generator and XW60048

Clif
Clif Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭✭
I have a XW 6048 inverter with a 48 volt battery bank. It is grid tied . I am concerned with having backup power if the grid is down after a storm here in Florida. The battery bank is small and I cannot afford to replace the batteries at this time.I also have a Honda 3000i generator that runs on propane. The generator is going to be manual start only.  My question is since the Honda only puts out 120v I can't feed it into the XW 6048. The options I see are some kind of transformer to convert the 120V to 240V and running the power into AC2 on the inverter or getting a 48 volt battery charger. Could I connect a 48 volt battery charger to my batteries and just power it up if the batteries drop too low during a power outage? I like the simplicity of the battery charger as I have spent many hours messing with the inverter .

Comments

  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The charger is good, but you can only get 1200w from the generator outlet (unless they have a 30A outlet on it)
    1200w @ 55V is only 20A of charging.   Going through a transformer and the the XW will give 2300w (40A charging at 55V)

    So you want to look for a 3-5KVA transformer with some suitable winding configuration, either auto-transformer, or step up/down transformer.  I use the 240V winding of my transformer as an auto-transformer. (the 480V winding is not used at all)




    A good quality transformer will work with the EU series of generators, I use this one with an EU2000.  It's not a small transformer, nor lightweight.   fleabay is a good place to search, you can often get free shipping from large electrical scrappers.

    Transformer is the gray box on the right in my generator shed:


    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

  • Clif
    Clif Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭✭
    So the generator would get connected to X1 and X2 on your transformer and I would get single phase 240 on terminals X1and X4 ? The honda has a 23 amp plug on it. I have had many problems with getting the XW 6048 set up properly. It intermittently just stops inverting and there is no support anymore so I am reluctant to try feeding it power on AC2. I am fine with charging at 20 amps. Is there any reason not to connect a 48 volt charger directly to the batteries ?
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    X2 & X3 are connected, 120VAC generator goes to X1-X2, and 240VAC comes out of X1-X4

    There are many settings to configure the XW with, here's a sample of what use for AC2 (generator inlet)

    Battery Bank Capacity 1000 A (1,000A makes for easy, direct conversion to charging amps,
    mistakes are limited to AC2 & Generator Support amps limits)
    Maximum Charge Rate 5-35 A

    AC2 Breaker Size 18.5 A (each breaker is only @ 120V so both will add, this setting = a limit of 4680w, internally derated to 3744w)

    Generator Support Enable Enabled
    Generator Support amps 13.5 A (each breaker is only @ 120V so both will add, this setting = a limit internally  derated to 2515w)
    Generator Support PLUS Enabled

    ST5 on lister 6/1  (3Kw cont, 4kw 30 min surge in cold weather, 5 min warm)
    AC2 Breaker Size 18.5
    Generator Support amps 13.5

     Honda EU2000i spec  13A   1600w cont, 2kw 30 min
    AC2 Breaker Size 9.0
    Generator Support amps 5.0




    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,