rylan76

Just thought I'd get back on this, turns out SunSynk pushed out a non-optional firmware upgrade back then and apparently did not publicize it. To get it working again, the installer factory-reset the main inverter only, after also completely disconnecting and switching off (via the on-battery breakers) the two Freedom Won batteries. The sequence was - Batteries off, master and all slave inverters running on AC - Factory reset master inverter with AC applied - Switch off all inverters and turn off AC so master inverter and all slaves go dead completely once master back from its factory reset - Turn on batteries, -then- switch inverter(s) on so they come back up on DC from batteries only - Wait a few minutes, then turn on AC to all the inverters Once this was done the SoC was again correctly displayed and you could see it decrease during loadshedding as the batteries drained from being used. Generator automatic turn-on is now working again as the master inverter "sees" the batteries reach 30% and then sends the startup signal.

Hi guys I have a 5.5KVa single-phase generator with a house transfer switch able to select grid / generator / off. I have an 8KW SunSynk single-phase hybrid inverter connected to grid for AC via its grid terminals - direct generator input is disconnected and not used on the SunSynk itself. My SunSynk is set as such to never draw more than 2.2KW from the grid for powering the house and charging the batteries. E. g. half my generator's total capacity. Can I safely start my generator, select generator on my transfer switch, and power the SunSynk from the generator without damaging or blowing up anything? I have set the SunSynk to zero-export the day it was installed, my "meter-maintaining" output has been set to 0W in the software to prevent it trying to reverse to generator / grid. I did check with the installer, they installed everything "behind" the point where the transfer switch ties the generator in to the house's domestic supply, so the SunSynk should "see" any AC the generator produces "as grid". If I'm making sense. Any caveats or gotchas? Should I make sure (for example) that my panels are disconnected first (pull the breaker in each string's isolator box down) before starting the generator and throwing the switch after it has warmed up? Definitely do not want to blow my generator or *gasp* the SunSynk itself. Or am I just displaying my ignorance here in thinking this is possible? I did consult the installer, but I'm also looking for some practical advice or hear what others found when doing / trying to do this. I've read the SunSynk documentation I could find, generally it seems as long as the AC load the inverter will cause is manageable for your generator, you cannot really damage anything even when using the "grid" input INSTEAD of "generator" inputs on the SunSynk. Any advice? Thanks

That's the thing. No lightning strike. Not even a cloud in the sky anywhere. Was 02:15 in the morning. Deadly quiet, no wind stirring, no dust in the air, humidity was quite normal, so no static in the air. Was at the unit about an hour earlier, touched the surge arrestors and fuses, all cool, not problems. Only thing was it was -dry-. Anyway, the arrestor got so much power through it it melted itself into the fuse holder next to it. Chipped the whole mess of melted plastic away and replaced - no issue so far for several weeks afterward. YMMV...

Hi Martyn Yes, it was as you say above, a surge arrestor on the PV side. For some reason one of my surge arrestors burned out completely. Had to replace it with a new one. Suggest your friend does NOT just take out the surge arrestor, it is very important to protect the inverter. My installer also suggested that I ensure that my grounding stakes at each of my strings is properly wettened now and then, sometimes apparently the ground can get so dry that the panels "lose ground" and this can apparently cause surges in the PV input to the inverter (which my arrestor kamikazed itself to protect.) Hope this helps. Regards Stefan

This is the next step. We're dependent on the units for the business, so I arranged with the installer to come by tomorrow after 17h00 and assist with a complete shutdown and restart. What I do find strange is that charging still works as it should, the inverters stop and start charging when they should if the battery was drained, but it is as if the rest of the SoC mechanism / logic just stopped functioning and got locked into a "SoC is always 100%" mode... Thanks for the reply!

Haven't referred it yet. I talked to my installer and he will be along tomorrow after hours so we he can try a complete restart of the 5 inverters. I checked the battery indicators themselves, and they appear correct and fine - so it seems to be some kind of interpretation issue with BMS between them and the master inverter itself. What is strange they stay at 100% on the inverters, but the inverters do know they have discharged (during loadshedding, for example) because the moment mains comes back they start charging. So the "logic" is still ok as regards the inverters knowing when the batteries are full or need a charge, the actual display of SoC and acting on that (like starting the generator at 30% SoC) -that- isn't working... but something else in the inverters seems to know just fine what the ACTUAL charge is as it starts charging and stops just as it normally would.

Hi All We have the above at the workplace, and 2x 40KWh FreedomWon LiFEPo batteries for 80KWh total capacity. For the past three weeks, no matter how heavily we draw on the batteries, their SoC never decreases according to the SoC meter on the units and on the website / app. The install is about a year old, it was working fine until three weeks ago, e. g. SoC decreases during loadshedding as the loads are serviced using the batteries, then immediate charge-up when grid comes back. Now you can still see the grid charge occurring after loadshedding ends (so SOMETHING is seeing the batteries are discharged and need recharging) but the actual indicated SoC is always 100% no matter how much the batteries are drained. We use BMS with CAN bus, no errors indicated on the master inverter or a peer inverter. This is a problem as SoC is used to turn on the generator if needed at 30% SoC - now, no matter how "flat" the batteries, SoC is ALWAYS 100%. Any ideas as to what is going on and how it can be corrected? Thanks!

Thanks guys!

Mystery might be clearing up. I've spotted by eye a loose red wire hanging beneath one panel's upper edge, connected at both ends... BUT there is a -LOT- of dove feathers (more than usual) below this panel and directly below the wire. I know that the enormous local dove population love to hide under the panels, I regularly clear nests out of from under it. Appears a dove flew into the cable in the dark, got tangled up and panicked and apparently jerked it loose at either end - still physically attached but probably no electrical contact anymore... Anybody got advice to keep doves away from panels??

Ok the SunX units appear to indeed be fuseholders. Cannot figure out how they open so a fuse can be replaced, appear completely sealed and very solid construction.

This is my other string's breaker box that is still working. It has no reds displayed and is showing two greens. What are the SunX units left and right of the breaker? Apparently NOT fuseholders as they are completely sealed and cannot be opened?

Thx the two strings are on two separate roofs. I have two of these surge arrestor boxes, one for each string. The other string is fine, its surge arrestor box has identical modules in it, all good and I'm pulling in DC from those 6 panels (it is a 12 panel setup, 6 on one roof on one surge arrestor box, 6 on another roof on this surge arrestor box.) Thanks for the reply! Appreciate it. Regards Stefan

Hi all My 8Kw Sunsynk was running on batteries with mains down for about an hour when it switched off ouput and reported F26 bus_unbalance_fault. No lightning and no sunlight - quiet night. No wind or rain. Completely reset the unit but the moment load is applied, F26 is again raised and output switched off. Checked my PV breaker boxes and spotted attached image on one of my two 6 panel strings. Note the red flags to the left and no green to the right on the surge arrestor. As long as I keep the breaker down for this string, no problems. Without grid AC applied to inverter AC input, pushing this breaker up gives F26 error, and inverter switches output off. With grid AC applied to inverter AC input, pushing this breaker up gives F36 error, but inverter maintains output (probably just pipes grid AC?) What could have caused this? Can this be corrected by replacing the surge arrestor showing blank instead of green per the pic, and the associated modules with the red indications? Is my inverter done for on one of its MPPTs due to this? Unit is 11 months old, still under warranty. I have 12 440W panels in 2 strings, 6 per string. Everything is running fine on the remaining string, unit charges batteries, all good. Thanks!

Thx PsyWulf I'll discuss this with my system integrator. As is implied by your statement (e. g. ignore signals if mains isn't -actually- off, at night) it appears the generator control function is highly variable and unreliable for Sunsynk inverters?

Hi Thx for the reply. Thing is, it does work correctly. To test over the weekend during the day after the install was done, I brought down mains and turned off all PV input and let batteries drain to 30% SOC. Generator controller got the start command from the master inverter and started up. Charged the batteries to capacity, then the inverter turned the generator off via the controller, exactly as it should. So everything is working correctly as regards the actual "seeing", by the master inverter, of a low SOC, starting the generator, charging up to full, then turning the generator off. The issue is now on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, always around 23:00 and 02:00 the master inverter issues meaningless start commands for 2 or 3 minute runs at a time, up to 6 times during a 24 hour period, always around 23:00 and 02:00, with the then SOC % up to 40% and more above the generator activation threshold of 30% SOC. That's the puzzle - everything works correctly except spurious start signals coming from the master inverter, being logged by the genset's DSE-6020 Mk. 2, and which then obediently starts the generator - only to be told within 120, 180 or 240 seconds to shut it down again by the master inverter... and so on, always around 23:00 and 02:00 at SOCs 30%, 40% or 50% higher than the generator start threshold of 30% SOC. But thanks alot anyway! Kind regards Stefan