Halcyon

@Fuenkli did you ever get feedback from Goodwe on this issue?

Hi Gerhard My battery is a Narada which is not compatible with BMS. Apparently the ones that work at present with BMS are Solar MD, Freedomwon, DYNESS and Pylontech. No list of compatible batteries included in the manuals. The suppliers should have a full list. If you go for the Sunsynk branded version it shares a menu structure that is very close to the USA Sol-Ark version. Sol-Ark have an excellent youtube channel that in my mind is the best source of information I have come across on how to set up the machine correctly and exploit its amazing set of features optimally. (Obviously ignore their 120v split phase power standard). The Deye, Ohm and INGE variants have a slightly different firmware and menu structure but in principle all work the same. I have a few recorded video demonstrations on how to use and set up for them. Send me an e-mail and I will respond with the recommended suppliers/installers in Pta. [email protected]

Hi Gerhard This company in china https://www.deyeinverter.com/ manufactures the Deye inverter. In our market we get a 5kw and 8kw variant. In RSA you get the original Deye branded version, a Sunsynk branded version, an OHM branded version, INGE branded version and for interest in the USA they have a Sol-Ark branded version. There might even be more. The Deye data sheet you have come across is accurate for the specifications https://solaradvice.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/8kW-Deye-Sunsynk-Hybrid-PV-Inverter2020-Datasheet.pdf. Was it this one? I have a 5kw Sunsynk branded unit and I am very happy with it. I had some installation teething problems that took a while to sort out especially over lockdown, however this is all resolved. Unfortunately, there are a lot of inexperienced Solar/electrical installers out there who do not truly understand the correct wiring requirements for these type of hybrid inverters and even less knowledge of how to resolve things if a problem is encountered. The installation manuals are also a little light on detail. You can use any type of Solar panels with this inverter. It all comes down to the panel specification and how you wire them to stay within the inverter's range. For example I have 15 panels of 335W each. Each panel has a max rated current of +- 9 amp. If you wire 6 of them in series your Volts would be +- 240 V but the max amps would not exceed 9A which is well below the 18A maximum. You could wire two strings in parallel and you would still be within the 18A (9A + 9A) range but I will leave the technical details to the more experienced on this forum. You are welcome to get in touch if you have questions or need further information about these inverters as I have learnt a great deal about them over the last 2 months.

I think this confirms we have an earth and or neutral fault either in or between the essential and non-essential circuit.

Hi Kilowatt, thank you, ok I checked and our screen is set up like this.

Thank you I think I inadvertently discovered the issue. The inverter seems to take the UPS Load power reading from the current on the inverter output neutral and not the live wire. The current on the neutral wire corresponds to the backup circuit power displayed on the inverter screen almost exactly. The "interference power" as non-essentials switch on and off is the power from the current on the neutral wire and not the live wire. For my test example 2 - where main geyser switched on I read 3,83 A on inverter output live, but 9,96 A on the output neutral. ((see attached image - green and orange circle is where I did the current testing). I thought current on live and neutral should be the same? How is this happening? I then decided to do a current test on the main utility entering the house. At time of testing Live = 3,83 A, Earth = 0,75 A and Neutral 2,75 A, How is this possible? IMG_0442.HEIC

Thanks. Yes the inverter has a CT clamp which has to be connected to main eskom input live. The inverter has a limiter option to use solar power for backup circuit only or sell excess power to the whole home to zero utility meter or you can set on export mode to sell any excess solar power and reverse meter. This interference is especially visible at night when the grid is on and no solar power is being produced. This is what is baffling me so much as it does not make sense that the backup load power on inverter screen suddenly jumps up or down when non essentials switch on of off. Especially when a current meter on the backup load cable confirms current has not changed before or after the non essential on or off. Boggles the mind!

Some other interesting observations garnered moments ago - DC isolator switched off so no solar power and the gird on so batteries idle. Current clamp multi meter used to test current on various wires described below. Inverter output live = 4,6 amp, inverter output neutral = 3,28 amp Inverter grid input = 1,90amp, Grid input neutral = 1,36 This seems very odd to me? surely if no solar and no battery the grid current in and load current out should be very similar? Should the neutral wires not have an equal current flowing in the opposite direction? I put clamp around earth wire at inverter and barely any current is flowing through it.

Hi Kilowatt Yes inverter's standard rating is 230V. It reads less than that, easily down to 203V when in backup mode from inverter output live to inverter neutral. When grid back on it always matches main grid voltage. Scenario. Assume backup circuit load using 600W confirmed by effergy clamp on load output live from inverter. The inverter UPS load power on screen will read the following under various conditions. 450W - with all non essentials switched off (I acknowledge an effergy clamp is not always accurate) 2500 W - Geyser 1 switches on 185W - Geyser 2 switches on 950W - At the zenith of solar power production in daytime. Keep in mind for this scenario created above the effergy clamp maintains the 600W backup circuit reading. Test results. used example from 3 above. Before Geyser 2 switched on. L - N = 230V, L - PE = 230V /231V, N - PE = 0,383V Geyser 2 switched on. L - N = 226V, L - PE = 226/227V, N - E = 0,861V Let me know if you need any more info?

The 5w lightbulb does trip the E/l on backup plug circuit as you all suggested. I have aborted the test as the light bulb lights up on all the non-essential neutrals from Grid live with inverter isolated using its MCB (not what I was expecting). This is not helping me identify if there is indeed a common neutral causing my issue.

Hi Coulomb, it is a Sunsynk 5kw Hybrid inverter.

Hi Kilowatt, I am still learning about inverters so not too sure what you mean by bonded? What I do know is that when grid is live, The inverter grid input connects Eskom live and neutral with the inverter load output live and neutral. When grid goes down inverter disconnects this connection. The inverter is a 5kw Sunsynk Hybrid inverter. Yes, for continuity test I switched off 63amp breaker and also isolated inverter with MCB in Sub DB and tested between essential and non essential neutral bars in the DB (buzzer made no sound). My electrician did a resistance test following same approach and told me no common neutral. However, inverter still getting interference from non-essential loads switched on and off. Then decided to try 40W light bulb from inverter output live with Grid off at 63amp breaker. No light, but a 5W light bulb lights up. 205V reads between inverter output live and Eskom neutral bar with grid off at 63 amp breaker. Tested each neutral wire separately on non essential neutral bars. 6 out of 9 wires cause 5w bulb to light up. I am going to reverse test with inverter isolated at MCB and keep Eskom live. Am I on the right track to find where common neutral may be?

Hi Richard, Non-essentials loads are in the main DB section per diagram, Stove, Geysers, Outbuilding before E/l on non E/L neutral bar and one plug circuit, pool on E/l and on E/L neutral bar. Backup circuit is on Sub DB per diagram, lights on non E/l neutral bar and plugs on E/L neutral bar.

Hi Richard. I posted a picture with further explanation, Thank you.

Thanks Quat, @Richard, please see attachment. We have modelled our wiring of inverter and DB on this diagram. The issue is the load power on the inverter is influenced, well on the monitoring screen at least, by non-essentials switching on and off. A continuity and resistance test have disproven a common neutral between back up circuit and non-essential circuit however I decided to try the light bulb test today. A 5W light bulb lights up between non earth leakage eskom neutral-bar and inverter live when grid is switched off at 63 amp breaker. Common neutral somewhere?

I have been having an issue with an inverter where we suspect a common neutral between backup circuit and non-essential circuit. Am I correct in saying that a test light bulb should not light up if placed on inverter output live and Eksom neutral bar with grid switched off at 63 amp breaker if all is well ?

Hi Rob, Ok understood. Sorry I do not have experience with regard to the COCT regulations and the limitations thereof for a Hybrid setup. One would think CoCt should accept an inverter set to limit power supplied to HM (total home power) with zero export to grid as long as CT meter is set up correctly. As far as I know the Sunsynk inverter is on the CoCt approved inverter list? Hopefully someone with more experience on this subject will jump in on your question. BTW I am having an issue with my Sunsynk where it is reporting an incorrect LD (UPS LD number) on the screen. You have not by any chance noticed something similar on your inverter? I have actually submitted a detailed post to this forum on the matter.

Hi Rob Just a question. Why would you want a change over switch from DC to AC? The Sunsynk has 2 x MPPT ports for the DC feed from the Solar panels and an AC grid input feed. The device can manage the charging of the batteries automatically using either Solar power or the Grid as available.

Hi All Does anyone out there have an idea why a newly installed Sunsynk 5kw inverter would display an inaccurate essential backup circuit "LD" power reading? My DB is split into essentials and non essentials. The Sunsynk has been set up to export any excess solar energy to the Grid as we have an energy purchase arrangement. Non-essentials are on back up battery when the grid fails. I have a 5kw solar array. Example of issue If essential circuit is using say 600w (confirmed by effergy clamp on cable) and I switch of all the non essentials in the DB the "HM" reading on the inverter also reads +- 600W which makes sense as only the essential circuit drawing load of 600W. The Sunsynk has a CT meter clamp measuring total power on main feed from Eskom designated as "HM". The strange thing is that the inverter measures the LD as 350W? If I switch off the Grid the inverter now indicates the essential circuit is using +- 500W (close enough to the 600W). Furthermore depending on what is running on the non-essential circuit, the LD backup circuit power displaying on the inverter is influenced. Example - If main geyser switches on the essential circuit power "LD" reads 2400W, but effergy still shows 600W. Under counter geyser switches on LD drops down to 196W but effergy clamp still shows 600W. Solar power at middle of day is making 4600W, the LD power shows 950W on inverter but effergy clamps still shows 600W. Based on experience the 600W is the correct value for the LD circuit for each example above. Barring a factory fault the following potential issues have been raised and checked but did not resolve. Common neutral problem between essential and non essential circuits Induction interference on load, grid and CT clamp cables Software update required Factory reset Inverter programming set up CT meter installed incorrectly I have had some of the best in the industry giving me possible ideas of things to try but nothing has resolved. Ellies has agreed to replace the device but before they go ahead I wanted to double check with all of you in case it is not an inverter issue. Any ideas?????

Hi All I am new to the forum and I was wondering whether you could assist me. Has anyone experienced the situation where the SOC on your Lithium battery is gradually dropping? I have a 48v 100ah Narada Lithium battery that used to be connected to a Mecer Axpert 5kva inverter. The problem started when I changed inverters to a new Sunsynk 5KW variant. The Narada battery is not one of the batteries compatible with the Sunsynk using a RJ45 cable link to interface the battery management system on the inverter. On advice from the suppliers of the inverter it has been set up as a lead acid battery. Float and charge voltage settings in new inverter are the same as they were in my old Axpert and also as per the battery user manual. 52 V float and 54V charge. The voltage on battery and inverter correspond. Any ideas to rectify this problem?