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(@steve)
Estimable Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 212
 

I had seen the monitoring and suspected it wasn't an issue

I know I don't always pull 200W and even 50W should be enough to read for switch over

Only real trick is switching between supplement and charge

My point was it looks like the hardware is prepared to do it but software isn't

Setting it up to parallel with a configurable max ac input load would likely be best


   
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(@sid-genetry-solar)
Member Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2883
 
Posted by: @steve
Only real trick is switching between supplement and charge

Spot on.  But I can fix that via firmware update.


   
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(@sid-genetry-solar)
Member Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2883
 
Posted by: @steve
Setting it up to parallel with a configurable max ac input load would likely be best

And actually...honestly, zero-export is literally "hybrid load sharing" with the "max input amp" set to zero.  Which does give me an idea for implementation....

...and with the addition of a battery level threshold setting (which might be handy for hybrid load sharing too?), it could potentially be completely implemented...

...if I can get a break from logistics issues first!


   
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(@notmario)
Reputable Member
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 314
 
Posted by: @sid-genetry-solar
I'm in a quagmire of stuff to deal with at the current moment--but that feature is completely possible.

Oh, no worries. I understand you have priorities. I have a workaround that is [usually] fine and it wont matter for 3 months anyway. I have like 2 hours of sun this time of year.

Posted by: @sid-genetry-solar
The risk here is that if a heavy load connected to the GS inverter is turned off, this huge load suddenly disappears--and the GS inverter gets caught redhanded with it's throttle near to the metal (to offset the draw of said huge load). And some power could potentially slip backwards into the grid for a fraction of a second until the inverter realizes what's going on and kills the throttle. (Somewhat curiously, this potential risk is detailed in the Outback AN! For clarity, I am NOT copying the Outback AN concept--no, I have been fully aware of this potential ability for several years at this point. Thought I invented it for LF inverters actually........)

This should not be an issue. Inductive loads should do something similar anyway. The meters undoubtedly have a grace.

However, i do know that if the minimal UOM for the meter is breached in reverse direction, it will set off a red flag for the Utility. But that will probably require more than a few jiffies of continuous flow for the meter to register it.


   
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(@jamjon)
Eminent Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 20
 

if you do not mind would you share your work around with the understanding that you are not liable for any damage 


   
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(@sid-genetry-solar)
Member Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2883
 
Posted by: @jamjon
if you do not mind would you share your work around with the understanding that you are not liable for any damage

Who's this addressed to, and what are you referring to?


   
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(@jamjon)
Eminent Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 20
 

to NotMario and the work aroubd he mentioned


   
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(@jamjon)
Eminent Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 20
 

one last stuid question does it seem possible to use this device to to prevent   backfeeding Wisoqu Dual Power Automatic Transfer Switch,ZGQ5-1004P 220V 100A Power Transfer Switch and then use this Battery Meter with 2-wire Generator Start/Stop to use the generator to charge to battery or when it is switched to grid would there be enough power in the inverter to trigger the generator 


   
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(@sid-genetry-solar)
Member Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2883
 
Posted by: @jamjon
one last stuid question does it seem possible to use this device to to prevent backfeeding Wisoqu Dual Power Automatic Transfer Switch,ZGQ5-1004P 220V 100A Power Transfer Switch

Not by itself anyway.  I have not closely looked at it, but it appears to be a pretty basic transfer switch, where it switches based on whether there's power or not.  Also FWIW rotary mechanical switches like that are far too slow to prevent a smart electric meter from flagging your house for exorbitant fines (from backfeeding).  A GS inverter will be able to react in no more than 1/60th of a second (and very likely faster).

For anything to disconnect microinverters, it has to be able to detect which direction AC power is flowing--and most devices cannot.

 

Posted by: @jamjon
and then use this Battery Meter with 2-wire Generator Start/Stop to use the generator to charge to battery or when it is switched to grid would there be enough power in the inverter to trigger the generator

GS inverters have 2 relays for generator start/stop control.  The inverter does not provide power to a generator, but rather automated relay contacts that can be utilized as control signals to a generator that can be electrically started.  (The inverter isn't going to yank on a pull cord!)


   
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(@jamjon)
Eminent Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 20
 

You said that the inverter could monitor AC  but the danger would if a large load would cut off it would take time for the inverter to adjust and it is possible to have a backfeed. Question is there a way for the software to monitor the loads and use a time delay  of 5 seconds ? to blunt the effect of sharpe drop of a large load


   
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(@notmario)
Reputable Member
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 314
 
Posted by: @jamjon
to NotMario and the work aroubd he mentioned

My workaround is pretty simple.

No grid tie. Only MPPT to 24v DC Bus, with Grid to GS Input.

Inverter in ATS Mode controlled by a program monitoring the SOC and MPPT Amperage.
When enough solar (mppt amperage is high) is available, the ATS switches to Inverter Mode. When the sun goes down, it switches to Passthru.

Note that my batteries are intentionally kept below 50% SOC. So MPPT always has a customer. A number of heuristics are used to control the ATS to attempt to hold this battery target.

The effect of this is that when the sun raises on a sunny day, i run off Batteries and Solar, and when the sun sets, i run on the grid. My batteries buffer the abundance or deficiency of solar for the duration of the day - usually an afterthought to the batteries.

 

A few other things are also done programmatically , generally unique to my use-case, involving keeping the batteries warm in sub-0 ambient temperatures.


   
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(@jamjon)
Eminent Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 20
 

Thanks that does sound workable until Sid has time to code something


   
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(@sid-genetry-solar)
Member Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2883
 
Posted by: @jamjon
You said that the inverter could monitor AC but the danger would if a large load would cut off it would take time for the inverter to adjust and it is possible to have a backfeed.

The inverter can instantly cut output power as quickly as 41uS after an issue is detected.  (That's 0.000041 seconds.)

The difficulty is how long it takes to reliably detect the issue!  (At least one AC wave.)

 

Posted by: @jamjon
Question is there a way for the software to monitor the loads and use a time delay of 5 seconds ? to blunt the effect of sharpe drop of a large load

I have no idea what that's supposed to do...

If a large load is running, the inverter will throttle up to "zero out" the line power.  The problem is when the load's turned off: the power being produced by the inverter no longer can go into the load (as it's disconnected)--and power always finds somewhere to go.  In this case, it's going to go back into the grid (= grid backfeed).  Until the inverter reacts and cuts throttle to zero.


   
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(@jamjon)
Eminent Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 20
 

Does the inverter have to throttle up to take care of a 100 percent of the load or can the software limit the throttle up to a preset %?  to ensure no backfeeding


   
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(@jamjon)
Eminent Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 20
 

Say let inverter do 90% of the load  and let the grid do 10% 


   
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