NiyiOmoIyunade:
In batteryless mode you will need sufficient dc current coming in from your panels to run whatever loads you have on + a margin for conversion losses and inverter self consumption - since there are no batteries to bridge transient power gaps, it will be power off in case of insufficient PV current to run the loads + margin. The laws of physics cannot be broken so the power your loads need to run cannot be sourced from out of nowhere.

This is aside from the issue raised about voltage headroom - whether you need up to 180v (5-6 panels in series) to run reliably.

By this time (almost) 10am, you should be in a position to run a very small load (say 1 or 2 bulbs) direct from the inverter. If still unstable, you definitely need a battery to store power and also source power from and perhaps additional panels as well.

I must say this is an interesting and courageous leap you guys have taken, pioneering batteryless inverter operations - I eagerly await final results and verdict how this stands up to real world use.

I am not running a batteryless mode, the stuff is connected to 24v bank. Currently not home, I hope it will have changed when I get back

Oh okies!

My bad!

Apologies please.

ojeysky:


I am not running a batteryless mode, the stuff is connected to 24v bank. Currently not home, I hope it will have changed when I get back

NiyiOmoIyunade:
Oh okies!

My bad!

Apologies please.

No offense made chief, perhaps am running batteryless mode without knowing, so maybe my issues is settings... Will see when I get back home and will certainly keep the group posted.

NiyiOmoIyunade:
Oh okies!

My bad!

Apologies please.

Got back home and it's still the same thing, no charge from PV! Wew, strange that a CC with over 120v still cannot start-up. My people any idea on what else I should look into, could this be a faulty panel or a problem with the connection itself?

Thanks
PS: I left the battery at 23v now it has discharged to 22.5v which means even with the high rays of sunlight it didn't pick-up at anytime while I was away!

ojeysky:


Got back home and it's still the same thing, no charge from PV! Wew, strange that a CC with over 120v still cannot start-up. My people any idea on what else I should look into, could this be a faulty panel or a problem with the connection itself?

Thanks
PS: I left the battery at 23v now it has discharged to 22.5v which means even with the high rays of sunlight it didn't pick-up at anytime while I was away!

How about emailing the makers/sellers your experiences so far? Most MPPT should be able to pick up at 80v and above. Though yours may be different, that is why you may need to tell the sellers your experience. Those with similar machine can chip in too. Well done

mctfopt:


How about emailing the makers/sellers your experiences so far? Most MPPT should be able to pick up at 80v and above. Though yours may be different, that is why you may need to tell the sellers your experience

.

Yeah I have written mppsolar hopefully will read from them on Monday

Those with similar machine can chip in too. Well done

Yeah this will be helpful, perhaps @duwdu can help here.

Thanks

ojeysky:
.

Yeah I have written mppsolar hopefully will read from them on Monday



Yeah this will be helpful, perhaps @duwdu can help here.

Thanks

OK, that's cool. Do keep us posted.

Have you tried resetting it to default and putting a load on it? Since no fault or warning codes, it might work.

ojeysky:


Got back home and it's still the same thing, no charge from PV! Wew, strange that a CC with over 120v still cannot start-up. My people any idea on what else I should look into, could this be a faulty panel or a problem with the connection itself?

Thanks
PS: I left the battery at 23v now it has discharged to 22.5v which means even with the high rays of sunlight it didn't pick-up at anytime while I was away!

zellfoxx:
Have you tried resetting it to default and putting a load on it? Since no fault or warning codes, it might work.

Yeah I did that but it didn't help.

ojeysky:
.

Yeah I have written mppsolar hopefully will read from them on Monday

Yeah this will be helpful, perhaps @duwdu can help here.

Thanks

Sorry, I just got back on this forum now and thought to read through the last post before making a response.

First, I'll suggest you try various combinations of the sequence in which you switch on the parts of your system: PV, battery bank, PIP; or in any other sequence. One of them may just initialize the power charging/supply mode.

Secondly, I probably missed your mention of it, but is your PIP connected to the grid? Because the grid should start charging your batteries with the normal/default setting of possible charge/discharge sources?

One thing to be especially careful about, though, is to not misconnect the "A/C IN" and "A/C OUT" wire blocks. As you've probably seen, the User Manual calls a special attention to such a potential error, since the two power blocks are side-by-side.

If those all fail, let's hope you get some helpful message tonight/tomorrow morning from MPPSolar.

Good luck and hope you revert with some breakthrough news as early as overnight.

........
P34c3
.....
...

duwdu:


Sorry, I just got back on this forum now and thought to read through the last post before making a response.

First, I'll suggest you try various combinations of the sequence in which you switch on the parts of your system: PV, battery bank, PIP; or in any other sequence. One of them may just initialize the power charging/supply mode.

Yeah I have tried all combinations; USB, SBU, SUB none of them brought the mppt on the solar icon(like yours), instead the icon just keeps blinking.

Secondly, I probably missed your mention of it, but is your PIP connected to the grid? Because the grid should start charging your batteries with the normal/default setting of possible charge/discharge sources?

We've lost grid power over the last 2 months, it's the reason why I am trying to get this up, so no supply to AC for now. However I am still charging my batteries with the 1.5kva inverter I currently use (with my gen which cannot serve my GK)

One thing to be especially careful about, though, is to not misconnect the "A/C IN" and "A/C OUT" wire blocks. As you've probably seen, the User Manual calls a special attention to such a potential error, since the two power blocks are side-by-side.

Certainly that was carefully ensured; I already got served output to my household from the GK but it's all juice from the battery bank noting in going into the bank from the GK.

If those all fail, let's hope you get some helpful message tonight/tomorrow morning from MPPSolar.
Good luck and hope you revert with some breakthrough news as early as overnight

.

Thanks, if I may ask, have you tried to (or can you) put 4 panels on your GK to see if you can reproduce the issue at your end as well?

Regards
........
P34c3
.....
...]

ojeysky:
At 7:53 am already over 120vdc, yet no single wattage/current has been received. The solar icon just keeps blinking I wonder if it's normal and am wondering whether this means I will need 6 panels.
Still waiting for sunlight to come better reveal itself.

Chei! and I was hoping to be able to use 4panels. I have to budget for the extra 2. I still hope a solution can be found. sorry for the stress

ojeysky:

Yeah I have tried all combinations; USB, SBU, SUB none of them brought the mppt on the solar icon(like yours), instead the icon just keeps blinking.

Perhaps I wasn't very clear with the part of my suggestion you responded to here. What I meant is to use the various disconnect switches between the PV array, the PIP, and the Battery bank, to put them on in different combinations towards powering up the system each time. I once saw a video on YouTube where that strategy worked for someone who faced a similar situation as you, although the number of panels didn't feature in the vid. I wish we could talk. I'll PM you.

ojeysky:
We've lost grid power over the last 2 months, it's the reason why I am trying to get this up, so no supply to AC for now. However I am still charging my batteries with the 1.5kva inverter I currently use (with my gen which cannot serve my GK)

My own gen packed up and no grid (a peculiar NEPA story fit for another discussion) so I had wanted to feed a/c power from my VIL 24V to my PIP's a/c input, since a/c is a/c, just for tests, before I'd deploy the PIP itself in the house. But the VIL packed up before I could. You may want to try that as a filter if a solution is taking too long and you're bold enough?

ojeysky:
Thanks, if I may ask, have you tried to (or can you) put 4 panels on your GK to see if you can reproduce the issue at your end as well?

Mehn, it's particularly hard to uncouple MC4 connectors from/on Canadian Solar panels in particular with the normal MC4 combination tools I have. This is especially so because I'm not doing them at eye level but from under a car port kind of set up. The MC4 connectors I personally put on the Yinglis are easier to work with for me, though. Taking all together, I'll only uncouple them as a last resort, I'm afraid, so let's hope you're sorted out pretty soon.

Good luck.

........
P34c3
.....
...

ojeysky:


Got back home and it's still the same thing, no charge from PV! Wew, strange that a CC with over 120v still cannot start-up. My people any idea on what else I should look into, could this be a faulty panel or a problem with the connection itself?

Thanks
PS: I left the battery at 23v now it has discharged to 22.5v which means even with the high rays of sunlight it didn't pick-up at anytime while I was away!

Go back and read the manual. Just because it see voltage does not mean it would work. On the manual the start up voltage is 150V plus or minus on the high voltage units the MPPT range is 120 to 450V. To start it needs 150 plus.
READ THE MANUAL.

chris81964:

Go back and read the manual. Just because it see voltage does not mean it would work. On the manual the start up voltage is 150V plus or minus on the high voltage units the MPPT range is 120 to 450V. To start it needs 150 plus.
READ THE MANUAL.

Bros it seem you didn't go through this thread, yes I have read the manual, yes I am using the high voltage unit and yes I have passed the 120v.
Are you saying that the high voltage range also require 150v at start-up? Well I didn't see that in the manual but will double check. I guess that means I will need extra panels if what you've stated is on point.

Thanks

duwdu:


Perhaps I wasn't very clear with the part of my suggestion you responded to here. What I meant is to use the various disconnect switches between the PV array, the PIP, and the Battery bank, to put them on in different combinations towards powering up the system each time. I once saw a video on YouTube where that strategy worked for someone who faced a similar situation as you, although the number of panels didn't feature in the vid. I wish we could talk. I'll PM you.

I don't even have any switches at any point yet. I have not been able to determine how to connect the SPD as it has only the input side and can't find the output. I decided to just leave that for now and come back to this group later. (It's a type 2 SPD).

duwdu:

My own gen packed up and no grid (a peculiar NEPA story fit for another discussion) so I had wanted to feed a/c power from my VIL 24V to my PIP's a/c input, since a/c is a/c, just for tests, before I'd deploy the PIP itself in the house. But the VIL packed up before I could. You may want to try that as a filter if a solution is taking too long and you're bold enough?

Hmmm....a 1.5kv feeding a 3k may not be good enough. In other to still ensure I have my battery charged what I have done is to:
1. Switch off GK
2. connect both GK and my 1.5 inverter to the battery terminal
3. My 1.5kv inverter does the charging and provides output to the house hold for now

duwdu:

Mehn, it's particularly hard to uncouple MC4 connectors from/on Canadian Solar panels in particular with the normal MC4 combination tools I have. This is especially so because I'm not doing them at eye level but from under a car port kind of set up. The MC4 connectors I personally put on the Yinglis are easier to work with for me, though. Taking all together, I'll only uncouple them as a last resort, I'm afraid, so let's hope you're sorted out pretty soon.

Yeah I can understand, I know it's somewhat a tall order. Thanks a lot

Good luck.

So I have double checked the manual, @chris81964 is right a startup voltage of 150 is required. I guess that explains the source of my issue. Now to look for funds for 2 panels

Edit: Mppsolar has also confirmed that 6 panels is required minimum

ojeysky:


Bros it seem you didn't go through this thread, yes I have read the manual, yes I am using the high voltage unit and yes I have passed the 120v.
Are you saying that the high voltage range also require 150v at start-up? Well I didn't see that in the manual but will double check. I guess that means I will need extra panels if what you've stated is on point.

Thanks

I will pretend that you did not make the above comment. The number of panels is less relevant than the voltage. If you have 100 W panels and there are 6, you will not get to 150. Your delta is the voltage.What if your panels produced 37.5 V each then you will only need 5 to get to that number (150V).

ojeysky:
So I have double checked the manual, @chris81964 is right a startup voltage of 150 is required. I guess that explains the source of my issue. Now to look for funds for 2 panels

Edit: Mppsolar has also confirmed that 6 panels is required minimum

Or buy a separate charge controller

chris81964:

I will pretend that you did not make the above comment. The number of panels is less relevant than the voltage. If you have 100 W panels and there are 6, you will not get to 150. Your delta is the voltage.What if your panels produced 37.5 V each then you will only need 5 to get to that number (150V).

I did make the comment before finding your reference in the manual[1] and yes I know it's the votes that is important but based on my panel specs having 2 extra panels will be optimal since I won't mostly get a 150+ with 5 panels of my specification.

Thanks though for the comments and support.

Regards
1. Please see my previous post as I acknowledged your comment accordingly

Namzy:

Or buy a separate charge controller

Lol, certainly that won't be optimal cost wise. Anyway I have made necessary arrangements for panels, eventually I get more panels which is not a bad thing in itself.

Thanks

ojeysky:


I did make the comment before finding your reference in the manual[1] and yes I know it's the votes that is important but based on my panel specs having 2 extra panels will be optimal since I won't mostly get a 150+ with 5 panels of my specification.

Thanks though for the comments and support.

Regards
1. Please see my previous post as I acknowledged your comment accordingly

I did see your post after. I read through a thread before I respond. I also went and read the manual again before I asked you to read it. I triple check before I respond. Glad we got on the same page

ojeysky:
So I have double checked the manual, @chris81964 is right a startup voltage of 150 is required. I guess that explains the source of my issue. Now to look for funds for 2 panels

Edit: Mppsolar has also confirmed that 6 panels is required minimum

Sorry you had to find out after you purchased the inverter

Is there a compelling reason you must pass your PV array through this your new inverter? While adding more panels is a good thing, you could just as easily buy a Fangpusun 100v/50a CC for about thesame price as one panel.

We have good guys like JUO, DMerciful e.t c that will be happy to fix you up with a good budget CC

Again not saying 2 more panels is a bad thing - I have 36 ~300w installed and going to 48 pieces eventually - but you should consider your long term power needs and any future plans for expansion so you make the best long term decision.

ojeysky:


Lol, certainly that won't be optimal cost wise. Anyway I have made necessary arrangements for panels, eventually I get more panels which is not a bad thing in itself.

Thanks

NiyiOmoIyunade:
Is there a compelling reason you must pass your PV array through this your new inverter? While adding more panels is a good thing, you could just as easily buy a Fangpusun 100v/50a CC for about thesame price as one panel.

Actually using/buying another CC will just mean that I can only generate <1000w from the 4 250w panels. However getting the required panels for my current CC will push my generation to <1500 which is more power, using the same controller.

NiyiOmoIyunade:

We have good guys like JUO, DMerciful e.t c that will be happy to fix you up with a good budget CC

Again not saying 2 more panels is a bad thing - I have 36 ~300w installed and going to 48 pieces eventually - but you should consider your long term power needs and any future plans for expansion so you make the best long term decision.

Yeah it's due to expansion that made me get this GK series, I just didn't realize that I will need over 150v to startup. Other than that, I expect that the GK will serve its purpose; It has a 80A and 4000w max PV capacity on it.

By the way, that your abode must be a generating plant on its own . Am curious on what your consumption is like to have required that much panels?

Fyi - my panels came in today, will hopefully setup tomorrow.

Fingers crossed!

Thanks

Call us for your solar power supplies and installation

Call/whatapp 08117398294

zeestone99:


That idle consumption is fantastic

Please how d'you measure the idle consumption of an inverter?

NB: I own a wattmeter, in case that is what i require, but don't know how.

ceaser:


Please how d'you measure the idle consumption of an inverter?

NB: I own a wattmeter, in case that is what i require, but don't know how.

You'd need a clamp meter to find out.



Clamp either the positive or negative terminal of the battery cable and turn on the inverter with no load connected to it. You can then be able to see the no load current drawn by it. A wattmeter can only check the wattage of devices connected to it.

ceaser:


Please how d'you measure the idle consumption of an inverter?

NB: I own a wattmeter, in case that is what i require, but don't know how.

Switch off the output, measure the current with a clamp meter

Good morning guys.

Which 200AH battery would you recommend and what prices. Need to get 2 today
Cheers

Base load 2kw per hour and surge loads 4 to 5kw when water heaters, microwave e.t.c come on.

Why did I use solar panels to meet above and beyond my current and future power needs - reliability - I have not owned or touched a generator for the last 2 years at least and I am off-grid 95% - use mains electricity to power house loads only if available between 8pm and 3am.

Of all the power sources I have experienced solar power has been the most reliable - I therefore chose it disproportionately over other sources - now on a good day I make too much power and on a cloudy day I make enough power to get by.

The same amount to buy a 20kva Diesel Gen gets me 24pieces of 300w panels and 2 CCs with change to spare and near zero maintenance or fuel costs relative to a generator. So the math checks out for me especially as I am in a position to get panels dirt cheap.

ojeysky:


Actually using/buying another CC will just mean that I can only generate <1000w from the 4 250w panels. However getting the required panels for my current CC will push my generation to <1500 which is more power, using the same controller.

By the way, that your abode must be a generating plant on its own . Am curious on what your consumption is like to have required that much panels?

Fyi - my panels came in today, will hopefully setup tomorrow.

Fingers crossed!

Thanks

NiyiOmoIyunade:
Base load 2kw per hour and surge loads 4 to 5kw when water heaters, microwave e.t.c come on.

Why did I use solar panels to meet above and beyond my current and future power needs - reliability - I have not owned or touched a generator for the last 2 years at least and I am off-grid 95% - use mains electricity to power house loads only if available between 8pm and 3am.

Of all the power sources I have experienced solar power has been the most reliable - I therefore chose it disproportionately over other sources - now on a good day I make too much power and on a cloudy day I make enough power to get by.

The same amount to buy a 20kva Diesel Gen gets me 24pieces of 300w panels and 2 CCs with change to spare and near zero maintenance or fuel costs relative to a generator. So the math checks out for me especially as I am in a position to get panels dirt cheap.

Dirt cheap solar panels? Bros show us the way