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Help needed with current system

Featured Replies

The more I try to learn the more I realize how little I know.  

Let me start at the beginning where I was blindly trusting my installer.  My intention was to beat loadshedding and not going off grid.

What was installed was a RCT 8kw inverter, with 1x5kw Hubble X100-48V  battery and 6x450W solar panels.  

Afterwards ( with much frustration with failing of the system  due to running the battery flat)  I learned that the inverter (Axpert) and Hubble battery does not communicate with each other since the battery does not have a comm port to link the inverter with a cable.  It is only the power cables running between them.   According to my understanding now is that Pylontech or Kodak batteries the preferred choice is of RCT inverters.   I want to get rid of the battery as they are discontinued  and want to upgrade to a newer battery - I am looking at 2x5kw or 1x10kw battery.  

Is there someone out here that can help me with advice to sort this out for once and ever.

 

 

 

30 minutes ago, NicoB said:

The more I try to learn the more I realize how little I know.  

Let me start at the beginning where I was blindly trusting my installer.  My intention was to beat loadshedding and not going off grid.

What was installed was a RCT 8kw inverter, with 1x5kw Hubble X100-48V  battery and 6x450W solar panels.  

Afterwards ( with much frustration with failing of the system  due to running the battery flat)  I learned that the inverter (Axpert) and Hubble battery does not communicate with each other since the battery does not have a comm port to link the inverter with a cable.  It is only the power cables running between them.   According to my understanding now is that Pylontech or Kodak batteries the preferred choice is of RCT inverters.   I want to get rid of the battery as they are discontinued  and want to upgrade to a newer battery - I am looking at 2x5kw or 1x10kw battery.  

Is there someone out here that can help me with advice to sort this out for once and ever.

 

 

 

Even if the RCT does not use comms then it can still use the battery WITHOUT running it too flat. There are 3-4 settings to do. 

I have to say that your panels are actually on the light side for such a powerful inverter. The same applies for the battery. May be you should just add another battery and panels and get someone to assist in doing the right settings. It's not the end of the world. 

In which area are you based. 

Post a picture of the sticker on the side of the inverter and we can help. 

Edited by Scorp007

1 hour ago, NicoB said:

What was installed was a RCT 8kw inverter, with 1x5kw Hubble X100-48V  battery and 6x450W solar panels.  

Hmmm.... that inverter will try to service a demand of 8kW. The battery can only handle 5kW. Not a good mismatch to have, but if all the big loads are eliminated from the backed up loads on the DB then we can just call it "room for expansion".

But try to figure out what loads you have running when. I have 10kWh of battery and usually have just over 50% left in the early morning. Which means that on 5kWh I'd be very close to running the battery down. If the grid were up the system would start drawing from grid to protect the battery, but if the grid is down I might flatten the battery.

The battery may not be the problem.

1 hour ago, NicoB said:

The more I try to learn the more I realize how little I know.  

Let me start at the beginning where I was blindly trusting my installer.  My intention was to beat loadshedding and not going off grid.

What was installed was a RCT 8kw inverter, with 1x5kw Hubble X100-48V  battery and 6x450W solar panels.  

Afterwards ( with much frustration with failing of the system  due to running the battery flat)  I learned that the inverter (Axpert) and Hubble battery does not communicate with each other since the battery does not have a comm port to link the inverter with a cable.  It is only the power cables running between them.   According to my understanding now is that Pylontech or Kodak batteries the preferred choice is of RCT inverters.   I want to get rid of the battery as they are discontinued  and want to upgrade to a newer battery - I am looking at 2x5kw or 1x10kw battery.  

Is there someone out here that can help me with advice to sort this out for once and ever.

 

 

 

As far as i know the Hubble X-100 has full bms integration with Voltronic inverters. The Hubble X-100 has been discontinued but there is the X-101 available that can be paired with the existing X-100 for paralleled conection with bms interface between the batteries and comms to the inverter. In the mean time change program 29 to 44v low dc cut off.

Attached screenshot.

Screenshot_20240322_124203_Microsoft365(Office).thumb.jpg.a5a37fc052c8a916dee8bb65fb4d9018.jpg

 

 

15 minutes ago, NicoB said:

I will start with these settings just to get the system going again. 

Due to the limited panels I will also use PV and grid charge for setting 16.

Settings as supplied by Hubble. 

You can try and lift setting 12 to 48V just to have it higher than the cut out supplied by Hubble or try lowering 29 to 46V. I prefer some grading between 12 and 29.

 

 

IMG_20240322_130031.jpg

Edited by Scorp007
My old eyes missed the 46 and 48V

  • Author

Maybe someone can help me with setting 5 on the inverter.  It gives me choices between different batteries.   

on setting 29 the low of the battery is set at 42.5

3 minutes ago, NicoB said:

Maybe someone can help me with setting 5 on the inverter.  It gives me choices between different batteries.   

on setting 29 the low of the battery is set at 42.5

Use the USE setting under 5.

  • Author
4 minutes ago, Scorp007 said:

Use the USE setting under 5.

Thanks again for the table.  I went through the list and a lot of differences was corrected.  The inverter started charging the battery immediately.  let us hope.

As far as i know the Hubble X-100 has full bms integration with Voltronic inverters. The Hubble X-100 has been discontinued but there is the X-101 available that can be paired with the existing X-100 for paralleled conection with bms interface between the batteries and comms to the inverter. In the mean time change program 29 to 44v low dc cut off.

Do you guys think I must buy another hubble or go for kodak/pylontech batteries?  I want to increase the back-up size to 10kw

 

2 hours ago, NicoB said:

Thanks again for the table.  I went through the list and a lot of differences was corrected.  The inverter started charging the battery immediately.  let us hope.

As far as i know the Hubble X-100 has full bms integration with Voltronic inverters. The Hubble X-100 has been discontinued but there is the X-101 available that can be paired with the existing X-100 for paralleled conection with bms interface between the batteries and comms to the inverter.

Cannot say how high one would rate the x100. 

Let's get someone with experience of the x100 like @TaliaB to share his input or other members. 

I would add a X101 even without comms. 

I would just try not to use a cut out lower than the 46V Hubble indicate. 

Edited by Scorp007

  • Author

Update on my current system" Thanks to the correcting of the settings the inverter and the battery talks to each other - thans again Scorp.

I have installed 10x600W  solar panels this afternoon in 2 strings of 3000W each.   No more utility usage during daytime.  It is actually saving me money from today.

I am still not sure about the batteries.  According to Hubble service center the X100 and X101  cannot be linked to each other.  

Help will be appreciated - I want to end with 10kw battery back up.  Either 2x5kw or 1x10kw

3 minutes ago, NicoB said:

Update on my current system" Thanks to the correcting of the settings the inverter and the battery talks to each other - thans again Scorp.

I have installed 10x600W  solar panels this afternoon in 2 strings of 3000W each.   No more utility usage during daytime.  It is actually saving me money from today.

I am still not sure about the batteries.  According to Hubble service center the X100 and X101  cannot be linked to each other.  

Help will be appreciated - I want to end with 10kw battery back up.  Either 2x5kw or 1x10kw

You seem to install 10 panels like I cut a piece of cake. Good for you and hope you save a ton every month. 

18 minutes ago, NicoB said:

According to Hubble service center the X100 and X101  cannot be linked to each other.  

I was under the impression the bms's are compatible but if Hubble say they aren't then so be it.  Without bms comms they are definitely compatible connected in parallel. You can look at Freedom Won 10/8 Lite or 2 x Greenrich UP5000 for approximately the same price.

Edited by TaliaB

  • Author

I appreciate all your input on this issue.   

Please do not get the impression that money is not an issue - it is but I am just over frustrated with the system because it was not delivering as I was expecting.  

I just need to sort out the battery set-up

 

First of all the RCT 8kW is a great machine if understood. The Hubble battery I cannot comment on. Never been exposed to one. The 8kW inverter is a large one for the 5kWh Hubble but the RCT does have a discharge limit that is programmable in menu option 41. You can setup a 100A discharge limit meaning the inverter is derated to 5kW of inverting power. 

@NicoBI know you must be very disappointed with what you have, & probably the installer let you down by over marketing something that didn't meet your expectations. 

My suggestion: 

Buy solar assistant & the Orange Pi Or Raspberry Pi & squeeze as much value out of this system. The RCT will be made more clever & more understandable to you, using the Solar assistant software & the Hubble is supported for the RCT & Hubble to work more as a team. 

Make the best of a disappointing experience. 

19 hours ago, Steve87 said:

My suggestion: 

Buy solar assistant & the Orange Pi Or Raspberry Pi & squeeze as much value out of this system. The RCT will be made more clever & more understandable to you, using the Solar assistant software & the Hubble is supported for the RCT & Hubble to work more as a team. 

Make the best of a disappointing experience. 

@NicoB

Yeah great suggestion by Steve below battery priority logic that i have applied on some of my installations using SA. Works like a charm.

 

Screenshot_20240323_174112_Chrome.thumb.jpg.ce37ddb5d7421e6af1d43a29714acc80.jpg

 

Screenshot_20240323_174050_Chrome.thumb.jpg.693488aea1d877fc98432251c008a8aa.jpg

Edited by TaliaB

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