generator support options

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Comments

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    One reason I/we try to "educate" here rather than just "give the answer from one high"... If you understand the reasons/basic operation of your power systems--You will have a better chance of success (if DIY or professional install).

    With any "engineered" design--There are usually many paths to a solution. And your requirements will help guide the optimum design for your needs.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,728 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

  • MichaelK
    MichaelK Registered Users Posts: 234 ✭✭✭
    Ok, here's an update.  As Mcgivor was asking, I checked the generator and it appears that it's internally bonded between ground and neutral.  I checked this by inserting the multimeter probes in the ground and neutral prong holes of the 30A outlet and got zero resistance. 

    Following Dave's suggestion, downgrading AC2 from 60A to 20A did not work.  I dropped AC2 down to 10A, and the generator's output was successfully qualified by the XW.  After it was qualified I tried inching it up amp by amp till 16A.  Then the XW dropped the generator again.  That was disappointing.  I'll stick with the plan of polishing all the electrical contacts to see if I can improve performance.  I still haven't gotten around yet to learning how to use the new oscilloscope.  Will get to it.
    System 1) 15 Renogy 300w + 4 250W Astronergy panels,  Midnight 200 CC, 8 Trojan L16 bat., Schneider XW6848 NA inverter, AC-Delco 6000w gen.
    System 2) 8 YingLi 250W panels, Midnight 200CC, three 8V Rolls batteries, Schneider Conext 4024 inverter (workshop)
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    How do you adjust the loading, with the SCP or the Combox ?  Learn how to navigate the menus - I have both, and use SCP to set things, and monitor results on Combox
     You should be able to look at the reported AC2 Frequency and Power Factor,   I have a 3 KW genset that can only supply 1.2 KW into a small pump (my well pump) the generator cannot handle very much PF loss.  My pump protector kicks it out, and then I have to hike up the hill to the pump shed to reset it.
    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 ,

  • MichaelK
    MichaelK Registered Users Posts: 234 ✭✭✭
    I only have the system control panel, not a combox, so I won't be able to monitor my system the way you suggest.

    System 1) 15 Renogy 300w + 4 250W Astronergy panels,  Midnight 200 CC, 8 Trojan L16 bat., Schneider XW6848 NA inverter, AC-Delco 6000w gen.
    System 2) 8 YingLi 250W panels, Midnight 200CC, three 8V Rolls batteries, Schneider Conext 4024 inverter (workshop)
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    you can use the SCP to monitor the loads you are driving, it's  just clusmy to do, adjust, measure, adjust

    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 ,

  • MichaelK
    MichaelK Registered Users Posts: 234 ✭✭✭
    edited November 2017 #38
    I can give that a try.  Easier than pulling out the clamp meter.  Thank you!
    System 1) 15 Renogy 300w + 4 250W Astronergy panels,  Midnight 200 CC, 8 Trojan L16 bat., Schneider XW6848 NA inverter, AC-Delco 6000w gen.
    System 2) 8 YingLi 250W panels, Midnight 200CC, three 8V Rolls batteries, Schneider Conext 4024 inverter (workshop)
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2017 #39
    The ratio between the VA and watts readings, indicates the Pover Factor  (my pic above is 
    a PF of 0.759 )

    https://www.powerstream.com/VA-Watts.htm
    The ratio between the VA (i.e. rms volts time rms amps) and Watts is called the power factor PF

    PF of 1 is good   0.8 is not bad  0.6 is getting pretty lame 
      0.5 means your 2Kw generator, gets maxed out with a 1Kw load, with PF  0.5
    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 ,