David is correct. We have some experience with Sol-Ark’s inverter, and it’s a good product. However, be aware that you can configure it either as a 120V inverter with a max. output of about 5 kW or as a 240V inverter with a max. output of about 8 kW. However, it does NOT do split-phase, meaning if you configure it for 240V, it cannot run loads that require a neutral.
Tom McCalmont Paired Power > On May 3, 2024, at 4:12 PM, david quattro via RE-wrenches > <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > > 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 > <mailto: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 >> <mailto: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 >>> <mailto: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 >>>> <mailto: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 <http://offgridvermont.com/> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Wed, Apr 24, 2024 at 7:22 AM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches >>>>> <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>>>> <mailto: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 >>>>>> <mailto: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/ >>>>>>> <http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/> >>>>>>> e-mail offgridso...@sti.net <mailto: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 >>>>>>>> <http://re-wrenches.org/> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>>>>>>> <mailto: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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