Hi folks--We've also been disappointed with the Sol-Ark two-wire generator
start. The unit starts at the charge set point, but the inverter will shut down
for about a minute every time the generator stops running. After the minute
wait, the inverter restarts and everything is fine. But it is aggravating for
the homeowners to be left wondering in the dark.
Sol-Ark says that when the generator shuts off, the frequency drops out of the
Sol-Ark range and causes the inverter shut down.
They suggested we find a way to increase the generator speed to avoid the
frequency drop at shutdown. This seems like a lame suggestion, since the
generator has no idea of when the batteries will be satisfied--it only responds
to the on/off signal from the Sol-Ark. I would think that the unit could be
programmed to ignore the frequency drop when it sends the shut off signal to
the generator. The system has an an Ecogen 15kW.
Not having an exercise function is also a miss. As mentioned below, the time
of use can be used, but one has to go out and play with the programming to
check the generator.
regards, bill
Bill Hennessy
Berks Solar, LLC
371 Centennial Rd
Mertztown, PA 19539
o 610 682 4300
c 484 560 4666
NABCEP certified installer
PA contractor #44411
www.berkssolar.com
On Wednesday, November 11, 2020, 8:20:57 PM EST, Chris Sparadeo
<sparadeo.ch...@gmail.com> wrote:
Thanks for the suggestion, Jay.
Yes, the Sol-Ark has a very basic and limited AGS for 2 wire compatible gen
sets. Gen start can be programmed with voltage or SOC, however gen stop is not
a function that can not be readily programmed. Instead, the Sol-Ark is
programmed to charge the battery bank to 90% of the rated Ah capacity of the
battery bank before turning off the generator. You can ultimately adjust this
gen stop parameter to be based on a specific SOC or voltage, but I believe that
doing so requires a call into tech support. The tech I spoke with updated a
setting (having to do with a TOU parameter I believe) that was not accessible
via the system interface. AGS from Schnieder, Outback and even Magnum are less
clunky, but I am hoping that Sol-Ark will eventually come out with new
programming to remediate these minor but nevertheless, important issues
-Chris
On Wed, Nov 11, 2020 at 3:58 PM Jay <jay.pe...@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Chris
I would install a timer. There are many dry contact dc or ac powered with a
high degree of programmability.
A question about the normal function of the AGS. I’ve talked to a few people
that have mentioned that the ags has its own fuzzy logic, with limited
programming. And they have had issues with it not turning on or not turning off
What do you say?
Jay
On Nov 11, 2020, at 10:43 AM, Glenn Burt <glenn.b...@glbcc.com> wrote:
I believe the Atkinson GSCM could be used to do this.
-GlennSent from my 'smart'phone, so please excuse typos and spelling errors.
------ Original message------From: Chris SparadeoDate: Wed, Nov 11, 2020 11:16
AMTo: RE-wrenches;Cc: Subject:[RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark Gen Exercise Cycle
Hi all,
According to Sol-Ark tech support, they do not currently have a programmable
exercise cycle forits two-wire start function. When paired with a generator
like a Generac Ecogen (exercise cycle is automatically disabled when configured
with two wire start) this means that the only way to effectively run an
exercise cycle on your generator would be to do it manually. I am wondering if
anyone has run into this issue and if there are work arounds? Kind of a bummer
and my first and only negative experience with Sol-Ark thus far.
Kindly,
Chris Sparadeo --
Chris Sparadeo
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