eugenedp

Yes, that is a good solution. However, my goal is to go off-grid so unfortunately the pump has to go. But for now, my budget is a hurdle.

I only have a small system - 6x470w panels, 5kw inverter and 10kw battery but it is plenty for my needs. I have been preparing for going off-grid for a long time. Solar geyser, gas stove etc. I only have one more problem to solve - my 3 phase borehole pump has to be replaced. At the moment it is still running off of Eskom as I only have a single phase inverter.

Sorry, it is the same setting

For clarity - the yellow line is solar power, blue the load and red is mains For some unknown reason, my inverter randomly decides now is a good time to supply the load from the mains instead of from the batteries. It only happens when it starts getting cloudy and the clouds randomly gets in front of the sun. In this case, the batteries are full. My inverter's hybrid setting is set to "off" and the option to share the load between mains and solar is also off. In the example below, yesterday, I ran the microwave while there was not enough sun to supply the load and it worked fine. Does anyone have any ideas? This has me puzzled.

Just an update - I tested the automations to charge the battery when it drops to a certain level yesterday. No luck. I could not get the inverter to charge the battery at all. I do not know if I am just stupid or maybe the automations do not work yet. Grid first settings work, but not the charge settings.

Yes, I am using the automation settings. Not much, I am running off Eskom power from 17:00 to 21:00 every day and I have set up an automation to charge the battery off Eskom if it should go below 30% SOC(has not happened yet). Seems to work. I must add that I am running the latest beta version of SA.

Sorry, cancel. I was too impatient. It seems it takes about 5 minutes but it does revert back to battery power after I decrease the load.

I need some help please. I want my inverter to run 99% off grid, only using the grid in emergencies to charge the battery and take the load when there is no solar. It seems I have achieved that goal 99%. It mostly works as required, except for when the load exceeds my battery's 50a limit. It then switches over and supplies the load from the AC supply(as expected). The problem is that even if I switch off the large load, it keeps on supplying the the small load,(my pc) from the grid and does not change back to the battery. Does anyone know if there is anything I can do? Will a firmware update help?

If even a scope does not highlight an obvious problem, the problem may well prove impossible to diagnose, for us normal people. It may call for the manufacturers to get involved. If I was not in the poorhouse, I would start looking around at other makes. I have not heard of the same problem with other inverters.

Wow. I am just lucky that mine has never been on when the power goes out. Only a matter of time though. Luckily my PC and NVR's power supplies have survived thus far(touch wood).

My Luxpower has the same problem for sure. I have not blown any fuses yet, but yesterday my aircon was running and it had an epileptic fit when the power went out. It sounded like it wanted to climb out of the plastic housing. I am pretty sure that my HiFi would have blown its fuses as well if it was on. So apparently updating the firmware does not make a difference. Has anyone found any solution to the problem? I must say, I am not impressed, at all.

Not sure what the default update period is for SA, you can set it for 10sec. But even at 10sec it will miss more spikes than it records. Mine records it now and again but mostly misses.

Yep, you may be correct. I assumed that the load value included the amount that went to the battery, but that may not be the case.

My Luxpower(I assume all of them) self uses quite a lot. Even more since I added the panels. Granted, a lot of that is due to inefficiencies and heat loss outside of the inverter. Fortunately I do not pay for all the lost power, but it is a lot. But have a look at the difference between my load and the power generated from solar.

I have checked mine, zero draw from Eskom. I have PV&AC jointly enabled, because I run off Eskom between sunset and 22:00.

By the way, the dongle does give you access to more info, but not a whole lot. I was very disappointed when I got things running, so I bought Solar Assistant to get some real data. I wanted to know what the inverter was doing, all the time, in real time. But even with Solar Assistant, you will still need the dongle.

I would put pressure on the supplier if I were you. As far as I know, the WiFi dongle is supposed to be included. Unless the supplier sold you the inverter expressly stating that it was not included. I am not 100% sure, but I assume that the inverter is topping up the battery from time to time, thus using the fans. Mine does the same, only difference is mine runs a lot more now that I am on solar and the whole house draws power from the inverter. I would worry if the fans stop running altogether. Intermittent running is normal.

You can change the battery type in the inverter settings. Select 03 on the LCD to do so, check your manual. These units self consume a lot of power. I also noticed it before I installed my panels. My monthly usage also went up. As for the fans starting up occasionally - that is normal. As the unit starts charging or inverting, the temperature goes up as well.

That is concerning. I assume that the interface shows no current draw from the supply? I have not checked mine, I know it draws momentarily from the Eskom side when a large inductive load starts - my battery can only supply 2.4kw. But I have not seen a continuous draw, because I never suspected one or checked for one.

Agreed 100%. Most of the basic electrical stuff can be figured out with the aid of some common sense and knowledge, but it is a very wide and diverse field. This is not something a purely electrical specialist will do well in. Lots of other knowledge and experience needed, not least of all - a lot of mechanical expertise. Even more so if you attempt something like this. I did not trust my roof.

I did the same - I do not have the funds to hire someone to do something I can do myself. With lots of help from Google and Youtube.

Like Czauto says, we will need more info. On the Luxpower SNA5000 it is very easy. Enable Hybrid setting And set the time -

Mine is only 2.8kw, and the only time I have seen it deliver more than 3kw was on a semi cloudy day as well.

😱

I am astonished to say the least. I get 2.5kw on average in full sun, to get 1 - 1.5kw through the clouds is unbelievable. To me, at least☺