TonyH

Hi, if you choose a Sunsynk inverter there is a great way to save on your geyser power by utilising the AUX as an output. When the batteries are 100% SOC the AUX switches on and heats the geyser until 96% SOC (a selection). Of course one needs a RCD to protect anyone getting electrocuted at the geyser. If there is a cloudy day it is a simple ticking of the Aux under settings to force the Grid to heat the geyser. This is useful on both cloudy days and when one has a house full of guests using hot water. My electrical account for usage varies between R24.00 to R75.00. The R75.00 was during 4 days of massive rain and flooding in KZN with visitors in the house. (This is usage and has to include a basic charge of R294.00) 10 x 390W JA East West configuration 8KV Sunsynk Inverter 2x5.5KV Hubble batteries

Here are two very simple diagrams that help with earthing and neutral connections.

You are right about bad installation if the neutrals aren't separated. The regulations are set up to protect against unusual circumstances. For example if the earth and neutral line is cut on the ESKOM side somewhere there is no earth reference or earth drain without an earth spike at the UPS side. When a generator like an inverter is on island mode there will be a clear path down the line which is a danger to all.

A lot of installers are not separating the Neutral of the UPS side or they are simply joining the neutral UPS to Neutral Eskom. This is illegal. If the installation is done according to the UPS diagram with a EL on the output of the Inverter there will be no nuisance trips, because the ATS relay only grounds the neutral when in island mode. The grid side of the inverter has a separate EL to the non essentials. For me that is only my Garage with a washing machine and a tumble dryer.

When the Inverter is on Island mode the ATS relay pulls the neutral down to earth. If the neutrals aren't separated it is possible to power the neutral back to ESKOM even when they have isolated from their side. This is dangerous for all who are connected to the ESKOM neutral. seen below:

Here is the diagram from the SANS document showing the earth spike.

The new Deye manual shows where the ATS connection is. The ATS is where the connection is made to the Neutral /Earth bonding relay is made. Just a note of caution. You should have a good earth spike to bond the earth at your home. This protects the ESKOM earth if according to San regulations for a power generator. The older Deye manuals didn't show this ATS connection.

There is a great article on this forum about preventing a floating neutral. This article explains the whole concept of separating the Neutral UPS side of the inverter from the Grid neutral on the Grid side of the inverter. One thing to remember is that the EL name is misleading. The EL device compares the Live and Neutral and as soon as it picks up a +- 30ma difference it trips. The name comes from the assumption that any difference between live and neutral is an earth fault. I suspect that the trip on earth leakage on the main board is not happening because the EL is no longer where the power flows through when the grid is down.

Hello Cassie, here are the two pics for the above.

Hi Cassie, the battery always charges from the PVs as a normal function. To charge the battery from the grid you need to go to the battery charge setup and select grid charge. This is purely manual. The table in system selection selects the minimum level of battery charge, SOC, after a specific time. If the SOC reaches that time's minimum the grid power is directed to the load of the house. This is so that you maintain a minimum SOC at a particular time. I will post a pic of how I have set up my table to you shortly. This means that without setting up the battery to charge from the grid manually at night, the battery will always discharge and never charge at night. During the day with sufficient sun light the battery will charge if the load isn't more than the power generated by the PVs. Let me know if I have answered your question adequately. Regards

8KV single phase Sunsynk Inverter

Hi, if you can afford it I recommend a Sunsynk 8KVA Inverter. The Auxilliary output can heat the geyser once the batteries are 100%. There is also a very useful program that enables you to set the battery SOC values at certain times. That ensures that you never run out of battery if the grid goes down. The system is also very easy to switch to the Grid on cloudy rainy days when one is weary of draining the batteries. The 8KVa also ensures that you can easily run three 2000W loads on the UPS side. (Rates 8KVa but one doesn't drive equipment to max on a regular basis). I started with one Hubble AM-2 and installed a second four months later. 10 JA 390W Sunsynk 8Kva 2 x Hubble AM-2 5.5KW Batteries.

Today I asked Sunsynk to upgrade me to the latest firmware. The inverter was on e4i4 MCU 3070. After the upgrade the inverter is e422 6030. All working ok after the initial Inverter switching off then bringing in the new firmware. All the old settings were in.

Hi Colin, the panels must be earthed to protect against lightning and a faulty panel. My panels are earthed. The Inverter input should be after the feeding EL from your main panel as yours is. For the EL to trip because of rain, water has to connect the earth to the live or neutral. That is unlikely due to the earth spike. Is your earth spike linked to the earth of your common earth for the inverter and house earth (Grid earth)? The earth spike should also be connected to the output of the ATS 240 relay to pull the Inverter output neutral to earth when the Inverter is on Island mode. This prevents a floating voltage on your neutral which can be 80VAC or more.

JpPaul, you may have a network problem by the sounds of it. I also installed the Sunsynk logger and it works very well.

Hi Mahdi, I have read some articles about noise coming from an inverter when on Island mode. If you search you will find them.

Here is my As built with legal certification

It is a legal requirement that you may not connect the inverter output neutral to the grid neutral.

A floating neutral happens when the Inverter switches to Island mode. There is no connection between the Grid Neutral and the Neutral when on Island mode. On Grid mode the neutral gets the reference from the earth back at the Eskom distribution box. Legally the neutral of the inverter output is not allowed to be bound to the Grid neutral. When on island mode the auxiliary output should drive a relay which connects the output neutral to an earth spike, when on island mode.

Hi, yes the Deye can be used to drive a relay when the Inverter is on Island mode. You will have to contact them which contacts to use. Before I decided on Sunsynk I did send Deye China a request about which terminals to use but I received no feed-back.

Hi John, you won't be sorry about paying a bit extra and going for the 8Kv Sunsynk. You won't have to be wary that three big power users are on at the same time. I also have an East West orientation in Scottburgh. The geyser runs off the Aux output when the batteries are 100%. The flexibility brought on by the timer program makes sure that I never drain the batteries on a rainy day. Now and again I have to switch the Aux to grid after a few days of rain but otherwise I don't need to worry. I run a 24 BTU aircon with ease on hot days. East West 5 X 390 JA panels on each side. 8KV Sunsynk 2x Hubble 5.5kv batteries.

I would check my software version. Perhaps a reset of the inverter would help. Contact Sunsynk (David Drake <[email protected]). I have found Sunsynk backup to be very good. I don't have the absolute latest software version but the auxiliary switches on whenever the battery is 100%.

No, there is no option for different days.

What were your issues? Perhaps you need to ask them to download the latest version to your inverter. There is no problem on my side. If it charges to 100% a second time it will heat the geyser again unless the thermostat is at temperature. I have a infrared heated solar geyser so in the summer the thermostat is off as the temperatures go as high vas 80 C.

If you can squeeze a bit more you won't be sorry if you go the 8kV Sunsynk route. I have been running for a year now with 2 Hubble 5.5 batteries. The geyser is heated by an auxiliary output as soon as the batteries are 100%. My wife doesn't have to worry about tripping the unit because it can handle four loads of under 2000W. Just a thought.