Dries le Grange

After a number of tests I can confirm that Johan-Henry had it spot on. Appreciate the help. Very kind of you. Dries

Antonio, there is a change over switch and used as you indicated. Johan, it seems you are onto something. I have the Off-Grid inverter model SPF 5000 ES. Setting 1 is SBU as we do not have a normal fixed utility supply. Setting 14 is set at SNU and the note you refer to is as you indicated. When I see in the afternoon that the batteries will not make it till the next day till 9am, I start the generator to charge the batteries to a pre determined level. I said before, my problem is sporadic. Earlier today when I started the gen for testing purposes, it charged the batteries without any problem. My thinking now given your note: Whilst loads are supplied by solar, the gen will also supply loads / charge batteries (like this morning). However, in the afternoon there is little solar supply meaning I am in battery mode. Starting the gen NOW will result in it not charging. But when I switch the inverter into stand-by mode, the gen comes on line. Do I understand it correctly? Thanks Dries

Please help. Being off-the-grid, I have to use a generator to "top-up" the 2 X 5.12kWh Li-Ion batteries maybe once a week due to weather conditions. Standard 6.5kW single phase generator. The inverter will only "accept" the generator (as utility) as an input to charge the batteries if I switch the inverter to "by-pass" mode (the small black switch bottom right on the inverter switched to off). Inverter settings are set to accept charge from PV and "Utility". Max charge current from "utility" is set at 10A. Charging from the PV side works flawless. I installed the spare inverter with the same result. The spare inverter had the latest firmware installed. I appreciate your help in this regard. Dries

Thanks for your valuable inputs Meerkat. Float is set at 54V on the inverter for the 4 batteries in series. I have no knowledge of desulfators but will get someone local to assist. Much appreciated. Was not aware of the cycled discharge requirement for Lithium batteries. Good to know. Regards Dries

Thanking you all for the feedback. These GEL deep cycle batteries of mine being about 7 months old and protected by the inverter not to drain below the preset value, might have discharged to that level maybe 12 times. Only used as backup after hours for electronic equipment (350W). Would not have expected it to be "useless" so soon. At a cost of R4000 ea I would have expected a few years of good life. The max charge current is set at 60A total of which 30A max is supplied by Eskom where the 12 pannels could not deliver what is required. Could you perhaps suggest Lithium Ion batteries best suited for my system? Kind regards Dries

Good day Assistance with the following will be appreciated very much. As a pensioner I rely on this system to benefit me for many reasons. Installation done a few months ago. Equipment installed 1 X 5kW Axpert King Inverter 12 X 315W Canadian Solar KuPower CS3K panels (3 X 4). 4 X 12V X 200Ah GoldShine Gell Batteries Settings mostly default. Batteries however set in 05 as USE and 27/28/29 at default for the 5kW unit. In January the vendor disconnected and tested the batteries with a proper tester (not multi meter). All 4 passed in green as good. My problem: The manual indicates a battery backup life of 20 hrs with a load of 500VA, 8.9 hrs at 1000 VA and 3.7 hrs at 2000 VA. However, I only get 2 hrs 50 min backup time at an average 325 VA load (peak load was 505 VA). This whilst the solar panels provided a little input of around 100W (late afternoon and rainy). Low battery alarm sounded at 45.7 V (3hrs 50 min). Switched of the little loads there were. System eventually switched off. What surprised me way more than the above: When Eskom power was restored approximately 2 hours later, the unit came on line and indicated a battery level of 53.2 V, 90% battery capacity charging at 5A. Impossible for the solar panels to achieve this obviously. Please tell me what is going on here. Thanking you in advance. Dries