Green Bum

Sorry Guys! I picked up the thread regarding mixing 15 a 16 cell batteries..... Pylon & Revov Not a good idea!!

Following a recommendation, I want to increase my Pylontech US 3000 3.5 kw/h capacity to 8.7kw/h with a Revov 5.2Kw/h Manufactures do not want you to mix batteries, I believed this was for their commercial benefit. BUT!! I see the float charge (Revov 54.5 V) (Pylontech 51.8-52V) Bulk charge (Revov 55.5 V)(Pylontech 52.5 V) Low voltage disconnect (Revov 49V) (Pylontech 44.5 V) As I understand the upper and lower levels of charging and dis-charging are critical in the life expectancy of batteries Do you think the two batteries can be effectively combined? Thank you for your time!! Greenbum

Hi Guys I have been working with Lion-run on a Infini 3kw plus (Replus) inverter fan-fault error 27 (5.5) on his Our inverters only have 3 wires, thus not the PWM 4th wire and pin. Our fan controlled only by voltage input!

Hi Lionel, bad news! today my first fan fault error with the new fan! I think my problem is the feedback and therefore decided to split the cooling and feedback systems. a) Cooling now done with the new Delta fan + (for insurance) a cheap 80mm computer 2 wire fan, both running of the nr. 2 board connector. b) Feedback system, the yellow feedback wire for connector nr. 2 now coming from the bridged yellow feedback wire from board connector nr. 1, I don't recall ever finding a stagnant fan during a fan fault alarm. Even though the biggest risk would be a fan not starting up, my fault seems to be triggered while the fan is running???? A Few Observations! 1. I have still not exchanged the nr.1 and 2 connectors on the board to see if the voltage output is the same. You mention, "This led me installing the Voltmeter on both their two board connectors..." I presume you got a similar output and that the slow "take of" for the Delta fan was not due to a lower output. 3. I am hoping that drawing power for two fans from the one board connector is not bad for the chip!! 4. It seems the fans are triggered by a heat sensor and a sudden increase in load irrespective of heat. 5. I wonder if one would be able to use the current fan power-output to switch a relay and an external 12V power supply to run the fans? I realize you will not get the variable speed but I would prefer the crisp start-up and the option to use more fans Cheers Green Bum

Hi Lionel, One question, i find my my new fan "lazy" in starting up, it takes a second or two in response to loads to start up. It will typically oscillate back and forward and then get going while my Nr.1 fan just gets going without the same hesitation. I tested the new fan on a 12V battery and no problem, got going without hesitation. I have not swopped the connectors of NR. 1 and 2 around to see if i get the same hesitation but will try this later.. Have you experienced this "hesitation"? Regarding the change in direction of the fans, I live about 40km from the see, I checked for oxidation but this did not seem to be a problem, only the dust issue... I have decided for the time being to leave it as is. Regards, Godfried Green Bum

Hi Lionel, No more BEEEEEEP Fault code 27 alarms! I managed to get 2 Delta fans also (used) through a contact in Germany. THANK YOU for sharing the Delta specs! I would like to make a contribution that will benefit others using this Voltronic inverter branded as Infini, Replus I believe Giant Power IGS 3000 (in Australia) etc. The cooling system is sub-system, on top of the the heat management system. If the heat rises to high a fault code 7 will be displayed and the load switched off. This active cooling with fans seems to be vulnerable to either fans giving problems or the the feedback system (3rd wire). I have battled to find replacement fans. The original ADDA fans are expensive, difficult, and slow to import furthermore I could not find a generic alternatives in South Africa. A new discovery while waiting for my replacement fan. I decided to cut and bridge my 3rd yellow feedback wire from my "working" nr. 1 fan to the nr. 2 fan. My nr. 2 was still running be giving a error 27 Fault code. After bridging no more fault code! I realize this is a short term and somewhat risky solution but valuable if you are stuck ! I would like to explore alternatives that would open up more options to manage this cooling sub system in terms of the feedback loop and different fans that can be used If you split the ground and 12V wirers leading to the nr. 1 and 2 fans and simply placed two cheap pc fans at the top of the inverter you should be able to use almost any fans to move the air in combination to achieve the "56CFM" required If I was able to "trick" the system in believing the nr.2 fan was running as required could one make a plan to provide this signal in some other way? Could one use a timer based or permanently running fan to do the cooling? I started thinking of ways to change the cooling into a "passive" cooling system, increasing the cooling surface, using liquid cooling, using a convection system to draw/force air through the heatsinks etc. My inverter is has already paid itself so I am more comfortable to start playing with alternative answers to this challenge. Green Bum

Hi Lionel, I have been thinking about your top down cooling solution, but it is keeping me awake! 1. I think except as acting as air outlet, the mesh filter at the top of the machine is there to keep stuff from falling into the the inverter and potentially causing BIG problems 2. Obviously the warm air will move upwards, with you forcing it the other way, I wonder how much cooling will be sacrificed?? 3. I am with you regarding the "moisture damage" and problems with the dust.... I am looking at installing a long sock or stocking "filter" below the intake to try and provide some filtration. Best, Green Bum

Hi Lionel, Thank you for the detailed feedback! Voltronic (Infini) changed the fan on later models to a 92mm! I live in Cape Town and will start the search for your generic (Delta) fan. I am a technical novice but appreciate your inputs. Regards, Green bum Where would you recommend me to find the fan??

Hi Irfan and Lionel, I have a simmilar error 27 fault on my 7 year old infini 3kw plus have you been able to fix your fault. Lionel, did your DIY exchange of fans do the trick?? This type of error 27 Fan Fault seems to be a common fault on a otherwise reliable inverter! Regards Green Bum

Hi, my 3kw Infini is still set to the original "0W" factory setting and therefore consuming 80w during the day... I want to set it to the -100w but not sure weather my Itron prepaid meter will object (go into tamper mode) with the possibility of feeding 10-15W into the grid? Can anybody please help

Hi sorry for the delay..... Yes I sorted the problem by cleaning the air vents at the top of my inverter using a vacuum cleaner... I also opened the inverter and used a blower to clean the inside.... Problem solved Hope this helps!

Hi Frodo, have you managed to solve your Code 12 error? I am having a similar problem after 4 years.. my error 12 appears with strong sun around noon and about 75% load, after a few beeps (safe mode) it switches back to solar feeding load.

Thanks for all the feedback, I will implement the improvements! Can you please help me with names and contact details of electricians, willing to check my system and issue a Supplementary COC. Any electrician willing to take on this COC job please contact me! You can PM me Cell 083 234 1717

Wow! thanks for all the feedback! Jaco, (i)inside the DC DB box, a 125 A circuit breaker, two DC fuses and Surge protectors. (ii) Oops no earth protection, thanks (iii) Lead acid. yes holes in the box lid and open at the back.

Hi Guys, have a 3kw infini a off-grid DIY system installed following a lot of advice from the forum. I have also been following some of the discussions regarding risk, compliance etc. and want to play my part in at least having a COC issued to certify that my system is in the ball park. I live in the Overberg and have not been able to find a electrician able or willing to help. I am flexible and have a realistic budget set aside for this project. Can you please refer me or contact me regarding a COC Thanks,

Morning Pudljumper, from your intro it is not clear if you intend to move onto the property immediately or if it is gonging to be a weekend project to start with, the 12 container brings up some clues.... My contribution would be to advise to go slowly and learn organically what works and does not work for you in your specific context. I am playing with cob, permaculture and sustainable lifestyle ideas in Tesselaarsdal (close to Hermanus). One of my first projects was to build a solar water heater which worked perfectly up until the day the copper was exchanged for a papsak. With a lot of wood available, today I work with wood heating a my water in a donkey which also works wonderful. Solar is gaining a lot of traction in Africa, typically one panel charging a cellphone or running a few LED lights therefore solar equipment is becoming sort after, A friend had 10 panels stolen from his roof within a few hours, therefore a generator might be a safer option to start out... 1. I have found that issues like security of your equipment etc. is also important factors in some cases even more important than the technical specs. 2. Moving from ESKOM to living with solar requires some new skills and attitudes, not just for you but for the family, again try to go slow, the social cost can easily be more that the cost of batteries I started out with the 3kw infini and are learning as I go.. It would be interesting to hear more about your project and best of luck to you

Hi Camel, I am also looking for a BMV 702 ,can you please help. Thanks,

Hi Deepbase, It was your project that made me realize that I should share my experience. I really works well despite concerns that it might give problems overheating or not heating effectively.

I would like to ad a new angle in the hot water. Out of necessity I installed my old copper geyser 150L against my chimney as high as possible between the ceiling and the roof. Advantage is that with a simple T connector coupled to the inlet and hot water outlet I could use the thermo syphon effect from a flat plate collector salvaged from a scrapyard for R500. Past winter I realized that I had the opportunity to use the heat of my fire to heat my geyser... again two T's on the in and out of the geyser. One copper pipe (hot return) running up inside my chimney passing through the chimney into the geyser. the cold feeding line running down the outside of the chimney entering the firebox from a lower level than the hot water pipe going up the chimney. I have two pieces of about 300mm copper exposed to the heat. With a heat sensor on my geyser I can manipulate the fire not to get the geyser to hot! I can easily raise the temp by 15 to 20 degrees... The big benefit is measured in the triple bottom-line ie. (a) Financial advantage (b) Social benefit with family and pets enjoying the fire and heated house (c) ecological benefit despite the burring of wood I am lead to believe that wood fires are less damaging than coal to the environment. After one year of use I really enjoyed the system. On the picture two additional pieces of copper was soldered onto the water pie to try and get more heat transferred onto the water pipe... these two pieces burnt away within a month of use... not worthwhile

Thanks for your inputs! Yes I did consider joining the Axpert club... but I do not like batteries and always wanted to steer clear of them. I had to go back to my original reasons for getting involved in the world of power generation. I had quite a lot of fun saving energy rather than generating it! If you drill down into using energy efficiently, you are soon faced with questions like, "what is really important to you and how does using this energy (resource) get you closer to what is really important to you. Someone once mentioned that in the theater of live we are actually always busy answering the question, who are we? One of the best ways of answering or clarifying that question for ourselves is by looking consciously at the value we attach to things.... I missed out on the breaking Ice discussion but was very impressed with the philosophical arguments put forward, especially by @plonkster in this line of thinking! So getting back to my own topic and question, thank you again @Chris, I will try the system only with batteries and no AC and then, I will try the three pin wall plug @Mark, I have no problem with experimenting with the illegal options, even considered hiding the AC in/out circuits in my wall and elaborate trucking games... Ultimately I will proceed in the direction of the official SSEG certification but one step at a time.. first I want to install the system correctly, thank you for all your valuable inputs so far!! I want to pay a professional fee for someone to inspect and make the necessary changes to my installation, finally connecting to my DB and issuing a COC. I have already started talking to engineers that might be willing to consult and finally sign off... So far its been a 16 month journey with lots of learning!!

Thanks Plonkster, I am with you even though I did not realise the AC input side of my inverter could also provide problems for the muni. My question remains, can a infini 3kw+ work as a true off-grid inviter without AC available?

Thank you Chris, according to my municipality my system becomes an "embedded" system the moment I connect it to my municipal AC irrespective of exporting or not I have a 48V battery bank but my reading of my manual points to 3 off-grid options, all connected to the municipality?? I decided on the Infini due to its versatility, being in a regulated municipality I wanted the "legal" option of real off-grid

I opted to buy the infini due to its off-grid capabilities (providing AC power from PV panels without any utility availability) After installing 12X260W panels my understanding is that I have to connect with the utility with the small complication of automatically becoming a SSEG!! L Can I run the Infini off-grid? Without any municipal power connected to the inverter? Thanks

Hey Gerald, i think Carl is also using the SA inverter you are using..... speak to him!

Sorry on request by provider to be kept for myself.