This system has been amazing! I am so happy with it. There are so many options. especially UPS and grid tie limiter. If you buy please use the links in the description. It helps out the channel so I can make more videos on cool stuff.
Very nice system and overview. The 18k inverter seems like overkill in light of your consumption using the critical loads panel. Do you plan on powering the whole house ultimately and/or adding more solar and selling back power?
With the clothes dryer now connected to the off grid system i have seen up to 7000w ac output. i could not have done that with my last system (8kw). sadly selling back to the grid would need a bi directional meter and an electrician signed off install.
@@DIYVolts indeed. Trying to get my self there, but the import fees are tragic and none sells DIY parts locally for batteries, and for inverters they only sell Huawai and couple other brands. Fronius is like top notch but hefty pricing as they want to do the install themselves. So trying to find the cheapest way possible to have a setup going. (Located in EU) Loving the content mate. Maybe do a video for us Europeans with native 240v output? 🤔🤷♂️😅
@DIYV very nice overview .. and man got to love that 18Kpv… BTW i think your panels are newer than you think, remember the MC4 connector was introduced in 2004 and it took another 4-5 years before the MC4 replaced the MC3’s, so your panels maybe more like 15 years old worst case no?
The 18k is so nice! Perhaps the panels are 15 years old. They are not new for sure. But they still have plenty of life left in them. $65 for a 250w panel is a great deal!
i would add a changeover switch to cooking stove or any load not currently on inverter so any use while the sun is shining could come from solar, and if the battery has spare capacity to be able to empty it further closer to 20% soc early morning ie cooking breakfast from battery to get the batteries nice and empty to capture energy especially since the battery charge full early can allways grab some heaters and do a test to see what you are losing in production with no load and battery full i live in different country so my example may not apply did a day of full production by adding dump loads and the production by 11-11;30 in the morning is about 30-35 % of what i can produce if panels aren't idle
The cook stove might be able to go on the system however it can really pull some power if the oven is on with a burner. The hot water could be switched over if I had more battery storage. For the most part I am happy with the loads that are on the system. When the grid power is off the hot water is a luxury.
@@DIYVolts a luxury you can have for free by using the free solar that is available when battery is full, i have a spare tank that i use as a feeder tank ie i don't care how hot it gets as it feeds my normal geyser , that still uses utilitty The hotter it gets the more i save on utility bill Having a switch that you can throw over and have the cooker or hot water on during the day to absorb some spare energy and then at night you can switch back to utility not to drain the battery
I got a question You have an extra critical load box . Why can’t you just use the one in house? Did you have your rewrite to the box ? I have a double wide and it’s in middle of house. I plan to have mine in a shed straight to the outside box where the grid also comes in . Will I need an extra there ?
I upgraded this system from another inverter. The EG4 can power the main house panel without having to use a critical loads panel. for your home you might look into a transfer switch. here is my friend Sam showing how he installed a system like this: th-cam.com/video/SpWvUNHoktc/w-d-xo.html
I have the 18kpv also and it puts out 240v at 12000 watts. Ive even able to run 3.5 ton air conditioner, clothes dryer and washer, dishwasher and random lights in the house at the same time. This thing is a beast!
Yes it has split phase 240v. that means you have two legs of power at 6000w each for a total of 12000 watts. One nice thing is that you can run this inverter unbalanced. one leg can run 6000w while the other has 0w.
20K battery, seems like at least 30K would have been the way to go. OR, store power up in some external batteries for the fews days during the winter you might need a bit more power. Use the Extra Batteries to run Refrigerator and TV to save 2.5K for the day.
You won't see 9000 watts even new unless under near perfect conditions and only for a small peak time of the day. I'm assuming you're quoting 9000 watts from the STC rating of the panels? Check the total nominal rating. Even still, 7500 watts is excellent and is what I'd expect in nominal conditions when new and these are 25 year old panels?
Why did you create a critical loads panel too much work. Just put it between grid feed meter and main service panel leave all loads in main panel. Faster and easier install.if loads exceed 12kw for 30 seconds it will change your grid without loss of power. Easy peesy
I probably shouldn't be doing this myself, because that was Greek to me, but I am going to anyway. not sure what a critical loads panel is. Where could I see a video or get more info on what hardware is needed and how to connect this exact setup to either my main braker panel or to a subpanel and have it auto switch between the grid when the 12kw load is exceeded??
great video...and 7500W on 9000W rated is pretty awesome actually
Thank you. We had a cold day this week and I was able to get 8600w out of 9000w of panels. Much better when its cold out.
Another great video, Seth!
Thank you. I am pleased with the EG4 inverter. Its a beast.
Great job!
Thank you. This system has been so nice. I dont worry about the grid power most of the time.
Yeah that 18KPV is the way to go. Definitely buying me one of those soon unless they come out with something better. 👍🏻👍🏻😁
This system has been amazing! I am so happy with it. There are so many options. especially UPS and grid tie limiter.
If you buy please use the links in the description. It helps out the channel so I can make more videos on cool stuff.
@@DIYVolts I will definitely use the links but not buying until next year when my house is paid. Keep up the good work 👍🏻👍🏻
Nice updates, what about the hydro power too?
Thank you. The hydro power has been turned off for a bit. I have plans to make several small scale hydro videos.
Very nice system and overview. The 18k inverter seems like overkill in light of your consumption using the critical loads panel. Do you plan on powering the whole house ultimately and/or adding more solar and selling back power?
With the clothes dryer now connected to the off grid system i have seen up to 7000w ac output. i could not have done that with my last system (8kw). sadly selling back to the grid would need a bi directional meter and an electrician signed off install.
That’s awesome.
Thank you. it has been powering the house without issues. So nice to have power even in big storms.
@@DIYVolts indeed. Trying to get my self there, but the import fees are tragic and none sells DIY parts locally for batteries, and for inverters they only sell Huawai and couple other brands. Fronius is like top notch but hefty pricing as they want to do the install themselves. So trying to find the cheapest way possible to have a setup going. (Located in EU)
Loving the content mate. Maybe do a video for us Europeans with native 240v output? 🤔🤷♂️😅
@DIYV very nice overview .. and man got to love that 18Kpv… BTW i think your panels are newer than you think, remember the MC4 connector was introduced in 2004 and it took another 4-5 years before the MC4 replaced the MC3’s, so your panels maybe more like 15 years old worst case no?
The 18k is so nice! Perhaps the panels are 15 years old. They are not new for sure. But they still have plenty of life left in them. $65 for a 250w panel is a great deal!
i would add a changeover switch to cooking stove or any load not currently on inverter
so any use while the sun is shining could come from solar, and if the battery has spare capacity to be able to empty it further closer to 20% soc early morning ie cooking breakfast from battery to get the batteries nice and empty to capture energy
especially since the battery charge full early
can allways grab some heaters and do a test to see what you are losing in production with no load and battery full
i live in different country so my example may not apply
did a day of full production by adding dump loads
and the production by 11-11;30 in the morning is about 30-35 % of what i can produce if panels aren't idle
The cook stove might be able to go on the system however it can really pull some power if the oven is on with a burner. The hot water could be switched over if I had more battery storage. For the most part I am happy with the loads that are on the system. When the grid power is off the hot water is a luxury.
@@DIYVolts a luxury you can have for free by using the free solar that is available when battery is full, i have a spare tank that i use as a feeder tank ie i don't care how hot it gets as it feeds my normal geyser , that still uses utilitty
The hotter it gets the more i save on utility bill
Having a switch that you can throw over and have the cooker or hot water on during the day to absorb some spare energy and then at night you can switch back to utility not to drain the battery
I got a question
You have an extra critical load box .
Why can’t you just use the one in house?
Did you have your rewrite to the box ?
I have a double wide and it’s in middle of house.
I plan to have mine in a shed straight to the outside box where the grid also comes in .
Will I need an extra there ?
I upgraded this system from another inverter. The EG4 can power the main house panel without having to use a critical loads panel. for your home you might look into a transfer switch. here is my friend Sam showing how he installed a system like this: th-cam.com/video/SpWvUNHoktc/w-d-xo.html
Hows your hydro interfacing with it? Or is this a new house?
The hydro is turned off at the moment. I am about to start making some fun small scale hydro videos.
does this put out 240v?
i saw to hots for grid....
I have the 18kpv also and it puts out 240v at 12000 watts. Ive even able to run 3.5 ton air conditioner, clothes dryer and washer, dishwasher and random lights in the house at the same time. This thing is a beast!
@@brianbertschi9984 that is amazing
Yes it has split phase 240v. that means you have two legs of power at 6000w each for a total of 12000 watts. One nice thing is that you can run this inverter unbalanced. one leg can run 6000w while the other has 0w.
That is great. I have had the washer and dryer, fridge, hair dryer, and lights on with no issues. around 7000w peak.
@@DIYVolts thanks!
20K battery, seems like at least 30K would have been the way to go. OR, store power up in some external batteries for the fews days during the winter you might need a bit more power.
Use the Extra Batteries to run Refrigerator and TV to save 2.5K for the day.
An additional 10kwh is on the way! That install video should be coming out soon. 30kwh should be all i need even with a hybrid mini split.
FYI, it's "1/2 Megawatt-HOUR" Solar ENERGY.
Yes. I actually made the title and thumbnail wrong because it brings up more comments. haha
@@DIYVolts luv it!
You won't see 9000 watts even new unless under near perfect conditions and only for a small peak time of the day. I'm assuming you're quoting 9000 watts from the STC rating of the panels? Check the total nominal rating.
Even still, 7500 watts is excellent and is what I'd expect in nominal conditions when new and these are 25 year old panels?
You are absolutely correct. 9000w would be only on the perfect winter day. The panels are between 15 and 20 years old.
Panels are getting cheaper all the time. Upgrade one rack at a time.
That is good news. I will probably stick with these panels for a few more years. They seem to be producing the power I need at the moment.
Why did you create a critical loads panel too much work. Just put it between grid feed meter and main service panel leave all loads in main panel. Faster and easier install.if loads exceed 12kw for 30 seconds it will change your grid without loss of power. Easy peesy
This inverter was an upgrade to another system. The critical loads panel was already in place.
I probably shouldn't be doing this myself, because that was Greek to me, but I am going to anyway. not sure what a critical loads panel is. Where could I see a video or get more info on what hardware is needed and how to connect this exact setup to either my main braker panel or to a subpanel and have it auto switch between the grid when the 12kw load is exceeded??
Give it 3 years and I'm willing to bet you any amount of money that you won't be smiling about this high frequency, transformerless inverter.
The one in my shop has been running nonstop for 10 months and the house inverter is at 6 months. i suppose time will tell.