Sigineer (Chinese, Transformer Based) Power Inverters

dexter12353

Has anyone looked at the chinese power inverters offered by www.sigineer.com ?

I have one installed in my setup, and for the $1650 delivered, I dont think it can easily be beat.

12KW continuous, 36KW for 20 seconds...

And check out the inside:

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=Hc6KyXbWTcU

mike95490

is it only an inverter, or can it charge batteries via a large genset ?   The XW inverters have 140A battery charge capabality from 240v

dexter12353

Its a 120A@48v battery charger.  I run the charger at approx. 90% on 2 honda EU2000I and one EU3000I all paralelled.  I take the 120V from the honda gens and run it through a transformer to get the 240v.

At 90% all three gens are pretty much maxed out.

Soon I will be buying an 18KW Perkins....Just gotta save up a while longer for it.

Raj174

Two issues to be aware of, THD (total harmonic distortion) is <10%. 2% to 5% is common in quality equipment.
180 watts self consumption is 4.3 kWhs per day just having it online.
 

mcgivor

The 180W idle is a killer 4.3Kw per day, what sort of average load are you using to warrant a 12 Kw inverter? 

dexter12353

3HP well pump, 3/4HP booster pump, 5 HP air compressor (used about once per week), plasma cutter...Air compressor and plasma cutter can be setup on a sperate system.  My parents live up here in their motorhome, and do crazy things like run the Keurig, microwave, toaster, and a few other things without thinking about not overloading it, while I live on the same power supply and use similar appliances in a similar scenario.  

To be honest, I never calculated idle draw of the inverter in terms of how many KWH/day....At design, 180 watts seemed miniscule to the other loads.  Thank you for pointing this out.  I will be going some time this week to check and see if that 180 watts is accurate.  If it is, then that is half of my daily consumption........


Interesting.

NANOcontrol

That link doesn't work. I searched a little and now I am bored.

BB.

Try this link (I think that the OP posted the "edit video" link):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc6KyXbWTcU

-Bill

MrM1

Saw that video and the companion one as well introducing the system here the other day.    One of the comments on his other video on YouTube  claimed to be by an "electrician by trade" and called it one of the best set ups he'd ever seen.

I dunno though,  the whole setup looked pretty scary to me.  Small cables, open cable connections, for potentially very large loads ... Call me crazy, but I'm not installing that set up in my house. 

mcgivor

@dexter12353Whilst the bus bar setup is a good idea, please if you don't intend to install them in an enclose such as PVC duct or insulate, at least install a fuse at the battery terminals feeding them, there is a potential for limitless current, which is an arc flash hazard, if a metal object such as a wrench were to fall across the two bus bars, regardless there should be over current protection installed. Granted  you acknowledged this, stating  you'll be the only one in the installation room, however, you will need your eyes to find your way out. Be safe.

Edit. An excerpt from an article discussing battery short circuit 

Without some form of protection such as a fuse or breaker, a short circuit condition can cause permanent damage to the battery. In effect the battery can itself becomes the fuse. If the weakest link is within the battery, melting and opening of an internal connection has the potential to ignite the hydrogen/oxygen gas mixture contained within the battery headspace, resulting in a potentially dangerous situation. Melting of the external inter-battery connections may occur, particularly if the terminal connections are loose. While an external failure typically results in a more benign “open” circuit condition, severe and/or prolonged overheating may lead to permanent battery and equipment damage, including the potential for fire.

freddieoliveras

dexter12353 said:

Its a 120A@48v battery charger.  I run the charger at approx. 90% on 2 honda EU2000I and one EU3000I all paralelled.  I take the 120V from the honda gens and run it through a transformer to get the 240v.

At 90% all three gens are pretty much maxed out.

Soon I will be buying an 18KW Perkins....Just gotta save up a while longer for it.

Which transformer are you using?

sorjourning

I have the sigineer 6 kw inverter and I agree idle power consumption is high. 120V out put will not sense a load for power save mode. Do I need a 240 V load or fo you have a suggestion ?

boB

He definitely needs a battery breaker on that YouTube video system !

KenMorgan

dexter12353 said:

Has anyone looked at the chinese power inverters offered by www.sigineer.com ?

I have one installed in my setup, and for the $1650 delivered, I dont think it can easily be beat.

12KW continuous, 36KW for 20 seconds...

And check out the inside:

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=Hc6KyXbWTcU

Dexter,

Nice video (s) I like the fact there is no weird music playing in the background. 

how long you been using that sigineer?  I have been in contact with that company as I was interested in a couple of the models they offer.  I was looking at the 3 phase units in the 15K 208 3 phase, as well as the same unit you have in your video.  From what I understand they are the company that makes Aims LF inverters, and possibly the same that was making Spartan powers large inverters.   

currently I use a magnum that is 240 split phase but I was getting ready to buy a larger non split phase for the house and use the split phase strictly for the A/C.  I am just tired of the need to worry about if loads are balanced on the split phase inverter.  I could buy inverter connecting system from Magnum but that is another 2k by the time you buy everything and I thought it might be easier to just get a bigger inverter and say bump all the extraneous crud that is needed to parallel two fo the magnums.

thanks,

Ken

fishinmexico

Sigineer are junk. I bought 2 of their inverters and the first one failed the first day and the second on day 3. They do not stand behind their product! Loss of $1800