CasualCheetah Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 Hi everyone, I would like to hear about any experiences that you guys have had with the Imeon smart inverters. The whole concept looks pretty promising, but as always is the implementation as simple as all the brochures and marketing material make it out to be? Would love to hear any feedback! Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 Ask away, i have over the last 3 months installed 47 of these units for clients. Admittedly they do have one or two issues to work around but overall a good stable hybrid. Do not go and purchase one and then buy cheap traction batteries....you will learn the hard way then!! make sure the supplier is able to set the float and absorption rates to suit the batteries.. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wetkit Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Hi Mike, Not sure I understand you correctly regarding the batteries. If it is a true hybrid, should you not set it to use solar power first rather than battery power? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Wetkit, yes it is a true hybrid, however there are settings as it is a "Smart Inverter" it self configures its usage pattern to use pv and / or battery and eskom as a last resort. you can set daytime dishcarge rates and zero eskom rates and so on... It is a nice unit, but for me the limitation is the single MPPT controller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLoLCat Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 I have experience with the Imeon 3.6. It is highly configurable and allows real time data logging to a laptop using a USB cable. It can output 6kW by merging Grid with Battery and/or Solar. The maximum power output without grid is a little over 3kW, then it will trip. Battery depth of discharge levels can be configured for when grid is available and unavailable. So you can choose exactly to what depth you want your battery to cycle each day, and thus control battery life expectancy. 1 big disadvantage of the Imeon 3.6 is its weak battery charge controller (25 A), so you are limited to the size of the battery bank you can use with this inverter if you want to adhere to recommended charging currents. This 25 A charging current limitation will also mean that Solar Energy must be used directly since the inverter can only direct a maximum of 1200 Watts towards the battery bank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 I am sooo glad I read this thread. Was thinking of going Imeon for it looked like a really nice unit. But over the years, needs change and it would be an issue to get stuck having to replace a the main component. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverNodashi Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Ask away, i have over the last 3 months installed 47 of these units for clients. Admittedly they do have one or two issues to work around but overall a good stable hybrid. Do not go and purchase one and then buy cheap traction batteries....you will learn the hard way then!! make sure the supplier is able to set the float and absorption rates to suit the batteries.. good luck What batteries do you recommend for this unit, which won't cost an arm and two legs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wetkit Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Yea Mike, what is the story with the "cheap" traction cells? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Guy's i would not recommend the cheap 100ah /105ah "deep" cycle type, what i would use is the Trojan T105 or better in that range, also the Sonic Gel 250ah. I find when i use any from 200ah and above the system really works in smart mode. When one uses the " cheaper" type of battery ( traction ), one has to go and do a physical voltage reading with a meter on the batteries and then go into the advanced area -which i must add you cannot get into, and go and alter the absorption rate and bulk rate as well as the meter read battery voltage, then they kind of work. you will find a voltage drop if Eskom drops from 100% to 65% within a minute and then dependent on your dod the unit will most likely not last thru a shedding period. I have installed around 41 one these over the last 3 months, only one had an issue and it's cause was dirty frequency - where eksom's 50herz was hovering around 45.6herz and the unit was switching modes all the time.... hope that helps, but really it is a good unit with a 5 year warranty and NRS 097 -2-1 certified for the City . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 I am with Mike on this one. 105ah Maintenance Free 'deep cycle' batteries are NOT really deep cycle. They tend to have +-200 cycles to 50% DOD, and that is IF you are lucky. Discharge them on say a 700w load, for 2.5 hours, and you are looking at 20-30 cycles and one will most probably need replacement. You do get 105ah batteries that can go +-800 cycles to 50% DOD, that you can check each cell and replenish the water if you first want to start with cheaper batteries to learn, get the feel. But whichever way you look at it, make sure you have enough batteries to carry the load you want powered, otherwise it is going to be a very expensive first round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Been doing some battery homework again, and I just realised again what an exceptional battery the Trojan is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 ... and I just realised again what an exceptional battery the Trojan is. I cannot agree more. Since I moved away from the 105ah, and later the 200ah, the Torjan's are no match to any of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLoLCat Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Can someone elaborate on what makes the Trojan batteries a preferred choice? All of these batteries have the exact same claimed cycle-life curve according to the datasheet: Omnipower (12V)Trojan T105 (6V) Sonic Gel (12V) Due to the high price of these batteries in ZA I recently decided to import 24 x 12V Deep Cycle Gel batteries (180 Ah @ 10h discharge) which are meant for use in photo-voltaic applications. Their cycle-life is exactly equivalent to the above mentioned 3 brands: 30% DOD = > 2500 Cycles 50% DOD = +- 1750 Cycles I plan on replacing my existing 4 x 260Ah Omnipower batteries with 8 of these imported ones. Each of them have just about the same storage capacity as a 260Ah Omnipower battery which is actually 200Ah @ 10h discharge. I will create an advert on the forum to sell the remaining batteries that I won't be using. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverNodashi Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Can someone elaborate on what makes the Trojan batteries a preferred choice? All of these batteries have the exact same claimed cycle-life curve according to the datasheet: Omnipower (12V) Trojan T105 (6V) Sonic Gel (12V) Due to the high price of these batteries in ZA I recently decided to import 24 x 12V Deep Cycle Gel batteries (180 Ah @ 10h discharge) which are meant for use in photo-voltaic applications. Their cycle-life is exactly equivalent to the above mentioned 3 brands: 30% DOD = > 2500 Cycles 50% DOD = +- 1750 Cycles I plan on replacing my existing 4 x 260Ah Omnipower batteries with 8 of these imported ones. Each of them have just about the same storage capacity as a 260Ah Omnipower battery which is actually 200Ah @ 10h discharge. I will create an advert on the forum to sell the remaining batteries that I won't be using. Would you mind sharing the brand, and cost, that you're importing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Can someone elaborate on what makes the Trojan batteries a preferred choice? My experiences to date, are based on using different makes of batteries, after buying them based on their specs. The published lab specs do not always translate into real life usages. Having said that, sometimes some battery makes outperform their specifications. So for me, Torjan's being used in golf carts and forklifts, made a lot of sense to me as being tried and tested to keep to their advertised specifications. And yes, batteries in SA are expensive, because some dealers and suppliers load their prices, that is if you get see the re-seller prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Bang for buck. That's what makes the Trojan attractive to me. It's hard to get that kind of cycle life at that price. It does exist, just time and again I see a battery at a good price... ask for the spec sheet.... eermmm, no, Trojan is still a better battery. I live in the Western Cape though. It's hard to get anything at a decent price down here :-) SOLARWIND 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 I live in the Western Cape though. It's hard to get anything at a decent price down here :-) Not true. Plonkster, speak to me. I can get Trojans at dealer price, with a small markup, for you when you are ready. You just need to collect them in Bellville. :-) Can also source all other parts Dixon batteries supply ito Victron inverters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLoLCat Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Would you mind sharing the brand, and cost, that you're importing? I placed an advert in the classifieds section. PM me your email address so I can send you the datasheet for brand details and cycle life information. The forum does not support PDF attachments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 TTT, I saw your ad for T105s. Prices still the same? I don't mind fetching in Bellville. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 TTT, I saw your ad for T105s. Prices still the same? I don't mind fetching in Bellville. T105RE's you mean? Price went up 1 Sept. PM me and we can chat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverNodashi Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 As matter of interest, what is the peak surge on the 9.12 Imeon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLARWIND Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 Hi, I've been using the IMEON3.6 since June 2015 and so far I am very pleased with its performance! Herewith some recorded data. Note: Any negative figures point to grid back feed. 27 Dec. 2015.xls28-12-2015 IMEON solar.xls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLARWIND Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 Don't worry about the battery voltage! This is because I use Ni-Fe cells which need to be charged slightly different to Pb etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLARWIND Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 Hi everyone, I would like to hear about any experiences that you guys have had with the Imeon smart inverters. The whole concept looks pretty promising, but as always is the implementation as simple as all the brochures and marketing material make it out to be? Would love to hear any feedback! Cheers! With your standard Trojans and Lithium batteries, it is virtually a "plug & play" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 I have 6.6kw of pv on my Imeon 3.6, only manages to get a max of around 47 to 4.9kwp out of them. Max amps have been around 13.2A at 412V. On average i get around 36 - 39kwh per day. As of now from the 1st November it has generated 1955kwh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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