Hello all, 

I have the Mecer / Axpert 5kw inverter. I recently added some monitoring to it and immediately realised that there is a massive discrepancy between the energy created from PV and what is used to charge batteries. 

On average, I generate about 2.3kw to 2.6kw on the panels, but the max ever used to charge batteries is 1.3KW. I run a 48V system and at 60A (max charge rate) should be able to use the energy created right? 

Is there maybe a firmware up date or setting to increase the charge rate? 

19 hours ago, Graham S McLeod said:

I have the Mecer / Axpert 5kw inverter. I recently added some monitoring to it and immediately realised that there is a massive discrepancy between the energy created from PV and what is used to charge batteries. 

On average, I generate about 2.3kw to 2.6kw on the panels, but the max ever used to charge batteries is 1.3KW. I run a 48V system and at 60A (max charge rate) should be able to use the energy created right? 

What is the consumption of your loads at that time? I assume that you are running in SBU mode, right? Then the panels are first powering your loads - and the excess of your PV production after powering the loads is then used to charge the batteries.

So if I am producing 3kW PV but am using 2kW on the load side (because my hot water geyser is running), then my batteries will only receive 1kW to charge 

Yes SBU - my average load is about 400w. What is interesting is that it is always exactly half the power generated as can be seen from the screen shot... Pic was taken quite late in the afternoon... I also thought it splits half half, but when I turn on the pool pump and consume 1.2kw, the batteries stop charging. Its really like I just have access to half the power generated 

14 hours ago, ThatGuy said:

Hi Graham

60A charge rate should be perfect, but can your batteries handle it? What batteries are they, and what capacity? If you've only got EG 1x 3.5kWh lithium battery, then the battery management system might be limiting the current to protect the battery.

There are a few firmware updates around the website here, but I don't think an update will solve the issue; this sounds more like the charge current is being limited elsewhere. However, what version of the 5kVA inverter is it and what firmware do you have now?

I have 2 x 3.5kw pylontec. 

I have never updated firmware - how do I check the current version please? Only version info I get is the CPU version which is 00072.40. The panels connect direct to the system and the system charges the batteries. I have ICC monitoring the set. Volts x Amps vs what the system reports is always exactly half - please see photo attached to other reply. 

If it is what it is, that's probably ok, but dang... what a waste

20 minutes ago, Graham S McLeod said:

Yes SBU - my average load is about 400w. What is interesting is that it is always exactly half the power generated as can be seen from the screen shot... Pic was taken quite late in the afternoon... I also thought it splits half half, but when I turn on the pool pump and consume 1.2kw, the batteries stop charging. Its really like I just have access to half the power generated 

87.7 x 4 = 350.8 W, not 203 W

 

5 minutes ago, YellowTapemeasure said:

87.7 x 4 = 350.8 W, not 203 W

 

Zactly my point - this is a bad example as it was taken late this afternoon - I will take a new one at 10 tomorrow, when generation is close to 2.6kw, but the system reports only about 13.kw.... 

You must use the battery volts for the calculation, not the mppt.

203/4 = 50.75V (battery volts at the time)

 

19 hours ago, Graham S McLeod said:

Zactly my point - this is a bad example as it was taken late this afternoon - I will take a new one at 10 tomorrow, when generation is close to 2.6kw, but the system reports only about 13.kw.... 

Please post a picture of you complete Dashboard 2 from ICC - so that we can you chart at the bottom covering a longer time period