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Suitable off grid inverter

Solarexploits

By Solarexploits
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Solarexploits Member

Solarexploits

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Looking for an 48V off grid inverter with a max constant supply of 3kW or so, it will rarely be used above 1500W or so, but 1. I want to over spec so it will last & 2. I want to be able to plug the vacuum cleaner/electric fire or lawnmower in without worrying about overloading anything.

 

I currently have 10 x 310W panels going to  2 x 24V solar controllers charging 2 pairs of 12V solar 170Ah of batteries in parallel & running a (supposedly!) 2kW inverter, which is usually only running significantly less than 1kWh of power , but nevertheless sometimes draws some pretty heavy current on the panels, occasionally 40A or so, I'd like to add the last of the power circuits with exception of oven/hob & microwave so as much is off grid as possible, at least in the summer months, hence the requirement to go to 48V to reduce current draw

 

I've been looking at this    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393394807847?hash=item5b98286427:g:h6AAAOSwupFgfV6I   on Ebay, it appears to do everything I want (I wouldn't be running all the panels on it, I would keep to the 2400W max suggested). I assume using this I don't need to purchase separate controllers as these are already part & parcel of the unit. It seems very cheap for what it is & having already experienced Chinese ridiculous claims of 100A this 6kW that, I don't want to get burnt (possibly literally!)

 

Has anyone had experience of Powland or Easun which are apparently the same units, or suggest any other suitable, reasonably priced unit?

 

Thanks in advance for any info

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Carrerahill Advanced Member

Carrerahill

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32 minutes ago, Solarexploits said:

Looking for an 48V off grid inverter with a max constant supply of 3kW or so, it will rarely be used above 1500W or so, but 1. I want to over spec so it will last & 2. I want to be able to plug the vacuum cleaner/electric fire or lawnmower in without worrying about overloading anything.

 

I currently have 10 x 310W panels going to  2 x 24V solar controllers charging 2 pairs of 12V solar 170Ah of batteries in parallel & running a (supposedly!) 2kW inverter, which is usually only running significantly less than 1kWh of power , but nevertheless sometimes draws some pretty heavy current on the panels, occasionally 40A or so, I'd like to add the last of the power circuits with exception of oven/hob & microwave so as much is off grid as possible, at least in the summer months, hence the requirement to go to 48V to reduce current draw

 

I've been looking at this    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393394807847?hash=item5b98286427:g:h6AAAOSwupFgfV6I   on Ebay, it appears to do everything I want (I wouldn't be running all the panels on it, I would keep to the 2400W max suggested). I assume using this I don't need to purchase separate controllers as these are already part & parcel of the unit. It seems very cheap for what it is & having already experienced Chinese ridiculous claims of 100A this 6kW that, I don't want to get burnt (possibly literally!)

 

Has anyone had experience of Powland or Easun which are apparently the same units, or suggest any other suitable, reasonably priced unit?

 

Thanks in advance for any info

I like all the Victron stuff. Very good kit. 

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Carrerahill Advanced Member

Carrerahill

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19 minutes ago, Solarexploits said:

I'd agree Victron is good kit, but they want about 4 times the price for something to do the same job - kinda defeats the object of trying to save money on energy prices!

You get what you pay for. The argument is that Victron, may, last at least 4 x longer than the competitors cheaper product, but will it... that is the question. 

 

 

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Solarexploits Member

Solarexploits

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20 hours ago, Radian said:

That's a PWM charge controller. That's so much less sophisticated (efficient). I'd be holding out for their MPPT version at least.

Thanks, that's just the sort of input I was looking for - I'm still at the point of making daft mistakes! Having looked at the feedback of the supplier I wouldn't buy from them anyway!

 

So a similar MPPT unit, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284861192503?hash=item42530cd937:g:HyEAAOSwaAlirdQd   any comments? Will this do what I want?

 

Also, can someone explain the hybrid/AC connection side of things to me, given that I already have an MCS 4kW array which has a Solic immersion diverter on it totally separate to the off grid stuff I'm doing now - if I use the AC connection with a hybrid inverter  I assume it would only ever take anything from the AC input side if the batteries had become discharged (which I'm very careful never happens) ?

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Solarexploits Member

Solarexploits

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25 minutes ago, Radian said:

24V. I wouldn't be trying to run anything over 1kW (>40A) of an inverter stepping up from that low a voltage.

Oh, shoot, told you I was prone to daft errors, I hadn't spotted that was 24V - completely defeats the object of what I'm trying to do!

 

Why are 48V inverters so much dearer than 24V, you'd think handling less current would make them cheaper not dearer!, I'll keep looking - still open to any suggestions cheaper than Victron! 

 

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kommando Regular Member

kommando

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1 hour ago, Solarexploits said:

I assume it would only ever take anything from the AC input side if the batteries had become discharged (which I'm very careful never happens) ?

In the settings you should be able to define the battery voltage below which the AC will stop so no draw on the battery and the battery voltage it will stop charging the batteries at so they don't overcharge.

 

These cheap no name Chinese inverters are reviewed on Youtube, plenty of them go through how to fix them after they blow up typically within the first year. A better approach would be to go for one of the Chinese suppliers with a good reputation like Growatt.

 

This is a US review but you can look for other UK/EU based ones.

 

 

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Solarexploits Member

Solarexploits

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I think the Growatt stuff looks great, but struggling to find a Uk stockholder? Am I looking in the wrong places? But it looks like even the 3500W is going to be best part of a grand, the Steca also by the time you add vat & delivery is best part of £850.

 

Re what I was originally looking at, for £350, so if we forget the PMW charger, I can buy an 60A MPPT controller for around £120 (though for a gain of 25% battery charging that's going to take a while to pay back) so for £470 that would give me what I want & it's split across 2 units so if something does go wrong then at least all is not lost in one hit.

 

Growatt claim a 10 year guarantee, but who would I get supply from where that guarantee would be likely to actually be honoured???

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kommando Regular Member

kommando

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A ten year warranty is a manufacturer's warranty, max from a retailer is 2 years. So you are relying on Growatt hanging around and honouring their warranty which with all companies is a lottery.

 

Bimble stock their Grid Tie inverters, try to see if they can get the non grid tie, 

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