I have concerns as well, because I too have been considering the SolArk
for upcoming larger designs. I regularly expect the builders to test
the system and expose any problems before the owners move in. It should
be able to run any properly operating 120 v equipment there is. Having
said that, I once had a contractor's air compressor not run on one of my
systems. It was an archaic monster belt drive thing, and when I checked
it, it had a missing starting cap, and a ground fault. So no, the
inverter should not have to operate faulty equipment either.
I have never had to use a balancing transformer before on any of my
systems. The Magnum 120/240 vac PAE inverters generally will run
everything 120 I've ever thrown at them, have full 240 in/out, but
they're rated at 1/3 the power of the Solark. So something is
definitely wrong; shutdowns are not acceptable. I hope Solark addresses
this immediately.
Ray Walters
Remote Solar
303 505-8760
On 2/3/21 10:47 PM, Jerry Shafer wrote:
Maybe its just me but if an off grid inverter can't start up a 120 vac
compressor l might want to look elsewhere. I have the old FX inverters
start up and run massive bandsaw while homes were being built. Radians
running everything from well pumps to sewer pumps all while off grid
all without additional transformers or soft start controllers. I have
systems in Honolulu that have 5 AC multi ton units all living just
fine with two Radians and no additional transformers. Its just a
little concerning that load imbalance was not considered with this
inverter manufacture, and maybe they did. KISS! not more complicated
Jerry
NABCEP PV inspector
On Wed, Feb 3, 2021, 1:10 PM la...@starlightsolar.com
<mailto:la...@starlightsolar.com> <la...@starlightsolar.com
<mailto:la...@starlightsolar.com>> wrote:
Amos,
When using it in balancing mode, as seen in the attached image,
the PSX will provide 120Vac from either leg and the inverter
output should stay balanced. A 240Vac circuit from the main panel
goes to the PSX then to a sub panel and any 240Vac loads stay on
the main panel.
Larry Crutcher
Starlight Solar Power Systems
On Feb 3, 2021, at 1:49 PM, Amos Post
<integrityenergy...@gmail.com
<mailto:integrityenergy...@gmail.com>> wrote:
We have had this issue with a recent installation. It’s a new
off-grid house build, and so not many loads to speak of yet,
except mainly power tools. The Solark 12K will not start any of:
portable air compressor, table saw, and sometimes struggles with a
miter saw, which are each 16amps or less at 120V, but I have
measured close to 50amps start up for the air compressor and table
saw. The air compressor and table saw are 1.5HP each. What helps
is if the motors are warmed up, or putting another load on the
other leg to balance the inverter’s output.
Was thinking we would install a couple of dedicated 120V outlets
for “high-current” 120V loads with a PSX-240, stepping down the
inverter's 240 to 120. My understanding is this will solve the
issue for starting these loads, but not sure if we might run into
issues with inbalance down the road... Would be curious to know
if there’s another way to balance all of the house loads using the
PSX-240?..
<IE LOGO 150x78.jpg>
Amos Post
Integrity Energy
W 802.763.7023
C 802.291.2188
ienergyVT.com <http://www.ienergyvt.com/>
Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/integrityenergyllp?ref=hl>
On Feb 3, 2021, at 2:41 PM, la...@starlightsolar.com
<mailto:la...@starlightsolar.com> wrote:
If it turns out to be true, could you simply add the Outback
PSX-240 to balance the loads?
Larry Crutcher
Starlight Solar Power Systems
On Feb 3, 2021, at 10:52 AM, Nick A Lucchese
<luccheseso...@me.com <mailto:luccheseso...@me.com>> wrote:
Good morning Wrenches,
I’ve strongly been considering using the SolArk 12K unit for
awhile but have heard from a few folks that there can be somewhat
frequent issues with the inverter shutting down from line to line
imbalance. As little as 1400 watts? I could see where these
instances would be minimized with attention to detail on
balancing all the loads but if’s as little as a delta of 1400
watts that might occur with something as innocent as a toaster
oven. Seems like it would also be less of an issue in a grid back
up or AC coupled scenario but for off grid I’d be bummed to be
getting calls every couple weeks from an off grid client that
trusted me to offer the right equipment.
How much of an issue is this? Is it getting exaggerated? Those
that have NOT had this happening was it on a full time off grid site?
Has it happened less on sites using the "Limited to Home” mode? I
have an upcoming project that was going to be setup with a couple
Radians in HBX mode and my thought was perhaps it might be an
ideal solution there but if the continuity of electrical service
was going to be provided mainly through batteries and inverting
and not through the pass through relays the majority of the time
then the site might likely experience this issue with imbalance
shutdowns.
There are many attractive features of the SolArk and I really
like the thought of taking advantage of the 185 amp DC charger
versus the Radian’s 115 but I’m kind of thinking the risks may
outweigh the benefits if these shutdowns occur even once every
couple of months. Any of you have a long enough history with them
to chime in with your observations? Are they most reliable for AC
coupled with backup rather than off grid or the “Limited to Home”
mode?
Thanks for your time,
Nick A Lucchese
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