I was wrong about Sol Ark 15K versus EG4 18KPV

This video clears up some misinformation I released on a previous video comparing the EG4 18KPV and the Sol-Ark 15K solar inverters.
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[@Sol-Ark]

Great comparison. I would also pay attention to amperage. Sol-Ark MPPTs are full sized, not irregular amperage. This means greater design flexibility on the roof and not pushing to the limit for those larger PV arrays. You could call that max PV size conservatively specified as that line item isn't part of the UL certification. The Sol-Ark battery charger is also more powerful, which makes a big difference when wanting to use the inverter at maximum 12kW capacity throughout its life. Finally, there are a few features that might be considered a tie on the whiteboard. The winner of the tie should be the company that innovated the feature, not the one that copied it.

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

Thank you for the information and for watching the channel! I am flattered to have you commenting on my videos. I would love to do a deeper dive into more of your products in the future.

[@TheFatman819]

The inverter is the heart of your system, Sol-Ark cost more best is has proven itself in the industrial market and is well made. I had nothing but nightmares with 3 Growatt 5000es and Signature Solar did not help. I used to wake up at night to make sure they didn't kick off and I had to restart them. Now with the Sol-Ark 15K running the while house including a 5 ton heat pump, I have had nothing but peace of mind. The customer support is top notch and they have moved their monitoring servers to the U.S.

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

I hear you 100%. Having reliable tech support is worth it's weight in gold. Thanks for watching!

[@houstonstarbuck]

Can you discuss how the gen and ac coupling work. When I called signature solar their tech support was both unable to answer the question and then when he tried he got it wrong.

[@sspyder181]

Just finished a duel 18kpv system with a very clever propane generator setup and over 900ah battery bank and 7kw solar(so far). Very awesome 👌

[@rlyman111]

Thanks for clearing up the misinformation.

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

Thank you for watching!

[@jeffwilliams59]

Thanks -- this was helpful! And I know it won't matter for most people...but for us...altitude plays a role. The EG4 isn't spec'd over 6,562 feet (may encounter arc jumps on pcb traces and EG4 won't warranty.) Sol-Ark is 10,000 feet. We're at 8,100.

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

@jeffwilliams59 - Great piece of information. That is pretty important for those up in high elevations. Thanks for watching!

[@MatthewYBarbo]

Thank you for breaking down the comparisons between these two units. I personally think this is great information for anyone who's been debating or battling the decision to make between these two units. Keep up the great content!

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

Glad it was helpful. Thanks so much for watching!

[@worthmor5146]

EG4 is made by Luxpower. They have been in business since 2017.

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

Absolutely agree, but EG4 has not been around that long. If something goes wrong with your equipment, you aren't going to be calling Luxpower, you will be dealing with EG4. Thanks for watching!

[@pvbatts]

Luxpower isn't even a manufacturer. Only a Chinese R+D firm according to their head of Americas Eddie.

[@hasslefree3527]

MAJOR PLUS for EG4 is that in can be installed right on top of the cable trough, because it does not have a requirement for any space at the bottom like the 6" for the Ark-Sol.

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

Good call out. I always thought the trough could have been made to look a little more sleek, but it sure does make things easy! Thanks for watching!

[@bobbycalabrese831]

Good overview and thanks for correcting previous information, it takes a big man to do that! I'm in the middle of choosing between these two and the Schneider Electric's XW Pro. I see in their spec sheets and your white board that both of these units can handle 12,000 continuous watts (battery only, no PV) L-L @ 240V. I have seen or heard somewhere, but I can’t find it write anywhere that the EG4 18kPV can handle 8,000 continuous watts (battery only, no PV) L-N @ 120V either Leg as long as the combined is not more than 12K. Can you confirm this and site a written source? Also, I’ve asked Sol-Ark the same question but they will not answer the question. Do you know these specs for the Sol-Ark 15k? If not, can you point me to someone or place who can answer this seeming easy question to answer.

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

Hi @bobbycalabrese831 I believe you hit the nail on the head here. The EG4 18KPV has 12,000 watts of continuous output power which equates to 50A at 240 volts. The datasheet states "max continuous line wattage" of 8,000 watts. So this means if your legs are imbalanced significantly with 120 volt circuits, You could hypothetically pull up to 66A on one leg as long as the total across both legs did not exceed 12,000 watts. Thanks for watching!

[@stevenfrazier8939]

It would be good to look into the leg imbalance on the Sol-Ark. I know the EG4 can do 8,000 watts on one leg. and can hold 14 kilowatts for 10 minutes

[@niktak1114]

The max off-grid output of a single leg is around 7.8-7.9kW for the 15k (unless they updated it in a firmware update recently)

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

Looks like @niktak1114 has you covered. Thanks for watching!

[@newtloken7884]

Nice overview and thanks for correcting previous info. That's a righteous thing otherwise, bad info piles up.. Hey, so one thing I'm always interested in is where the company is based and also where it's manufactured. I know, I can look it up but I think it's important in a side by side comparison. And besides employing my 'neighbors', it also may have warranty implications. I always prefer to buy American, except for an occasional Honda motorcycle... Thanks for your efforts! N

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

I am pretty sure that both inverters are manufactured in China, although both Sol-Ark and EG4 are U.S. based companies with R&D/tech support in the United States. Thanks for watching!

[@worthmor]

True, hopefully they will be around for a long time. They seem to have lots of sales.

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

We can keep our fingers crossed. Thanks for watching!

[@aaronrunkle]

Respect. Thanks for clearing this up for us!

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

@aaronrunkle Thanks for watching!

[@andrewyang1446]

Also, doesn’t Solark have an EMP-hardened inverter, too?

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

@andrewyang1446 They sure do. I cover it in my original video kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4u5qImhi5ZshJo

[@andrewyang1446]

@@RockyBroadSolarLLC Thank you!

[@MoleffSports]

I'm glad Sol-Ark has dropped the made in USA advertising. Also, I've seen too many vids of the Sol-Ark inverter being underpowered. I do like Will Prowse (sp) recent video of the EG4 12k showing the inverter able to start 4 compressors and a car lift without tripping the inverter. I'd love to see if the Sol-Ark 15k can do that. Also, pricing is a huge deal. Lastly, the ferrite filters they add to the panels as an EMP protectant I would have a hard time relying on. I would go with EMP Shield's products, it's much less expensive that paying to EMP hardening the Sol-Ark inverter and you can get all the proper protection for less cost, ie protection from the grid, the solar array and the battery.

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

All great points. Sometime in the future I hope to be conducting more hands on videos with actual equipment, but it doesn't come cheap. Thanks for watching!

[@niktak1114]

Unfortunately this data is still incorrect. The max usable PV of the 15k is 18kW (with batteries). Without batteries it's only 15kW like your whiteboard shows. The maximum continuous inverter output without PV is also not a fixed 12kW. The maximum DC discharge rate is 275A and the output is based on that. So lets say the batteries are currently at 52V, after inverter losses it'll be able to output around 13.5kW. The 18kPV has a 250A max battery discharge rate so the maximum inverter output ends up being around 9-10% less than the 15k at a given battery voltage.

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

Well thanks for the info and for watching the video!

[@GILBERTVILORIA-hf3oe]

Luxpower Company have been in business since 2017. 18kpv max peak power is 24kw. max continues power output with solar (18kw) 12kw ac output plus 6kw charging power of the battery.

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

Hi @GILBERTVILORIA-hf3oe thanks for watching the channel. The 20,400 watt "peak output power (10 sec)" is not listed on the datasheet. For some reason EG4 lists their peak output power in minutes, which is not the industry standard. The "max continuous power" only refers to the AC ouput, which is 12,000 watts only. I believe you are referring to the "Max Utilized Solar Power" when combining the AC and DC power together. It is really difficult trying to compare apples to apples in these videos when none of the manufacturers use the same specs. I wish there was just one standard for the entire industry!

[@bill2292]

Good video, you know your stuff. Please put down the pointer when you talk bro!

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

Noted! Thank you for watching!

[@sandras7451]

Can you use battery banks of 12.8V 280ah Eco-worthy batteries with the EG4?

[@surfcow]

Thank you. Well done.

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

@surfcow Thanks for watching!

[@macbeliever]

I have a question about the 200 amp bypass for the grid connection for these inverters. With grid on, and the loads are exceeding the inverter output capacity, will the grid assist in powering the loads to prevent an inverter over current shutdown situation? TIA!

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

Absolutely. With the grid connected, any consumption in the home that is not provided by the solar or batteries will draw from the grid, through that 200A bypass. Only when there is a utility outage or when the home is off-grid will it be limited by the PV/battery output power. Thanks for watching!

[@Sol-Ark]

@@RockyBroadSolarLLC In fact Sol-Ark is responsible for bringing this internal grid pass through feature to market (which eliminates the need for an AC combiner panel). Per their head of Americas, Luxpower is a Chinese R+D company (not a manufacturer). They sure did help themselves to our innovative design but even Tesla is following Sol-Ark into transformerless hybrid inverters. Regardless, Sol-Ark has the most field experience with transformerless hybrids in the USA market, including offgrid.

[@glennmcgurrin8397]

Do you have a source for the 20,400 watt peak for the 18kpv, I can't find a source for that and having an official source for that would make permits much easier for a project I'm working on.

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

• 0 seconds ago Hi @Glennmcgurrin8397. I received this information via email response when reaching out to EG4 tech support before I created my initial video. I was also not able to find it on the datasheet, which was concerning. Every other inverter manufacturer that I am aware of lists the peak output power in 10 sec intervals on the datasheet other than EG4.

[@JerHAMM]

If there’s one thing I can’t stand more than anything else 😂 With a white board behind you😂😂😂😂😂 Can’t make that shit up😂

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

I call it how I see it! Thanks for watching!

[@Mike-01234]

All these inverters are made in China Sol-ark is made by Deye started in business in 2007 Luxpower is the manufacture of EG4 18kpv they started in 2017. US companies like Sol-Ark and EG4 slap a name on it and handle the US support. If you go to Deye's website see bunch of inverters that look like Sol-Ark have Deye name on it. The real savings is the battery EG-4 power pro and the EG4-18kpv have the UL9540A ESS certification at a far lower price then any of the competition. Now that many AHJ's are requiring 9540A prices of batteries were sent in the wrong direction shame that regulators continue to play these games for the utilities to keep solar expensive.

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

Thanks for the input @Mike-01234. I know about the rebranding process, but at least we have someone to call for US support if and when the need arises. Yes, especially out in California that UL9540A is a must have to pass inspections. The code requirements out there in places such as LA County are outrageous. The utility monopolies are not going down without a fight, that is for sure, but the day is coming quicker than most think. Thanks for watching the channel and for the comments!

[@johnmiggins9431]

wholesale sol-ark cost $5500

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

Good to know. I just based the price comparison on the standard pricing found online. Thanks for watching the channel!

[@robertplas3947]

Gotta tell you that this video is pretty much a waste of time. A bunch of numbers written on a white board. Then a price comparison. Absolutely of no value to a site that wants to set up a battery backed grid tied hybrid system. But you keep click fishing.

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

Well thanks anyways for the comment. It really helps the algorithm!

[@robertplas3947]

@@RockyBroadSolarLLC Well, I gave your video a chance, watched it, determined it was a waste of time with no technical value and chose not to subscribe to your channel. That should be your real concern, you are making poorly crafted videos. Step it up man!

[@uticatechclub923]

@@robertplas3947Could you please share the video which you have made? Thank you!

[@robertplas3947]

@@uticatechclub923 Sorry, mine are commercial paid use only. Why is Rocky Broad so sensitive when someone tries to tell him to up his game? Or is he like a child that wants a "participation" trophy?

[@aerojet393]

Okay , these are the comparisons numbers for now , could change!

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

The future is uncertain!

[@bearupfarm1818]

Sol Ark hay a better tech support. EG4 has a terrible tech support. I have experienced this.

[@RockyBroadSolarLLC]

Good to know. I appreciate the comment!