I'm the new owner of a Sunsynk and although the ride so far can be compared to moving from my first little Fiat 500 cup (a vintage model by now) to a Mercedes Vito which I owned later in life.  

My first inverter was a RCT Axpert 5K and later I added another one in parallel configuration.  On the Axperts there were about 30 different settings and one specifically has 3 options to choose from the output source priority, in other words where your power should come from to satisfy the load.  These options are:
1.  Solar energy provides power to the loads as first priority. If solar energy is not sufficient to power all connected loads, battery energy will supply power to the loads at the same time.  
    Utility provides power to the loads only when any one condition happens:
    -Solar energy is not available
    -Battery voltage drops to low-level
2. Utility will provide power to the loads as first priority.
    Solar and battery energy will provide power to the loads only when utility power is not available
3. Solar energy provides power to the loads as first priority.
    If solar energy is not sufficient to power all connected loads, battery energy will supply power to the loads at the same time.
    Utility provides power to the loads only when battery voltage drops to either low-level warning voltage or a specific setting point, you selected earlier.

This is my second day on the Sunsynk and I have followed the manual closly but cannot find a setting to tell it that I have installed a PV system to avoid paying for electricity from either the municipality or Eskom.  At this very moment (21:20) the grid supplies 144w and the batteries 26w of the 92w load.  The batteries SOC is 100% at this time of night.  If it goes on like this, the batteries will last for 50 years and I will still pay Mun/Eskom.

I want option 1 of the above but I cannot find the setting on the Sunsynk, please help!
Thanks

  

9 hours ago, Cassie said:

I'm the new owner of a Sunsynk and although the ride so far can be compared to moving from my first little Fiat 500 cup (a vintage model by now) to a Mercedes Vito which I owned later in life.  

My first inverter was a RCT Axpert 5K and later I added another one in parallel configuration.  On the Axperts there were about 30 different settings and one specifically has 3 options to choose from the output source priority, in other words where your power should come from to satisfy the load.  These options are:
1.  Solar energy provides power to the loads as first priority. If solar energy is not sufficient to power all connected loads, battery energy will supply power to the loads at the same time.  
    Utility provides power to the loads only when any one condition happens:
    -Solar energy is not available
    -Battery voltage drops to low-level
2. Utility will provide power to the loads as first priority.
    Solar and battery energy will provide power to the loads only when utility power is not available
3. Solar energy provides power to the loads as first priority.
    If solar energy is not sufficient to power all connected loads, battery energy will supply power to the loads at the same time.
    Utility provides power to the loads only when battery voltage drops to either low-level warning voltage or a specific setting point, you selected earlier.

This is my second day on the Sunsynk and I have followed the manual closly but cannot find a setting to tell it that I have installed a PV system to avoid paying for electricity from either the municipality or Eskom.  At this very moment (21:20) the grid supplies 144w and the batteries 26w of the 92w load.  The batteries SOC is 100% at this time of night.  If it goes on like this, the batteries will last for 50 years and I will still pay Mun/Eskom.

I want option 1 of the above but I cannot find the setting on the Sunsynk, please help!
Thanks

  

Hi Cassie. You need to tick ✔️ use timer on the stystem mode page to make use of the battery instead of the grid 

On 2022/09/03 at 7:13 AM, Leshen said:

Hi Cassie. You need to tick ✔️ use timer on the stystem mode page to make use of the battery instead of the grid 

Hi Leshen   Thank you for your advice, I appreciate it and have a few more questions.

I did tick "use timer" and set the times (see the attached photo).  As I understood it, I should include 100% during the time I want the batteries to be charged to the full.  

Question no 1:   During this charging-time-period, does the batteries also contribute power if the panels are unable to cover the load completely (as in the Axparts option 1 as explained above)?
Then I set the percentage for usage during the night time at 30%.  As I understood it, it should indicate to the inverter that it can use the batteries until the SOC dropped to 30 degrees during the set time. (See photo below)

Question no 2:  Does "Solar Export" means that any additional energy created by the panels (which is not used for the load) can/is be(ing) pushed/exported to the grid?  How can that happens if "Zero Export (to grid)" is already ticked. (See photo below)

Question no 3:  I understood that the trickle feed setting's aim is to prevent pre-paid meters from tripping due to the fact that the inverter is bi-directional.  I've set it to 20w and took it up to even 300w but my pre-paid meter doesn't like my new inverter.  Only if I cut the AC feed to the inverter completely, the meter functions normally.  The advice I got is to ask the municipality to replace my meter with one which can handles it.  But my question is:  Can I cut the trickle feed to 0w (zero watts)?  Why should I pull in any watts (and pay for it) if it's not working anyway? (See photo below)

Question no 4:   Shouldn't I untick Grid Charge, Grid Signal and Gen Signal in the Battery Set-up setting.  I only want the solar panels to charge the batteries (See photo below).

Statement/Question:   I used SMH from Centurion Solar on my Axparts previously and I must say I'm missing the realtime data and comprehensivness of the SMH app.  I think it will assist me a lot with the Sunsynk if I install it again, what do you think?

16 minutes ago, Cassie said:

Hi Leshen   Thank you for your advice, I appreciate it and have a few more questions.

I did tick "use timer" and set the times (see the attached photo).  As I understood it, I should include 100% during the time I want the batteries to be charged to the full.  

Question no 1:   During this charging-time-period, does the batteries also contribute power if the panels are unable to cover the load completely (as in the Axparts option 1 as explained above)?
Then I set the percentage for usage during the night time at 30%.  As I understood it, it should indicate to the inverter that it can use the batteries until the SOC dropped to 30 degrees during the set time. (See photo below)

Question no 2:  Does "Solar Export" means that any additional energy created by the panels (which is not used for the load) can/is be(ing) pushed/exported to the grid?  How can that happens if "Zero Export (to grid)" is already ticked. (See photo below)

Question no 3:  I understood that the trickle feed setting's aim is to prevent pre-paid meters from tripping due to the fact that the inverter is bi-directional.  I've set it to 20w and took it up to even 300w but my pre-paid meter doesn't like my new inverter.  Only if I cut the AC feed to the inverter completely, the meter functions normally.  The advice I got is to ask the municipality to replace my meter with one which can handles it.  But my question is:  Can I cut the trickle feed to 0w (zero watts)?  Why should I pull in any watts (and pay for it) if it's not working anyway? (See photo below)

Question no 4:   Shouldn't I untick Grid Charge, Grid Signal and Gen Signal in the Battery Set-up setting.  I only want the solar panels to charge the batteries (See photo below).

Statement/Question:   I used SMH from Centurion Solar on my Axparts previously and I must say I'm missing the realtime data and comprehensivness of the SMH app.  I think it will assist me a lot with the Sunsynk if I install it again, what do you think?

To rule out any gremlins try start your timer at 00:00

1 - the batteries will contribute to the load 

2 - Zero export will tell the CT coil to not export to the grid. Solar export can export excess PV to the non-essentials

3 - You can set the trickle feed to 0 if your meter doesn't trip

4 - You can until grid charge and gen charge - most leave grid charge ON then use the time of use to actually charge from the grid e.g. in the case of low batteries and LS announced in say an hour

If you want real-time or near real time data then you can use the Sunsynk Dongle + App OR the Solar Assistant system (Raspberry Pi and software)

18 hours ago, mzezman said:

4 - You can until grid charge and gen charge - most leave grid charge ON then use the time of use to actually charge from the grid e.g. in the case of low batteries and LS announced in say an hour

Hi mzezman,  Thanks for your answers.  I just notice in no 4 you didn't mentioned anything about "Grid Signal"  What is "Grid Signal" and can I also untick it ? 

"If you want real-time or near real time data then you can use the Sunsynk Dongle + App OR the Solar Assistant system (Raspberry Pi and software)"  

I'm currently using the Sunsynk dongle and the Sunsynk app, but it's not close to realtime.  I've set the interval on 30s but when I check the data, it appears to be 5 minutes behind.  I used SMH (Centurion Solar)  previously on the Axparts and found it much more comprehensive.  I understand that they have SMH now for Sunsynk as well.

21 hours ago, mzezman said:

1 - the batteries will contribute to the load 

Hi mzezman,  

As can be seen in the photo below I've indicated that the batteries must be charged to 100% during 07:00 - 19:00.  

I've asked if the batteries can contribute during this time and you said yes.  But in the 2nd photo taken at 11:02 it can be seen that the batteries were fully charged but not contributing and instead the inverter was pulling 50w from the Grid.  Why are the batteries not contributing during this time (07:00 - 19:00) when charged to 100%

You must set it to below 100 if you want it to use the battery ... I run SOC between 40-50% in the day .

2 hours ago, Nexuss said:

You must set it to below 100 if you want it to use the battery ... I run SOC between 40-50% in the day .

Thanks Nexuss,,  but will it then be fully charged before nite nitefall?

7 minutes ago, Cassie said:

Thanks Nexuss,,  but will it then be fully charged before nite nitefall?

ah yes - had forgotten that the SOC also impacts this

You can have another time slot say from 2-5 where you set to 100% SOC to top up your batteries. In any case if there is more PV than load the batteries will charge up

This Sunsynk inverters aren't user friendly,  I suffer the same. It is even worse,  when it's cloudy it doesn't charge. I feel your pain Cassie, I actually regret having bought it.

 

1 hour ago, Vladimiro said:

This Sunsynk inverters aren't user friendly,  I suffer the same. It is even worse,  when it's cloudy it doesn't charge. I feel your pain Cassie, I actually regret having bought it.

 

It’s actually very user friendly but that all depends on the user. Maybe read the user manual for a better understanding. 

2 hours ago, Vladimiro said:

This Sunsynk inverters aren't user friendly,  I suffer the same. It is even worse,  when it's cloudy it doesn't charge. I feel your pain Cassie, I actually regret having bought it.

Ja my Deye also dont like clouds ... dunno why ...

13 minutes ago, Scubadude said:

Ja my Deye also dont like clouds ... dunno why ...

Lol

3 hours ago, Vladimiro said:

This Sunsynk inverters aren't user friendly,  I suffer the same. It is even worse,  when it's cloudy it doesn't charge. I feel your pain Cassie, I actually regret having bought it.

Best one could try is to set the priority usage for the solar power to charge the battery as opposed to running the load. Otherwise set it to charge from grid. Lastly, just accept that when it's cloudy... ag, you know what, I don't want to be that guy...

5 hours ago, Vladimiro said:

This Sunsynk inverters aren't user friendly,  I suffer the same. It is even worse,  when it's cloudy it doesn't charge. I feel your pain Cassie, I actually regret having bought it.

 

maybe if you explain to us what you are trying to do we can assist?

21 hours ago, Scubadude said:

Ja my Deye also dont like clouds ... dunno why ...

My deye works just fine, I setup the percentages and it just automagically switches to grid when the battery percentage is too low. No interruption in power and no fiddling with the settings and saving the max amount every day in power costs. Today the clouds were so thick that I have not even generated 5Kwh for the day yet (almost 4pm)... probably be a new record as my pervious lowest was 8KWh. The problem not being the equipment but the amount of photons getting through the clouds and being able to dislodge the electrons on the panels. Most days I get more power than I am able to use but batteries are too expensive to store power for multiple days

Edit: I got a new record in lowest generation for the day 6.2KWh... 

Edited November 8, 20223 yr by iiznh

This is an interesting topic. Sitting back and watching people at play. Very few times one would accept not reading the manual. Also not asking HOW CAN I ACHIEVE this or that. The 1st thing is blaming the inverter.

We all can't know everything but most of the times it's great knowing someone who knows something. 🤔

Without having a Sunsynk/Deye I still rate it as a great control system and not just an inverter with solar,  battery or grid priority.

9 hours ago, Vladimiro said:

This Sunsynk inverters aren't user friendly,  I suffer the same. It is even worse,  when it's cloudy it doesn't charge. I feel your pain Cassie, I actually regret having bought it.

 

You have fortunately spent your money on one of the best inverters currently on the market. It has many features, and because of this takes time to familiarize one self with the potential the unit offers. The best ways to learn, are to read the manual, ask the installer to fully explain all features, watch youtube videos, and ask for help on forums.

You must understand this is not just an off grid inverter, but can morph into any type of installation you want, so by default it will require more of a complicated setup.👍

Check out the CEO of SunSynk on youtube here:- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCirp6bMpAK7AvyKnAo-14FA/featured

Hope you start to enjoy your inverter and it's potential in the near future, as you do have a great machine.

14 hours ago, Vladimiro said:

This Sunsynk inverters aren't user friendly,  I suffer the same. It is even worse,  when it's cloudy it doesn't charge. I feel your pain Cassie, I actually regret having bought it.

 

You are talking about a situation where there is not enough power being generated by the panels to power your load and charge the batteries. 

You just need to tick/untick the load priority setting depending on whether you want it to power the load first or to charge the batteries. 

If you untick it, it will charge the batteries first to the settings for that time and then offset the load. 

If it is ticked, it will offset the load and then if there is extra energy put it into the battery. On overcast days there is often not enough solar energy to do both so it just offsets you usage from the grid as much as possible and doesn't charge the batteries. 

On 2022/11/07 at 8:37 AM, Vladimiro said:

This Sunsynk inverters aren't user friendly,  I suffer the same. It is even worse,  when it's cloudy it doesn't charge. I feel your pain Cassie, I actually regret having bought it.

Reading the manual does help.
This is the settings I have:

Grid is ticked: If SoC below then Charge from grid
Grid not ticked: Discharge - not ever used this

This says maintain a 20% SoC, except 4pm-9pm where it must maintain 35%.
The inverter used the Grid to bump the SoC to 35% where it stayed until 21:00, then stared daring back to the normal 20% SoC.

My shutdown is set to 5%,

You can use the timer to work with high/low tariffs (not yet in ZA).

Edited November 8, 20223 yr by system32

The Sunsynk Channel on Youtube is a great resource for information. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCirp6bMpAK7AvyKnAo-14FA/videos 

This video also explains the system mode settings (although the new version looks slightly different with start and end times)