So as you all expected, it was definitely the generator. A combination of reducing the charge rate from the inverter and also not opening the choke all the way helped get a consistently barely acceptable frequency for the inverter to accept it. Without those changes, the frequency was mostly around 52Hz, when loaded. After, we got it to stay around 56Hz. Fortunately, the homeowner is open to getting a better generator. Thanks for the tips!
*Dave Tedeyan, PE* Senior Engineer | Taitem Engineering, PC 110 South Albany Street | Ithaca, NY 14850 o. *607.277.1118 x121* f. 607.277.2119 www.taitem.com Solar • Sustainability • Energy • Design Certified B-Corporation since 2013 On Wed, Dec 16, 2020 at 10:35 AM Mac Lewis <maclew...@gmail.com> wrote: > Often just adjusting the throttle screw is enough to get these low quality > generators back into the spec that the inverter will accept. I expect you > will find it well below 60 Hz and 240V (or 120V) when loaded heavily. Many > people never do any maintenance so don't be surprised if the air-filter is > clogged and the plugs need changed. > > As suggested, I'd probably set the AC input to ~50% of rated capacity of > the generator, maybe less. > > On Wed, Dec 16, 2020 at 8:03 AM Jerry Shafer <jerrysgarag...@gmail.com> > wrote: > >> Wrenches >> You may have answered you question here, "crappy genny" if the voltage or >> the freq is to far out or just very dirty AC, the inverter will as you >> discribed, keep attempting to connect but due to one of the issues can't >> maintain a connection. >> Jerry >> NABCEP Inspector >> >> On Tue, Dec 15, 2020, 10:37 AM Dave Tedeyan <dtede...@taitem.com> wrote: >> >>> Hi All, >>> >>> I am going to service a system where the homeowner is telling me that >>> their Conext SW4048 had been working fine for 14 months, and then all of a >>> sudden recently stopped being able to charge the batteries from the >>> generator. It is an off grid system. >>> >>> The inverter would start charging the batteries, but then about a minute >>> later they would hear a relay click and the charging would stop. Then it >>> would just keep cycling. If they turned everything off for a while, they >>> could then turn it back on and charge for maybe 10 minutes before it would >>> start cycling. They just have a crappy 4kw generator from Harbor Freight. >>> >>> I have not laid my own eyes on it yet, but will be there in the next day >>> or two. Just wondering if anyone has experienced these symptoms and have a >>> good idea of what to look for first. >>> >>> Thanks! >>> -Dave >>> >>> *Dave Tedeyan, PE* >>> Senior Engineer | Taitem Engineering, PC >>> >>> 110 South Albany Street | Ithaca, NY 14850 >>> o. *607.277.1118 x121* f. 607.277.2119 >>> www.taitem.com >>> >>> Solar • Sustainability • Energy • Design >>> Certified B-Corporation since 2013 >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>> >>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try >>> the other: >>> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out or update participant bios: >>> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the >> other: >> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> > > -- > > > > Mac Lewis > > *"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates* > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > >
_______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other: https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
