Inverter replaced - system still not working correctly

[dusty42]

Hi all,

I'd really welcome any advice.

I have a 1.25kw 5 panel small garden system. which has a samil solar river inverter. The inverter started being dodgy - I'd sometimes find not running and would have to restart the system. then it stopped altogether and I was sent a replacement under guarantee. I fitted this a week or so ago(that is to say I plugged it in).

The new inverter does not appear to start correctly. The lcd just flickers on and off once every 10 seconds or so.

I'm at a bit of a loss as to what else the issue could be? The generation meter inside the house is getting mains power.

Is this likely to be a faulty cable, or panel? The system is about 3 years old.

Many thanks in advance!
Alex

[SunEagle]

How are you connecting that grid tie inverter to your house panel?

Usually a grid tie panel needs to be "satisfied" that the grid is "good" before it starts to work.

It is possible that the inverter is not configured properly for your grid power (voltage, frequency, etc.) or the grid power is not within the acceptable limits for the inverter to start.

[dusty42]

Hi SunEagle,

Thanks for the quick response.

The panels are sited in the garden, with the inverter + isolation switches. This is then connected to the house by a buried armoured cable, in the house it connects into the generation meter, which then connects into it's own small board. I tried resetting the breakers on this board(with panels already isolated), doesn't seem to have made a difference.

When I turn the DC on the inverter screen flickers, also turning the AC on doesn't appear to make a difference(as though it doesn't recognise a grid connection).

Yes, the inverter not being configured right is one of my suspicions. Can I plug a laptop in or is specialist software needed? My array is so small it's questionable if it's worth me paying someone to do this!

[SunEagle]

I am not familiar with that samil inverter. It may have the ability to connect to it with a laptop to check the settings. Although most grid tie inverters provide the specification of what they produce in voltage and frequency as well as what type of grid they can be connected to. I have heard that one problem that happens is trying to use one that is configured for 60Hz on a 50Hz grid or visa versa.

[Mike90250]

are there any error messages ?

[dusty42]

The inverter does allow a laptop to plug in - I'm just unsure if any windows machine'll be able to do anything or if I'd need specific software. As you say it could be set up for another country out of the box, but the replacement was sent by Samil UK. When it was initially installed the guy doing it had a laptop I remember.

There's no error message Mike, the screen barely turns on, maybe just flickers on for a second(or less) every ten seconds.

I've tried contacting samil, they've not responded.

Really frustrating while we have a bit of decent weather!

[Raul]

Hello dusty42
If you got the 1100TL it supposed to be set up for UK by the importer.
If you got the 1100TL S series you need to set up country code on the initial start up. This is done via a rs485 cable to a pc/ laptop.
You can take advantage of the Ethernet port by connecting it to your router and have free monitoring on samil power portal.

[dusty42]

Hi Raul,

Thanks for the response!

I'm not sure if I have 1100TL or the 'S' version - I can check tonight.

I finally got some semblance of an answer from samil, but it's not very helpful. They refer to RS232, assume this is similar to RS485?

These cables are shockingly expensive! I will ask at work if they have any I can borrow.

Is it just a case of pluging the laptop in, then it's easy to set up country etc?

[SunEagle]

Hi Raul,

Thanks for the response!

I'm not sure if I have 1100TL or the 'S' version - I can check tonight.

I finally got some semblance of an answer from samil, but it's not very helpful. They refer to RS232, assume this is similar to RS485?

These cables are shockingly expensive! I will ask at work if they have any I can borrow.

Is it just a case of pluging the laptop in, then it's easy to set up country etc?

Wow. An RS232 is old school communication connection. It is a big plug with about 15 pins and use to be used for the old monitors and printer communication to the computer. Most new computers have a Windows X operating system which may not even recognize the communication driver that you may need with the samil.

You might have to look for an old XP laptop to program that thing.

[jflorey2]

I finally got some semblance of an answer from samil, but it's not very helpful. They refer to RS232, assume this is similar to RS485?
These cables are shockingly expensive! I will ask at work if they have any I can borrow.

RS-232 use Dsub connectors, either 9 or 25 pin. They are not compatible with RS485, which uses proprietary cables (there's no commonly accepted standard.)
RS-232 cables should be dirt cheap because there are a lot of them and not many people use them any more. You may be seeing USB to RS232 cables, which are a little more pricey ($15) but not much.

[Raul]

I'm pretty sure it uses a rs485 interface .

[jflorey2]

I'm pretty sure it uses a rs485 interface .

Lots of people make RS232 to RS485 adapters; they generally break out into terminals.

[dusty42]

Thanks again for all the answers!

Samil seem to have left their office in Reading(just outside where I work), but got hold of an agency that's in some way connected to them, who sent me some info.

I now have a usb-rs232 connector(borrowed from work), which at least looks like it matches the port on the bottom of the inverter I've removed.

I only haves laptops w10/mac, so am hoping this can be done without having to settup a xp machine, maybe there are remote virtual machine services, will check.

So is the idea I just plug the laptop in, turn dc on, then turn ac on?

Does laptop need network connection? My wifi struggles in the garden..

[dusty42]

Ah, ok - I've now downloaded solar power browser from: http://www.samilpower.com/downloads_detail.php?id=1

Which seems happy enough with w10