The Solar / Inverter / Power thread

The Solar / Inverter / Power thread
ok, so today had an anomaly, not sure why yet, have logged it with the solar provider, but they take long...

Got an overload error, and the system shutdown.

1705658557710.jpg

this concerns me, because we are making more than enough solar power, and we are also sitting with full SOC on our batteries (which are set to output 160A) and we are NOT load shedding. So why after a peak output of 10.92kW would the system overload and shutdown?

I thought there is supposed to be a passthrough that ensures the inverter can handle peaks of over 18kW, so long as the grid is available to supplement what we cannot provide from the battery – and it is.

Here is another report

1705658667605.jpg

If my panels are generating 6.5kW and my battery is outputting 1.71kW (even though my battery can do much more than that), I understand that is at the peak output of the inverter – but if there is additional demand, the Grid should provide it – as it did with another 2.92kW… so why did the system shutdown/trip??

https://lifetide.co.za/data-sheets/Deye-8kW-Datasheet.pdf according to the data sheet… the system should even be able to handle 2x the total rated powed when OFF-GRID for 10 seconds. We were on-grid, so why did it shutdown at 10.9kW ??

Would appreciate anyone's advice here...
 
Tag11 said:
Did you have to install monitors in front of each item? I've been using Smart Life just to control basic remote functions with smart plugs and a geyser switch, but no aggregation of data which I'd like to do at some stage, and nothing else is hardwired in.
Click to expand...

So I started the Smart Home game pretty early on a few years ago already and have over time blended pretty much every ecosystem into it.

Off the top of my head...

Sunsynk Inverter is directly wired into my Home Assistant box with a serial interface over Ethernet that converts to USB. There are ways to do this wirelessly that involves running a Pi there but that needed another plug to be installed and I was like just run the wire and one less thing to manage. Then you can interface with it directly or have Solar Assistant running as it's own thing etc.

Then I have light switches that are all Tuya-based.

CBI Astute sockets & smart switches to control things like the aircons, geysers, fridges and other high power stuff so I can monitor power usage and control them during load shedding etc.

Sonoff iFan controllers in the ceiling fans but they've been flashed with Tasmota...which I wouldn't do again now as Sonoff integrates quite well with Home Assistant these days.

Some Sonoff LED strips behind TV stands and under kids beds and stuff.

Couple of HomePod Minis around the house which I use as a "frontend" for Home Assistant.

Recent addition of Amazon Echo Dots in the kids rooms and bedside lamps...and none of this talks to Home Assistant just yet and Alexa is the dumbest piece of kak I've ever used so that's another pain point I'll get to.

Few Sonoff switches here and there from back when I started this doing stuff like running pool pump and Christmas lights and that kind of thing. Attached to Wall Panel heaters and so on.

Shelly's inside my Front Gate & Garage Door motors.

Some Yeelight/Xiaomi stuff here and there for bedside lights.

Aqara sensors all over the house for temperature and open close which are tied into software Thermostats in Home Assistant.

Probably a few more I'm forgetting now.


Tag11 said:
Collectively... so 0.3c on 200ah of batteries... the 3rd party installer was going on about not trusting Shoto - but he is talking from his ass, because he wanted to sell me Volta and the solution provider matched the Deye to the Shoto and everyone else I've spoken to swears by the reliability of Shoto (there was a small batch 2yrs ago that apparently had a faulty BMS, but they were sorted and swapped under warranty). I'll admit the Shoto's aren't pretty... industrial like your Pylons

Checked the specs, they recommend 0.5C charge and discharge, with a max of 1C - so I can easily push it. Just need to keep the temps under 35 degrees... which the battery seems to manage on its own.
Click to expand...
 
Tag11 said:
ok, so today had an anomaly, not sure why yet, have logged it with the solar provider, but they take long...

Got an overload error, and the system shutdown.

1705658557710.png

this concerns me, because we are making more than enough solar power, and we are also sitting with full SOC on our batteries (which are set to output 160A) and we are NOT load shedding. So why after a peak output of 10.92kW would the system overload and shutdown?

I thought there is supposed to be a passthrough that ensures the inverter can handle peaks of over 18kW, so long as the grid is available to supplement what we cannot provide from the battery – and it is.

Here is another report

1705658667605.png

If my panels are generating 6.5kW and my battery is outputting 1.71kW (even though my battery can do much more than that), I understand that is at the peak output of the inverter – but if there is additional demand, the Grid should provide it – as it did with another 2.92kW… so why did the system shutdown/trip??

https://lifetide.co.za/data-sheets/Deye-8kW-Datasheet.pdf according to the data sheet… the system should even be able to handle 2x the total rated powed when OFF-GRID for 10 seconds. We were on-grid, so why did it shutdown at 10.9kW ??

Would appreciate anyone's advice here...
Click to expand...

Was this during load shedding or outside of it as the answers will be a bit different.

Outside of Load Shedding the AC Passthrough should take oven and you should get like an easy 16kW peak without drama since the grid feeds it in.
 
SauRoN said:
Was this during load shedding or outside of it as the answers will be a bit different.

Outside of Load Shedding the AC Passthrough should take oven and you should get like an easy 16kW peak without drama since the grid feeds it in.
Click to expand...

There was no load shedding. Hence I came to the same conclusion as you.
 
Tag11 said:
There was no load shedding. Hence I came to the same conclusion as you.
Click to expand...
Sorry somehow I read past the entire second paragraph.

I don't know the Deye interface well enough but maybe AC/Passthrough it turned off or something? Will go have a look at mine quick and see if there is even such an option.
 
SauRoN said:
Only thing I can find that might relate to this.

54ad03fee1945d6f1b9d20db7ca19bb0.jpg

Under Advanced settings.
Click to expand...

Tried googling this, but not sure I'm understanding it correctly.

Seems to imply that it lets you limit how much grid power can be pulled... but should not cause a trip.

My settings currently:

1705664469071.png

You reckon I should enable it? In my mind, disabled means unlimited grid power is allowed.

I think there is some ambiguity in terms of what the passthrough capacity/capabilities are with the 8kW Deye. I've heard 50amps, which I think is just 2.5kW, I thought it would be much higher.
 
Tag11 said:
Tried googling this, but not sure I'm understanding it correctly.

Seems to imply that it lets you limit how much grid power can be pulled... but should not cause a trip.

My settings currently:

1705664469071.jpg

You reckon I should enable it? In my mind, disabled means unlimited grid power is allowed.

I think there is some ambiguity in terms of what the passthrough capacity/capabilities are with the 8kW Deye. I've heard 50amps, which I think is just 2.5kW, I thought it would be much higher.
Click to expand...

Nah I was thinking it may be on, but my logic is the same as yours if it's disabled it should be unlimited.

What is ARC Setup though?

50 amps = 12 kw.

Remember it's AC not DC.

My understanding is that would be ON TOP of your 8.8kW already inverter from DC so it should be around 20kW total.

I'll see what's the highest I've pulled but I also killed my data recently.
 
SauRoN said:
Nah I was thinking it may be on, but my logic is the same as yours if it's disabled it should be unlimited.

What is ARC Setup though?

50 amps = 12 kw.

Remember it's AC not DC.

My understanding is that would be ON TOP of your 8.8kW already inverter from DC so it should be around 20kW total.

I'll see what's the highest I've pulled but I also killed my data recently.
Click to expand...

So from the Deye manual:

Grid Peak-shaving: when it is active, grid output power will be limited within the set value. If the load power exceeds the allowed value, it will take PV energy and battery as supplement. If still can’t meet the load requirement, grid power will increase to meet the load needs.

Which doesn't make sense to me... it means if I set it to 4kW, it will only use 4kW from the grid, and prioritise use from solar/battery... UNLESS it is insufficient, and then it will exceed the 4kW peak shaving limit anyway as required. So why have it? I've already prioritised use of solar and battery before grid based on battery percentages.

50amps=12kw - yes, AC/DC newb... but that means I should be able to draw 20kW with passthrough before the system trips if grid is available.

From the manual, it seems ARC is specific to the US market only. No idea what it is for.
 
SauRoN said:
50 amps = 12 kw.


My understanding is that would be ON TOP of your 8.8kW already inverter from DC so it should be around 20kW total.
Click to expand...

****... according to a post on powerforum.co.za the 50amps is total continuous draw, not on top of the DC's 8.8kW...
 
Tag11 said:
****... according to a post on powerforum.co.za the 50amps is total continuous draw, not on top of the DC's 8.8kW...
Click to expand...

Hmmm not impossible but also doesn’t make sense since it’s just passing it through without conversion.

Pretty sure I’ve pushed it beyond 12kW but will keep an eye on it.
 
Of course now that I want to test this the circuit breaker I suspected was dodgy on my one plug circuit keeps tripping.
 
I am also taking the plunge:

Deye 12Kw Single phase Hybrid Inverter, 2 x Volta Stage 3 Lithium Ion 10.2kw 48V 200ah batteries and 20 x 545Watt Canadian Panels ( 10900watt ).

I will add another battery in the winter.
 
Nice... I just ordered a 3rd 5kwhr battery - will make a big difference to us to have that headroom.

I also asked if my provider would facilitate and "upgrade" from the 8kw Deye to the new 12kw - not sure if they will provide a trade-up solution, but have asked.

That is quite a big install for you... what are your actual power requirements? With 10kwhr of battery, my 14 panels typically get the batteries to 100% by 11am and that is with at least 1 geyser pulling power for 45min on a timer, and normally my batteries start the day at 6h30 around 40%

But better to have more than too little :)
 
bokka1 said:
I am also taking the plunge:

Deye 12Kw Single phase Hybrid Inverter, 2 x Volta Stage 3 Lithium Ion 10.2kw 48V 200ah batteries and 20 x 545Watt Canadian Panels ( 10900watt ).

I will add another battery in the winter.
Click to expand...
What is your usage? 12kW inverter is quite a big boy (I have 8).
 
I am currently running at R5000 to R6000 per month for electricity and I want to bring that down considerably.

I have one of those big mofo air cons in the living room and two normal ones in two other rooms.

Two freezers and three fridges.

Washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher.

Two geysers (one is on solar).

It is a biggish four bedroom house.
 
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