I forgot to mention this in the video, but for those of you that don’t need to reach that 24kw limit in solar, you could easily reach 16-18kw without any combiner boxes or extra wiring. Affiliate links: Signature Solar’s link to the 12000xp signaturesolar.com/eg4-12000xp-off-grid-inverter-48v-split-phase-24kw-pv-input-12kw-power-output/?ref=mpmddlkx6M9tPo&XP%20Inverter%20Launch&Homepage%2011%2F1&Homepage%20banner%2011%2F1 Current Connected’s link. www.currentconnected.com/product/eg4-12000xp-48v-split-phase-off-grid-inverter/?ref=xhJJBPDS
Hey, good evening watching you guys from Jamaica what’s your video all the time and you explain a whole lot of people to understand so thank you for that man learn a lot from your video. All right keep it up man good work.
Great info! Id appreciate a vid on a combiner box for setting up panels with this 12000xp. I unfortunately have a bunch of new old 300watt usa made panels to run with a 12000xp on order. Funny how it takes lil talent to series panels but the benefits of installing series is labor & parts savings. I know something like 25 30 volts dc welds 1/2" thick steel, it always concerned me to series panels to high voltage and not much in the way of fuse safety especially ontop 2 story metal roof😅
Gavin, thanks for the great video. You mention that larger generators can plug in directly to 12000xp, in your opinion would that include a 14kw Kohler? Thanks
A shockingly good video… Nice to see how to push the limits.. If you have the cycles a combiner box video would be great. I just currently run the solar output to the 18kpv DC cutoff switch. Thanks again..
Great video! I was doing the math yesterday for fun and came to the same conclusions as you with 9 panel strings and combiner box. I wonder...no light flicker right? I agree with the end of video, running at the limit watts is bad, specially with inductive loads and limited surge capacity because the inverter is already maxed. In my house we have a Sol-Ark 8K and we peak at 3500-3700 watts, very rarely 4000w+ and never have reached 6000w.
Exactly yeah. Zero light flicker that I’ve observed. Very stable output. Seems to be a very tough design. I noticed the same with the 6000xp’s. These off grid inverters weren’t designed to pull from the grid to balance loads like a hybrid. So they are tough as nails when it comes to inductive loads.
You could yeah. It would just require a second combiner box. I believe a 6-1 combiner would work. That’s 3 strings combined into one. And you’d need another box also for the second string. On the other hand that would save you from running more strings if you have a bit of a longer stretch to your inverter.
Gavin, can the 12000XP be configured like a UPS where the primary feed to the critical load panel is the grid (as well as charging the batteries) but it will fail over to all battery when the grid is down ? No solar would be involved for this question. One other question - has Eg4 explained why they changed the screen on this inverter ?
Honestly haven’t thought about this before. It could probably be wired in some way to achieve this. But I haven’t pondered it long enough. I don’t think it would be a standard option like it is with hybrid units like the 18kpv. EG4 didn’t go into detail on the screen change. Honestly it’s easier to navigate than the 6000xp. So it’s a step up in that regard.
@@wbarkwell ac charge does work yeah. It would just be a matter of where the output of the inverter is going. It would continue to power your critical loads panel for sure. So in that sense it could be a UPS for your critical loads panel. I was just thinking more along the lines of your other loads.
I need some help with an hybrid inverter. I want to have my home office (that has lots of electronics) run on Solar power. I need to have solar priority so when when the batteries get down to say 25%, AC power kicks in and keeps the batteries charged up to say 50% ..but will fully charge when solar kicks back in during the day. Which inverters can do this? Thanks for any help you can give me.
@@percival23 you have a lot more versatility with the 12kpv and 18kpv. They will a have a lot more options. So it depends on your loads, but the 12kpv would probably work really well for you.
When you AC couple a solar array it comes in AC and when you bring in PV it comes in in DC so my question is can you bring in more than the 24000 watts when you use the ac coupling and the DC strings into the pv ports?
The unit will only bring in what it needs either way. So it can output and charge at 250 amps. So it wouldn’t need to pull anything further from the panels beyond that point. So I guess the answer to your question is technically no. It wouldn’t need it.
I would love to see how you wire a combiner box. I tried to do this early on when I was first starting and I couldn’t get more than one string to work? I eventually gave up and just ran each string separately to my charge controllers!
It isn’t grid interactive like a hybrid no. So it’s either grid or solar/battery. Although if you are in grid bypass then solar can still charge the batteries.
@@jetkrazee exactly. Hybrids come with CT’s (current transformers). Those track the exact amount of current the grid is using so the inverter can supplement as needed. Plus they are able to match the exact phase of the grid. Without those features it wouldn’t be safe. Which is why they describe the 12000xp and 6000xp as “off grid” inverters. They can use the grid to charge or as a bypass. But they aren’t meant to interact directly with it like a hybrid. So on the plus side that does keep the cost of the equipment down.
@@GavinStoneDIY awesome information man. I appreciate it very much! I assume many hybrids such as the NHX 10K and 12K can be programmed for different thresholds on amp draw from the grid if so desired?
@ yes indeed. The NHx series and the EG4 18k and 12kpv. You can choose how much they’ll give or take from the grid. And even what time they do. And of course they also have the option of selling back to the grid with a net metering agreement. It’s really nice to have those features.
Yes it will automatically bypass to grid when overloaded if grid is available. Manual bypass could be done a few different ways. You could install a bypass switch.
Are these manufactured by Midea I wonder? Seems like Mr cool & others outdoor units that look similar with same metal stamped cases and blue fan blades are Midea? Local old time hvac guy here in New Orleans swore by Japanese stuff for years now he's all about Midea.
![SAFEPLANET - ดาวเคราะห์ [ THE PLANET ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4X1XL3I_k3c/mqdefault.jpg)
I forgot to mention this in the video, but for those of you that don’t need to reach that 24kw limit in solar, you could easily reach 16-18kw without any combiner boxes or extra wiring.
Affiliate links: Signature Solar’s link to the 12000xp
signaturesolar.com/eg4-12000xp-off-grid-inverter-48v-split-phase-24kw-pv-input-12kw-power-output/?ref=mpmddlkx6M9tPo&XP%20Inverter%20Launch&Homepage%2011%2F1&Homepage%20banner%2011%2F1
Current Connected’s link.
www.currentconnected.com/product/eg4-12000xp-48v-split-phase-off-grid-inverter/?ref=xhJJBPDS
Combiner Box Video, yup, absolutely, Its the "last" project on my system, I've yet to tackle... Thanks Gavin!
Thanks for covering these things Gavin
Sure thing. This is really what I enjoy. And it makes things much easier when the equipment is built nicely like this.
Well done! Appreciate the idea to max the PV input
Great video. And like others, thanks for the AC coupling info.
Great video Gavin. You've made combiner boxes relevant again.
Yeah maybe they’ll come back into style. 😎
Thanks for including the data on AC Coupling. A bunch of us have grid-tie inverters
Yeah that’s a real game changer for some people. Having the option was a great idea on EG4’s part.
Hey, good evening watching you guys from Jamaica what’s your video all the time and you explain a whole lot of people to understand so thank you for that man learn a lot from your video. All right keep it up man good work.
Really appreciate that. Thank you.
Great info! Id appreciate a vid on a combiner box for setting up panels with this 12000xp. I unfortunately have a bunch of new old 300watt usa made panels to run with a 12000xp on order.
Funny how it takes lil talent to series panels but the benefits of installing series is labor & parts savings.
I know something like 25 30 volts dc welds 1/2" thick steel, it always concerned me to series panels to high voltage and not much in the way of fuse safety especially ontop 2 story metal roof😅
For sure. I’m going to plan on a combiner box video. I’m actually looking forward to it. I think it’ll be fun to make.
What a great unit! I want one!
Gavin, thanks for the great video. You mention that larger generators can plug in directly to 12000xp, in your opinion would that include a 14kw Kohler? Thanks
Yeah usually the larger whole house units have lower THD numbers. So they can hook directly to the inverter without any issues.
A shockingly good video… Nice to see how to push the limits.. If you have the cycles a combiner box video would be great. I just currently run the solar output to the 18kpv DC cutoff switch. Thanks again..
“Shockingly” I see what you did there. 🤓
Great video!
I was doing the math yesterday for fun and came to the same conclusions as you with 9 panel strings and combiner box.
I wonder...no light flicker right?
I agree with the end of video, running at the limit watts is bad, specially with inductive loads and limited surge capacity because the inverter is already maxed. In my house we have a Sol-Ark 8K and we peak at 3500-3700 watts, very rarely 4000w+ and never have reached 6000w.
Exactly yeah.
Zero light flicker that I’ve observed. Very stable output. Seems to be a very tough design. I noticed the same with the 6000xp’s.
These off grid inverters weren’t designed to pull from the grid to balance loads like a hybrid. So they are tough as nails when it comes to inductive loads.
In your hypothetical could you combine all three sets of 9 panels into 1 set coming to the 12,000xp? And have two of those totalling roughly 22,000w?
You could yeah. It would just require a second combiner box. I believe a 6-1 combiner would work. That’s 3 strings combined into one. And you’d need another box also for the second string.
On the other hand that would save you from running more strings if you have a bit of a longer stretch to your inverter.
Gavin, can the 12000XP be configured like a UPS where the primary feed to the critical load panel is the grid (as well as charging the batteries) but it will fail over to all battery when the grid is down ? No solar would be involved for this question.
One other question - has Eg4 explained why they changed the screen on this inverter ?
Honestly haven’t thought about this before. It could probably be wired in some way to achieve this. But I haven’t pondered it long enough. I don’t think it would be a standard option like it is with hybrid units like the 18kpv.
EG4 didn’t go into detail on the screen change. Honestly it’s easier to navigate than the 6000xp. So it’s a step up in that regard.
@ Does it look like “AC CHARGE” Operating mode work ? If it does, then what happens when the grid is down?
@@wbarkwell ac charge does work yeah. It would just be a matter of where the output of the inverter is going. It would continue to power your critical loads panel for sure. So in that sense it could be a UPS for your critical loads panel. I was just thinking more along the lines of your other loads.
I need some help with an hybrid inverter. I want to have my home office (that has lots of electronics) run on Solar power. I need to have solar priority so when when the batteries get down to say 25%, AC power kicks in and keeps the batteries charged up to say 50% ..but will fully charge when solar kicks back in during the day. Which inverters can do this?
Thanks for any help you can give me.
@@percival23 you have a lot more versatility with the 12kpv and 18kpv. They will a have a lot more options. So it depends on your loads, but the 12kpv would probably work really well for you.
When you AC couple a solar array it comes in AC and when you bring in PV it comes in in DC so my question is can you bring in more than the 24000 watts when you use the ac coupling and the DC strings into the pv ports?
The unit will only bring in what it needs either way. So it can output and charge at 250 amps. So it wouldn’t need to pull anything further from the panels beyond that point. So I guess the answer to your question is technically no. It wouldn’t need it.
I would love to see how you wire a combiner box. I tried to do this early on when I was first starting and I couldn’t get more than one string to work? I eventually gave up and just ran each string separately to my charge controllers!
I will be adding that to my video schedule then for sure. I remember when I first started out, it seemed pretty confusing.
When using gen was it showing almost a 200w loss?
Yeah it’s likely just a discrepancy between the input and output. Although it might be accounting for the efficiency loss. That might be some of it.
Do you use extra filters on the inverters?
No. I’d be worried it would limit air flow.
Hey Gavin, does it have blending capability? I think that is the correct terminology. Still learning, LOL
It isn’t grid interactive like a hybrid no. So it’s either grid or solar/battery. Although if you are in grid bypass then solar can still charge the batteries.
@@GavinStoneDIY so "grid interactive" is where a hybrid inverter can use partial grid and partial solar/battery simultaneously?
@@jetkrazee exactly. Hybrids come with CT’s (current transformers). Those track the exact amount of current the grid is using so the inverter can supplement as needed. Plus they are able to match the exact phase of the grid. Without those features it wouldn’t be safe. Which is why they describe the 12000xp and 6000xp as “off grid” inverters. They can use the grid to charge or as a bypass. But they aren’t meant to interact directly with it like a hybrid.
So on the plus side that does keep the cost of the equipment down.
@@GavinStoneDIY awesome information man. I appreciate it very much! I assume many hybrids such as the NHX 10K and 12K can be programmed for different thresholds on amp draw from the grid if so desired?
@ yes indeed. The NHx series and the EG4 18k and 12kpv. You can choose how much they’ll give or take from the grid. And even what time they do. And of course they also have the option of selling back to the grid with a net metering agreement. It’s really nice to have those features.
Will this inverter bypass to grid when overloaded or just shut down when overloaded? What is the process to manually bypass?
Yes it will automatically bypass to grid when overloaded if grid is available. Manual bypass could be done a few different ways. You could install a bypass switch.
Are these manufactured by Midea I wonder? Seems like Mr cool & others outdoor units that look similar with same metal stamped cases and blue fan blades are Midea? Local old time hvac guy here in New Orleans swore by Japanese stuff for years now he's all about Midea.
The inverter? Fairly certain thats a no.
The eg4 6000 xp can take in up to 10k watts input
It can be over paneled to 10kw for sure. But usable solar input is 8kw.
I thought 6xp takes in 10k
It can be over paneled for sure. But it can utilize 8kw of solar.