Solar Hybrid Charger / Inverter

[mcc]

I am in the final stage of my Off Grid Solar setup. After taking too long on the Charge Controller and Inverter research, I guess a Hybrid Solar Charger Inverter is what I need.

I need a 2000W Hybrid system which charges the batteries from Solar and from our genset when the Solar is not available.

Want to know is there in any downside of using a Hybrid System? Does this sort of system uses MPPT instead of PWM for charging?
What brands I should look for?

[Sunking]

Hybrids Inverters do not normally use solar for charging. They use commercial AC, Generator, and Solar as a add on option but not required.

Hybrid inverters are normally set up to be grid interactive. Batteries are added and sized in 1 of 2 ways.

1. Just large enough to keep emergency loads up and running long enough for the generator to start up and take over for the duration of an outage.

2. Battery sized to supply emergency loads for a a few hours, then the generator will come on and supply emergency loads and recharge the batteries, then shut off until batteries get low again. Much like a hybrid car operates.

There is a 3rd option which is rarely used because of the expense is not justified. Size the batteries to last a full day and be recharged by both the generator (primary) and solar (supplemental). This requires an additional expensive charge controller and much larger bank of batteries. .

Under all three option AC Commecial power is always the priority charging source, if available, AC will do the charging. Generator is the secondary source of charging if commercial AC is not available. Solar is 3rd and only used as a supplemental during extended outages, The generator will do the bulk of it during extended outages.

[bhai]

Hello, i have been researching hybrid inverters as well and we were planning to install some at test sites here in pakistan. however after reading this post it doesn't seem liable anymore.

my question is what should we use instead so that the primary source for charging the batteries is solar and the secondary is grid/generator?

also i couldn't find anything regarding sizing of charge controller so if someone could guide me towards relevant thread or post formulas here that'd be great.

we have a 2.5 kW load running 10 hours on grid and rest on generator at some sites whereas 24 hrs generator at others. we would like to shift it to 16 hrs solar and 10 hr grid / generator with a single day of autonomy.

using 32# 250 watt solar panels along with 72# 300 Ah 2 V batteries. hybrid inverter that kept popping up was outback's Radian Series GS8048. couldn't understand the sizing of the charge controller but we would like to use MPPT.

[Naptown]

I am in the final stage of my Off Grid Solar setup. After taking too long on the Charge Controller and Inverter research, I guess a Hybrid Solar Charger Inverter is what I need.

I need a 2000W Hybrid system which charges the batteries from Solar and from our genset when the Solar is not available.

Want to know is there in any downside of using a Hybrid System? Does this sort of system uses MPPT instead of PWM for charging?
What brands I should look for?

Look at the xantrex and magnum inverters. Magnum will probably have a smaller one Xantrex the smallest is 4000 watts.
Both are capable of operating as an off grid inverter. Both will switch loads to AC power when a generator is connected and charge the batteries
The xantrex is capable of auto generator start not sure about the magnum.

[mcc]

But Magnum has Modfied sine wave Inverters. Pure Sine wave are smaller ones.

[Mike90250]

Take a look at the MIDNIGHT charge controllers

http://midnightsolar.com/

[Sunking]

Is this for completely off-grid?

[Naptown]

One advantage to a hybrid like the Xantrex is the battery chargers are built in to the unit. Although he doesn't need the grid tie capability this can be essentially turned off. These also have auto transfer switches which when a generator is used will disconnect the inverter, charge the batteries and transfer the loads to the generator.

[Sunking]

One advantage to a hybrid like the Xantrex is the battery chargers are built in to the unit. Although he doesn't need the grid tie capability this can be essentially turned off. These also have auto transfer switches which when a generator is used will disconnect the inverter, charge the batteries and transfer the loads to the generator.

OK I understand that but there are other Inverters out there that can do that without the grid tie option which are less expensive? In that case he will need a charge controller and large bank of batteries, plus genny. That is a standard off-grid application, not a Hybrid by definition. Something like the Exeltech MX family. They come with 12 to 120 volt battery operation and power ranges from 1 to 20 Kw

[mcc]

OK I understand that but there are other Inverters out there that can do that without the grid tie option which are less expensive? In that case he will need a charge controller and large bank of batteries, plus genny. That is a standard off-grid application, not a Hybrid by definition. Something like the Exeltech MX family. They come with 12 to 120 volt battery operation and power ranges from 1 to 20 Kw

I am sorry but I could not see that this inverter can charge Batteries from Solar. Right?

I dont only need a Inverter, but something which can transfer the charging process from Solar to Gen Set. Rather me to configure everytime I switch on the Gen Set. When we talk about Grid Tie inverters, they dont require batteries?

Coz a Genset can also act as a source of AC power, no?