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Answer to your question. At the first main electrical panel you tie or bond the neutral to the ground. On all sub panels after the main panel, you Do Not bond the neutral bar to the ground bar. Neutrals only tie back to ground at the first main panel.

Definitely worth buying the tools and making your own wires as opposed to buying already made ones. Also the lugs may not be in the right position on the bought already made ones and on the bigger wires you may encounter the same problem that William explained so well. There is also one other reason for making your own wires....it feels great to make them and admire your own handiwork!!!!!

On the subject of the bolding screw in the solar panel. When you inverters go into bypass (not enough solar and batteries drained) the inverties will connect the solar panel directly to the panel, thus bypassing the inverter. When this happens you will have two bolding points. This is considered a big no-no. You will need to check your inverter but a lot of inverters will bold themselves when it is necessary. I would suggest putting your inverters into bypass and checking ground for current.

If you build the batteries by your self, which is quite easy, they cost less than half ($2500/20kWh) My 14kWh (16pcs 280Ah Lifepo4) battery + JK smart BMS (balance current 2A, 200A load) + 5A active balancer (+ his voltage detection controller to activate just above 3,4 Volts) + offline monitor was in total $1750.-

thanks for sharing! how has it held up to deeper snow?

Awesome dude! Great job! I'm following your lead!

Double check that bonding screw in sub usually sub neg and ground must be separate to main box

I have the same 2 Growatts. Each connected to its own battery bank of 12v@200AH x 4 batteries. So 2 seperate systems with 120v output. I want to connect the 2 Growatt so I can get the 240v split phase but thr Growatts need to be connected to the same bank, and the Chins that I bought said 4 batteries connected max due to the BMS. So I guess I need the server rack batteries so I can get more than 10KW bank connected to the paired Growatts.

Maybe irrelevant in the case of the Growatt system but I rather shut off the PV first just to be safe.

Thank you very much for your videos! You have have helped me a lot with these videos! A lot of guy’s didn’t go into as much wiring detail as you have here. I don’t think there’s a real need to double ground your inverter panel. I have seen other videos with Will Rouse and he recommended not double grounding them!

Great video, I don't understand how you got 240 off of 2 individual inverters. I always thought your two 120 legs had to be 180 out of each other. Beautiful setup. 👍

Did you use copper wire or aluminum?

Hi! I had the same problem with a Growatt 5000ES inverter and an AmpleNess S5385 battery and I solved it by setting in menu 5 type "Li" and in menu 36 number 52 (CAN protocol). And it worked flawlessly. I connected the CAN communication cable to the BMS plug to the inverter and to the CAN plug to the battery. I hope it goes the same for you.

Hi! Thanks for the informative video. How do you connect the AC input when the inverters are in parallel? Do you connect it only on the master or you connect ac input to both inverters.

How long did it take to build the ground mount system?

The ES is a U.S model is that correct?

Would a single one of these units work with an array of 1000W pushing a VOC of 148 and 13A?

I must say great video but can i ask some question. Between mono and poly , solar panels..any of these two type can be connected in series. How would you calculate the wire needed from the solar panels from rooftop to your growat inverter, am considering to install a 3600w solar system and 3000w inverter....i would need the calculation for the size wire from inverter to battery bank. How many battery it would require for an off grid system? I see you install a breaker box in this video which a great idea.. can i ask a question on that..for instance install a breaker box too. How would u calculate the size wire for the output current, coming from the inverter to the breaker box.. For instant there is a 2 (40amp breaker install) what type wire should be connect to those 2 amps. And there is 1 (15amp breaker) what type wire should be connected to that... Can you please explain so i can understand..and if you any video ..that can help , i would appreciate that too

Your sub panel shouldn't be bonded.. only the main

Thanks

Mine setup didn't like to talk to the BMSs of the batteries - UFO brand. I made the following changes and it's been working since. I changed the addresses of the MA unit to 100 and the SL unit to 101. Originally they where 001 and 002. And I think the addresses might been conflicting with the BMS addresses. (Think IP addresses on the computer) All this is running on RSR458 protocol. Others might have to use the CAN or other. Unfortunately might take some experimenting.

How did you deal with the floating neutral issue when powering in inverter mode? That doesn’t seem to be an issue when running in utility mode since the house main panel is bonded so a floating neutral is avoided in that mode.

I also had this problem, battery arrived today (LifePo4 120ah 48v - with Growatt 5000es) - had same issue 4, and 20 on the errors when switching to Li mode I contacted the battery place and they said switch up Jumpers 5 and 6 and then set the type to Li and the protocol (36) to 51... I had to make sure the ethernet cable was in the BMS port as opposed to the RS485. I then shut it all down and brought it back on, and it's working fine

Nice video! One remark, two questions. Remark: your batteries have a total of 20 kWh (not kW). Questions: What is the maximal output of the 4 batteries combined (in kW). Is this limited by the batteries or by the Growatt inverters?

Nice video, thank you. Does anyone reading this have any info regarding communication between the growatt and a home made battery using a daly BMS?

Had the same issue, each of three inverters was connected to different phase, but still had the issue. Figured out that phase order is also important. To fix is possible to swap 3P2 and 3P3 in inverters settings, or just swap input phases.

II have one SPF 3000 with 48 vdc 200ah like yours what breaker box do you suggest I get for my 120 vac output

Thank you very much for this video. I learned a lot.

With new inverters with a BMS port you're supposed to use the BMS port for both CAN or RS458 to the battery rs485 or can port. THE BMS port now supports both. The RS485 port on the inverter is for communication between the inverters. I believe that's why you're getting an error.

Little money for me is $5 bucks LOL Great video sir!!!

hello, After contacting a battery manufacturer, we have found the solution. In fact on the battery you have to connect the CAN port and on the inverter you connect to BMS. For my case the protocol on the inverter (Menu 05) is 52. but it might be different for you? Another thing, normally on my version of BMS, we must also change the protocol (battery protocol), that is to say that you choose the brand of your inverter (Growatt) But on your BMS and your software I don't know. What is certain is that I had exactly the same problem before and when I connected with the CAN port of the battery it worked, and the communication with the inverter did so. (by the way to test if you disconnect the com cable, the inverter instantly gives the error and as soon as you reconnect the com cable, it works again) You can Try?...

This is a godsend of a video. I'm also in the IT field and live in the back country. Currently researching and planning out my solar. House is 102 years old and I have 8 buildings that require electricity. Love the sub panel idea. I want to centralize the power and run cabling underground as well. Your electrical wiring looks like a network closet lol. I am going to stick with propane and wood for heating. I have 2 massive greenhouses I am hoping to power off of solar. Thank you and I will be looking for more of your videos.

The place cut you a big break ? They are more than double that now.

Ok, I got my Growatt 6000T communicating with my EG4's. I started with the Switched over cat5 and got the error. Hooked up a standard Ethernet cable and got communication. Put new ends on the original cable, with same pinout, and all is good. Make sure you are using the BMS port, and not the RS485 port, on the inverter. Also when using dual inverters, I would use a rs485 link card eg-Ziplink, not a Ethernet switch. It is hard with the documentation given, but I think the Batteries use pins 7 and 8 for battery to battery communication, and pins 1&2 for master battery to inverter communication.

Could you share a video, or photo describing the fix? I'm not quite able to understand yet. Thanks, really fun to watch!

Thank you for your lessons taught on this subject! I am not an electrician, but I have gone to Vocational school over 42 years ago. I am now 61 years old and I am learning a lot about setting up my on solar panel control station thanks to you and other bright men like yourself on TH-cam! I am so very grateful to you and others like yourself!!😎

Hi, I would like to ask you, in case you have inductive loads, do the inverters run smothly these loads?

10k is awesome, any .gov incentives to help?

Hi, I have exactly the same problem, and with a 48V battery. I also tried everything (well I think) even with another battery software, where you can select the protocol (like Growatt RS485 or CAN) nothing helps, still the error code (20 and 04 ). I think it comes from the inverter, it must be updated. I have a note from Growatt regarding this issue and they suggest doing 2 updates. The problem is that I can't find these updates?? The batteries communicate perfectly (in RS 485-RS232) with a laptop, but do not communicate with the inverter? for me It's a problem coming from the inverter?.. (I think). Below Growatt's note: (for SPF 3K and 5K TL-HVM inverters): 3.4 warning 04 Fault description:Low battery. Analysis： 1. It may be that inverter communication protocol is different from lithium icon battery communication protocol，only some models of Pylon、Dyness brand lithium icon battery can build communication with our inverter. 2. it may be that battery discharge too much，battery voltage is really low. Suggestions: 4. if use lithium icon battery that can build communication with inverter，but still warn 04 fault，normally this fault comes with 20 fault，please arrange to upgrade inverter software using ISP tool program software. inverter new firmware software version：F2809_GW500.07_20191227_B. inverter new BMS software version：F030_sk022_05_20191220. please don’t forget to reset factory setting after upgrading every software. If you have the solution,? i would be happy to know? and thank you for this video.

Thank you so much, you made a simple project simpler. I was studying and was getting overwhelmed, but you took my complicated project and my vision of it very clear. Thanks again, Tom

What grounding system does your utility use?

I'm glad I found your channel! I'm going to be configuring a solar array at my cottage in northern Wisconsin, probably 100 or so miles ESE of you. Originally from Gwinn area, (K.I. Sawyer AFB), But it's good to know about things I need to worry about in the upper climate like this. You just got a new sub.

questions: - the 4x - 48v batteries connected in serial or parallel use ( so 192vdc, 50Ah or 48vdc, 200Ah) ? - the inverters : single phase ? 48vdc? or 3-phase min 160vdc input (batt)? thanks Dirk

Nice setup thank you for sharing

I have the very same problem, I also tried the user protocol and that didn't work either. I'm at a loss. I called the company where we got it from and they have no idea. Code 4 and 20. It will charge for about 10 min then it faults out. Really frustrating.

what exactly is the setting of the dip-switches , how can we controll if the setting is ok? We connect 3x for your Battery-pack (48V, 50Ah) in serial DC ( 144v , 50Ah) , and RS485 communication Cables . Then we connect the DC output to the Growatt Hybrid inverter SPH5000TL3 DC, and via CAN with an CAN-Cable also to the CAN - Plug of the Inverter. BUT Growatt Inverter can not communicate with YOUR Battery-Packs!?? So, we need urgend , for YOUR application we use, technical support / connection plan scetch from your tecnical depatment. Also we must konw , how to set the dip-switches for each battery-pack (Master and slave settings for each Pack) ? Aslo we need to know , if we need special CAN cables or Special RS485 Cables????

We connect 3x for your Battery-pack (48V, 50Ah) in serial DC ( 144v , 50Ah) , and RS485 communication Cables . Then we connect the DC output to the Growatt Hybrid inverter SPH5000TL3 DC, and via CAN with an CAN-Cable also to the CAN - Plug of the Inverter. BUT Growatt Inverter can not communicate with YOUR Battery-Packs!?? So, we need urgend , for YOUR application we use, technical support / connection plan scetch from your tecnical depatment. Also we must konw , how to set the dip-switches for each battery-pack (Master and slave settings for each Pack) ? Aslo we need to know , if we need special CAN cables or Special RS485 Cables????

HOWdy L-I-G, G@@D Luck on your Communication problem "20" COOP ...

is the only load the heater? so it is not connected to the reset of the house

After you select Li on option 05 next select 04 and not 01 like you did. I am confused on your batteries being 24v in a 48v setup for the spf5000es.