Hello There

Any one have a generator as back up through a sunsynk inverter? Ive read up and watched all the material on it already, realise it has its issues but would just like to know if anyone has a working auto start setup and what brand of generator they using  ? 

Baie Dankie

 

Are you asking about having a generator feeding the grid input on the inverter to keep the battery charged? This topic comes up from time to time, and the consensus seems to be that it doesn't work with domestic generators. The output of the generator is too variable and the inverter disconnects as it would when the grid is unstable, and so you keep on depleting the battery.

Yip exactly this, so I bought the sunsynk for exactly this reason as was advised it can auto start and control the generator when shopping for back up solutions for my business. I have a 16kva viper diesel  gen and having issues with it syncing with the synsynk 

The load is 2.7k and I have a 5kwh sunsynk battery, which works well as a UPS but only last 1.5h, i need 4hours so either I buy more batteries at 30k a pop or get a generator that works with the sunsynk ? 

Had a mecer/axpert before this and it just bypassed the inverter when generator was running now with the sunsynk its to sensitive to allow the generator in. 

Don't know which way to turn now ?

we are going to connect a 40kw (44kva i 5hink) 3 phase gennie straight into a 20kw deye 3 phase inverter….aparently if the frequency matches the inverter will not know whether it is grid power or gennie power?

 

@Telepage

Can you describe or be more specific with the issues you are having? 

I use a 3kw Honda inverter generator and I have no problem connecting it to my 5kw Sunsynk. I just tell the Sunsynk not to take more than 2kw from the generator.

 

I use a 3kw Honda inverter generator and I have no problem connecting it to my 5kw Sunsynk. I just tell the Sunsynk not to take more than 2kw from the generator.

will it work if gennie is bigger than inverter? eg 40kw v 20kw

Using a Honda EU65is generator on my 5Kw Sunsynk, connected to AUX port. Works without any problems

 

will it work if gennie is bigger than inverter? eg 40kw v 20kw

I cannot see why not. As long as the output of your generator is stable and stays within the correct voltage and frequency parameters, you should not have a problem.

 

will it work if gennie is bigger than inverter? eg 40kw v 20kw

yes, no problem, will only pull as much power as it can use from the generator

I did a video on connecting my 5.5kva generator to my 16kw DEYE, anyone who says that the generator has to be twice the size of the inverter has no clue what they are talking about 

 

 

we are going to connect a 40kw (44kva i 5hink) 3 phase gennie straight into a 20kw deye 3 phase inverter….aparently if the frequency matches the inverter will not know whether it is grid power or gennie power?

 

There is a setting on the latest DEYE firmware where you can set the Grid Input on the inverter for use with a generator. I assume that there is one on the Sunsynk's now as well (maybe someone with a SS can confirm?)

This relaxes widens the frequency and voltage ranges a bit for the generator, it also slows the ramp up of power being drawn from the generator so as to give the generator more time to adjust for the higher load with more throttle. This helps keep the generator within spec on the frequency as ramping up too quickly causes the generator to slow down dropping the frequency. 

 

Yip exactly this, so I bought the sunsynk for exactly this reason as was advised it can auto start and control the generator when shopping for back up solutions for my business. I have a 16kva viper diesel  gen and having issues with it syncing with the synsynk 

The load is 2.7k and I have a 5kwh sunsynk battery, which works well as a UPS but only last 1.5h, i need 4hours so either I buy more batteries at 30k a pop or get a generator that works with the sunsynk ? 

Had a mecer/axpert before this and it just bypassed the inverter when generator was running now with the sunsynk its to sensitive to allow the generator in. 

Don't know which way to turn now ?

Hi @Telepage

I assume that your generator has an ATS on it and that it is connected correctly to allow the inverter to start the generator? 

Have you viewed the videos from Keith at Sunsynk as there are a number of things that need to be done in the settings to get the inverter to turn on the generator? 

There is also a pretty good video from DEYE and the requirements are pretty much the same 

 

 

https://www.sunsynk.org/post/using-auto-gen-start-on-the-5kw-inverter 

Thanks for all the replies and links!!! I have read and watched a lot of stuff from Keith and sunsynk, also some past posts on here. Tried the peak grid shaving but that didn't help, figured the generator wasn't earthed at all so the electrician is fitting an earth spike for the generator and also apparently the neutral wasn't earthed either which he is sorting? So going to see if that helps, will report Back once that us done and we try again, we haven't tried auto starting yet as wanting to get it to sync properly first!!! 

 

 

There is a setting on the latest DEYE firmware where you can set the Grid Input on the inverter for use with a generator. I assume that there is one on the Sunsynk's now as well (maybe someone with a SS can confirm?)

This relaxes widens the frequency and voltage ranges a bit for the generator, it also slows the ramp up of power being drawn from the generator so as to give the generator more time to adjust for the higher load with more throttle. This helps keep the generator within spec on the frequency as ramping up too quickly causes the generator to slow down dropping the frequency. 

Yes thanks @Sc00bs read up about this and makes sense, figured we should start with making sure the earthing is all done correctly first then will adjust the input and settings on the inverter. 

 

yes, no problem, will only pull as much power as it can use from the generator

ah thanks..i was worried gennie to big for inverter… but seems that works best for 380v and correct frequency… will have a manual bypass switch inverter to gennie as well in case…

Edited September 22, 20232 yr by craig shaw

I am hijacking someone else's problem but I am having major issues with our Synsync 16kva inverter.  It just keeps disconnecting from the grid, this causes our power to spike and dip, this happens once every 20-30 minutes throughout the day. At certain points in the day, the TV wont even stay on and other appliances dont work at all (like there is not enough power).  On other occasions you can see the power dip in the lights if you switch on appliances - like a hairdryer or flat iron. 

It doesnt do it if we are loadshedding, the power is good when there is nothing coming in from Eskom. I believe they have said this is a programme issue and they have run software updates etc but it is not fixing the problem. 

Any suggestions on how to to rectify this?  We are frustrated beyond belief !

Hello.  I am planning to get a generator which can charge my batteries if too low so require the inverter to auto start and shut down.  I would like to know if the Gentech 6kVA Electric Start Digital Pure SineWave Petrol Inverter Generator would be suitable for this function

On 2025/02/21 at 4:14 PM, LidaH said:

Hello.  I am planning to get a generator which can charge my batteries if too low so require the inverter to auto start and shut down.  I would like to know if the Gentech 6kVA Electric Start Digital Pure SineWave Petrol Inverter Generator would be suitable for this function

Hi @LidaH

I was actually speaking to someone a few weeks ago about the Gentec generator, he was telling me all about it as I had not heard of any small petrol generators with an autostart feature.

He said that he had managed to get it working with his Sunynk, so apparently it does work (2nd hand I know but)

2 minutes ago, Sc00bs said:

Hi @LidaH

I was actually speaking to someone a few weeks ago about the Gentec generator, he was telling me all about it as I had not heard of any small petrol generators with an autostart feature.

He said that he had managed to get it working with his Sunynk, so apparently it does work (2nd hand I know but)

He had the 8kw version, not the 6kw version though, as it has the ATS built in.

I am not sure if the 6kw has an ATS, I think that it may only have a remote start