Grid Tie Inverter running off batteries!!!

[suncity]

GT abd GT modes

Many my friends (mountain area) are using MPPT GT inverter both off grid and grid tie (OG and GT), associating with the diversion controller which is monitoring charging voltage of batteries, and to activate the battery bypass relay when reach the trip point (directly connect to the inverter, disconnecting the batteries.). Also, adding street lamp photo sensor with relay for blackout and emergency to disconnect batteries from inverter (directly connect solar panel and inverter) for reserving batteries at full charged condition. Diversion relay controller is a kind must relay control device for wind generators, and started using street lamp photo sensor relay controller from increasing number of blackout time such as quake, strong storm, Tsunami… It may be a good idea to use GT on daytime and save battery usage in night time.

[MattieG]

Well, what can I say I am still doing this

I have had a break for a few months as the inverter fan went but now its fixed its on for 10 hours a day at about 200W which pumps in 20 pence worth of electric for the fridge etc.
This equates to about £70 per year pumped in so as long as the cheap chinese grid tie lasts for 2 years which it already has I would have saved money

I do have two of these units and lots of cheap panels so from now on one will run in the daytime off one 280W panel (50-250W depending on weather) and the other grid tie
will run over night on a timer.

Ive also started using LED grow lights which are cooled by PC fans in the top so I am cooling my grid ties by putting them a few inches above the fans in the LED lights!!!!
WIN WIN situation

Thanks
Mattie

[liamgibbins]

I do something simular

Hello. Yes you can do this. Seems like you have the same issue as me. I have a 250w inverter an a 24v bank @300Ah (for free). I dont have a net meter so i can only run the inverter when im useing more power than i create. Basicly im running the inverter when my heatpump is running (they are connected to the same phase). If i generate more power than im using on the same phase its counted as consumption and i have to pay for it!

So yes do it! hopfully you inverter manages is it fan cooled?

Ansered on my iphone in bed. Hope its possible to read

I do something simular.

I have a panel/battery system that powers my garden lights (12v), during the day when I am not using much I have the panel charging the batteries, and the GTI turned off at the socket where its plugged in, I only use it when the washer or dryer is running during the day to off set the power needs of the appliances, on a night I have the GTI running for a couple of hours to offset our usage (Tv, computer, 3x 2kw heaters).

I have converted all the house lighting to 12v led strip (bought off ebay) running off the batteries (and there own board seperated from the main electric board) and it works a treat... does what I need it to do.

as for these new meters all i can say is that the world revolves around money and the UK is greedy..

As far as I am conserned if i want to use another power source in my own home noone can stop me.. I can supply any electrical certificates if required (I am a electrician)...

[Meph]

Morningstar makes 3 MPPT controllers, 15A, 45A & 60A

What is your battery voltage? 15A @ 12V is half the power if you ran 15A @ 24V

I guess morningstar is the only sollution then Thanks.

Yes I'm running at 24V already.. 15A .. = exactly 360w as my solarpanels..
I might maybe buy a Steca PR3030 (30A regulator) since i get a good price on thoose... Then i can maybe run 4 panels

[Mike90250]

Installed 2 x 180w panels yesterday and tested.. I only have 2,5mm cables to the charge regulator (will fix 4mm later).. But the charging got up to 11,9A so far (25,9v) P=U*I 25,9v x 11,9A = 308,21W .. Thats quite good anyway.. It's autumn here in Sweden also so the sunshine is not optimal i guess and i probably have some loss in my 2,5mm cables that should be 4mm for 5m cable or 6mm for 8m cable or longer...

To bad i can not add a 3rd panel My regulator only supports 15A..
360W(2 panels)/24v = 15A ...

Can anyone recomend a good charge regulator? For higher currents? Maybe a MPPT one for higher input voltage and therefor thinner cables

Morningstar makes 3 MPPT controllers, 15A, 45A & 60A

What is your battery voltage? 15A @ 12V is half the power if you ran 15A @ 24V

[Meph]

Installed 2 x 180w panels yesterday and tested.. I only have 2,5mm cables to the charge regulator (will fix 4mm later).. But the charging got up to 11,9A so far (25,9v) P=U*I 25,9v x 11,9A = 308,21W .. Thats quite good anyway.. It's autumn here in Sweden also so the sunshine is not optimal i guess and i probably have some loss in my 2,5mm cables that should be 4mm for 5m cable or 6mm for 8m cable or longer...

To bad i can not add a 3rd panel My regulator only supports 15A..
360W(2 panels)/24v = 15A ...

Can anyone recomend a good charge regulator? For higher currents? Maybe a MPPT one for higher input voltage and therefor thinner cables

[Meph]

I believe his comment was based on the fact that some people have had problems with the cheap 117 volt non ul-listed devices. Some have commented in the past that they "smoked" when plugged into AC.

Ah.. yeah.. well .. You should infact never connect a inverter that is not certified for your country/grid.. If you do and your house burns down i guess you could have a problem with the insurance company..

My inverter is for testing and is not certified for my country (I live in Sweden) but i only use it when I'm home just to be sure

My current setup is:
2 x 45 w solar panels
battery bank 4 x 12v 150Ah connected in 24v (300Ah) setup with a Steca PR1515 (15A) charge regulator.
When i get home today i will connect 3 x 180w Panels to the regulator instead... First 2 x 180w and if possible also connect a 3rd...

I will later buy a "real inverter" a SMA SunnyBoy 3,2kW inverter to start with. I have recently bought 10 x 180w panels for my roof.. I will start with this setup and then buy another 8 panels..

Later on plans when i have the money is to buy 2 more SMA 3,2kW inverters and 36 more panels.. Then my setup is full i can not add more than 10kW to my grid (Grid connection is 230v and 3 phases fused with 16A)

[Meph]

Amazing, you have a 120 VAC heat pump, everyone else has 240 VAC heat pump. Is this for a closet?

Where in my reply do i say i have a 120VAC heat pump?? Open your eyes and read it again

The heatpump is for a 180 square meter house i live in...

My heatpump is a 3phase heatpump.. compressor works with 230v one phase and the electric heatpipes in it are 3 phase 12kW (380-400v)..

[Carlo]

I believe his comment was based on the fact that some people have had problems with the cheap 117 volt non ul-listed devices. Some have commented in the past that they "smoked" when plugged into AC.

[Meph]

Lucky folks to have your inverters sync to the grid without smoke ! Amazing luck.

Why are we lucky? and no.. its not inverters. Its GRID-TIE inverters.. Not the same thing... You can never connect a regular inverter to the grid..

[Sunking]

Basicly im running the inverter when my heatpump is running (they are connected to the same phase). If i generate more power than im using on the same phase its counted as consumption and i have to pay for it!

Amazing, you have a 120 VAC heat pump, everyone else has 240 VAC heat pump. Is this for a closet?

[Mike90250]

Lucky folks to have your inverters sync to the grid without smoke ! Amazing luck.

[Meph]

Hello. Yes you can do this. Seems like you have the same issue as me. I have a 250w inverter an a 24v bank @300Ah (for free). I dont have a net meter so i can only run the inverter when im useing more power than i create. Basicly im running the inverter when my heatpump is running (they are connected to the same phase). If i generate more power than im using on the same phase its counted as consumption and i have to pay for it!

So yes do it! hopfully you inverter manages is it fan cooled?

Ansered on my iphone in bed. Hope its possible to read

[pdmoney]

Just curious if you ever got this working for any length of time...besides the costs mentioned, does it function?

[Carlo]

Why not just hook X amount of panels directly to the inverter instead of going through the battery bank?