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How to Set Priority as 1st:Solar 2nd:Utility/Grid and 3rd:Battery

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  • How to Set Priority as 1st:Solar 2nd:Utility/Grid and 3rd:Battery

    Hi Guys,

    I need some help on how to set my hybrid off grid inverter to prioritize Solar(1st), Utility/Grid(2nd), and Battery(3rd).

    To explain why I need this, the establishment to be powered is located Off the grid with an embedded diesel generator that serves as its utility supply. The supply can only support the island's needs starting at 12nn to 4am.

    So basically, we would like to ensure that the battery is 100% charged when the power goes out at 4am.

    Any ideas? Appreciate the help.

    Best,
    NicholoT

  • #2
    Your problem is not an easy one since to do the best job you must, in effect, predict in advance how much sun you will be getting to determine whether or not you need to add in charging from grid even while the solar is still producing.
    As long as your batteries can take enough current (C/6 for FLA) to get to 100% charge from grid power between the time the sun gets low in the sky and 4AM, then the simple solution is to use a timer to keep the grid charging function from being enabled until a particular time of day. The problem would be how to let the inverter/charger know about that decision. You could not just disconnect the grid AC from the inverter charger because then you would not be able to run your loads off the grid and also potentially "sell back" to the grid once the batteries are charged.
    It would be doable using a small dedicated computer (Arduinon or Raspberry Pi perhaps) that would reprogram the inverter/charger parameters remotely on the fly using the configuration interface.

    Once you have figured out how to prioritize battery charging, the priority of supplying power to the loads will be almost automatic with the right programming of the inverter in grid-interactive mode. Whenever the loads need more power than the PV is producing (minus whatever goes to battery charging) power will be taken from the grid before it is taken from the batteries.
    Last edited by inetdog; 11-26-2015, 06:23 AM.
    SunnyBoy 3000 US, 18 BP Solar 175B panels.

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    • #3
      Originally posted by NicholoT View Post
      Hi Guys,

      I need some help on how to set my hybrid off grid inverter to prioritize Solar(1st), Utility/Grid(2nd), and Battery(3rd).

      To explain why I need this, the establishment to be powered is located Off the grid with an embedded diesel generator that serves as its utility supply. The supply can only support the island's needs starting at 12nn to 4am.

      So basically, we would like to ensure that the battery is 100% charged when the power goes out at 4am.

      Any ideas? Appreciate the help.

      Best,
      NicholoT
      What is your inverter brand/model? Some are better equipped for this.
      Do you have any form of net metering? If so priority 1 solar and 2 grid are the same.
      OutBack FP1 w/ CS6P-250P http://bit.ly/1Sg5VNH

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by inetdog View Post
        Your problem is not an easy one since to do the best job you must, in effect, predict in advance how much sun you will be getting to determine whether or not you need to add in charging from grid even while the solar is still producing.
        As long as your batteries can take enough current (C/6 for FLA) to get to 100% charge from grid power between the time the sun gets low in the sky and 4AM, then the simple solution is to use a timer to keep the grid charging function from being enabled until a particular time of day. The problem would be how to let the inverter/charger know about that decision. You could not just disconnect the grid AC from the inverter charger because then you would not be able to run your loads off the grid and also potentially "sell back" to the grid once the batteries are charged.
        It would be doable using a small dedicated computer (Arduinon or Raspberry Pi perhaps) that would reprogram the inverter/charger parameters remotely on the fly using the configuration interface.

        Once you have figured out how to prioritize battery charging, the priority of supplying power to the loads will be almost automatic with the right programming of the inverter in grid-interactive mode. Whenever the loads need more power than the PV is producing (minus whatever goes to battery charging) power will be taken from the grid before it is taken from the batteries.
        @inetdog

        The battery is a 200Ah deep cycle AGM battery. The inverter has minimal programmable functions seen below:

        Priority Function
        1 - Solar as first priority and will switch to utility when any of the ff conditions are met:
        a. Insufficient Solar supply
        b. Battery at low level
        2 - Utility as first priority and will switch to Solar and battery during power outages
        3 - Solar as first priority and will switch to utility when all of the ff conditions are met:
        a. Insufficient Solar supply
        b. Battery at low level

        We can also set the minimum battery discharge level and maximum battery charge level:

        Minimum Battery Discharge(V) - Will switch to utility supply at this level
        Maximum Battery Charge(V) - Will switch to battery supply at this level

        I guess, it's a good idea to use arduino/raspberry pi but i cant really tamper with the inverter since this will be under warranty.

        How about any mechanical automation ideas?

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        • #5
          Originally posted by ButchDeal View Post
          What is your inverter brand/model? Some are better equipped for this.
          Do you have any form of net metering? If so priority 1 solar and 2 grid are the same.
          @butchdeal

          No net metering. This is located off the grid, being run by a special power/utility group. Would it help if there was net metering? The problem is how we can assure that the battery supply will be reserved for a specific time period which is 4am onwards.

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