PLEASE NOTE: If you had an account with the previous forum, it has been ported to the new Genetry website!
You will need to reset the password to access the new forum. Click Log In → Forgot Password → enter your username or forum email address → click Email Reset Link.

Notifications
Clear all

Power Jack charging mode

8 Posts
4 Users
0 Likes
233 Views
(@rafaelmedina23)
Trusted Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 56
Topic starter  

Hello, I have an 8k power jack, I would like to know how to install the battery charge, previously I had a 15k power jack and it burned from trying to put the cables for the battery charging mode, I understood that being a Chinese inverter the voltage 240 of my country (Puerto Rico) is not compatible with the European 240.  The 8k I have now the input is 110v.  I would like to connect that charging mode, but I don't dare.


   
Quote
(@rafaelmedina23)
Trusted Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 56
Topic starter  

I have a PJ 8k, I would like to connect the charging mode, but I don't dare because once I had a 15k one, I connected the charging mode and it burned, this has some instructions where it says that you have to turn it off completely, I would like to put it on work but still I dare not.  I have asked several people and they recommend that I do not do it in this type of PJ investors.  what dou you recommend?


   
Quote
(@rafaelmedina23)
Trusted Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 56
Topic starter  
Posted by: @rafaelmedina23
Hello, I have an 8k power jack, I would like to know how to install the battery charge, previously I had a 15k power jack and it burned from trying to put the cables for the battery charging mode, I understood that being a Chinese inverter the voltage 240 of my country (Puerto Rico) is not compatible with the European 240. The 8k I have now the input is 110v. I would like to connect that charging mode, but I don't dare.

 

20210621_151708.jpg


   
ReplyQuote
(@sid-genetry-solar)
Member Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2890
 
Posted by: @rafaelmedina23
Hello, I have an 8k power jack, I would like to know how to install the battery charge, previously I had a 15k power jack and it burned from trying to put the cables for the battery charging mode, I understood that being a Chinese inverter the voltage 240 of my country (Puerto Rico) is not compatible with the European 240. The 8k I have now the input is 110v. I would like to connect that charging mode, but I don't dare.

I have a suspicion the smoke was due to a backfeed condition with the 240v split-phase input, assuming the inverter was wired to a breaker panel that had a shared ground-neutral bond with the AC mains.

Unfortunately, I can't recommend the PJ charging function due to software issues.


   
ReplyQuote
(@dickson)
Noble Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 1058
 

Unfortunately, I can't recommend the PJ charging function due to software issues.

 

If  your PJ  inverter is working  do not  use charging  mode .  I  use a car  12v charger for  my 12v inverter  and many ebike chargers with voltage regulators  for my  48v inverter  .      I  will  not  use charging  mode  for the 12kw GS inverter  when  I get it  maybe  next  year  or hopefully before winter  .  


   
ReplyQuote
(@sid-genetry-solar)
Member Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2890
 

Let me just sum it up this way: it's a wonder the PJ firmware works at all.  I definitely cannot recommend the PJ charge function--but for some people it works very well.


   
ReplyQuote
 Paul
(@paul)
Trusted Member
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 55
 

Lol that's a good summary. My experience of PJ charging function has been variable;

v3 (2013) PJ '8k' 230V <> 24V - switches between charge to inverter mode quite happily even under load. Done it hundreds of times without issue. However it _must_ have the cooling fan running shortly before and all the time before and during charge mode. If not, then something goes very bad with the FET timings and a loud 50Hz rattling noise comes from the trannies, a lot of power is being consumed on the AC side with very little charging output. I guess when some component is warm the timings get messed up. Amazingly though it's never blown any FETs.

v10.3c (2020) 'Upower' 8k 230V <> 24V - switches quite happily (with it's undersized ASL3 tranny - not tried it yet with my big home-wound tranny), no issues switching between modes. Not tried switching with any significant AC loads connected though. Only done this a few times.

Other people on this and other forums have reported PJ boards blowing FETs every time they switch from charge to inverter mode though. Maybe I have just been lucky, or the single-voltage units we use in the UK/EU are simpler and less prone to issues than the 'split phase' ones you have in the US.


   
ReplyQuote
(@sid-genetry-solar)
Member Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2890
 

I think the biggest part of the problem is the haphazard firmware doesn't check to see if the AC output has fallen to zero before restarting the FETs.  If the relay sticks / doesn't turn off (or wasn't turned off!), it'll try to drive the FETs in inverter mode against the AC mains.  (This is a battle that most FETs lose.)  If the mains voltage is significantly higher than the inverter regulation voltage, it'll run just a low "inverter throttle", and wreck quite the mess with the AC input and battery (because it won't be synced).  Yes, this'll sound horrid, and isn't good for it...

Posted by: @paul
Other people on this and other forums have reported PJ boards blowing FETs every time they switch from charge to inverter mode though. Maybe I have just been lucky, or the single-voltage units we use in the UK/EU are simpler and less prone to issues than the 'split phase' ones you have in the US.

PJ really doesn't make much of a change for "split phase"--they use a center-tapped transformer, and (usually) regulate the inverter from just one of the phases (120v).  That's pretty much it.


   
ReplyQuote