Good day all

I have searched but it seems that not many have used the Solis 6kw hybrid inverter. For those who have, may I please pick your brain a bit.

I have taken the plunge to install 4x535W panels with the Solis 6kw hybrid inverter in a grid tied configuration (with a conlog bec23 prepaid meter). I also have 2 x 4,8kWh pylontech up5000 batteries connected.  Thanks to the guys at conlog I have successfully deactivated the load line reversal trip with the token they gave me.

My question is on the running program/mode of the inverter. I am currently running on "self use" mode as I want to charge the batteries with the surplus power not used and then cycle the batteries to 30% during the night. I have found that we will just about make it through the night on the 70% of the battery used. But now, what about load shedding or like in Middelburg the municipality decides it is time for a power cut. Is there some way to program the inverter so that in cycles to 20% when the grid input is lost?

During stage 2 loadshedding we sometimes have the time slot of 3AM to 5AM or 5AM to 7AM. That is when the batteries might be at 30% depending on the usage we had during the night. Thats why I would like the extra 10% available if we loose the grid.

Thanks in advance

 

@Rolo That is nice inverter I'm looking at upgrading to it or the sunsynk when my municipality allows grid feeding. 

There should be a setting called low battery cut off, for example I cycle my batteries down to 20% but the cut off is 15%.

Edited October 18, 20214 yr by Buyeye

Thanks, I will take a look. It might be that the low cut off is automatic when grid is lost. I see there is a absolute discharge of 10% where the inverter does a battery wake up

Hi Rolo

The Solis Inverter manual is not clear about the Operating Modes, however, more than one mode can apply.

What I do is:

Set the Backup Mode to SOC 30% and enable that, and enable charge from AC.

Enable Self Use mode too but disable charge from AC.

I trust that will do the job

Hi Pieter

Yes I think I understand it now a bit better. As you mention above, I also have my back up mode set at 30% although grid charge disabled. 

What I have seen is with the settings you describe, the inverter will operate in "Self Use" mode while the SOC is above 30% and then switch to back up when needed. At the beginning I thought if I choose back up it sort of always runs in back up mode.

Must say I am very happy with the inverter. Mine is in my living room about 3m from the TV so you can imagine how much I appreciate the silent operation. I have however added one more 535W panel. 

My only problem now is that I am constantly looking for something to switch on by 15h00 as I feel that with full batteries and a still shining sun I am wasting potential energy 😆  

Hello @Rolo

 

Thinking about getting a Solis Hybrid but need clarity on something and I'm hoping you (other informed input welcome too) can shed some light on a few questions.

The Solis Hybrid inverters has 2 Outputs - Backup AC output and Grid AC output. The Backup AC output is self explanatory to me, critical loads on that output that stay up using either solar, battery or a combination of both when the grid is down. 

Des it blend using grid, PV and battery in that order on the backup AC output when the grid is available?

Also, on the Grid AC output, does that output just feed non critical loads as a passthrough of sorts or does available PV also supplement loads on that grid AC output?

 

 

Edited July 20, 20223 yr by JoeyhZA

Hi JoeyhZA

As far as I can tell from what I have seen it works as follows:
If the grid is available - All loads (backup and grid output, critical and non critical) will firstly use available PV, then depending on SOC setting (above the backup value, mine set at SOC 20%) it will use batteries and then grid if needed. That being said, the first second or two it does take the start up from the grid. Very small load and very short time, think it is easier to load from the grid.

If the Grid is not available - The non critical load will not be live. The rest will again follow the same as above, just no grid. This is where I found out that the start up of my 2500W WOLFF lawn mower is to high for the 6kW inverter. I tripped my inverter at moment of start. Luckily it does reset after a second or 5.

I enjoy the inverter very much. As previously mentioned, mine is in our TV room and is absolutely silent. Does start internal fan if if constant load is above +-2,5kW. Still silent enough for me.

Hope this helps 

Thanks @Rolo

That definitely helps. Appreciate it.

Are you seeing any blending of PV and Grid perhaps?

21 minutes ago, JoeyhZA said:

Thanks @Rolo

That definitely helps. Appreciate it.

Are you seeing any blending of PV and Grid perhaps?

Yes I does blend and is a real hybrid. What the panels cannot provide it will get from the grid for the whole DB.  It can also export so if export is not wanted the CT clamp must be use. Also has the battery back up known as essential.

@Rolo

Can add more detail.

Edited July 20, 20223 yr by Scorp007

Thanks @Scorp007

 

Last question - I promise

 

If one does not have the Solis Smart Meter and CT Clamp - and the inverter can be set to zero export in the settings on the inverter, will zero export still work at all? 

I think I already know the answer but need to ask anyway.

3 hours ago, JoeyhZA said:

Thanks @Scorp007

 

Last question - I promise

 

If one does not have the Solis Smart Meter and CT Clamp - and the inverter can be set to zero export in the settings on the inverter, will zero export still work at all? 

I think I already know the answer but need to ask anyway.

I am not sure. AFAIK you MUST have the CT clamp. I have no knowledge about the meter so may be owners or installers can help. My Solis can only work with the CT and the options in setup allows you to use a custom ratio as per the CT used.

Any reason why you don't want to use the CT?

I tend to find it less hassles to do as the manufacturer guides one.

Edited July 21, 20223 yr by Scorp007

Getting a used Solis that doesn't come with the Smart Meter and CT clamp. 

But I see one could purchase those items separately and this forum store sells them. Was hoping I could prevent export without one and just go on zeroing out export settings on the inverter and specify no smart meter installed in the settings as well.

You should be able to zero export without a clamp. You just cannot power non-essentials without it (well, you can if exporting is enabled, but you cannot limit your export to your non-essential load).

Edited July 21, 20223 yr by P1000

39 minutes ago, JoeyhZA said:

Getting a used Solis that doesn't come with the Smart Meter and CT clamp. 

But I see one could purchase those items separately and this forum store sells them. Was hoping I could prevent export without one and just go on zeroing out export settings on the inverter and specify no smart meter installed in the settings as well.

R600 is not much to prevent export and power the whole house and consume own power during sun periods or even use the extra 220V to charge batteries and discharge in the evenings.

54 minutes ago, P1000 said:

You should be able to zero export without a clamp. You just cannot power non-essentials without it (well, you can if exporting is enabled, but you cannot limit your export to your non-essential load).

 

21 minutes ago, Scorp007 said:

R600 is not much to prevent export and power the whole house and consume own power during sun periods or even use the extra 220V to charge batteries and discharge in the evenings.

Thanks.

 

Yip - will get one.

Any idea where you saw it on sale for R600?

1 hour ago, JoeyhZA said:

 

Thanks.

 

Yip - will get one.

Any idea where you saw it on sale for R600?

Geewiz.co.za for R530.

@JoeyhZA,

The smart meter is the mechanism that reads the grid power and the CT clamp is linked to that meter.

As such you need both to prevent exporting to the grid. The smart meter is the expensive part.

It is important to know that although you set the export to zero, that there are scenarios that will push power back for a small period  I typically experience 1kW pushed back to the grid in a month.   That is trivial in my opinion. However, this could be an issue with select prepaid meters.

Edited July 22, 20223 yr by Pieter Lourens

@JoeyhZA,

I would also consider the new hybrid inverter. I have the RHI 6K G5 inverter but the MPPTs are specified with a 11A Imax.

The new solar panels goes beyond this limit ranging 13A now. As such you should shop for the right and probably older sized panels.

The new Solis Hybrid inverter, the S5, can receive 15Amps.

As such make sure you get the secondhand inverter at a really good price. You run the risk that in a few years you will not easily get new panels for your inverter.

PS other brand inverters run the same risk; creating a market that may continue to produce panels with lower amps but higher volt output.

Edited July 22, 20223 yr by Pieter Lourens

11 minutes ago, Pieter Lourens said:

@JoeyhZA,

I would also consider the new hybrid inverter. I have the RHI 6K G5 inverter but the MPPTs are specified with a 11A Imax.

The new solar panels goes beyond this limit ranging 13A now. As such you should shop for the right and probably older sized panels.

The new Solis Hybrid inverter, the S5, can receive 15Amps.

As such make sure you get the secondhand inverter at a really good price. You run the risk that in a few years you will not easily get new panels for your inverter.

PS other brand inverters run the same risk; creating a market that may continue to produce panels with lower amps but higher volt output.

Luckily the current high power panels of 13A would only provide 11A in Gauteng and even less at a number of places around the cost. Further the short periods that you get cloud edge and might exceed the 11A the inverter can go up to 17A. It will also just clip the output power without damage. Being a 6kw system by the time you have used both MPPTs at 520V and 11A you are exceeding the 6kW by far. So it is known that the inverter is speced at 6kW.

Although smaller panels are in short supply when at the 480W level there are panels below the 11A level. Even 280W panels are still available. Using 12 in series per MPPT you are again at over 6kW.

As you indicated it will affect a lot of manufacturers. It's just the way technology is moving. If the right panels are selected it is still a good inverter to have.

Agreed, the inverter does clipping.

And I do not look look back either, I absolutely love this machine

I would however consider the S5 if I were in the market for an Inverter.

On 2022/07/22 at 5:21 PM, Pieter Lourens said:

It is important to know that although you set the export to zero, that there are scenarios that will push power back for a small period  I typically experience 1kW pushed back to the grid in a month.   That is trivial in my opinion. However, this could be an issue with select prepaid meters.

As Pieter mentioned above. There is a very small "backFlow", apologies for the lack of proper terminology. That backflow actually causes the Conlog prepaid meter (mine is a conlog bec23) to trip, as it does not allow for feedback to the grid. I was however fortunate enough to get the code to disable that trip.

The guys at conlog assisted me. This code is meter and account and keypad specific and will unfortunately not help on other meters.

@Pieter Lourens or any that are using the solis inverter.

After running with my setup for some time now, I have a question regarding the switchover when loadshedding hits. I have asked 2 other friends that I know that have the same inverter. Whenever loadshedding starts my power dip and I can see it on the lights and TV. I know it does not start again with the normal spike you can have when straight from the grid.

This however does annoy me a bit as I am sure there is a setting I am missing to cover this. Or is the inverter just to slow to catch the power dip? This happens regardless of operating mode and battery SOC. When loadshedding starts at 19h00 I am already running everything from fully charged batteries.

 

Any help or info would be greatly appreciated. 

Hi @Rolo

Your experience is normal. There is a sub 20 mil second switchover time to your essential load. This however should not let your equipment switch off eg WiFi. I do see the effect on the lights and TV too (a really quick dip in power).

Please note that you will have a similar experience with other inverters as well. The inverter switches to another circuit and is called anti islanding to disconnect from the grid. This is a legislative requirement.

I hope this helps.

Edited September 19, 20223 yr by Pieter Lourens

Thanks Pieter. Funny enough the one TV does not dip as much. But again it only a semi smart TV. But I have overcome this with a very old UPS.