, there will be no output from the inverter. Only the chip of inverter is working. The power consumption of the inverter is only 1~6W. The LCD shows the output voltage 0. If the power of the connected loads is over 5%, within 5S the inverter will automatically convert DC to AC to supply power for the loads . The LCD shows the output voltage.

Also, from the spec sheets these things seem to have a ± 10% output variance when connected to AC so the 216V will be within spec

 

[leon.davibe]

Can try APL instead of ups incase the generator power is fluctuating a bit more

Some inverters actually have a gen setting in this menu where you select apl/ups check to see if yours does

Can also try and run a bit more load while generator is running

Normally on eskom mode the voltage just matches what is coming from eskom so would not worry too much on voltage changes

The power saving mode (that shuts down the inverter if load is too little) can normally be disabled in the menu

Can obviously run some more load to see if behaviour changes to indicate if this is the cause

So select SdS instead of SEN

Obviously i cant say if your menu number will be same as not all inverter have it on the same number , mine is on setting 4 most axperts tend to be there

If yours is not you can scroll until you see either SdS /SEN and change it to sds

Do you have lithium or lead or acid batteries?

Your remark of running of battery being a waste makes no sense to me

Running a generator is way more costly than battery

So in a few months you would be using the cost of the battery in fuel

So what if the battery packs up then

I get that you obviously are trying to get the batteries to last as long as possible

So yea if lead acid i understand
The case of just using it as a carry over device until generator is running

Even then i would say get a lithium the cost savings will recoup in just a few months of no petrol bill

You will still have to either run the generator at least once a month , or drain the carbs if prolonged standby

 

[Lupus]

Can try APL instead of ups incase the generator power is fluctuating a bit more

Some inverters actually have a gen setting in this menu where you select apl/ups check to see if yours does

Can also try and run a bit more load while generator is running

Normally on eskom mode the voltage just matches what is coming from eskom so would not worry too much on voltage changes

The power saving mode (that shuts down the inverter if load is too little) can normally be disabled in the menu

Can obviously run some more load to see if behaviour changes to indicate if this is the cause

So select SdS instead of SEN

Obviously i cant say if your menu number will be same as not all inverter have it on the same number , mine is on setting 4 most axperts tend to be there

If yours is not you can scroll until you see either SdS /SEN and change it to sds

Do you have lithium or lead or acid batteries?

Your remark of running of battery being a waste makes no sense to me

Running a generator is way more costly than battery

So in a few months you would be using the cost of the battery in fuel

So what if the battery packs up then

I get that you obviously are trying to get the batteries to last as long as possible

So yea if lead acid i understand
The case of just using it as a carry over device until generator is running

Even then i would say get a lithium the cost savings will recoup in just a few months of no petrol bill

You will still have to either run the generator at least once a month , or drain the carbs if prolonged standby

It doesn't have that ability, this is pretty much a slight upgrade to the old Mecers, those function buttons I have no idea what they do. Even the manual has no explanations, the 2 I sold on this forum had this as well.

 

[wingnut771]

Can try APL instead of ups incase the generator power is fluctuating a bit more

Some inverters actually have a gen setting in this menu where you select apl/ups check to see if yours does

Can also try and run a bit more load while generator is running

Normally on eskom mode the voltage just matches what is coming from eskom so would not worry too much on voltage changes

The power saving mode (that shuts down the inverter if load is too little) can normally be disabled in the menu

Can obviously run some more load to see if behaviour changes to indicate if this is the cause

So select SdS instead of SEN

Obviously i cant say if your menu number will be same as not all inverter have it on the same number , mine is on setting 4 most axperts tend to be there

If yours is not you can scroll until you see either SdS /SEN and change it to sds

Do you have lithium or lead or acid batteries?

Your remark of running of battery being a waste makes no sense to me

Running a generator is way more costly than battery

So in a few months you would be using the cost of the battery in fuel

So what if the battery packs up then

I get that you obviously are trying to get the batteries to last as long as possible

So yea if lead acid i understand
The case of just using it as a carry over device until generator is running

Even then i would say get a lithium the cost savings will recoup in just a few months of no petrol bill

You will still have to either run the generator at least once a month , or drain the carbs if prolonged standby

This doesn’t have that. I’ll send the manual just now. As above, make sure the generator has a load on it before plugging in the inverter. I think it helps the frequency output of the generator by doing that.

 

[wingnut771]

Here you go, I have mine on default D1 C6 setting:

 

[soulie]

Hi everyone! I wonder if anyone can provide some insight ‍
I have an Ecco 1kw pure sine UPS Inverter, but I also have a generator and my idea is that the inverter doesn’t have to use battery power when the generator is running as that is a waste.
My generator was producing between 217 and 222 volts (+-) and the inverter was driving me mad kicking in every few seconds when the voltage would drop below 220v (with 4 beeps every time it kicked in and one every time it was happy with the power again). After extensive research I have adjusted the AVR on my generator to give slightly higher voltage, and I thought this would solve the issue but the inverter is running off battery even though there is decent AC power input ‍ (Photo 1)
View attachment 1540027
It did jump to “normal” for about a split second and then went back to battery mode.

Once the power was back we were all back to normal and working (photo 2)
View attachment 1540025

And then tonight (on Eskom power) it started randomly turning off with one beep (not the usual 4 beeps when the power goes out and it changed from AC to battery. In this case the input stays visible and the output falls to 0 and everything that was plugged in turns off. (Not that much, just a printer a screen and a laptop charger at this stage so definitely not close to overload) - And I now see the output voltage has also decreased after all of this and doesn’t seem to be coming back to normal. (photo 3- most recent)

View attachment 1540015

I am not sure if I possibly changed a mode setting somewhere during the course of the evening and that’s why the voltage looks weirdly low now, but I can’t find my hard
copy of the manual and I can’t seem to find it anywhere online so if anyone has a copy please send to me

how did you adjust the voltage on the gene ? if you adjusted the speed of the engine i hope you used a rpm gauge on the drive shaft ,by setting the speed up you will have altered the frequency of the output ,depending on whether its a 2 pole gene or 4 pole ,most 2 pole run at a specified speed usually around 2800 to 2860 rpm on the crank .

 

[Lupus]

Here you go, I have mine on default D1 C6 setting:

@Mista_Mobsta this seems more info then the manual that came with your one. Wish I had this info when I had it.

 

[wingnut771]

looks like these inverters possibly have an "energy saving mode". Maybe you are lucky that with the modest load you had connected it simply goes in/out energy saving mode.

from the many similar inverters on alibaba:
"Energy saving mode: If the power of the connected AC loads is lower than 5% of the inverter’s rated power, there will be no output from the inverter. Only the chip of inverter is working. The power consumption of the inverter is only 1~6W. The LCD shows the output voltage 0. If the power of the connected loads is over 5%, within 5S the inverter will automatically convert DC to AC to supply power for the loads . The LCD shows the output voltage.

Also, from the spec sheets these things seem to have a ± 10% output variance when connected to AC so the 216V will be within spec

Not sure why everything plugged into it would turn off.

 

[soulie]

Not sure why everything plugged into it would turn off.

because in true SA fashion ,somebody fiddled .

 

[one poster]

Not sure why everything plugged into it would turn off.

? "If the power of the connected AC loads is lower than 5% of the inverter’s rated power, there will be no output from the inverter. "

 

[wingnut771]

because in true SA fashion ,somebody fiddled .

Regardless, any of those setting wouldn't turn the output off.

 

[wingnut771]

? "If the power of the connected AC loads is lower than 5% of the inverter’s rated power, there will be no output from the inverter. "

I read that it will switch between battery and mains. Why have a UPS that turns things off?

 

[Lisasie]

looks like these inverters possibly have an "energy saving mode". Maybe you are lucky that with the modest load you had connected it simply goes in/out energy saving mode.

from the many similar inverters on alibaba:
"Energy saving mode: If the power of the connected AC loads is lower than 5% of the inverter’s rated power, there will be no output from the inverter. Only the chip of inverter is working. The power consumption of the inverter is only 1~6W. The LCD shows the output voltage 0. If the power of the connected loads is over 5%, within 5S the inverter will automatically convert DC to AC to supply power for the loads . The LCD shows the output voltage.

Also, from the spec sheets these things seem to have a ± 10% output variance when connected to AC so the 216V will be within spec

Appreciate that, but definitely not lucky because when it drops to 0 everything that’s plugged in turns off, including my WiFi and printer. So I have power but I have no WiFi or printer because the inverter stopped giving output ‍

 

[Lisasie]

View attachment 1540147
I read that it will switch between battery and mains.

I’ll check if it’s on D2 thanks! I really need to find the manual

 

[Lisasie]

For the generator to inverter, put a small load on the generator before connecting the inverter to it. For the disconnection even on Eskom power, check your batteries.

It did have other loads attached so I am not sure what else the issue could be.

 

[Lisasie]

View attachment 1540147
I read that it will switch between battery and mains. Why have a UPS that turns things off?

Agreed!

 

[wingnut771]

I’ll check if it’s on D2 thanks! I really need to find the manual

I just posted the manual, well the relevant pages. Post 7.

 

[Lisasie]

Even then i would say get a lithium the cost savings will recoup in just a few months of no petrol bill

Definitely busy saving for a lithium battery. I have a gel that’s badly discharged at the moment so to be running off it doesn’t make sense for now. I know it needs replacement but I’m working on it. My generator petrol costs could only recoup a lithium battery in over a year probably even longer than that.