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.
Yes, tested it with just 2 running in parallel. It seems like maybe they stuck to old technology...Did older inverters used to do a worse job with paralleling? I think it's mostly an old design looks like they first made them in 2007 or so. Possibly a 15 year old design.
Yes, tested it with just 2 running in parallel. It seems like maybe they stuck to old technology...Did older inverters used to do a worse job with paralleling? I think it's mostly an old design looks like they first made them in 2007 or so. Possibly a 15 year old design.
Anyone's guess; there's MANY different ways the very difficult task of paralleling can be accomplished.
As complicated as the Magnum setup sounds, I wouldn't be surprised if they ran out of processing power with overbloated firmware...
If you allow for a small drop in voltage based on load paralleling is simple
Alternately with a 1 wire paralleling signal that is a dev from setpoint can be used for balancing but overkill in this case
If you allow for a small drop in voltage based on load paralleling is simple
The major assumption behind this one is: "There is no voltage drop in any wires between the units."
Otherwise any wiring voltage drop will result in a perceived higher power request than called for--and the load will not be evenly shared between the units.
Alternately with a 1 wire paralleling signal that is a dev from setpoint can be used for balancing but overkill in this case
The simplest way this is handled, is for a comm signal between units to be a "throttle level." In short, one unit is responsible for all regulation, and just tells the other ones what throttle to be at (oh, and a sync signal too).
And this is why the manuals for inverters doing this method to always require the units to be on the same battery bank (or at least "strongly recommend"), with the same-length battery cables, and the same-length AC output wires. Otherwise, the load will be unequally/unevenly distributed. (The unit with the longer wires will produce significantly less power.)
Advantages being that reaction/regulation time should be the same as just 1 unit.
Disadvantages being that there's too many built-in assumptions for a casual DIYer to successfully implement it.
Like I said, paralleling is very difficult.
Actually it can be done with an analog regulator error signal
This is common on aircraft DC bus generator systems
Alternately balance isn't that important on inverter pairing as long as some foldback is allowed near limit points
How well can the 12k handle oven loads? Our electric oven cycles the oven on/off to maintain proper temperature so it hits the inverter with 4000+ watts when it does that. It makes the lights dim a bit, makes me wonder what the sine wave/voltage look like when it does it...Currently using smaller inverters 4*4400 watts. Wondering if one large transformer would help the situation.
What else is running when the oven goes on and off? Some dimming/voltage drop is expected with large loads with all inverters.
Just maybe 1kw of loads. Lights, minisplit, those kinds of things. Definitely less than the 16kw max.
Not sure if it adds anything to the discussion, but the inverter methodology they mention that one inverter is the master and the others are slaves.
Just maybe 1kw of loads. Lights, minisplit, those kinds of things. Definitely less than the 16kw max.
That's not significant. The total load is still relatively small and a properly functioning 16KW Magnasine system should be able to handle it without significant voltage drops especially with the large battery system that you have. Did the system work previously without problem with the same loads?
December 5, 2022:
- We've finally gotten photos of the Genetry Solar PCBs from the factory. No parts on them, just the blank base boards...SMD assembly is supposedly slated for this week. Mind you, production was OK'd and paid back in September.
yeah, this isn't exactly what we expected when we were told roughly 30 days for production.
And also simply unacceptable as well.
The customers who've trusted us enough to put money down for preorders deserve better. Much better.
Instead of working on firmware and updating the GS inverter manual (both of which still desperately need done!), I've had to delve back into locating suppliers / sourcing parts. I'm working right now to get quotes/samples of the customized parts necessary for GS inverters.
One thing's for sure: we can't get back the lost months. But we can make things happen through just brute work! And as I'm at work making it happen, you bet I can provide MUCH clearer updates:
-
transformer supplier has been nailed down. Currently waiting on a GS 12kw transformer sample to be produced & shipped to me (at an exorbitant cost for air shipping!) After verifying that all specifications have been understood and met, a bulk order will follow.
- Bulk order will probably have to go by ocean freight unfortunately--that air shipping cost really hurts!
-
supplier for the AC current sensors has been nailed down.
- Currently working to see if they can find/produce a few other parts for us as well, so we can consolidate shipping. (These likely will ship by air.) If I hadn't tried to consolidate, these could literally have been in the air on their way to us already!
-
still trying to pin down a PCBA manufacturer that has the necessary capabilities.
- I've used JLCPCB thus far--they're great for prototyping, but fall a bit short because they can only solder parts on the board from their warehouses. Great business model--but not quite what we need for a production-level PCBA supplier.
-
just started looking for a heatsink supplier.
- Was kinda hoping we'd be able to do that in the States, but the U.S. machine shops we've been in contact with (to make the cases) are very slow to respond. Classic U.S. business, honestly!
We learn...and like I constantly remind Sean, "We haven't gotten this far by quitting."
Almost like that could be the Genetry business motto.
23 hours ago, Sid Genetry Solar said:Was kinda hoping we'd be able to do that in the States, but the U.S. machine shops we've been in contact with (to make the cases) are very slow to respond. Classic U.S. business, honestly!
That is a bummer man. Once you find a nice small local shop near you it will make things so much easier for you. They don't like shipping things so best to find a place with the equipment close. Nice to have an idea and convert it to real life the same day.
Nice to have an idea and convert it to real life the same day.
You got THAT right 😉.
I called a U.S. supplier for heatsinks today (as they already have an aluminum mold to make heatsinks of exactly the dimensions we need). They were going to email me a quote and call me right back.
...well, it's 9:23 PM, and I haven't seen either a quote or a return call from them. Sheesh. Guess I need to bug them tomorrow.
...meanwhile, I'm digging through logistics with a Chinese supplier to get 3 components in one order (power buttons, current sensors and thermistors). That's going very well--I might just be able to pay that order tonight and get it on its way. I'm expecting to wake up to another order tomorrow morning to review and pay for the relays. And also working with getting a quote for making the control boards.
That's going very well--I might just be able to pay that order tonight and get it on its way. I'm expecting to wake up to another order tomorrow morning to review and pay for the relays. And also working with getting a quote for making the control boards.
I thought JACK will pay for the missing parts since Sean already pay JACK . Does this mean the parts will go to Sean and he will do the soldering since Sean paying for the parts . Maybe JACK should ship what he have made and Sean assemble the rest of the missing pieces and do it faster than JACK .
what happened to PowerJack manufacturing them? I thought he (Sean)said they were air shipping them in the Genetry Solar YouTube video on this past Sunday.
i figured the air shipping would be an expensive way to go but maybe they could get a better bulk pallet rate???
it costs me 50 dollars for one extra bag at the airport...up to 50 pounds...
1 hour ago, pilgrimvalley said:what happened to PowerJack manufacturing them?
They are responsible for producing the order of Genetry inverters that they've been paid to manufacture.
They're just moving way too slow for us--and certainly too slow for what we told our customers. And with no excuse, either.
I've been working with several PCBA companies to get price quotes...this part is taking me a little bit, admittedly! It's kinda hard to do back-and-forth conversation when China's 14 hours behind the EST. So it's "little by little, day by day."
One other thing, I did get a price quote for aluminum heatsink stock from an American company (took about 3 days). The price was actually very good--although it looks like any sort of tooling (including cutting to length) sends the price through the roof...which poses a bit of a problem. Almost wonder if we could just buy bulk stock in 8' lengths...and figure out some in-house method to cut them to length, then drill/thread them as necessary (on 3 sides) with a CNC jig to significantly reduce cost. Aluminum is not very hard, though it is sticky. Ideas?