Definitely the generator. Harbor Freight? 4 kW into a 4 kW charger?
What's the altitude? I believe that 4 kW generator is actually only
3.5 kW continuous rated. By the time you derate for altitude, and then
account for the generator not being built to be a prime power unit, its
probably reasonable to derate it 50%. Then yet another thing, those
gennies are 240/120 so you only get half the rated power at 120 vac, and
it unbalances the load on the generator. Is that Conext 240/ 120 or
just 120vac ?
Its just going to be a head ache for everyone until they buy something
much better. They really need something in the 6.5 kW to 9 kW range,
and 240 to 120 transformer if the Conext is not the 240/120 model, so
that the generator is loaded evenly.
Ray Walters
Remote Solar
303 505-8760
On 12/15/20 1:57 PM, Sindelar Solar wrote:
Dave,
I would first suspect the generator, not the inverter. Check its
output voltage and Hz under load. If it's overloading, either (or
both) voltage and frequency will drop below the acceptable range and
the inverter will unlatch its input relays, wait for a bit, relatch
and ramp up input amps until it again overloads and the cycle repeats.
You may reduce either (or both) charging amps and overall input amps,
broaden the frequency and minimum voltage acceptance ranges (I don't
recommend this), adjust the AC output voltage of the generator, or
advise them to get a better gennie.
Allan
On 12/15/2020 11:14 AM, Dave Tedeyan wrote:
Hi All,
I am going to service a system where the homeowner is telling me that
their Conext SW4048 had been working fine for 14 months, and then all
of a sudden recently stopped being able to charge the batteries from
the generator. It is an off grid system.
The inverter would start charging the batteries, but then about a
minute later they would hear a relay click and the charging would
stop. Then it would just keep cycling. If they turned everything off
for a while, they could then turn it back on and charge for maybe 10
minutes before it would start cycling. They just have a crappy 4kw
generator from Harbor Freight.
I have not laid my own eyes on it yet, but will be there in the next
day or two. Just wondering if anyone has experienced these symptoms
and have a good idea of what to look for first.
Thanks!
-Dave
*Dave Tedeyan, PE*
Senior Engineer | Taitem Engineering, PC
110 South Albany Street | Ithaca, NY 14850
o. _607.277.1118 x121_ f. 607.277.2119
www.taitem.com <http://www.taitem.com>
Solar •Sustainability • Energy • Design
Certified B-Corporation since 2013
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