Solar PV battery options

redmagic68 · 29-08-2022 12:35AM

Do you need to have a hybrid inverter to set up EV charging or will it work with a non hybrid standard inverter?

Thanks. Can’t seem to find an answer easily online.

graememk · 29-08-2022 12:59AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119535456#Comment_119535456

The EV charging is completely separate to the inverter, so it doesn't matter if it's a hybrid or standard.

The chargepoint monitors the grid itself and starts charging when there is enough excess.

championc · 29-08-2022 07:39AM

I would also say that you really don't want to be discharging batteries into a car.

Car charging is a nice bonus of solar, but realistically, the way to car charge is via a day / night meter, at night

SD_DRACULA · 29-08-2022 02:41PM

I sent an email to Solis and explained the 15 mins issue with the battery at 100a and then 70a and they basically confirmed that is the case:

Maybe newer FW has the improved values it seems.

I suppose when it comes to night charging it won't really matter since I will charge slowly anyway.

Seems to me this is a pretty big limitation that needs to be mentioned in the spec sheet of the inverter.

championc · 29-08-2022 03:15PM

Amazing the control with firmware

Pity they can't derate maybe based on temperatures rather than the mins running. Is that worth replying as a suggestion, since it's likely to be temperature related that they are backing it off.

Some have units outdoors so will be way cooler than one in an attic

graememk · 29-08-2022 03:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119537673#Comment_119537673

Does that mean it will derate to 10 amps after 40 minutes!? That's only 500w!

I'd have no problem with it being temperature dependant though, extra cooling can be used.

When the sun's out I'd want to be charging at full speed (still only 0.25C for the batteries)

DC999 · 29-08-2022 04:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119537892#Comment_119537892

Yeah, looks like they are using time as the benchmark not temp of battery. Which is crude but at least they can ramp down and then up again. As you say, a battery housed outside (outdoor rated one) or in a shed in winter would have a different temp profile to one in an attic in summer.

15mins max at 100A gives decent cover for the burstable stuff like kettle, microwave, hairdryer. Could nearly cook your grub on the airfryer :)

Not sure I'd opt for the one that forces 10A / 500W. 27% (or 25mins) of that (what seems to be a forever-running) 90mins cycle would be at 10A. So 100A, 75A, 10A, 75A. 10A is not a battery at that point IMO. Could end up importing 90% at peak rates if on a smart meter with TOU

bullit_dodger · 29-08-2022 04:06PM

Can you "cheat it"? Set the max-discharge rate to say 90A and does it avoid going into that reduction loop? You might want a constant 90A over a 100A and then that reduced rate.

Just a thought.....

Jonathan · 29-08-2022 04:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119537949#Comment_119537949

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119538123#Comment_119538123

I'd be pretty certain that is a typo and should be 100A. i.e. cycle between 75-100A ad infinitum.

The context of the rest of the sentence gives it away.

SD_DRACULA · 29-08-2022 05:26PM

Yes @Jonathan that's how I have read it, it will stay at 70a indefinitely if it runs at 100a for over 15 mins. If it the load is then under 60a for at least 25 mins, then after that 25 mins it is allowed to go to 100a again and repeat.

Funny how I haven't noticed that in over a year with the system but also shows I am not pushing 100a on a regular basis.

I wonder if the same applies when you're charging from the sun (or at night even - which I haven't done once), batteries are rated 50a so the 100a would only need 25a from the four which is 0.5C I guess.

I will have to go back and look at my data from the last year curious if it always happened.

graememk · 29-08-2022 06:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119538149#Comment_119538149

No once you're over the 70 amps.. (I measured 68...) It will derate after 15 mins

Bouncing 100-70-100 is better than the current setup.

When your getting yours update could you cc me in on the email and I'll try and get mine done too

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119538503#Comment_119538503

Yep it derates on charge too

The large jump in blue is the iboost kicking in.

connesha · 29-08-2022 07:59PM

What Solis FW version are you on?

I'm on C700B1, and am only ever getting 65A in or out (it drops from 100A almost immediately).

Last time I checked FW version was a few months ago, and was on 3A0029 at the time. I guess Solis updated it silently at some stage, as I never requested or was informed of an update...

Jonathan · 29-08-2022 08:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119539110#Comment_119539110

Sounds like one of the test firmware versions that @silver_sky got...

They must be doing their testing in production 😂

connesha · 29-08-2022 08:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119539146#Comment_119539146

😂 Lucky me!

Keep us updated @SD_DRACULA if you can... I need to get on that new FW train too...

SD_DRACULA · 29-08-2022 09:43PM

Yeah we'll see what happens, still on 3A0029

Sort of afraid new FW will cause other issues or break modbus stuff.

silver_sky · 29-08-2022 10:03PM

Jaysus, don't be wishing for updated firmware. I'm on 3D0032 which apparently is the latest version. It's back to dumping 300W~ constantly from the battery. I've also got an issue where it flips from import to export constantly once generation dies down. That may be unrelated but it's worse on this firmware than A10032 which I was on. I asked them to roll it back.

I wouldn't be too impressed with them changing it without telling me. If it's a security/safety issue they need to let people know.

@SD_DRACULA I can send commands to it on the latest version.

silver_sky · 29-08-2022 10:06PM

If they want to start getting into changing stuff randomly I'll be blocking ports. Local access only.

championc · 29-08-2022 10:48PM

They are likely using a reverse proxy, so you'd have to stop the inverter talking to their cloud.

The inverter will constantly be looking for a code, so in their database, they have the likes of. Silver_Sky Inverter ID = 3D0032, so when they match, nothing happens.

They then set your inverter ID to something else, and immediately at next poll, the inverter pull the version tagged against it.

Both of my Sofar inverters came with in-built sticks. They use the data sent to the Solarman Cloud to defend or support warranty claims

silver_sky · 29-08-2022 11:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119539856#Comment_119539856

No issue making it stop talking to their cloud. Re-enable it on the router if there's a technical issue.

unkel · 29-08-2022 11:55PM

That rightly puts me off buying a Solis hybrid inverter I have to say :-(

The new 6G (125A) version can not be ordered by wholesalers until January, meaning we can't physically get one until May / June, or so I am told.

irishchris · 30-08-2022 03:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119540152#Comment_119540152

Where did you find this info out unkel as family member is after one and was told initially Q4 2022.

SD_DRACULA · 30-08-2022 09:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119540152#Comment_119540152

I highly doubt they will have anything open for us on the automation side of things on the 6G and yeah it would be worth getting clarity on that 125A is it only for 15 mins?

Seems like a real 125A might only be possible with 2x sofars

graememk · 30-08-2022 10:21AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119540832#Comment_119540832

Technically the sofar can discharge at 70 amps but the most I've seen out of it was 3.2 kw ( but it will be steady at that even as the voltage drops)

unkel · 30-08-2022 10:48AM

Yes same here, 3.2kW in or out, so 63A out of my ME3000SP

unkel · 30-08-2022 10:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119540370#Comment_119540370

From the owner of Solartricity

SD_DRACULA · 30-08-2022 11:00AM

Well if there's one thing I realized is that unless I charge my car from the battery the 100a thing is not really an issue.

Even for charging the batteries from PV, as the generation starts slowly in the morning, it charges the batteries slowly too, by the time the gen is at 5kwh or more, the batteries are at 80% which lowers the charging to 80a anyway

I think no one here will put on dish washer/washing machine/dryer/oven & hob all at the same time and it wouldn't matter as that will push past 100a easily.

I can see the night charging being a problem for people who have that stupid smart rate time of 2 hours where you would want to charge as much as possible in those 2 hours. But with d/n I don't care, will charge at 50a or less over several hours during the night which is better for batteries anyway

graememk · 30-08-2022 11:13AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119541325#Comment_119541325

Why not? There's a 100amp inverter, gonna use it, not tip toe round it. If all them need to be on they are put on, you might as well just have the old 4G one.

And if you are cooking dinner, you could have a hob or 2 on and something in the oven. That's an easy 5kw.

As for charging my batteries can handle 200 amps constant never mind 100,

Not a dig at you, but more at solis, if they are advertising a 100amp inverter.. it needs to be 100 amp. Not 100 amp for 15 minutes.

100 for 25 is better, and alternating every 25 but not ideal.

SD_DRACULA · 30-08-2022 12:18PM

100% I feel shafted with the inverter as that's just false advertising and legally speaking probably something there too.

But in practice I'm not seeing a huge draw from grid because of this, certainly not during cooking but then again induction is quite efficient and I don't see it a constant draw from hob/oven, it seems to go up and down so maybe that's why? Certainly cook for more than 15mins

A joke that it detects the correct 200a charge/discharge values

bullit_dodger · 30-08-2022 12:53PM

I mentioned this over in another thread I think, but if your battery is empty when you swap over to night rate SD, then technically it doesn't matter either way. You had a charge in the battery and "during daytime" you depleted it. Doesn't matter if you discharged it at full rate and it was empty at 8pm, or at a slower rate and it was empty at 9pm - either scenario you got the charge out of your battery in the timeline to take advantage of the higher rates.

Now of course if you have a big feck off battery and it's not depleted during the day at the slower discharge rate, then for sure it does matter. Sorry I can't remember what size battery you have off hand.

SD_DRACULA · 30-08-2022 02:04PM

I think it rarely happened that I drained the whole battery (20kwh dyness) during the good weather, not even when we had a dull day in between it didn't drain to empty (15%) - not for lack of trying

Most days batteries would be around 50% after the night so maybe when I will be charging from grid I won't even get to use the night charge. Will take some getting used to with my automation since no point charging to 100% and then immediately send to grid once PV picks up in the morning, probably charge to 80% or similar

Solar PV battery options

Comments