LED Lights | The Sustainable Solution for Off-Grid solar users

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Join us as James explains the common reasons for flickering lights in off-grid solar situations and provides practical solutions to the issue.
Firmware Links for all EG4 Inverters:
eg4electronics.com/downloads/
- Non-Flickering Light Brand: Keystone KT-LED13PAR38-F-840
- Flickering Light Brand: GE Relax LED8DAGSW90
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Recommended Solar Panels:
signaturesolar.com/shop-all/s...
Solar Panel Mounting Hardware:
signaturesolar.com/shop-all/s...
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Recommended Solar Batteries:
EG4-LL: signaturesolar.com/shop-all/b...
EG4 Lifepower4: signaturesolar.com/shop-all/b...
EG4 PowerPro: signaturesolar.com/shop-all/b...
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Recommended Solar Inverters:
EG4 18KPV Hybrid Inverter | All-In-One Solar Inverter | 18000W PV Input | 12000W Output | 48V 120/240V
signaturesolar.com/eg4-18kpv-...
3kW Off-Grid - EG4 3000EHV-48
signaturesolar.com/eg4-3kw-of...
- Features: 3000W Output | 5000W PV Input | 500 VOC Input
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Shop Kits & Bundles: signaturesolar.com/kits-bundles/
Need additional wiring or system components for your DIY Solar Project?
signaturesolar.com/shop-all/s...
signaturesolar.com/shop-all/s...

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Опубликовано:

20 фев 2023

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Комментарии : 75

@SetitesTechAdventures Год назад

You should consider making a list of verified lights as a service to the customers. Maybe a wiki page that users can vote on if they have bulbs they have tested themselves. As Adam De Lay says, "high quality bulbs" is a bit vague and it is probably only loosely correlated with price.

@SkyNoris Год назад

Really appreciate the tests and the time took to produce this video. Even on grid power you can expect some flickering with cheaper LED's. Then if you throw in dimmers that adds another circuit that needs to be stable.

@DylanSaliba Год назад

Excellent demonstration! I'll get the firmware uploaded and dump the cheap LED bulbs. I appreciate y'all!

@marcusduval4833 Год назад

A much needed video as I was looking for this info.......thank you ,Team Signature Solar.....a listing of bulbs would be awesome from the SS test team

@8uhayat Год назад

Excellent info, appreciate it.

@sValen Год назад

Great excuse to update my lighting and inverter!

@TheSshadow7 Год назад

Thanks for this. Good info.

@onthelevel6932 Год назад

Thanks for a clarifying video, my shop is totally off grid and I am not so concerned about light flicker. But do have some more knowledge moving forward

@marksmyth8190 Год назад

Good info James, thank you. I have several cheap spiral LED bulbs that continually flicker and then fail when powered by my Growatt 12K or my Generac. Putting a scope on either output shows a fairly clean 60Hz Sine wave. Now I can stop looking at the source and examine the load.

@hendersonsobers396 Год назад

I've even seen LED bulbs flicker from inverter generators. Happy to see that SS has a firmware update that helps to address the flicker issue with the 6500EX.

@Roll2Videos Год назад

Great demo

@mcook407 Год назад

Great Video; Heck I get flicker while on Grid and LED lights, what really get them is the Keurig coffee maker "disco days!" but worse in off grid mode, I really just don't care because any light, heat and other house hold goods is way better than sitting in the cold dark nothing when the power goes out...

@jamesshowalter6362 Год назад

@asahperry6537 we are sometimes no match for all the wiles of all the appliance manufacturers combined lol

@aaronweisser8777 Год назад

I have the 6500ex-48. That mother #$@% Keurig almost caused me a mental breakdown after my system was running. I went through so much work trying to figure out what was causing my disco tech lights, I almost gave up and ripped my inverters down! One day I was in the kitchen ( not making coffee ) and I heard that machine make some noise and my disco started , I ripped the cord out of the socket and like magic my problems were solved!! I now keep it unplugged until I use it. Hopefully others can see this and know what's going on before going crazy like me. The Keurig will cycle when being used but most importantly when not being used and cause these effects!

@mcook407 Год назад

@@aaronweisser8777 Big Laughs well worded! I really hope this helps others, thanks for that reply, have a great day!

@SpencerLAPower Год назад

I have Schneider inverters have no flickering whatsoever if you have it off of search mode you will not get flickering whatsoever when you put a heavy load

@jamesshowalter6362 Год назад

why we love them!

@nelsonjgonzalez8843 Год назад

I bought the inverter on December, 2022 but I dont have any issues with the lights. Should I upgrade the firmware anyway??

@DaleKlein Год назад

Very good demo video. Scope traces would be nice to see what is happening. On my whole house system, with 2x SMA US6048US and AC couple Enphase microinverters, I see similar flickering on certain led bulbs, when the microinverters output is approximately matching the house loads (generally morning and evening, or cloudy) and the main battery inverters are hanging out maybe not sure whether to charge or discharge the battery. It's not a big deal.

@jfree9951 Год назад

I bought, but have not installed, 2 Growatt 5000s with a 6 battery rack. What can I expect that to be like?

@hecberrios Год назад

I have the same flickering issue with the MPPSolar LVX6048 (same as the 6000EX in the middle) but only when using solar panels, (no grid), when using battery it doesn’t flickers. I read there’s a firmware update fixing the flickering but I have no PC to update the firmware, just a MacBook Pro. All my house lights flicker, even the light inside my fridge. LEDs, Smart LEDs, encandecent, LED strips, fan’s LED lights, all kind of brands I’ve tested and each and everyone flickers. Is there a way to update the firmware other than buying a PC laptop?

@AdamDeLay07 Год назад

Can you give us some examples of what you guys classify as "high quality bulbs" that have little to no flicker (outside of motors running)? What are the specific brands of the ones you tested in the video?

@bonzology322 Год назад

forget that, can they give me an example when any light, led or otherwise will in REALITY last for 25 years, NEVER

@jamesshowalter6362 Год назад

we used the keystone KT-LED13PAR38-F-840 to avoid flicker the GE relax LED8DAGSW90 was the flickering one

@jamesshowalter6362 Год назад

@@bonzology322 well I will be a middle-aged man by the time I can prove that point on the good ones lol

@AdamDeLay07 Год назад

@@jamesshowalter6362 thanks

@Capoe3 Год назад

The Phillips hue bulbs, white only, behave themselves, multiple models and years purchased. Have been slowly changing over the whole house to zigbee compatible Wi-Fi bulbs. I like gizmos and no worries of turning off lights at night I can set them to do it themselves, Haven’t tested the color ones yet. Cheap led shop lights absolutely do not. Nice to see sig solar addressing this. Have to admit they have done a bang up job with tech support for my eg4 ll v1 battery trying to get the lcd panel working again. BMS replaced, didn’t fix, now replacing screen assembly. Long post, sorry. Longest lived led light is at 9 years so far.

@oddo710 Год назад

Excellent video James. It brought a big smile to my face seeing the Sol-Ark outflicker them all!

@jamesshowalter6362 Год назад

One firmware fix and they could be in the lead next week, you never know

@bobjohnson4512 Год назад

Does the flicker happen on bulbs on dimmer switches or all cheap LED bulbs?

@johnlockington9872 Год назад

All of my led lights will occasionally pulse in sync with each other. Doesn't always happen. Sometimes there's no pulsing at all. What can cause this? Running a growatt 3kw off grid

@richd9771 Год назад

Can you do more video on the Growatt inverters? My main problem with them would be flicker lights. Ive contacted your support many times, searched through your videos, Ive called Growatt (but never can reach anyone), spent hours searching RU-vid, went into Growatt forums, checked and recheck all my connections and still have problems. I know the Growatts arent the higher end inverters but you do sell them and it would be nice to have more videos about them.

@fordsrmaster Год назад

My light flicker REALLY bad during the middle of the day when my solar panels are putting out over 2000 - 3500 watts. I have the EG4 6000 unit. It's only when the PV input is being used to power the house or charge the batteries in the middle of the day that the lights flicker. At night when the unit is running off of battery power, I have ZERO problems with flickering lights. Does anyone have any ideas about this situation?

@mikedrew9361 Год назад

My LF Aims 10kw 240v inverter did not flicker. I think you are correct that the HF inverters do have more flicker problems. My biggest flicker problems is in the refrigerator bulb and micro-wave inside light. Also lights that have a dimmer switch. I have two EG4 6500 inverters dating 7-2022 that I am running separately as 120v units. Also the sewing machine bulb flickers. These are all small bulbs and I don't see me trying to find replacement bulbs of a higher quality. My LED lights are not flickering. Going to look into the firmware update.

@JohnBaker3000 Год назад

Interesting. Is the interference caused by harmonics of the 60 Hz or HF modulation of the 60 Hz or ??? A spectrum analysis would be nice.

@TdrSld Год назад

Man anyone else hear the high pitch noise from the semnies, it was driving me crazy. But great video!

@dbarnclay Год назад

James, I am setting up my EG4 6500's this week. I have a spare Growatt autotransformer. Any issue or benefit from adding it to the EG4 panel for balancing loads. I understand it will increase idle current draw.

@jamesshowalter6362 Год назад

people have said that they have had better luck in hybrid cases with the grid auto former on the input, I would really just audit my bulbs, hard to find a bad $10 bulb

@arthurhammeke8296 Год назад

Cheap led bulbs have very minimal circuitry. The better ones have converters, etc to change the AC to DC and clean it up. Best bulbs I've had are Fiet versions that are COB (look like filaments) The only time any of the bulbs act weird is when I have the inverter (growatt) set to switch to grid power at end of the solar day to charge the batteries.

@Built2Perform 7 месяцев назад

How about running 48V LED lighting directly off the batteries??

@motomike1197 Год назад

I've double checked my neutral and ground bonding. And I've replaced led bulbs and still have a terrible flicker and pulse.. Hopefully it will change when i connect all 4 - 6500's up.

@qquizz Месяц назад

Noob question: While testing the 6000ex, are you using a step-down to obtain 120v, or is it just one leg being utilized? If one leg is being utilized is the power capacity cut in half?

@SignatureSolar Месяц назад

One leg is being used and the power capacity is being cut in half

@wildcorn12790 Год назад

So what I find interesting is that when I have my inverter running, I get LED flicker (PowMr 5000w hybrid inverter, 120v). When my furnace starts up while running on this thing, you can HEAR a difference in the draft inducer motor (it has this weird whine to it) which would tell me that the power coming out of the inverter isn't clean. Eventually, I want to get a transformer based 6000EX to power my loads, as I think the cleaner power will be much better for them. So I think the flicker is probably an indicator of slightly dirty power. Note that when the unit switches to AC power, everything is fine, so it's only when it's inverting that the power is "dirty".

@acefire4050 Год назад

Corsi's you in lights start flickering not because of a power issue it usually means that the power of the light is no good no more and I liked about to break or die I mean light bulbs do go bad after a while but I don't think that would be my concern either.

@theMekanik Год назад

The only thing I need a AC inverter for is to push power back on to the grid which should be HVDC but it's not. It's much more difficult to tie in electrical grids with AC than DC........ HVDC is also more efficient than AC for transmission over long distanses.

@brandonEpicAero Год назад

Thanks for the video. I’m having issues with split-phase loads like my mini split causing Philips Hue strip flickering and APC battery backup clicks to battery mode. Only occurs when the outdoor unit turns off. Strange part is it flickers expensive lights also only when it turns off.

@SignatureSolar Год назад

Have you contacted our technical support team?

@brandonEpicAero Год назад

I didn’t. In my troubleshooting it seems to be my Cooper & Hunter Mini-split causing the issue. Looking into running a mini-split off the DC using your unit. 👍🏼

@AveRage_Joe Год назад

Ive been asked this question A LOT. I always tell them buy better lightbulbs!!!

@xavierneckor8918 Год назад

How do you know it's "better" without trial and error?

@tm510a Год назад

Even on grid when I fire up my laser printer it causes my cheap led's to flicker. My 8k transformer based growatt flickers less than the grid.

@artvandeleah9952 Год назад

what does signiture solar consider a low quality bulb based on specs ? what does sgnature solar consider a high quality bulb based on specs ? all my bulbs are LED in the home

@niktak1114 Год назад

LED bulb manufacturers don't typically provide any info on the driver they use so it's not easy to tell. Price and weight are probably the best customer facing indicators of quality for LED bulbs.

@jamesshowalter6362 Год назад

we used the keystone KT-LED13PAR38-F-840 to avoid flicker the GE relax LED8DAGSW90 was the flickering one

@theMekanik Год назад

Kan we please get 48 volt DC bulbs / lights so we don't need to run an inverter. My Fone, My Laptop, My Power Tools, My Chain Saw, My Speakers, Flash Light....... Everything I own Runs on DC Even The Kar I want has is Powered by DC and the Power that Komes From Solar Panel That I want as well also are DC so wy exaktly do I need an AC inverter to change DC Battery Power to AC power to power all my DC Krap!!!!!

@clarencewiles963 Год назад

Now I’m glad I held off on the Cheap EG4.

@jamesshowalter6362 Год назад

the $8250 inverter here has more issues with the cheap bulbs...

@patriciamariemitchel Год назад

So the inverters are going to the batteries first and then to light bulbs?

@simon359 Год назад

Yes, unless you have solar panels, as it will take from the solar panels first and then the batteries through the inverter! Of course, it depends on the inverter quality.

@patriciamariemitchel Год назад

@@simon359, I still have the Huawei and 26 panels. Need like 24 more. And batteries. 🙂

@simon359 Год назад

@@patriciamariemitchel Better to have a back up gas/propane generator and a woodstove. Also, insulating your house. Everything isn’t just about solar.

@patriciamariemitchel Год назад

@@simon359, true. I have a gas generator. I still want batteries. 🙂

@simon359 Год назад

@@patriciamariemitchel A lot of people are buying the stackable rack lithium batteries, as you get more kilowatts per dollar.

@makesaveinccomm Год назад

Thanks buddy. Hey guys that live in San Diego, CA. near I-8 and 15 or Highway 56. If guys buy BiFacial solar panels the most output 465 - 520 max or so, from Signature Solar please let me know. I would like to buy 10 save on the pallet for both you and me. Thanks guys...

@JLU351 Год назад

I have 15k and never had any issues with lights blinking. Strange. Especially when i have nothing but leds and i buy cheapest i can find.

@xavierneckor8918 Год назад

Good demo of the problem. Really annoying! It would be better to provide a list of compatible LED bulbs in different sizes then just telling people to get "better" bulbs which could mean many trial and error iterations. Good way to frustrate your customers.

@acefire4050 Год назад

Of course she said off-grid when you can also use it on Grand and could also use it to sell electricity to the electric company in almost all the 48 states I mean I know there's some companies that won't even pay for it but really doesn't have to be off grid it could be for cell to the grid and also for running your house and to 6000 watt inverter might be enough for my house but Ithinking I'll need three sweater have to go with four.

@JessG.101 Год назад

i dont get it people spend 15k plus for a solar kit set up then they cry about they buying 1$ light blubs . like u spent cash for it stop buying 1$ lights. ...

@browsedeweb8834 Год назад

Where's the Growatt 12k? Too heavy to mount? LOL

@theMekanik Год назад

No One Building a House on a Job Site is Using AC Power Tools anymore....... My Saw and Nail Gun and Drills are all Powered By DC Power.. I don't know what everyone keeps using and AC powered Chop Saw to Demonstrate stuff.