Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

Hey guys.

If you run the AUX Gen port on a SunSynk inverter as a Generator input, it works perfectly well to supply the load to my UPS output and to charge my batteries.  Especially since it ramps up the generator gradually.

I have a manul generator that needs manual starting.

Currently if we have rainy clowdy days, and I need to use my Generator, Due to Loadshedding, I turn off my main grid supply to my inverter, start the generator manually and then everything works wonders.  If the grid returns, I 1st switch off my Gen, Isolate the Gen input and then only switch on the main grid supply to the inverter.

Now my question is.  What will happen if the grid comes back and it’s not isolated as an input to the inverter and the generator is running as well. Will the 2 inputs mess with one another?

Posted
1 hour ago, JpPaulKruger said:

it’s not isolated as an input to the inverter and the generator is running

since the generator would not be able to sync with the grid, you are looking at causing smoke to come out somewhere, I'd imagine, so, don't do that unless you have lots of spare dosh, burning a hole in your pocket... if you do, still don't do that, rather pass the spare dosh my way 🙂

Posted
1 hour ago, JpPaulKruger said:

Now my question is.  What will happen if the grid comes back and it’s not isolated as an input to the inverter and the generator is running as well. Will the 2 inputs mess with one another?

The Generator port is made for this function, and will not interfere or clash with the Eskom main feed. It is an input or output port, and is isolated from the incoming Eskom main feed. I don't have the internal circuit diagram, but suspect it connects to the DC bus, UPS, and main AC feed through appropriate  electronics and relays.

So no problem running the generator at the same time as AC main feed is connected. In fact the same port can accept input from a micro inverter with it's own string of panels.

Posted

Both the grid and the generator cannot work at the same time. The generator relay on the inverter can only close when the grid is offline. As soon as the grid is restored, the inverter will isolate the generator. 

Posted
5 hours ago, Leshen said:

Both the grid and the generator cannot work at the same time. The generator relay on the inverter can only close when the grid is offline. As soon as the grid is restored, the inverter will isolate the generator. 

So this is exactly what I want.

 

When Eskom drops out, and I manually start my gen, the inverter will accept the Gen power and power the UPS loads and charge the batteries of set to do so.

if the grid restores, it will internally disconnect the generator relay from supplying the load, and continue to supply the UPS and charge the batteries via GRID if set to do so.  So even of the GRID restores, and the generator is not switched off yet, it will not cause havoc, the gen will run but the inverter wil not connect the relay cause GRID is present?

Posted
6 hours ago, TimCam said:

The Generator port is made for this function, and will not interfere or clash with the Eskom main feed. It is an input or output port, and is isolated from the incoming Eskom main feed. I don't have the internal circuit diagram, but suspect it connects to the DC bus, UPS, and main AC feed through appropriate  electronics and relays.

So no problem running the generator at the same time as AC main feed is connected. In fact the same port can accept input from a micro inverter with it's own string of panels.

This is how I understand it myself.

Posted
1 hour ago, JpPaulKruger said:

So this is exactly what I want.

 

When Eskom drops out, and I manually start my gen, the inverter will accept the Gen power and power the UPS loads and charge the batteries of set to do so.

if the grid restores, it will internally disconnect the generator relay from supplying the load, and continue to supply the UPS and charge the batteries via GRID if set to do so.  So even of the GRID restores, and the generator is not switched off yet, it will not cause havoc, the gen will run but the inverter wil not connect the relay cause GRID is present?

Yes correct. 

If the grid comes back online while the generator is supplying the load, the generator will be disconnected from the inverter and the grid will take over. The generator will merely run without any load until you switch it off manually.

Posted (edited)
8 hours ago, Leshen said:

Yes correct. 

If the grid comes back online while the generator is supplying the load, the generator will be disconnected from the inverter and the grid will take over. The generator will merely run without any load until you switch it off manually.

 

Which is quite a nice way of doing it really.

Better if the gen set auto starts based on a set of conditions but if it doesn't and one has to start it manually how nice is it for the inverter to disconnect the genset and restore supply via grid without any intervention from the owner/operator. This further infers that you dont have to turn everything off, stop the generator, use a change over switch to pick which incoming supply to use (grid in this case once it has has returned and is able to supply power to the inverter) and then turn everything back on. Been there, done that. So last century !

These Sunsynk inverters keep getting nicer and nicer the more I read about them. I am very happy with my Victron system but these newer Hybrids have functionality that a quattro just does not have - without adding lots of bells and whistles at significant cost.

Edited by Delta9
added some extra
Posted
59 minutes ago, Delta9 said:

 

Which is quite a nice way of doing it really.

Better if the gen set auto starts based on a set of conditions but if it doesn't and one has to start it manually how nice is it for the inverter to disconnect the genset and restore supply via grid without any intervention from the owner/operator. This further infers that you dont have to turn everything off, stop the generator, use a change over switch to pick which incoming supply to use (grid in this case once it has has returned and is able to supply power to the inverter) and then turn everything back on. Been there, done that. So last century !

These Sunsynk inverters keep getting nicer and nicer the more I read about them. I am very happy with my Victron system but these newer Hybrids have functionality that a quattro just does not have - without adding lots of bells and whistles at significant cost.

And the nice thing about this, is it’s easy to teach this to my wife and father in law.  I had to write a manual for them previously on how to use the generator.

 

nice thing about the AUX port is that you have different charge settings for when GRID is the input and different settings for when GEN is the input.  And the SunSynk connects the GEN load slowly.  And not all at once, making the HZ more stable on the gen output

  • 6 months later...
Posted

Is there a way to run a generator on the 5.5 sunsynk without having batteries. I have a solar system installed, but i do not have batteries yet (funds ran short). I have a 2.5 kw id like to run while Eskom decides we're not allowed to have power.

 

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

  • 4 weeks later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...