ShaunKZN

Hi all Tested Multisibcontrol on Windows 10 laptop. Picked up my Mercer MKII's(Parallel setup) but at first could not see my 4 Pylontechs(US3000c). I made up my RJ45 to Serial(Diagrams attached) , plugged it into console port of master battery and used a regular serial to usb cable to connect it to the USB port on my laptop. After plugging and removing a few times it still didn't work. I then opened Device Manager on windows 10 , plugged in the usb/serial cable again and saw a little ! indicating incorrect drivers of the new device. I clicked on properties / update driver / windows recommended search from internet. The CH340 driver was installed(same as arduino drivers I think). Once installed I unplugged the usb/serial and plugged it back in opened Multisibcontrol. After a few seconds it detected all 4 Pylontechs and showed all parameters. I did not have to change Baud rate settings. I plan on using an old laptop and chrome remote desktop to mirror the desktop onto my computer and work or onto my phone for now.

Hi guys , hoping someone could offer some help. Currently have 2 Axpert 5ka (MKSII) in parallel. 6 Canadian solar panels on the roof(but seldom turn the solar on now because of error 72 which does not seem to go away). I have a BMV 702 for monitoring and looking into getting ICC as well. I only have 4 200ah Gel 12v batteries connected and use this just as a back up during load shedding. My setup has fuses for batteries and solar. 50mm2 battery cables running to each inverter from the battery fuse. I'm looking at removing the 4 gel batteries and upgrading to 2 x Pylontech 3000c. So far my shopping list includes 1. Pylontech batteries x 2 2. Pylontech cabinet 3. ?Spare pylontech battery cables Would I be able to link the 2 pylontech batteries in parallel and connect it to the battery fuse box , or will the battery fuse box cables need to be changed?

Coulomb thanks for that explanation. The batteries are 200ah. I think I'll get 2 more to help sustain powering the house during these times. Cost wise I'm also considering Pylontech. Any advice on how many 3.5kw Pylontech I would need to replace 6 or 8 200ah batteries? I have changed Program 16 to SNU to help for now. Also thinking of adding 2 more panels.

Would changing program 16 to SNU (Solar and Utility to charge battery at the same time) help? Battery would perhaps charge in less time during Stage 4 load shedding.

Thanks GVC. Is there a setting I could use to give priority to powering the house from solar and charging the batteries as 2nd priority?

Hi there Recently got my inverters installed. Parallel 2 x Axpert 5Kva MK II 48v (4 x 12v Gel) 6 x Canadian solar 365w (Connected in series) - PV only going to 1 inverter With stage 4 load shedding we had 3 intervals of 2 hours each without power today. I understand that 4 x 12v batteries is not going to allow me max out my potential 10kw. Today the power went out at 15:30 with 30 mins of load shedding left for the day. I went to my inverter to find zero output and see that the panels were charging the batteries. Battery voltage was sitting at 42V. To my understanding , I reached DC cut off voltage? But my solar was still giving me 270V so why didn't solar take over power supply to the house and charge the batteries at the same time? My settings 01 SOL 02 30A on each inverter 16 CSO Is there anything that I can change to make it work so that Solar takes over powering the house when available? I have taken photos of whats going on with my inverters when the power cut off completely and when it came back on

Ok so the inverters are on the way , should have them by tuesday. Next on the list is solar panels. Planning on panels within the 300w range (45V / 9amps) Distance from panels to inverter(combiner box first) is roughly 20m. I'm looking(for now) at getting 8 panels. ie. 2 strings of 4 panels each(series) My combiner box will house the PV cables -->fuses--->busbars-->PV breaker. This is a parallel (2 * 5Kva) system so I understand that I would need to supply both inverters More questions : 1. What size cable should I use from panel to combiner box and what size from combiner box to inverter(+- 1.5m apart). 2. What size fuse should I use for these cables in the combiner box(plan on adding more panels later). 3. What size PV breaker would be sufficient?(also would I be able to output 4 cables from PV breaker to inverters or should it be 2 cables --> Busbar --> 2 cables to each inverter). 4. I have 4 x 200ah Gel batteries , what rated fuse should I have on the positive line in a system like this? If I plan on adding 4 more batteries will the rated fuse need to change? 5. Can my battery Busbar be in the same PV combiner box?

Exactly what I need! Thanks Coulomb!

I plan on using 2 axpert MKII's. Can I set it to run from battery(and charge via solar) / or direct through solar / My only concern is that there should be enough juice left in the batteries when loadshedding strikes. What settings would be ideal to achieve this?

Thanks for the clarifying that Wilfred. Batteries are just 3 months old. Specs : Maximum PV Array Power: 4500 W. MPPT Range @ Operating Voltage: 120VDC ~430 VDC. Maximum PV Array Open Circuit Voltage: 450 VDC. Maximum Solar Charge Current: 80 A. Maximum AC Charge Current: 80 A. Maximum Charge Current: 80 A.

Hi Richard I powered a couple of led lights , fish tank(+-50 watts) / inverter aircon(+-400w) and my pc etc. Usage was between 20 to 60%. Only been using it during load shedding. A few times we ran it for more than 2 hours. Once it ran for +-7 hours with no issues. I would now need to power another aircon(non-inverter type) / hairdryer / possible microwave / kettle (ofcourse not all on at the same time)

Hi guys Been reading the forum for a few days and really impressed with the knowledge of some of the members here(far more knowledge and practicality than most electricians/salesmen I know) I currently have a mecer 3kva axpert and 2 x 200ah Gel batteries. I am using a changeover switch and have to switch it on(to inverter) during loadshedding. 3kva is far too small to leave it on inverter mode the whole time and hence the upgrade. I ordered an Axpert 5Kva MKS II which should arrive by friday. I will then get my electrician to add a few more breakers to the inverter DB. I know that I will require 2 more batteries and I plan on getting another 2 x 200ah Gel. My questions 1. If I get another 5kva will this then equate to 10kva supply? 2. Will 4 batteries still work with 2 inverters connected in parallel? 3. Does the inverter have to be the same make(ie MKS II) or can I use any axpert 5Kva inverter - The only advantage I can see to this is the cheaper price. Are there any disadvantages? 4. In a few weeks I plan on getting solar panels , how many of what power would I need for 2 x 5kva connected in parallel to achieve maximum efficiency?

I would actually put a picture frame around that if it were in my house 😀

Got a new electrician to come around today. He spent an hour , and its fixed! He says he has to clean the box up a bit but it should be working fine. He says my changeover switch was reading voltage even in the "off" position. Here's what it looks like now.

Lol next time you down for a project swing by 🍺