I have an EG4 3000, and since I have settings that I can manipulate that will force my inverter to charge my batteries, I looked up the manual for your inverter. I believe you can do the same thing I can, but I don't have your inverter to try doing it with, so I'm not sure. Look at pages 23 and pages 36-39. I (think) that if you adjust the settings for the battery SOC, both low and high settings, for when a generator would be told to start and begin charging your batteries, and then when to cut off the generator, that you would be able to force the inverter to charge the batteries first, and the remaining power from the generator would go to the loads. You'll have to read those pages in the manual carefully, tinker with those settings and see what happens. Of course, your generator doesn't auto start, so when you are adjusting those settings, you'll have to manually start your generator and see if the adjustments are working or not, and make sure you do it with batteries that are at least a little low. With my inverter, I have to adjust setting 13 to (full), and then setting 12 to an amperage that is just a little higher than my batteries' current state of charge, to force my inverter to begin charging from the grid power. That is basically the same thing your manual is telling you how to do on those pages, but it just isn't spelling it out in plain English for all to understand. Mine doesn't either, but after spending about 2 months of reading and playing with the settings, I finally figured out pretty much everything, and made notes on my paper copy manual's pages. This is why I don't have a battery charger or chargeverter, because I figured out how to use the inverter to charge the batteries from a grid powered outlet, essentially using the inverter as a battery charger, in the event I want to ensure the batteries are full before a storm, etc. I may be wrong, but I bet you can do the same with your generator supplying the power, but the inverter needs to be told to give the priority to the batteries, instead of the loads. If you do this, and it works, just make sure you try to limit the loads in your home and other buildings, so the generator at least has a fighting chance of making it all work for you. I hope this helps/works, good luck!

I am learning this stuff first hand... this winter my system just hasn't kept up with the minor demands I out on it.... to the point where I am 2nd guessing my set up... do I have a bad battery... a panel not connected.... all os good. Just not enough sun to keep it going

Not much battery storage there. Hope you can bump that up and get off the generator so much. Saw an offering for EVE MB30 cells last night for $47 ea. for orders under 100 cells, $44 for orders over 100. That's crazy! With a spiffy battery case/BMS kit you can build a 15kwh battery for about $1400 delivered. Insane! Actually a little more than 15kwh, those cells run at 314ah after break in. More like 330ah+ when they're fresh. I'd be in that with both feet if I didn't already have 9 batteries that I built with 304ah cells. Hurts my feelings that I paid $69 ea. for the cells. Sheesh. Always a day late and a dollar short. Never fails.......

If the stuff blew out the first time, why would you still have everything on the second time before testing the generator and your electrical system?!

Paslode #1

I would definitely have a wood burning stove installed in the house for times like this. It's also a great aesthetic. You could even have it going when you do have power just to take some of the load off of the electric.

I've always thought about using redundant power systems. Solar in conjuction with wind and hydro. As well as alternate heat options Main is gonna be electric heat but also a diesel heater running used oil

We went with a wood stove, here in Florida, A "Little Sweetie" is sufficient, but every 4 hrs. you have to refill it.

Unfortunately you haven't fixed the issue. Westinghouse non inverter generators are poorly made with high thd's likely causing the issues. Either get a larger inverter generator 13,K minimum or better yet a chargeverter and a larger gen.

Neat channel! I so wish the life of this sooner than later. I'm only in my thirties so I have no capital or "enough" experience to pull off what I see in my mind eventually. I have young kids too so that makes it a even bigger endeavor. Definitely need an income source especially being away from big cities. I'm slowly building my assets of tools and equipment to make things go smoothly once I get the land. Good luck to you sir.

This is my third time ordering cabinetry from Nelson Cabinetry, and I've had an excellent experience each time. Their customer service is always great, and they communicate effectively throughout the process. The quality of their cabinetry is outstanding, and I’m always pleased with the results. I will definitely continue to work with them in the future!

Like to see your compressor sounds like air problem

Thanks for sharing. We have a 10K generator 50 amp 6 gauge twist lock plug, maybe 20 feet from the main service panel. My friend and I did the installation ourselves. I ran it for several years without issues. I see a ground rod with a wire next to the meter. You setup looks complex with the PV solar.

The truth that nobody tells you is the you live on the batteries… so you need to have sufficient PV to recharge the batteries AND a good generator for the times that your sunless days exceed your expectations. Oh… and stay away from EG4

Void qualify electrician would cost you tht

I do not have the solar and the other systems hooked together. I run the Grid with the Solar and the generator by itself. I have a switch in between that shuts off the grid and solar to the generator if the power goes out and the Generator is needed The switch keeps them separate and the Auto switch kicks in and the Generator starts. Both of my systems are separate. That way I do not need to worry about bonding systems. everything should be set to run through the main Electrical box in the house. If you have grounded and bonded the boxes in the combiner area and other places and grounded them there, yes I could see a problem with that. I have Solar on 2 different homes. these were put in back in 2000. they have not failed me yet. went through many storms, many times the Neibers stayed with us due to no power.

Your explanation is very incomplete. You should also realize that your compound is set up like dominoes. When a problem emerges, it takes everything out. It sounds like you had a third problem. Compare your self and system to my friend, who ran her car low on antifreeze, and wouldn't stop driving until cars were honking, and she stopped and saw clouds of steam and oil all over the asphalt. Next time, just blow out one coffee maker.

a neighbor has a solar system paying about $300 per mo year round loan payment. about $3600/yr. 20 year loan. I pay about $1100 annually for electricity, he still has a grid connection and electric bill. Not too smart.

Any Backups need to be able to function as 80 to100 of normal system load (for any project). ask urself these questions 1) If my single point inverter fails wht is the backup ? 2) If my ICE generator fails wht is my backup ? 3) If the grid fails wht is my backup? 4) If a string of panels fails fail, wht is my backup ? 5) If petrol supply fails wht is my backup(howmuch do i have on property now?) 6) If my nat gas fails wht is my backup? How much I have on property/easy reach ? Based on all these u find an answer which u will need to grow into over a period of time bcoz of budget. Good luck........I will be watching ur progress.

Getting ready to add wind turbines to my solar arrays.

It has been very cloudy/rainy here in Illinois for about a month, and I get little to nothing from my panels. 29- 250W panels and 22- 100W panels... Nothing. I still have grid backup, so I have had to turn off my solar completely.

You need the EG4 Solar Mini-Splits. Comes with it's own panels. Can also be hooked to grid (or generator). Heats and cools.

Should of bought a inverter generator, they have clean pure sine wave power for electronics and lots of them come floating or unbonded for hooking up to your house. If you only use it for extension cords, you can buy a cheap bonding outlet plug for those occasions. Most non inverter generators put out dirty power at higher RPMs 50% and above and not good for sensitive electronics. Also dirty power have been known to burn out inverters like the EG4 you have.

Regarding "dirty power", have a look at some of "James Condon"s videos of rebuilding small generators -many of them are over 20% distortion some as much as 40% harmonic distortion and visibly a very poor sine wave. Real line mains is remarkable stable in terms of voltage, frequency and THD, some loads really do better on a good stable supply just a few things may die if fed a bad sine wave.

"Off Grid Garage" uses a drink can to line his panels with the sun. When the can pressed to the panel glass casts no shadow outside it's footprint the the panels are harvesting the most sunlight. No need for an app, or computer just divert a drink can on it's way to recycling, the can neing reusable until recycling is appropriate. Off grid garage can't be all wrong because he runs his house, pool and Tesla off the solar!

24kw inverter 60kw batteries 18kw in panels For a regular house that’s where you want to be.

You are correct, few talk about dirty powered generators, nor single N-G bonding. Inverter manuals do have sections on the N-G bonding and on requirements for a generator to the inverter charger. Most request inverter type generators and 1.5 times the inverter output. for the 18kPV, that would be a 18kw generator - too much money. there is another way, as many mention in other comments I have two Schneider XW Pro 6.8kw inverters, for 13.8kw power. I never use the built in charger (an inverter in reverse) of the inverter with grid nor generator. My inverter is a whole house inverter using my DIY battery. I only charge the battery by solar, or by 2 chargeverters. The chargeverters are powered by GRID or by small dirty powered generator. By doing this all my loads get CLEAN sine wave AC power and I am acting like I am totally off grid. Grid nor generator touches my loads. Either solar charge or chargeverter power through the battery My SINGLE Neutral Ground bond is located in my grid service disconnect box.

Probably instead of just assuming 15d change, it depends on your latitude. Rough idea is to add 50% to your latitude for winter (making them more vertical) and subtract 50% for summer (making them closer to parallel with the ground).

Did you make this video with an DJI Pocket 3? it looks like it from the shadow, lol

What is the last app you were using? 11:23

More panels and an EG4 Solar Charge Controller MPPT 500VDC 100A. Oh yeah, do get a wind generator. This is my next endeavor.

It would help if the panels did not overlap. Also getting rid of any shading at the bottom of the panels. I would use one or more chargeverters. That would be a lower cost than your three options. The chargeverter would not interfere with the ground on the system.

So I have never had any of these issues using a 120 Volt ONLY generator, in that configuration I can't much see how it matters especially if I cut the ground pin off the extension cord. If I get an open neutral i simply have no power and nothing blows up.

I have seen many people forget that you have to maintain constant rpm to have 60 hz that Would be 1800 rpm for diesel I think 3200 for gas Having low voltage is bad but trying to run a house on low. Hz rate will blow anything with a transformer buying a good generator that is hz stable is key . a big load on a cheep generator will make it run slow less rpm = low voltage and low hz rate

just use generator to charge the batteries

I have had cloudy days do as well as some sunny days.

I saw the title and had to know, WATTS going on here? LOL

Hi Jim, my first ti?e watching your channel. I'm curious if you have surge protection anywhere in your house(s), or maybe only the inverters has it internally?

Consider the inverter shed as as if it is a transformer from the power company for safety. With a transformer the neutral is bonded to the ground at the pole. The neutral is also bonded to the ground at your house, again for safety. What you are describing is a floating neutral in the house. A floating neutral allows the voltage on one side of your 240 volt feed to increase above 120 volts depending on how well your 120 volt circuits are balanced. Check to see you have a ground rod to the ground buss in the house and that the neutral is bonded to the ground bus. Four wire circuits should only be used in each building, not between buildings. Hope this helps.

Truly I don't know much about gens as my setup is purely solar. But, I have seen some info getting out there about the difference. THANK YOU for being honest in this and putting great detailed info out to help us all who may want to use a generator one day. I will say going into entry of video I was thinking it was going to be something like you was using a non inverter generator and that was what was causing all the issues. I got to be honest. I have a old school 2000 watt old coleman gen. And that was going to be a little back up if ever needed. But, I am so concerned about using it now not being inverter gen. I just have not connected it up.

I didn’t know that thanks for telling us.

I know electrical, but i understand the reason better now. That, because i say so😊.

Thank youuuu!! Excellent

That is not your problem. It’s a crappy generator. The first in line panel should be bonded. There are other issues in your wiring. By the way, who did your wiring?

Did Ground/bond there Generator OR you put them in the same grounding rod? You need to ground rod the Equipment at least 8-10 feet from the Grounding ROD from the generator..

i ve got bostich been a great gun 10 to 15 years,,maybe you got a lemon,,,,sounds like you don't have enough compressor,,,they take a lot of air

You must bond as close to source as possible not down the line…

Have you considered installing wind turbines to supplement your solar power? During the winter the days are short and the nights long, its usually cloudy but it is also windy.

I would. Add the batteries and double your solar panels. You'll have to call signature solar About a second charge controller to add more to your batteries. I have been off the good 48 years now with a large system. 30kw pannels 72kwh's Of chevy volk batteries . I run a 12k low frequency inverter And a low frequency six thousand Inverter just to charge the electric car. And I have nine thousand watts of micro inverters that are ac coupled into my loads panel that also charge my batteries through the inverter backwards.

If you have a diesel tractor on the property than a diesel generator makes a lot of sense.