I think SolArk makes an 8K 120V-only version David
On Fri, May 3, 2024 at 3:13 PM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches < re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > For this application I was originally thinking about a 48V inverter with > 120V output, but there are not many options in the size range I was > considering. It hit me that I could potentially get a 120/240V split-phase > inverter and run the DC converter from one leg and the 120V loads from the > other leg. The Sol-Ark 8K would probably be the right size for this > application. Despite there being no 240V loads, they "could" add them in > the future if needed. I know about imbalance issues with the 12k, but have > not heard this same feedback about the 8k, so please let me know if you > know otherwise. > > I really doubt there will be enough imbalance here to cause issues. The > biggest load on the DC side is a tiny 12V DC pump and the largest load on > the AC side will be the new refrigerator, or maybe a big ceiling fan > starting up. The inductive loads are almost negligible. Really the only > reason I want an inverter this large is for the charger capacity. The owner > wants a 9.6kWh LiPo battery minimum, so I want a sizable charger. > > BUT, the client would need to replace their 120V portable generator with a > split-phase unit. That could be a sticking point taking me back to a 120V > inverter. > > I was hoping for an all-in-one for this particular job, but the only one I > can find that is 48Vdc and 120Vac is the EG4 6500EX-48. At the price point > they offer it, I guess it can't hurt to try! I can even have a spare on the > shelf for less in total than the cost of a Victron inverter charger and > separate charge controller, and still have money to spare. I have been > dabbling into the EG4 brand, mostly with clients that went ahead and bought > EG4 batteries before they ever met me, and I haven't had any real issues > other than battery to inverter closed loop comms. It's too early to say I'm > impressed, but the prices are in the too-good-to-be-true category. I don't > want to get off topic here with batteries and manufacturer reliability, but > I wanted to mention the EG4 6500EX-48, which seems like perfect specs for > this job. > > > And... I know... someone is probably thinking that we're up to a 9.6kWh > battery with a small 120V generator, and that's probably not a good match. > I get that, but the client expects the PV to handle all of their needs with > the generator only serving as an emergency backup. I have alerted them to > the potential mismatch. I still want a sizeable charger in case they > upgrade their generator for faster battery recharges. > > Jason Szumlanski > Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group > NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP) > Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956 > Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208 > > > On Wed, Apr 24, 2024 at 1:52 PM John Blittersdorf via RE-wrenches < > re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > >> Jason, >> Just using the converter works fine. They are considered a battery >> charger or a regulated power supply. I am currently running that way now >> with the battery cables going nowhere. I was thinking of putting the >> battery back in the system just for triple redundancy when my inverter hits >> low battery cutoff voltage on a cold winter night and no fuel for the >> generator (or it won't start). >> My Iota DLS puts out a regulated 13.4 volts up to 30 amps. >> >> John >> >> On Wed, Apr 24, 2024 at 8:25 AM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches < >> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: >> >>> Ah ha! I didn't consider using a small 12V battery with a charger. I was >>> thinking of just using a 120V -> 12V converter to handle the DC loads. Is >>> the 12V battery really necessary, or can I just power the DC loads directly >>> with a converter? If I just have lights and fans on the DC system, the load >>> should be pretty minimal. >>> >>> I could use a separate 12V battery, but I would like to eliminate that >>> cost and complexity if possible. >>> >>> >>> And yeah, I am not considering this a money making opportunity. It's >>> really just a challenge to ward off boredom from the daily grind. >>> >> >>> Jason Szumlanski >>> Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group >>> NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP) >>> Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956 >>> Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208 >>> >>> >>> On Wed, Apr 24, 2024 at 8:01 AM John Blittersdorf via RE-wrenches < >>> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: >>> >>>> Jason, >>>> I have a customer with the same situation except he already has a 12 >>>> V VFX inverter, He has a sunfrost fridge and other small loads with a very >>>> fancy custom control board >>>> originally set up to handle AC and DC systems. We are adding a lot >>>> more solar and I was considering a dual battery system but the owner didn't >>>> like that idea. We are going with and Iota 12v power supply (i use one at >>>> my house for my sunfrost) to power up all his DC loads and will be adding a >>>> large 48 V battery bank and over 4Kw of solar using a VFXR3648 directly in >>>> place of the 12V inverter. He complained that the existing inverter would >>>> not handle all his current AC loads very well. My own house is fully wired >>>> for 12VDC as well as AC (lots of #10 copper not being used) and I have been >>>> considering getting a small LFP 12V battery to put back on by DC System. >>>> Then use the Iota as a secondary charging method with some of my large >>>> stash of older modules hooked up for 12V direct with C40 charge controller >>>> to recreate my original system just for kicks. I'm only using DC for my >>>> Sunfrost and one "emergency light" in the livingroom right now. For your >>>> customer, a small LFP 12v battery (approximately $500 or less) to replace >>>> his old battery bankm and more larger ones for the new AC side with 48V >>>> inverter fed by his generator or through an Iota 48 V charger ifusing a >>>> smaller non charging inverter. Unlike Dave, I like these challenges. Maybe >>>> thats why I never seem to make money.!! >>>> >>>> John Blittersdorf >>>> offgridvermont.com >>>> >>>> >>>> On Wed, Apr 24, 2024 at 7:22 AM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches < >>>> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Fortunately, the owner is pretty handy and is willing to live with any >>>>> negative consequences. That said, I want to offer him something as simple >>>>> and bulletproof as possible. I am walking into this with eyes wide open, >>>>> for sure. >>>>> >>>>> Jason Szumlanski >>>>> Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group >>>>> NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP) >>>>> Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956 >>>>> Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208 >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Tue, Apr 23, 2024 at 5:47 PM Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar via >>>>> RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Not being helpful but I walk away from these. It will come back to you. >>>>>> >>>>>> *Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar >>>>>> "we go where powerlines don't" >>>>>> <http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/>https://offgridsolar1.com/ >>>>>> <https://offgridsolar1.com/> <http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/> >>>>>> e-mail offgridso...@sti.net <offgridso...@sti.net> >>>>>> text 209 813 0060* >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On 2024-04-23 2:40 pm, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> I have an off-grid client who is working on replacing old equipment >>>>>> at a cabin. He has a lot of 12 volt distribution in the house for >>>>>> lighting, >>>>>> fans, and a 12 volt refrigerator. He also has 120 volt AC loads that run >>>>>> through a separate distribution panel where the only source is a 2000 >>>>>> Watt >>>>>> Honda generator. There is no inverter present. The batteries are charged >>>>>> through a Trace C40. >>>>>> >>>>>> He currently has a few ancient solar panels and a struggling Bank of >>>>>> AGM batteries. It's time for an upgrade. I can easily supply enough PV >>>>>> power for what he needs. He currently has a 9 kilowatt hour battery >>>>>> capacity that he was happy with when the batteries operated optimally. >>>>>> Nonetheless, I would probably future-proof him with a 10 to 15 kilowatt >>>>>> hour LiPo to double or triple his usable capacity. >>>>>> >>>>>> For convenience, obviously it would be nice to have an inverter to >>>>>> eliminate or reduce the generator requirement. But he seems committed to >>>>>> keeping his 12 volt distribution because it would be costly to replace >>>>>> fixtures. I think he would consider replacing the 12 volt refrigerator if >>>>>> he has an inverter. >>>>>> >>>>>> He definitely wants LiPo batteries. >>>>>> >>>>>> I don't like the idea of 12 volt direct from a battery plus >>>>>> connecting an inverter to that same battery. It is going to be hard to >>>>>> measure and monitor things. >>>>>> >>>>>> I am thinking about using a 48 volt battery with a single phase 120 >>>>>> volt inverter, getting him to change to a 120 volt refrigerator, and >>>>>> using >>>>>> a DC converter to give him somewhere in the range of 100 amps at 12 volts >>>>>> for his existing DC lighting and fan loads. Is this a bad idea? Should I >>>>>> stick with a 12 volt battery system? He does have a tiny 12 volt pressure >>>>>> pump which might be an issue for the converter. I'm not sure. I am a bit >>>>>> worried about the efficiency loss and capacity of DC converters and not >>>>>> sure how to size it. >>>>>> >>>>>> Jason Szumlanski >>>>>> Florida Solar Design Group >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>>>>> >>>>>> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org >>>>>> >>>>>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>>>>> >>>>>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>>>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>>>> >>>>>> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try >>>>>> the other: >>>>>> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ >>>>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>>>> >>>>>> List rules & etiquette: >>>>>> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>>>>> >>>>>> Check out or update participant bios: >>>>>> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>>>>> >>>>>> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org >>>>>> >>>>>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>>>>> >>>>>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>>>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>>>> >>>>>> There are two list archives for searching. 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