Hi Jeff, Kind of an odd suggestion, but what if you try the following:
Install a 240v to 120v auto transformer (like the Outback PSX 240) and have the grid feed your 240v input and then either split your 120v output into 2 conductors for 240v or transform from 120 back to 240v. This may help take some of the wonky voltage right down to a constant output voltage. I’ve never tried this, but sounds crazy enough to work. On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 3:02 PM Jeff Clearwater < je...@villagepowerdesign.com> wrote: > Good Day Esteemed Wrenchers, > > So we are doing more work in developing countries where the grid is super > unreliable but on for some hours almost daily. > > So let's say we have a grid that's on 9 AM - 11 AM and 4 PM - 7 PM each > day but often browns-out during those hours and comes on and off during > those hours. 230 VAC voltage can drop to 160-180 periodically or go above > 260 in spikes. > > The present practice in many of these situations is for battery based > system designers/installers is to set up an off-grid system in parallel to > the mains but not relying on them - so the grid AC IN is not connected. > They just install a transfer switch and manually switch or they wire a > critical loads panel to the solar. > > This avoids constant switching and nuisance shut-downs from the battery > inverter and protects it from burning out trying to handle the grid. > > MY QUESTION: > > I'm wondering what we can do to use the grid when it is up for opportunity > charging of the batteries while at the same time not subjecting our nice > new battery inverters to constant brown-out tripping and possibly long term > damage. > > So question #1 - Is anyone using existing battery inverters but > succesfully navigating such a grid variablity settings such that you are > able to take advantage of the grid even if browning out often? > > or question #2 - Can we add some sort of high Voltage and Frequency > tolerant battery charger to the system - keep the battery inverter/charger > off grid - but charge the batteries from something able to handle the wonky > grid without constantly nuisance charging or burning itself up? > > Your thoughts and wisdom I await!!! > > Best, > > Jeff > > > -- > ~~~~~~~~~~~ > Jeff Clearwater > Village Power Design > linkedin <https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-clearwater-0622a312/> > www.villagepowerdesign.com > cell - 413-559-9763 > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > 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 > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > -- Chris Sparadeo C_802-369-4458 H_802-728-3059
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