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

Hi guys We have the above setup with the master inverter set to start the generator and charge the batteries if SOC drops below 30%. This setup was installed on Friday last week. Problem we are now having is that the generator starts up at four to six times each night / early morning, regardless of SOC as seen by the master inverter. It starts as commanded by the master inverter, and then the master inverter shuts it down again after two to three minutes. This always occurs around 23:00 at night (2 starts last night) and then around 02:00 the next morning (3 starts from 01:48 to 02:23). The times are never exactly the same, but the false starts are always around 23:00 and 02:00 but the precise time can vary by minutes (sometimes ten minutes or more, night to night.) The generator is an AKSA-AP110C 110kW unit with a DSE-6020 controller that is wired via UTP cable into the master inverter connector block. Obviously this is wasting diesel and with starter cranking sometimes 6 times a night is causing a lot of unnecessary wear. Also, the engine never reaches operating temperature so wear is even worse. This happens irrespective of whether there is loadshedding or not, and irrespective of SOC as seen by the inverter. It is set to start the generator at 30% SOC, but last night the starts were at SOCs of above 90% , then at 70%, then at 62%, 79% etc. - totally random except for it always being around 23:00 and always being around 02:00. Any idea or suggestions WHY the master inverter in our 5 inverter parallel set is randomly starting the generator over and over for no SOC reason, and then shutting it down almost immediately? The DSE-6020 enforces a 2 minute cooldown, for each start after being "told" by the master Sunsynk to stop running, so I'm wasting lots of diesel too. Any ideas? Thanks

If only!

Unknown... the inverters work correctly in my case, whether there is a red or green circle. But I agree, it must mean -something- otherwise it wouldn't be there... I've observed them in detail, cannot find any factor that I can identify that control whether the circle is red, or green. They keep working fine, red or green, doesn't matter.

I have a 8kw SunSynk at home (above five 12kw units are at the workplace) and its circle is ALWAYS green... Something to do with running SunSynk inverters in parallel?

Hi All We have five 3-phase SunSynk 12kw inverters running in parallel. On each inverter's display there is a letter "G" in the left bottom corner. This letter "G" has a circle drawn around it. I've noticed that sometimes the "G" is in a red circle, on all the inverters. Sometimes the "G" is in a green circle, on all the inverters. Sometimes one inverter will have a green circled "G", other times all will have a red circled "G", and all variations in between... some have a green circle, some will have a red circle, around the "G". Sometimes all are uniform (all green or all red circles across all five inverters) sometimes all randomly mixed. See the attachment - surrounded by the red box and pointed to by an arrow drawn on the image. What does this letter "G" in the left bottom corner mean? What does the red circle and green circle that seems to randomly switch between red and green mean? The inverters are working fine, for several months now, whether the circle is red, or green....?! I cannot find any explanation or reference in any SunSynk manual I've managed to find. Any ideas? Thanks

Also having this on a 5 inverter setup - F41. Crashes out all the inverters and my office goes completely dead for about 2 minutes. Tends to occur when there is lots of sun and loadshedding begins.

Hi all I recently got a SunSynk 8KW based system with 12x JA solar panels and 2x Hubble AM-5 5.5Kwh batteries. Highly pleased with it. However, the Sunsynk WILL NOT consume any more than about 1.2Kw from the town council over the AC link - anything higher and it disconnects itself and draws off the panels / batteries. The installer showed me that the problem is that when anything more than about 1.2 to 1.4KW is drawn from the town council, the voltage drops on my municipal connection to 170 volts, and sometimes as low as 145 volts, measured at the input side of the DB where their cable enters. He disconnected the inverter, and even with it not touching anything, this severe voltage drop is apparent as soon as you, for example, boil a kettle and start the swimming pool pump (about 2200 watt load) - the volts even went to 140v at one point on their cable before the DB, with the inverter physically disconnected "downstream". If this happens while the inverter is connected, it disconnects itself from the AC supply as the voltage goes way too low. How can I try to explain this to my council - like almost all councils ours is bankrupt and infrastructure is falling apart all over. It is virtually impossible to get any kind of response out of them, let alone say "there is a voltage drop on my connection if I draw more than 1.2KW". It is next to impossible to get a municipal electrician on site. Any pointers or ideas where or how I can approach this? Can the fault be on my side somehow? Thank you