Vijen

Cool, thx Suly. I notice your total panels add up to more than the 10400W, again I assume its fine as long as as you do not exceed the 450V and 18A per string and any given time.

Good day all. Does anyone know how much solar you can add to each PV string on a 8.8kW Sunsync inverter. The manual specifies 10400W total PV but does that mean max power per string is 5200W? If you look at max voltage and current per string you should be able to go much higher on on string than the other. The reason I ask is because I have a single solar array but when I change inverters I will add another on a different part of roof. The current array is only 3000W

Yes, It is a UP5000C. I have however read the documents you attached and I do not believe that is my problem. I use ICC with communicates with battery via the console port and the correct type C cable is used. I think that the issue is caused because of the difference in SOC when I installed the battery. It appears it should self correct after a few 100% charges, or at least I hope it does. I have taken note of the voltage settings tho and made sure that I do not go over 52.5V.

Hi OomD Did the batteries tend to equalize eventually? If it did how long did it take? I am experiencing the same issue after adding a battery to my system. Regards Vijen

Its very simple to get ICC software working on Pi. You either buy the Pi with the software or if you have a Pi at home just buy software and flash SD card for Pi with ICC software image. Power up Pi and connect USB cable from Pi to inverter. Thats it, ICC will run and communicate to inverter. It gets a bit more messy when you want the correct battery SOC as you would have to connect a 2nd cable to either BMV or directly to Pylontech if thats the battery you are using. I connect directly to my Pylontech batteries with a USB to RS232 cable which then reads proper diagnostics and SOC from battery via the ICC software.

Hi Lord Buckethead, the above works great, thx. I just find the configuration file is super sensitive because now I cannot read the sonoff devices anymore. I must have typed a space somewhere that is stuffing up the config file.

Thanks for the feedback 87.

Great stuff - thanks. Did not realize I always had to show platform. This is so cool - going to automate some switching of Sonoff devices using SOC and Load

I agree with Buyeye and 87 Dream. My old 5kW Mecer has its limitations but has served me well for 6 years with ICC. The newer Max seems excellent as far as specs. I would have liked however to be able to run without the Pi and have correct SOC reported. Since the Max communicates directly with the Pylontech (RS232 or 485) I would have thought it would get all the info that the Pi (ICC) currently reads from Pylontech.

Thanks Lord Buckethead, Simplifying the config file as per your recommendation worked. I am not sure if I am doing it correctly however as when I add a 2nd sensor for the inverter the 1st one stops working. My config file extract is below: sensor: - platform: mqtt name: "MecerLoad" state_topic: "Inverter/LoadWatts" unit_of_measurement: "W" name: "SOC" state_topic: "Inverter/BatterySOC" unit_of_measurement: "%" How do you add a list of sensors eg Loadwatts, PV Power, SOC to the config file so that you can access more information? Regards Vijen

Thanks Tariq, I do like the specs but it is double the price and out of my price range at the moment.

Sorry, does the emoncms integration work direct with Emoncms on ICC? If so can you show me what the config.yaml file looks like for emoncms please.

Thanks, will try it as soon as I get home. Did you add anything else to configuration.yaml file for MQQT to work or is it just the standard setup on the Mqqt integration package with address, username, password and port?

Hi Gents. Does this inverter communicate directly to Pylontech batteries so SOC is correct not approximation from voltage? Thank you guys - much appreciated.

Hi Vlan_one. I am trying to connect Home assistant to ICC and saw this old post of yours. Would it still work with the newer version of HassIO. I have configured the Mosquitto config file as per your notes above but cannot see any of the ICC topics in Home Assistant. Have also tried adding following to configuration.yaml file with no success. sensor: - platform: mqtt name: "Mecer" state_topic: "Inverter/LoadWatts" unit_of_measurement: "W" unique_id: "MecerLoad" value_template: "{{ value_json.Inverter }}" availability: - topic: "Inverter/LoadWatts" payload_available: "online" payload_not_available: "offline" #json_attributes_topic: "home/sensor1/attributes" ANy help will be greatly appreciated. I basically would like to read values from ICC like solar power available and current load to switch certain loads on/off. Regards Vijen

Hi 87. Please have a look at the attached link to GC Solar. Is this the 8kW version? https://onlineshop.gcsolar.co.za/product/mecer-axpert-8k-8kva-8kw-hybrid-pure-sine-wave-inverter/

What is the difference between SOL-I-AX-8M and the MAX? I am struggling to find a good comparison

Great, thx. Leaning on staying with Mecer brand - the saving almost pays for another Pylontech battery! Will find out if I can contniue using my current ICC license for new inverter.

Apologies 87, I saw your post after I reposted. Does the 8kW units have better battery management or is external assistance still required? I use ICC running on Pi and VNC to monitor and program system when required with a cable to Pylontech batteries - is this still needed?

Did some more reading on the options. Sunsynk appears to be better of the 2 as far as extended functionality but cost double the price - R35K vs R16k for Mecer. I have had my Mecer for 5 years without major issue, the biggest concern however was its inability to manage the batteries without ICC software. Can someone with the newer 8kW Mecer please comment on :- (i) battery management side (especially when you have a bank of expensive Pylontech batteries), (ii) the ability to communicate information over a network for monitoring and programming, and (iii) neutral grounding when mains is not present. Regards, Vijen

Thanks 87, any experience with Sunsynk? Which would you recommend?

Good day What would you guys consider to be the best value for money on inverters around 8kW. I currently have an old Mecer (the 4000W version) and am considering expanding the system. I need to be able to handle a larger load and more solar than 3000W. Current solar capacity is 300W and batteries in use currently are the 2x Pylontech 4.8kWh - these are new and I would probably have to add another one. Regards, Vijen

Thank you, I guess apart from the additional capacity (4800Whr) it is the same as US3000C

Hello guys. I have an old Mecer inverter that I have been running with 3kw solar on lead acid batteries - have just changed over to Pylontec UP5000 x2. My system is currently set up to charge only via solar and the batteries run load at night. Load covers 60% of home load as geysers and kitchen plugs are excluded. What are the recommended settings for ICC and the inverter for these batteries. I do have the batteries connected to ICC via Pylontech cable. Regards Vijen

Hi Coulomb I have the 145V max solar charge controller hence panels are in 2S config so no chance of overvoltage. It also does not drop all the way to zero but does what Plonkster says happens on Victron. Usually 3 rapid drops to slightly increasing values and then returns to normal operation. As I said before, its like the charge controller overshoots (extra current) then drops quickly and goes up and down once or twice more until its at the correct charging current and voltage.