So just sat with a few lights on, then poof it goes dark, assumed power cut but the cooker clock was still on. Checked the trips and the PV array had tripped.
Switched it back on and literally nothing on the inverter, no lights at all and its been offline ever since. The only thing I can see that might be different is the battery isolator? Picture attached. Not sure if red means that has tripped?
just my luck it happens right before the bank holiday 🙁
Any suggestions?
What happens if you push that switch in the down position (isolating the PV switch 1st) then switching on the PV array?
Midlands_Solar absolutley nothing 🙁
Push that breaker switch in the upwards position then back in the down position, again isolate the PV array 1st, once reset switch the PV array isolation switch back into the on position
Midlands_Solar ok so to double check, I have a "PV inverter" on my main fuse box which I switched off. I also have a "Solar PV system main AC isolator" which I switched off. Pushed the breaker up, then back down, switched the main fuse box PV inverter back on and then the main PV AV isolator.
Inverter still has no lights or any sign of life
JeffMax what inverter do you have? It’s possible a internal fuse has blown on it
JeffMax I think the inverter ought to be able to turn on without battery, indeed without any PV, so those are possibly distractions? I wonder if there's a case for isolating those extraneous bits and seeing if the inverter can come back on its own? Not sure what kit you have, but my hybrid inverter has built-in isolator for PV, in addition to an external isolator.
In the consumer unit for the inverter, I think there should be a little metering module - EM115 or something like that? Is it on (cycling through various measurements)?
The install manual in the knowledge base has the correct startup and shutdown sequence for all the components.
Does the battery show any lights? I assume it ought to be able to power up without the inverter?
Thanks for the replies, here is a picture of the setup I have. I think it's a Gen 2 5kW hybrid inverter from the installation report I got.
Inside the secondary fuse box (thats what I call it anyway) has that EM115 meter and it is cycling through some readings
Okay, I see the battery has LEDs on, so it's working...
You have a box labelled "EMS DB" - you have EMS configured ? If it was a power cu, could
the inverter have switched over to off-grid mode, could its output have been overloaded, or anything like that ?
DD the EPS is the second picture so it's meant to run the house lights and the downstairs sockets (not kitchen) when there is a power cut.
When the inverter went down last night only those circuits switched off so there was no power cut, rest of the house and kitchen stayed on mains power. When I checked, the "PV inverter" switch on my main house board had tripped so I pushed that back up and the lights and sockets came back on but the inverter just had no life at all.
The last I can see on the inverter output, the house was drawing 283w from the battery when it went down, and we didn't switch in any high power items or anything so not sure how it might have overloaded. It was stormy, but no lightning or anything at the time.
Saying that, just checked the log through the web interface and it says
This might be interesting. Your installer was supposed to fit a trip switch between 6-25A as close as possible to the inverter to prevent EPS overload.
What do we see in your fusebox - a 40A trip feeding a 32A trip and a 6A trip.
Oh dear....
Edit - what was the grid voltage prior to the fault and had it been fluctuating much as you say it was stormy? There could have been some storm damage elsewhere and the grid either blipped out or voltage dropped. I doubt you'll see anything conclusive given the 5 minute timing but worth looking anyway.
JeffMax I saw a post not so long ago from @hoggy perhaps, describing how they used a switch to allow the backed up circuits to be from the inverter or grid, and they left it on grid by default. This was to avoid the inverter jumping to off-grid mode on voltage drops, brownouts etc, which then brought voltage back up, and it could rapidly switch back and forth like this.
Vestas this is all I can see in the logs
JeffMax Nothing conclusive there.
Time to call your installer back out - I reckon GE are going to reject a warranty claim given it wasn't installed correctly - so you need to discuss where you go from here with the installer.
Edit - https://kb.givenergy.cloud/article.php?id=76&oid=1 is the Installer Training Manual. Page 19 will tell you what should have been fitted.
Vestas Thanks, I'm not really sure what that means to be honest. I'll call them on Tuesday when they reopen.
I just did a reset and when I switched the inverter back on with the twist switch underneath on the actual inverter it made a crackling noise, so I've just isolated all the PV bits, switched the inverter off and will leave well alone.
DD not me that one I'm afraid. (Well, that I can remember anyway) I'm more of the opinion the inverter should atleast attempt to save its own skin (within reason) and not simply implode on overload/undervolt.
Although in this case it does seem to be pointing towards an EPS related cause more than a brown out/ power quality issue.
Yes, it sounds like the inverter was being asked to for more kW than it can handle.
The usual fix would be to disconnect everything from the EPS output and then wait five minutes to see if the inverter clears the overload fault. Possibly a full restart/reboot might clear it too.
If the overload keeps happening, then there is a risk it damages the inverter.
Your wiring will need to be checked to make sure it complies with the EPS guidance and the install guidance (available from the KB site), including as mentioned above having the right breakers, right amps, etc.
It’s best to have manual failover if the grid fails - as if something power hungry is in use when the grid fails, it can damage the inverter. Either that or only power low power circuits from the EPS.
JeffMax Thanks, I'm not really sure what that means to be honest.
Basically your installer fitted a trip switch which will trip if EPS power goes over 9600 watts.
They should have fitted a trip switch which would trip at 6000 watts or less, depending on the inverter.
Regardless of what's caused the damage to your inverter, GE will reject the claim on the basis it wasn't installed correctly.
These are my thoughts on how to operate a backup supply.
https://givenergymonitor.wixsite.com/tutorials/emergency-power
How did you get on with this? Is an engineer scheduled to come out and resolve?
Midlands_Solar Contacted the installer first thing on Tuesday when they opened, and one of their electricians is coming out on Thursday to look at the inverter. Not sure what happens after that but I'll be raising the trip issue Vestas mentioned.
Just another update if anyone is interested. Electrician from the installer came out to look and confirmed that the inverter was dead and it wasn't me doing something dumb. He didn't see any issues with the installation. He confirmed there was power going to the inverter etc.
He phoned GivEnergy who wanted him to replace the B breaker in my fusebox with a C type breaker, something to do with earth leakge which might make it trip (it only tripped once when it broke) and he came back today to do that. As expected, still dead as a dodo. They also did a video call and he showed them the whole setup, and they confirmed no issues with how it has been installed, so they have now opened a ticket for me, so its with GivEnergy to get back to me and then come out to fix / replace the unit.
JeffMax had a similar thing with tripping after switching off EPS (manual type). Similar instruction to change breakers. Made no difference. Neither did dismantling the swap over switch, or indeed replacing the complete inverter! ( this was done by Giv). Still waiting to hear what the result of all the head scratching brings. 4 visits found no fault with the installation and it all works ok. Hopefully they can fix yours
SimonClarke Fingers crossed! It's been working absolutley perfectly for 18 months then poof, just up and died.
How long did they take to come out and look at your system?
JeffMax initially a couple of weeks which surprised me! Wasn’t really urgent as everything works just need to reset breakers after a power cut. However it was August that I first reported it and nothing is fixed. My only worry is that while everyone tells me it’s perfectly safe nobody knows what is wrong….