Posted January 12, 20232 yr If utility power is resumed from Escom (yes, it does happen), is it correct that I still cannot overload the circuits wired into the converter? I expected the inverter to send Escom power to those circuits as before and only do the battery charging. However, the inverter alarms when I plug a heavy appliance into one of the circuits it supports, even when utility is alive.
January 12, 20232 yr 56 minutes ago, APvRV said: If utility power is resumed from Escom (yes, it does happen), is it correct that I still cannot overload the circuits wired into the converter? I expected the inverter to send Escom power to those circuits as before and only do the battery charging. However, the inverter alarms when I plug a heavy appliance into one of the circuits it supports, even when utility is alive. How much power is the appliance using? it might be more than the inverter load can handle, e.g. if you inverter is a 3kw and your total essentials load is 3kw then you switch on something using 1.5kw then the inverter might complain
January 27, 20232 yr Author I have consulted the inverter manufacturer and the battery supplier on this. Both confirmed that the circuits wired to the inverter will ALWAYS only have power up to the limit of what the inverter can handle, whether mains power is on or not.
January 30, 20232 yr Some inverters enable Mains Bypass Feature and can supply loads in excess of what the Inverter itself can produce. If your inverter complains or trips than yours is not one of those😉 Most inverters have "Dry Contact" relays that can activate all sorts of cool accessories like contactors so you can have heavier load circuits drop out or in depending on the supply conditions. You can also use things called Energy Control Units to drop Circuits that only occasionally use high current appliances. There is no end to the Creativity of a good Electrician! 😀
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