Hi,
After solving my problem with this great forum, I'm back with another question. This time, about diesel generator.

I recently bought a diesel Generator because in French Guiana, you can easly have more than 5 days of cloud cover.

In my case, i'm completely autonomous and I don't have Grid power due to my isolated location.

 

I have connected the diesel Generator to my inverter using AC input.

But when i'm starting the generator, my inverter won't connect his power and indicates no current. Only voltage and frequency are displayed on the inverter screen.

 

In the manual, I saw that normally there is a link between AC IN and the inverter on screen. In my case nothing append.

 

Here is a picture of when the generator is running.

 

 

 

 

As you can see, they are no current in the AC input

 

This is my generator :

 

My configuration is : 

• 1 x Inverter Growatt 5kW 48V - MPPT 100A - SPF5000-ES
• 10 x Solar PV 400W Mono - Vertex S - TrinaSolar
• 4 x battery Lithium 2.4kWh - US2000C - Pylontech 48V - 50Ha 

 

If someone has any experience about this problem or any feedback, please help me to find a way.

thanks for reading at all.

 

Alex

Done ! finally i found the Inverter parameter. I fail myself.

You need to update configuration in menu 3 and set Generator for AC input voltage range (GEN). Appliance selected by default (APL).

If this thread can serve someone else, please keep it.

thanks for reading.

9 minutes ago, AlexSolar said:

Done ! finally i found the Inverter parameter. I fail myself.

You need to update configuration in menu 3 and set Generator for AC input voltage range (GEN). Appliance selected by default (APL).

If this thread can serve someone else, please keep it.

thanks for reading.

Glad you are sorted just keep an eye on your gen frequency a tad high should be close as possible to 50hz. Grid interactive hybrid inverter-chargers match the AC freq, phase, and voltage before connecting to AC source,.

Models that do not have two separate AC input option, grid and gen, often set their default allowable frequency lock range to grid specs of a couple of tenths of Hz around grid freq.

59 minutes ago, TaliaB said:

Glad you are sorted just keep an eye on your gen frequency a tad high should be close as possible to 50hz. Grid interactive hybrid inverter-chargers match the AC freq, phase, and voltage before connecting to AC source,.

Models that do not have two separate AC input option, grid and gen, often set their default allowable frequency lock range to grid specs of a couple of tenths of Hz around grid freq.

Thank for your reply.

but i don't have any control of that correct ? Or do you think that require a generator tenician intervention ?
I'm particulary surprised that the AC input must be manually selected to GEN. I'm asking myself how the inverter could determinate if the AC input power is from grid or generator ?  If they are 2 separate input ok. but in my case, the input is the same.

 

Strange for me...

For thoses which dont understand why the inverter limit battery charging, don't forget to update the parameter 11. (Maximum utility charging current). 
You need ton increase this value and set a value between SPF 5000 ES :Default 30A, 0A~80A Settable.

Take care.

7 hours ago, AlexSolar said:

Or do you think that require a generator tenician intervention ?

Your engine speed is slightly too high needs to be fine tuned to achieve 50 hz it might be ok as loading the gen would also influence the frequency. If it is working on your inverter don't worry too much about it thought i just mention it. 

Thank you for your precision.

Growatt documentation say : 

When connecting generator, the generator should be no less than 10KVA(no less than 20KVA for three phase parallel system), and the inverters should be no more than 2 units in one phase

I'm unsing one single Inverter. And always in the documentation at program 11, Growatt indicate that the Maximum utility charging current for SPF 5000 ES :Default 30A, 0A~80A Settable.
 

I've configured this option to 70A. That correspond to approximatively 4Kw of Power sent by the generator.

 

My Generator is a 10Kva Power as required.
But, even i increase to 80A of Maximum utility charging current (i don't want due to approaching limitation value) i will always be under 50% of my generator power.

I don't understand why they says that 10kva Generator is required where a 6Kva can do the job ? no ?

Interesting discussion. The generator size is something ive been pondering.  I am installing a SPF 500 es. I'm looking for a diesel generator and was searching the web for info re ATS and switching the generator on when batteries are low then powering the house and switching the generator off when the batteries are adequately charged and automatically using the batteries and inverter again.

I have emailed Growatt to see if I realy need a 10 KVA generator as I don't have an electric cooker/oven/grill, my heating in winter is by solid fuel range/back boiler and I'll install a small gas boiler for kitchen hot water for summer use but might put an electric power shower in. I'll have a fridge and freezer and lights. And sockets. Not connected to the grid. I'll let you know if I get a response re the need for a 10KVA generator.

Is there any info around where I can learn how to wire the SPF 5000 es to a ATS to a generator and is anything required apart from a key start on the generator?

Ronan

Hello My friend,

Connecting the Inverter to the Generator is not hard. Look in the manual about "Dry Contact Signal" instead of ATS.

The Dry contact is like a simple light switch. When the inverter tell that the battery is low, then the dry contact switches to another position.

You can wire it as on->off or off->on depending on your own system and your generator.

But, in my experience, i removed the automation between my inverter and my generator for many reasons.
The main reason why i unrecommend is that if i'll do that, my wife and my childs won't integrate that we need to change our living usually to have a better carbon impact.

Wiring automatically my generator will say " Don't worry, the current will never shut down, keep the light switch on, and computer switch on"....

Because we decided to left the city to increase our quality of life. That means making an effort and burning fuel free to think about it is the worst.

Hope it help you.

 

 

The Dry contact is like a simple light switch. When the inverter tell that the battery is low, then the dry contact swith to another position.

You can wiring it as on->off or off->on depending on your own system.

In my experience, i remove the automation between my inverter and my generator for many reasons. But the 

 

 

 

 

Thanks AlexSolar. Thats very interesting. I bought an old 5kva wind up start Lister diesel generator and a telecom switching power supply to charge the battery directly. It was cheap as it needed rebuilding.  I'm still looking for a larger generator that I will hook up as an auto 2 wire start. I'm looking specifically at old lister 1500 rpm 4 pole generators at the moment. What I have noticed is that inverter generators are recommended by Growatt as the sine wave is cleaner. Has anyone on here any experience of using old style lister startomatic generators with Growatt inverters ,(SPF5000rs)? 

I am also looking for a suitable back-up generator for my 5000es Growatt.

I send Growatt an e-mail why I would need a 10kva generator when i can only use it for 50%.

Untill now I did not had any response from them yet.

@AlexSolar are you happy with the generator setup you have?

Best regards

Alex