Hi All

 

My name is Devendran. Been reading a lot of posts on this forum and found it to be a valuable resource when I was doing my research and deciding what kind of set up I need to invest in. 
 

I wanted to see if there are any thoughts on my setup, so here’s my first post. 
 

Any feedback would be much appreciated. 
 

So to start my objective initially was to get a back up system with the intention of upgrading to solar to save some bucks(esp after last Eskom increase 🙈)

 

So in Jan this year I got a Solarway Sunforce 3kw(looks like it’s an axpert or a clone of one) https://www.solarwaysuppliers.co.za/product/24v-sunforce-3kw-inverter/ and 2 x 150Ah Allgrand batteries https://sp-energy.co.za/product/allgrand-150ah-battery/ Got all that hooked up and worked a charm for back up power. 

Come 1 July the Eskom price increase and I decided time now to get some panels. So I got 3 x 490w Canadian panels https://www.solarwaysuppliers.co.za/product/490w-canadian-solar-panel/ and hooked them up in parallel. The inverter has a total limit of 1500w of Pc input so figured this would be a good setup. 
a couple obversations now:

1. I never get over 1000w from the panels. 
2. The inverter does not seem to want to run off battery if there is no Pv input. So trying to use what was collecting during the day at night seems impossible. Thereby limiting my savings on eskom bill. 
3. after a lot of reading. It seems like I should have rather gone for a Deye inverter, seems like it has the ability to blend sources and can even then power my geyser and add to savings achieved, any thoughts?

4. I would like to add another panel to try help get closer to the 1500w limitation on the inverter. But not if my setup is incorrect and I can get that from the current 3 panels. 
 

thanks in advance for any feedback. 

Edited July 31, 20214 yr by Deven

Hi,

 

Any indication at all what the Axpert Equivalent might be, if at all? 

Perhaps it's based on the Axpert MKS 3KP-24? If so, PV is limited to 1000W (might explain your issue)

https://voltronicpower.com/content/download/Brochure/Axpert_MKS(PF1)_DS.pdf

you have the spec sheet for that inverter of yours? The site doesn't appear to have the full specs listed or a downloadable manual.

 

 

That web site is completely useless; you won't know what you're buying. Part of it says 3-5 kW, part says 1-200 kW, 12/24/48 V!

If you could post a photo of the sticker on the side, we might figure out what model it actually is. Many of the Voltronic Power 24 V models have limited PV capability.

Thanks for the reply guys.

So the company I bought it from reference the Growatt data sheet for the inverter(https://www.solarwaysuppliers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/spf-32000-hvmmmm.pdf)

Heres a pic of the sticker on the side of the inverter: 

Ah, so it's a Growatt. These look superficially like Axperts, so much so that I'm 95% convinced that they started with copies of the Axpert schematics.

But despite their likely origins, Growatts are quite different from Axperts. The few firmwares that I have looked at have some similarities with Axpert firmwares, but are not compatible at all (from distant memory).

My expertise ends with Axperts, and really with 48V models, though some 24V models are close enough that I can help a little. But this 24V Growatt, sorry, I know nothing about them.

However, the sticker says that max charge current is 50A, which (like Axperts) is almost certainly battery-side current (not PV-side current), so you can only get 50 x 25 = 1250W through the solar charge controller. Some of that will be to support loads, so that explains why you never get more than about 1000W of charge power. You still should be able to get a little more than that as reported PV total power.

The other thing is that 1470W of nominal PV power usually only translates to about 80% of that, or 1100-1200W depending on many factors. The main reason is temperature rise of the panels; this reduces the voltage of the cells, so less power is available after a few minutes of sun. 

Edited August 4, 20214 yr by Coulomb

Thank you @Coulomb appreciate the feedback.

Something strange I am noticing now, well a couple strange things.

1. For the last week or so I am noticing the LED downlight in the house flicker frequently. Thought it was the inverter flipping between grid and battery, but does not seem like it.

2. We have been away for a few days. While away the consumption was between 300-400w. Funny thing the inverter never went into PV Charge mode and used grid the whole time.

 

Seriously baffled

7 hours ago, Deven said:

Seriously baffled

I suggest you start a new topic, with the word Growatt in the title. Then some Growatt owners and/or experts may be able to help.