I love this system so far! Let me know your experience below. Signature Solar ($50 off $500 or more discount Code "EVERYDAYDAVE"): signaturesolar.com/shop-all/solar-panels/?ref=SALE EG4 12KPV: signaturesolar.com/eg4-12kpv-hybrid-inverter-48v-12000w-input-8000w-output-120-240v-split-phase-rsd-all-in-one-hybrid-solar-inverter/?ref=SALE EG4 18KPV: signaturesolar.com/eg4-18kpv-hybrid-inverter-eg4-18kpv-12lv-48v-split-phase-120-240vac-ul1741-cec/?ref=SALE EG4 Wall Mount Battery: signaturesolar.com/eg4-wallmount-indoor-battery-48v-280ah-14-3kwh-indoor-heated-ul1973-ul9540a-10-year-warranty-pre-order/?ref=SALE
I use the smaller 6000xp but I have a small off grid house, it powers my water pump really easily which is my largest load. I'm also very impressed with Signature Solar.
great to see you are using EG4 equipment. we are off-grid with the 18kpv, 15 kilowatts of bi-facial, 60 kilowatts of lifepo4 batteries and a diesel generator using filtered waste veggie-oil. EG4 is the best.
@@ProjectsWithDave there is also a refresh button on the app when connected through the internet. Takes about 5-10 seconds to update but you get near instant data. I’ve successfully used this with my 6kXP.
Thanks Dave, I am planning on purchasing an EG4 unit. I find the whole "use lead acid battery" approach very disturbing, given the problems I have had with other MPPT units. Please manufacturers: Let me set the battery type to LiPO4, PERIOD!! Then provide the necessary software inputs to balance the system. OR Use some intelligent algorithms in you software to bring everything up to speed. Confidence goes WAY low when the manufacturer requires us to be as well-versed as Everyday Dave is. Not all of us will be exposed to his excellent tutorial.
Love your videos Dave. I’ve got 2 x 6000XP’s that are running flawlessly. I also used the Ready Rack from APA Solar, based on your first video. Love it!!
Dave, just want to point out, your string of 11 panels is likely to exceed 600 VOC, when you factor in your VOC temperature adjustment factor. Not sure where you are in Ohio, but using the generic VOC temperature calculation in the national electric code, if it gets below 4F in the winter, you would exceed 600 volts. Take a look at NEC 690.7 for the table
I have the 6000XP. There is no separate mounting bracket so you have to hold the 50 pound unit up againat the wall while you insert the mounting bolts. Requires two strong people.
Great overview and testing! I would only "need" 8kW for an inverter (ac coupled) to operate as backup but one spec not mentioned here - the 12kPV has an 80A max passthrough current. 18kPV has 200A, so I could do full house connection to the main panel. If I do go this route, I will probably also install a transfer switch to bypass the EG inverter, in case something fails and I want grid only power. $9K for the setup + some odds and ends, doing it myself call it $9500. Alternatively I could get a professional install and possibly a Tesla Powerwall + gateway for like $5K more. It's a tough decision because I'm sure if I sold the house it would be much better having that Powerwall...
@ProjectsWithDave Oh, to specify my needs, I already have 2 solar arrays. The backup I install would be ac coupled unless I put it in my detached garage to replace the 5.1k SMA Inverter. I'm in Michigan though and that would be quite the temp swing. Also, for backup, the Inverter needs to be in my basement or use a gateway (like Powerwall) near the meter instead. Complex situation I guess. I'm about 2 years out on pulling the trigger, I still have met metering for 4 more years. I don't mean I would move soon but who knows, so I may want something that holds more value. I would hate paying to undo an install.
If you have 4 more years before you need the battery, I would wait. The technology is constantly changing you will probably be able to get more for your money in 4 years.
I think that's a valid concern. Victron has a very long track record, giving one complete confidence. I'm running both, we'll see which one lasts longer. : )
Great video! I have the Sol-Ark 14K and I swear the chassis, internals and various buttons look the same! Oh, I have the outdoor EG4 wall mount 14K battery and it works like a champ!! Question, have you ever looked at Solar-Assistant? I think it is the coolest thing ever. Best part is you get all the stats in real-time, as everything is local. Worth looking at!
Thanks Dave. Way deeper in the weeds than I'm capable of but love the challenge of following along! Wrt lithium batteries (LiFePO4) and how to use them: my system, an Enphase with 2 5P batteries, do you think it's better to discharge them each night (barring any forecasted storminess where you'd want a full charge all the time), or keep them fully charged and maybe exercise them once a month by draining them? My system was configured by the installer as "self consumption" and I have no reason to doubt them (and it is what the Enphase software recommends), but I'm concerned about constantly cycling the batteries, and on the rare occasion we lose power, it's not necessarily due to a storm, which the Enphase software monitors the NWS for).
Lithium batteries like to be at about 50% state of charge. They don't like the extremes, fully charged or fully discharged. If you aren't getting a cost advantage from the discharge cycle, I would limit the discharge end of the cycle to 20%, that is the standard max discharge. If you have a grid tie agreement that allows you to sell back to the grid and you are not saving money by discharging the batteries than I would limit it to around 50%. Here is a typical chart for LiFePO4 batteries showing the expected life based on the depth of discharge: drive.google.com/file/d/1bQaRcWfQPhj2UwZLtLzEcAMjO_jci83d/view?usp=sharing Lithium batteries are stored around at 50% to 60% SOC (State Of Charge) because that is where they are electrically balanced limiting dendrite growth. However, you do need to bring them to 100% periodically so the cells can be balanced.
Given how rare power outages are, I'd let the battery drain all the way to 0% during one if needed. Going to 0% a few times over 10 years is not a big deal, especially since it'll charge again as soon as the sun is up.
You should book up your older inverter that is just grid tied and still running and connect it to your gen input then it'll work all the time even if the grid goes down.
The Victron setup has more options, but the EG4 should meet most peoples needs. The settings are not as intuitive as I would like, but once you figure them out its fine.
What would happen if it was night, you have all of your loads running, lets 12-14k. I believe the 12kv model has 80 amp pass through so you’d be at 8000 from the battery and 4-6k from the grid. I’m assuming it would trip and reset. I only need the capacity of the 6000xp but reading online it looks like it doesn’t have the grid assist feature, only in the sense that if load exceeds the inventor, it swaps everything over to grid vs just what it needs to make up the difference.
I haven't looked at the 6000XP in detail. I know my Victron inverter has grid assist. It's designed specifically to supply more power than a generator or weak shore power can provide by supplementing with the battery.
Thanks for the video. This is the exact system I want to install If I have the grid backup, do I need to worry about starting the table saw and other tools?
If the grid is connected, you shouldn't have an issues with anything as long as you don't exceed the max passthrough current. However, I was able to run everything I own even with the 12K off grid. You should be ok as long as you have a soft start for your AC or heat pump.
I am in a unique situation because my panels (16) are all Enphase IQ7+ (5.6Kwh) to a single combiner box with the PV disconnect in the main 200 A panel. All videos have panel strings directly connected to the Inverter but mine are connected to the panel. If the Inverter is AC coupled to the panel can it “see” the PV or can I only monitor the PV through the Enphase app? Additionally, I was looking at a Sungold 10K Hybrid ($2100) which is considerably cheaper than the EG4 but who wants problems, still $1500 might be worth a bit of risk. Finally, My house has all natural gas appliances. The only 240v item is a small 3000w AC unit. My utility load is only 15 KW per day so I am confident the 12K + indoor wall mount will work. My bill is currently negative but I can manage things better and avoid the odd outage.
I would like to see you hook up that SolarEdge inverter to the 12kpv to see the process involved in that. As I only have a non hybrid SolarEdge inverter currently I don’t have batteries, can’t expand panels and if the grid goes down? I go down without power.
For one person lift thinking of a rental engine lift they can lift up to 7 to 8 feet and you have tires on the lift to move it about. Just don’t go beyond the wheels 🛞 for tipping over.
Great video. I've had the 18Kpv since Feb and my only question on your settings is the PV Charge Priority. I have mine set to Disable so that PV will supply loads first then charge batteries (also I'm grid tied). The pop-up explanation next to the setting states that it "Routes the majority of PV productin to charge the batteries" Can you clarify why you chose to charge batteries before supplying loads?
Thanks, I figured it was a more common setting for those who have variable electricity rates, it make sure the battery is fully charged for consumption at peak pricing.
Dave, i'm looking at getting a Ford Lightning and want to know if we can connect the Pro power to this inverter and make see as battery or generator? let me know if what i'm asking make sense or not.
Just to see if it works correctly. This seems like the inverter to get and not have to go through the grid tie permitting process as long as it works. Thanks for the detailed review!
I am in a zero export situation and am also curious about the bulletproofness of their mechanism. Are there codes that govern/approve/disapprove of these devices?
Good point. Hopefully, videos like this will help you understand the equipment capability and limits so you can make an informed choice. The equipment is very heavy so shipping back and forth with all the handling is very expensive.
Do you use your SE inverter at the same time with the EG4 inverter to send power to the grid? If so, when the grid goes down, will the SE inverter know to shut down (or will it sense the waveform from the EG4 and try to keep running)? I assume that you only feed the grid from one at a time??
When the grid goes down the EG4 will also stop exporting, it will not create it's own waveform on the grid side. If you want the SE inverter to keep running it has to be connected to the Generator input on the EG4 and configured for AC coupling.
