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review his video... i watched it Sean's YouTube video twice and he clearly says he is using 2/0 inverter cabling
He say 2/0 but he should not say on youtube . In another youtube a lot eariler I have to find where he show 4/0 cables remove from the GS inverter 6 kw and replace different cable for the GS 12kw and I do not know why . IF the GS inverter is 96vDC then 2/0 cable works and safe but not for 48vDC inverter . He do admit he is not quailfy many times .
my friend was an engineer....he was from my hometown One of my friend is a electrical engineer from Argintina graduated from ASU and he know nothing about electrical wiring .
IF the GS inverter is 96vDC then 2/0 cable works and safe but not for 48vDC inverter . He do admit he is not quailfy many times .
the 25k sandi high voltage inverter runs at 240 volt and about 105 amp draw if i remember correctly...so his equipment and wires run cooler....the high voltage battery was the stumbling block for me...the panels in series are already high voltage in either set up but require a lot more mppts in the 48 volt system...
his was barely a step up inverter at all the sandi 25k copper wound high voltage inverter and close to a 1 to 1 in the inverter circuit part that converts battery DC input to the sine wave AC current...that then is stepped up to the target 240 volt pure sine wave output...he used one large high voltage mppt so very minimal wire...
it would be interesting to compare all costs side by side in an excel spreadsheet...
the battery investment would be similar but the combiner boxes and multiple mppts would greatly increase the cost plus a lot more wires in the 48 volt system....
maybe a 120 volt battery would be more DIY compatible...????
most YouTube video claim high voltage 48 volt is better than 12 volt and that is due to the higher heat in the 12 volt wires at high amps...and saving money on the wire...at 96 volt or 240 volt again the wire savings would add up again...
anything above 30 volts gets into more regulation to install safely to appease the ALJ (authority with local jurisdiction)...
a 250 volt DC rated 400 amp disconnect fused/or unfused can be obtained for about 280 dollars....breakers can't say nothing about high amp high voltage breakers....as no working knowledge/research
my electrical engineer i consult with suggested running the 240 volts out from the inverters to the out buildings then making it into 120...
I do not want WIFI control on the inverter....i do not think the inverter in an off-grid build should do anything other than convert the dc input to ac output...KISS principle...(keep it simple Stupid)....
if one has to monitor it all the time it has a design problem...
the BMS is what will control the individual battery cells and protect the LiFePO4 batteries....the inverter voltage monitor will not save an poor performing cell in a LIFePO4 battery bank until it is too late...(Usually a connection that was not properly torqued down has been my experience)...
🤔
i am learning as fast as time permits, but still small electrical things need fine tuned in my understanding...
the engineering mindset YouTube videos are good explanations as are others with more expertise....
but i had some disagreements with one channel who purposely makes mistakes and finally he admitted doing so for entertainment and to gain more viewers so he could sell more garbage via his affiliate links....i wont say which one....
all done with feeding the 8 bottle lambs 6-8 times per day so time for other projects...the in-laws are coming for a few weeks so always projects to complete for the other half...
multi-tasking always >>>> a side project >>> the picture above is the "molino" in Bolivia where the waterwheel is going, building a concrete and rebar retaining wall to protect from the 100 year flood via the raging mountain river...Siacan river (Rio de Siacan) it is winter there --- the dry season at the moment...in subtropical southern Bolivia...
have a great day....😎
maybe a 120 volt battery would be more DIY compatible...?
SANDI 96vdc inverter system will have battery input 90vdc to130vdc . A 48vdc system like mine have battery input 44vdc to 64vdc. Sandi 96vdc 12kw standard production inverter is in stock for 120volt battery system for 4300 US Dolars include shipping to home delivery . The other standard production inveter is the Sandi 30kw 400 vdc that is recommended for shop and farm and probably cost less than four inveters in parallel IF it can be done without city permit . Repeat ... if one has to monitor it all the time it has a design problem i do not think the inverter in an off-grid build should do anything other than convert the dc input to ac output...KISS principle...(keep it simple Stupid)..
7 hours ago, dickson said:review his video... i watched it Sean's YouTube video twice and he clearly says he is using 2/0 inverter cabling
He say 2/0 but he should not say on youtube .
Again, no video link. I don't watch every single video, I wouldn't get anything done...and perhaps as a result I don't recall this one.
I checked with Sean, and he is using TWO 2/0 cables on EACH battery terminal. That's a total of four 2/0 wires on the DC side of the GS 12kw inverter.
...I'm signing out of this thread, will try to ignore it as much as possible.
I'm signing out of this thread, will try to ignore it as much as possible
The breaker is 400A and Sean have two 2/0 cables to the breaker connected to the one positive post of the 12 kw inverter he say in the video . The breaker takes 2 positive cables 2/0 and NOT one positive and one negative cable . Sorry he do have four 2/0 cables connected . A surge of 18000 watts for one second is still safe .
now it seems he was using 2 2/0 cables so that makes a difference in cabling for sure....sorry if I did not get that part...only the small size inverter cable was my concern...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHaXeEgbrnc&t=752s
Sean still says he wants 4 inverters on the wall so wants 4 of the 400 amp 65 volt breakers (Heinemann) also >>>...
Sean says he does not need overload protection from a breaker to protect the wire as the inverter will shut down.
he has the breaker connected on the single positive post...
it would be nice if he actually showed the connections and how the breaker is mounted....
he says he also has higher amp rated fuses (of some type) at the battery post but does not show them
thanks for info...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFo8TUYUTiY
the pre-release LCD screen pre-release firmware has multiple places where the warranty could be voided according to Sean (video link above)
it seems according to Sean latest video, they (Sid as Sean does not do any coding) are still writing code and testing things so the firmware may be in limbo for eternity....I would not want to have to repeatedly flash the firmware to update an inverter via the internet...sounds like a nightmare for the seller & buyer rather than a dream....no parallel inverters yet,,,but when he gets to it.....maybe..., and high amp draw so big copper cables required...I prefer only one inverter cable per post....two cables per post just adds another point of heat if not properly torqued down....he should just use the right size cable in his video to begin with (IMO)...instead of cheaping out on them...although the use of one 4/0 cable and 2 properly sized lugs may cost less than using two 2/0 cable with 4 lugs per positive or negative..((.good quality tinned copper lugs are expensive but better priced if you buy in 25 or 50 pack quantities...))
Repeat ... if one has to monitor it all the time it has a design problem I do not think the inverter in an off-grid build should do anything other than convert the dc input to ac output...KISS principle...(keep it simple Stupid)....
no windows bloatware wanted....
On 6/15/2022 at 11:12 AM, TheButcher said:The topic might well be 'PowerJack', but it's pretty clear that
- they are junk
- don't do what is written in the specifications
- there is no such thing as a good powerjack inverter
they are junk - sad but true
don't do what is written in the specifications - never have and never will - but there was a time (around 2014-15) when you could be reasonably certain if you bought a 15kw inverter, you would get a pretty solid (for the time) 6kw inverter.
there is no such thing as a good powerjack inverter - for recent models, true, but I'm still using three of those 2015 models (one 15kw and two 8kws). Will try to make them last as long as possible cause I know I can't replace them.
When I'm forced to buy a new inverter I will most likely buy a GS 6kw. Second choice would be a growatt LF 8kw because I can buy a set of replacement boards along with it. Either one will power my house in place of my older 15kw PJ. I stated here several months back that I would not buy another powerjack product, and the current escapades by PJ just back up the wisdom of that statement.
they are junk - sad but true
In a perfect world, I would pre-order a GS 6kw, as well. That being said, I am learning the limitations of my $299 Power Jack "8000" AMG inverter, and use it often. Just recently I ran it with two appliances, drawing 3K watts, and later started a 7 amp motor.
Right now I'm running it to see if it will shut down when the ambient temperature is 93°F.
I think the powerjack junk raising their prices will help the other venders...
but I have several LF inverters >>> a 6k and 8k and 15 running off grid at the moment... just seeking a larger capacity one to simplify wiring...but a better brand .....
I like the 15k 3 piece one the most.... not an amg version though....
the 30k powerjack turned out to be scams, but I did get the money back,,,I think I ended up paying credit card interest on the money even though all they sent was a piece of paper....still no more replies from powerjack-jack and that eBay scammer rayjunglepower...is no longer on eBay. just new scammer names at higher prices with the same ads....I rarely even look...but my powerjack inverters are all still running....I'd would say don't risk buying from them to anyone at this time....
growatt has some promise as they can be paralleled for more power...
my powerjack inverters have never shut down due to temperature and I have seen it up over 90 degrees...i run a fan and open the screen door as much as I can...I bought a 6000BTU 120 volt window air conditioner for 45 dollars but no time to set it up..
I open it up at night as it cools down and shut it when it starts getting too hot outside,,, for the moment...
working on a 40 foot trailer today....that I bought for 375 dollars...
hot outside ....no wind and humid as it rained the last 2 days....but the su is out charging the LiFePO4..
have a great day😎
50 minutes ago, pilgrimvalley said:
My powerjack inverters have never shut down due to temperature and I have seen it up over 90 degrees...i run a fan and open the screen door as much as I can...I bought a 6000BTU 120 volt window air conditioner for 45 dollars but no time to set it up..
I open it up at night as it cools down and shut it when it starts getting too hot outside,,, for the moment...
😎
We have weeks of 100° plus high temperatures, and that's when the grid is likely to go down. If hot temperature is the inverter's weak link, I'm going to test cooling the inverter with my surplus evaporative cooler.
Ultimately, I could retrofit the cooler to run off the 24V SCC load terminal.
My inverter cut power at 95°F ambient temperature, but when I unplugged the refrigerator, the evaporative cooler started again, so plugged in the refrigerator and all is well. The lead-acid battery bank is down to about 65% after 7 hours. I will probably let it drop to 50%. In a real power outage, I could then switch to the LiFePO4 bank, which is 95% charged.
12 hours ago, RobertM said:We have weeks of 100° plus high temperatures, and that's when the grid is likely to go down. If hot temperature is the inverter's weak link, I'm going to test cooling the inverter with my surplus evaporative cooler.
you must be in a dry climate to use the evaporative cooler....in Colorado my son's neighbor had one ... i think some people call them swamp coolers,,, vs a typical air conditioner which dries the air >>> the swamp cooler cools by adding water to the air...
in Bolivia I used fine spray misters to cool the air next to the building...good during the dry times...
yesterday I found the ambient indoor temperature was reading 100 degrees and my 3 LF powerjack inverters never shut down (6k, 8k & 15k non AMG powerjack inverters), but i have a small ac fan running 24/7 and shut down an unnecessary light that I left on adding heat to the outside solar power shed...all is off grid...there is absolutely no grid connection whatso ever....that is the whole reason for the solar expansion the last 3 years....I do not have any lead acid batteries on this system only LiFePO4....
the wall thermometer was beside the 6k inverter that is mounted the highest but likely still way too hot in there...it should be better this morning again...the indoor ambient temperature....of the off grid out side solar power shed...
in process of making a larger building....slow but sure...
getting rid of the waste heat from the 3 continuously running LF inverters is something i have to monitor until I get the AC mounted....i opened the screen door to allow the extra heat to go out...that helps a lot...
should have more workers next week too😎...it is amazing how everything seems heavier the older one gets,,,,😢
I am installing a jet brand gold series air cleaner in the shop today to tame the wood dust....👍
i am interested about how your 8000 watt AMG inverter performs,,,,so thanks for the post....at $299 they were definitely bargain priced and two of them would still be a very inexpensive back-up....no matter what the powerjack bashers say....
heat is the enemy to any and all electrical components that is for sure,,,,it has been real hot and humid here in South Dakota the last couple weeks,,,make you wish for a bit of wind at times >>> the dog days of summer...rain has been welcomed and the crops are looking very good this year...
have a great day 😎
you must be in a dry climate to use the evaporative cooler....
Yes, the humidity will sometimes get down to 10%, and evaporative coolers are very effective here. The PJ 8000 AMG seems to be $399 now, but still a bargain, if you accept it's limitations.
i am interested about how your 8000 watt AMG inverter performs,,,,so thanks for the post....at $299 they were definitely bargain priced and two of them would still be a very inexpensive back-up....no matter what the powerjack bashers say....
Despite what I have said about current powerjack products, I wouldn't trade my older model pjs. I'll use em till I can't repair them any longer. My 15kw powers my house 24/7 from late March to early November.
Here's a thought; If you get two identical powerjacks, you could take the transformer from one and parallel it to the transformer of the other one. This should nearly double the true working wattage rating of it, giving you a more useable inverter and leaving you with a spare set of boards. (You'll have to adjust those dip switch settings) Mount the extra fan on the second transformer.
heat is the enemy to any and all electrical components that is for sure,
Might also consider changing to high speed fans with independent controls. Just a thought....