DEYE Hybrid installation/mode advice! SUN-12k-SG04LP3-EU

[Bixard]

Hello,

I ordered and just received a complete solar system from SunArk for my house/distillery in Slovakia. 30kw capacity of panels, and 6 200Ah batteries. I did a bit of research before purchasing and thought I had everything thought through but now I am not sure. Slovakia has pretty strict rules on grid connections and I do not plan to be officially connected to the grid to sell power back to the grid. My plan was to only use grid power to supplement the distillery and charge the batteries if needed. 

My inverter setup is 3 DEYE SUN-12k-SG04LP3-EU units. I wrongly assumed I could setup the system in a SBU mode and now I am not sure how I should manage the loads. I want to reduce the risk of even sending back a small amount of power to the grid.

My thought now is that I should run the whole house on the Backup Load output and only run the Distillery on the GRID/House Load output. My reasoning is that I believe the system size is more then large enough for running my house and should not need supplemental power from the grid.

The distillery is a small commercial distillery but more on the scale of large hobby. The auxiliary power needed for the  distillery is minimal, however the Still itself has 3 7kw electric elements, but will not be at 100% for more then an hour or so each time it is used. When the system is up to temp the power will be reduced to 1-2 elements. Another note about the operation is that we will only run the still 1-2 days per week in the fall and possibly less during the rest of the year.

I am not sure which Zero Export setting would be best to use or if my thinking on which load outputs to use is right. I orginally thought I would have all outputs on house load, but I would like to keep the whole house operational even if there is a grid power outage. I was hoping I could run it in "island" mode and use a mechanical switch to gain power from the grid to supplement, but I know realize this system is not really designed for that. 

I would appreciate any advice you may have about this.

 

[Scorp007]

9 hours ago, Bixard said:

Hello,

I ordered and just received a complete solar system from SunArk for my house/distillery in Slovakia. 30kw capacity of panels, and 6 200Ah batteries. I did a bit of research before purchasing and thought I had everything thought through but now I am not sure. Slovakia has pretty strict rules on grid connections and I do not plan to be officially connected to the grid to sell power back to the grid. My plan was to only use grid power to supplement the distillery and charge the batteries if needed. 

My inverter setup is 3 DEYE SUN-12k-SG04LP3-EU units. I wrongly assumed I could setup the system in a SBU mode and now I am not sure how I should manage the loads. I want to reduce the risk of even sending back a small amount of power to the grid.

My thought now is that I should run the whole house on the Backup Load output and only run the Distillery on the GRID/House Load output. My reasoning is that I believe the system size is more then large enough for running my house and should not need supplemental power from the grid.

The distillery is a small commercial distillery but more on the scale of large hobby. The auxiliary power needed for the  distillery is minimal, however the Still itself has 3 7kw electric elements, but will not be at 100% for more then an hour or so each time it is used. When the system is up to temp the power will be reduced to 1-2 elements. Another note about the operation is that we will only run the still 1-2 days per week in the fall and possibly less during the rest of the year.

I am not sure which Zero Export setting would be best to use or if my thinking on which load outputs to use is right. I orginally thought I would have all outputs on house load, but I would like to keep the whole house operational even if there is a grid power outage. I was hoping I could run it in "island" mode and use a mechanical switch to gain power from the grid to supplement, but I know realize this system is not really designed for that. 

I would appreciate any advice you may have about this.

 

Go through the various pictures under the inverter section and take notes as you go along. You will find all the settings needed. 

The main item will be to use the CTs installed the correct direction. 

Also read all the Sunsynk topics although some descriptions will differ a bit for the same functions as the Deye. 

[Bixard]

Thanks, I have done a lot of research over the last few days. Gone through the manual, went through forums and Reddit. I just can't find anything that is quite like how I want to set my system up. I am asking for advice not really for a pep talk to go do more research. 

I understand I need to use the CT's in the correct direction, and that they need to be located in the right place. I have read through many topics on all the different "brands" made by the DEYE company. I have a local guy also helping me and he suggested I post to forum as neither of us are sure which direction to go. I thought maybe someone out there in the ether has done it before the way I want to set it up.

 

EDIT: I should have mentioned this in my original post. In past life long ago, I was an electrician. The wiring, breakers, panels, etc, I have a good understanding about. I have no concern over the actual installation process.

Edited July 4 by Bixard

[GreenFields]

First point, your inverter can be set up to do almost anything you'd need, so no need to think you made a mistake. Just looks like some info has gone lost in communication, or your needs and knowledge not fully understood. But I don't think that in principle your situation is truly unique.

Second point, it's noted that you already understand the importance of placing the CT coils correctly, you can follow the manual, you know how to set up the 3 x 3-phase inverters in parallel, with incoming grid power onto the grid port of the inverters.

Third point, you NEVER want to export any power to your grid, so you will NOT select the "Selling First" work mode, and you will NEVER tick either of the "Solar Sell" boxes. If you are very determined on this requirement, you should set the "Zero Export Power" function to a reasonably high value. The manual suggests 20-100W for normal operation, but if your utility is extremely strict, you should try the highest value or higher if needs be. This is the minimum amount of Watts you will always draw from the grid, thereby reducing the chance that a fluctuating power demand/supply balance could send a small burst of power back to the grid.

Fourth point I don't fully understand, is whether your intention is to back up the entire house and distillery by the battery, or just one or the other? Basically, is your grid stable, or are you worried about your national grid failing in the middle of a heating/brewing process? Is it okay if the distillery is considered a non-essential load that shuts down during a power outage, so that you only supply your house with power? I think you are putting just the house on the backup load port, and the distillery on the non-essential grid output, but I'm not sure.

If this is correct, you should use the "Zero Export to CT" function. In the event of a power outage, you do not need a mechanical switch. The Load Port remains automatically backed up by battery, and can use solar power as first option when available.

The question that remains - and here's a pep talk for you to do a bit more reading - is how precisely you want to control the usage of solar and battery power to supply the loads. If you do nothing else, your inverter will run as a UPS, basically keeping the batteries charged, using solar power, then utility, and then battery backup. You need to read more on the Time-of-Use function, and then if you have any more detailed questions from that, feel free.

 

Edited July 4 by GreenFields

[Scorp007]

This is some great advice from one of our best users of this inverter and knows all the interactions between the settings. 

Also always available to help out and teach us novices. 

Thanks for your input. 

@GreenFields@GreenFields At school they would have said of you if you talk ALL should pay attention. 

Edited July 4 by Scorp007

[Bixard]

Thank you @GreenFields for this. I think this will give me more to think about and answered some questions about settings.
 

To clarify, I intend to put the entire house on backup load and keep the distillery as non-essential/house load. If there is a power outage, I am not worried about the distillery. We have fairly stable power in Slovakia and when the power does go out, it is usually only for a few hours. Nothing in the Distillery will be affected. 

I have started to look into the Time of Use settings. My goal is to never use grid power in my house. I have several friends in my local area that have much smaller systems then I have, and have been able to get about 90% of their power from Solar and Battery throughout the year. We over-sized our system significantly to account for the distillery loads when cooking, and will likely need to pull from the grid on brew days only. At least that is our intention.

Thank you again. Your explanations make sense and I feel a bit more confident we will get to where we want. I hope to get everything install next month. I will be traveling for the next few weeks, but plan to start immediately when I get back. I am sure I will have more questions along the way. 

Below is the basic setup I was sent from the factory for reference. I built a dedicated room in our space for the equipment with ventilation. I am excited to get started.

Edited July 4 by Bixard