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3 hours ago, Mitker said:

I plan to go in 2 steps. But the 2 solar sets, including their ESS, would always, at a given time, be similar and communicate.
 
The first step would rely on limited ESS packs based on current battery models. Given their low storage capacity, I see them more like a solar UPS than a full off-grid system
The second step would go full mode with a final choice of battery type. It would mean significantly upscaling the initial ESS units (keeping the original type), or replacing them entirely by adopting another type available in the future (possibly the sodium I mentioned).
(I wouldn't run two types of batteries at any stage, for ease of management)

Therefor, my question about the Growatt inverter being able to manage the Sodium-Ion battery type.

Even how much  like my Growatt inverters I learned from others and from experience that the settings i mentions for battery and for charge is very limited so you should try ask in the largest solar forum online on this specific topic.

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3 hours ago, Mitker said:

I'm starting collecting the components of my DIY off-grid hybrid solar system.
2 sets x (10x440W panels + hybrid inverter + 25kWh ESS 48V)
Panels, fittings and cables have been delivered.

I'm now in the stage of selecting the inverter model.
I'm thinking about 2 Growatt SPF-5000ES off-grid inverters, since the feed-backs seem generally positive and the price is attractive, given the functionalities. My choice is not final since I could find only a few local sellers on the net with very small volume of units sold (not too reassuring).
 

But getting back to the topic… While reading about the batteries models on the market and in development, I got the feeling that sodium-ion type may become, in a near (?) future, a great solution for fixed storage systems; seems to tick so many boxes.
I'm not about starting a discussion about the validity of such an assumption, but rather just taking it as an hypothesis in my search for an inverter. I may start with a small scale ESS with the types commonly offered on the market today (LiFePO4, AGM…), keeping the option for a significantly larger ESS pack within a few years, possibly adopting the sodium-ion type if they keep their promises meanwhile.
 

Reading the Growatt user manual, I found that the settings allow for a "user-defined" battery type choice ("USE" in the list of choices at point 5 of the UM). No more info is provided about the parameters involved.
Does it mean that this item could efficiently and safely manage sodium-ion batteries in the future, were the correct charging parameters set manually ? Is this "user-defined" option flexible enough ?
 

Any advice/experience would be appreciated (about this model or another, reasonably reliable, that would explicitly cover this option).
Thanks 😉

Use and use 2 is for basic setup with inverter and BMS in the old way ( No communication) You set your own values but in the end you need to keep within some parameters to get the Growatt to work as it should related to Bulk, Float, SOF, to get charge to start up again in morning.

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13 hours ago, clokwise said:

 

This is one quotation:

 

Deye Hybrid Inverter 10kW. 3Phase
Freesun Lithium Battery 48V. 280Ah

20x Longi Tier1 Solar Panels 580W

+ assorted accessories and installation

= THB 377,000

 

We tend to get power cuts every couple weeks which is why we're looking at hybrid off-grid with battery. My wife is fine with cold showers, me, not so much, but no big deal.

 

Good to see replies here saying it is possible to just switch the entire house over to solar or battery. We have had a couple extended power cuts that weren't back up until early morning.  Is it possible to keep a house running on battery for an entire night?

 

I did a setup a year ago around this size. My electric bill used to be 3xxx/month and now im 99% offgrid. I have a ATS that i switch over to the grid if needed or it switch it self the few times i do not have enough power from solar or battery. In a year it happened maybe 3-4 times.

I dont know the details on your power needs but i would consider double the batteries but i see your looking into a on/offgrid setup. Mine setup costed more or less 300K. 2 x 5k Growatt inverters and 28 x 320w panels and 280x32 batteries.  I did the setup and hired some manpower for for mounting on roof etc with plans and instructions from me.

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2 hours ago, Crossy said:

 

What's the actual scenario?

DC or AC breakers? (or AC breakers on a DC source - naughty)

Are the warnings from the manufacturer or on an internet forum?

 

If you can remove the load there's little doubt that switching "cold" can improve the life of the contacts (particularly of DC breakers), but I doubt the occasional switch under load is going to do much harm (I'm assuming decent quality breakers here).

 

The issue with DC is that the arc, which should be extinguished in a properly designed DC breaker, is maintained with the breaker "off", this is not a good thing.

 

I see more warnings lately on the largest solar forum related to DC breakers to not switch under load. Anyway Im switch when i need even load or no load and have never thought of it as any issue.

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4 minutes ago, lom said:

Breakers are intended to switch on or off a load and the only thing you have to worry about is that the load is not greater than what the switch is rated for and that is especially important when it comes to the in-rush current of an inductive load.

Is there something special you are thinking on?

 

I just seen warning several times last days like: No switching under load, stated very clearly. So I wanted to check what others here have to say about this.

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Lately I seen more warnings related to switch power with breakers under load so i thought I would start a discussion on this. I use my breakers to close down system at times and never thought of that as an issue. Whats your thoughts and experience on this?

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14 hours ago, Crossy said:

Way back in 2020 I did a thread on Thailand Special Line not many responses but the Evereast links still work.

 

 

 

Thanks for the update Crossy. A few China seller know about this option and many not. It make the import easy, predictable and maybe even cheaper.

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Some time back I got my invert and batteries delivered by Thailand Special Line. Any one been able to find that service online?

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17 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

They are certainly very popular on the Aussie forums.

I respect everyone to choose to buy what they want and to what price they want. But i must say im happy i not go cheaper than i did and did end up buy something  with lots of  user, so easy to find info online. I see some buy off brand posting for help online with zero reply because no one with knowledge and interest for solar have  same units.

In the end in a whole solar setup a few thousand bath +/- on the inverter will not do much on the total. If i should try share any experience to any planing a new setup..Do research and not be cheap on the inverter(s).

Regarding your over paneling, means even on cloudy days you probably be ok.

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13 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

There are, as always, a few quirks with the initial setup and the online application, but that's what internet forums are for 🙂

 

I must agree on that..I had some issues with charge not started and sometimes stopped before completed but seems to be solved now after some googling and also got some help.  I also managed see over current protection in BMS log as over Voltage Protection ( who I know did not happened) 

Look like Deye is the brand to buy now for who want value for the money.

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In some days I will reach 100 Cycles on my battery (in about 11 months, so 9 per month) The batteries are as good as when I got them. No runaway cells and none issues at all. EVE LF280k is rated to 6000 cycles so they should last me 55 years 555!😂

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On 8/8/2024 at 5:10 PM, Crossy said:

Despite my best will, I'm afraid I was weakened by a 15% Lazada voucher and bought another Deye inverter.

 

How do you like your Deye inverters Crossy? You look to have built up some great solar capasity.

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On 9/23/2012 at 9:15 PM, CobraSnakeNecktie said:

mulberries are local and fairly affordable. Can get them at the health food store and keep an eye out for them at produce markets.

We use allot of mulberries. I prefer high quality mulberries every day of the week before low quality or crazy overpriced strawberries. Generally i like to focus on all the great i can find here locally  and not so much on what we use to have home.

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I tried the frozen strawberries in Makro but when i saw color disappear with the water when defreezing them it was over for me. Im not sure if they add color to them or what they do but after defreezing they did not have much red color left.

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Got a advice and help to check my BMS settings today since my inverters sometimes not complete the charge: Found out that i should not use same max charge current settings on inverter and BMS. So I adjusted some down on inverter and some up on BMS charge current limit ( My system log show some: charge over current protection) So lets hope that solved that issue. It should because times in log corresponded with my issues.

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Today I got the highest watt value since my build went up 11 months or so ago: 7624Watt. I also noticed the current to be 20A on the one inverter  who also highest i seen. My Growatt 500ESP are supposed to have limit on 22A from earlier 18A.

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7 hours ago, atpeace said:

That's what I thought.  I asked on this thread if over paneling was an issue but at the time nobody responded.  I should have gone with at least 2 more panels but can add more easily later.  I usually only have 1 AC on at one time that usually hums along drawing 8oo watts mid day.  my exercise room when in use draws about 2000 watts for a couple hours so might not have enough panels (6.6kWh) for that on a cloudy day.  I'm cool with using the grid also.  My goal is to be 85%-99% off the grid. 

85-99% can be the point where you get the best value: short ROI. It take some time to get the overview on how all works and wht can do and not do. It took some time before i understood why and how over paneling is no problem is your inside max voltage. I wish I had added a few more panels too when its the hottest season.. But all in all very happy with my setup.

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2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Ours enjoy indoor AC comfort also.   Really should get a smoke detector.  We sleep with bedroom closed, since AC on, all on one floor.  

 

Door about 10m away from battery packs.  Toxic fumes being the main issue of course, as don't think any flames would prevent us from leaving the house.

 

Hmm ... over to LAZ 

I ordered 5 detectors today to place around the house included in battery room. I ordered same i posted earlier from Lazada with expected 10 year battery life

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Considering 12v dc ( 18650 3.7V x 4) vs 220c ac from outlet for heat monitoring ( battery and batery breaker) with W3230. I use ATS so I guess i should be on the sure side to be able to power heat alarm even if all inverter/battery power was down.

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For thoose who looking for Low Frequency Inverter...Look like there is something new comming.

How to Setup the POW-RELAB Series Low Frequency Inverter? (youtube.com)

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Today my units started charge as normal after i change: 05 Battery type from "Use2" (who Growatt want its user to use) to "Use" who much user say better to use. Use2 have a complicated way to try manage parts of the charge... This is a quite common issue for Growatt and some similare inverters. Create issues like Inverter not start to charge or stop to charge. Who wants details on this just google: "Growatt - Odd behavior"

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5 minutes ago, lom said:

That explains it but why don't you let the BMS manage the battery? It does that so much better than an inverter.

 

Well the BMS does manage the battery in normal situation. Just to be clear so no misunderstanding: communication vs no communication in this case is related to use com port on Inverter with a compatible BMS and battery not just voltage per cell as ordinary BMS setup ( as I have) Here is more on the issue

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14 minutes ago, lom said:

^ Yes, any supported battery that doesn't have BMS communication but I guess you have BMS comms.

 

^^ BMS continuously tells inverter about the SOC so the inverter will know when it is at 100%. If BMS wants to balance batteries then it can request a lower voltage from the inverter.

No I do not have any communication between BMS and Inverter. Im reading myself up on this issue I have and see other with some of same issue.

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41 minutes ago, lom said:

To decide when battery is full is a task for your BMS and not the inverter, the BMS should request the charge voltage it needs and the inverter should comply. Batt voltage setting in the inverter should only be done for batteries which don't have a BMS (Lead-Acid, AGM).

From Manual:

User-Defined 2（suitable when lithium battery without BMS communication）If “User-Defined 2” is selected, battery charge voltage and low DC cut-off voltage can be set up in program 19, 20 and 21. It is recommended to set to the same voltage in program 19 and 20 (full charging voltage point of lithium battery). The inverter will stop charging when the battery voltage reaches this setting

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19 minutes ago, lom said:

To decide when battery is full is a task for your BMS and not the inverter, the BMS should request the charge voltage it needs and the inverter should comply. Batt voltage setting in the inverter should only be done for batteries which don't have a BMS (Lead-Acid, AGM).

Yes.. But inverter seems to stop charge at a certain voltage level when it calculate battery to be 100%. When restart inverter it might adjust to 75% battery level and continue charge.

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