LOUD Calpha Charging with generator needs to be clean power

[@jimginnyohio]

I still haven’t tested using my generator with my solar equipment. Glad you were able to get it working with the Honda!

[@offgridwanabe]

The inverter generator is the way to go they have the pure sine wave.

[@DMIINC2013]

At least you didn’t have mice eat the wires on yours. lol. 😂

[@offgridwanabe]

Lol ya the mice got my friends Ryobi lawnmower wires

[@botabob]

Interesting experiment. Enjoy The Journey - Cheers

[@offgridwanabe]

Thanks Botabob

[@goldwingmoments]

Nice work. I am sure you will get your other generator hooked up and working when you have time to mess with it. It might just be an rpm change to get the exact hertz output. Thanks for sharing.

[@offgridwanabe]

I hear other people adjust the governor to stabilize the hertz.

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Nice!

[@offgridwanabe]

@@HomesteadEngineering thanks

[@cryptojlg630]

We've had some instances where there's an imbalance on the lifepo4 server rack cells when charging from a generator through an All-In-One unit like a growatt. The reasoning they were given, is that even though a generator is "pure sine wave", that they only remain this way up until a certain amount of load is put on. You would think a BMS would be able to still determine what goes where, but I think the whole pitch was that they buy a larger generator from them. lol. Instead, they ended up getting a Chargeverter to bypass the AIO, and things are looking better after a few cycles. It was to the point where low voltage cutoff was hitting that cell quite early during discharge. Not sure if there's anything similar for 36v or not. Be interesting to see if your cells stay balanced during these charge cycles from the generator.

[@offgridwanabe]

Yes I have heard many good things about the chargeverter. Right from the first lithium battery balance has always been challenging which is why I only charge to 3.41 on a cell that way I get more than 90% and no balance issues.

[@aaronparys1750]

Good things are working .. too bad about the other Generator not working properly !!

[@offgridwanabe]

I think the old generators did not have a good sine wave. I may be able to tune it so the frequency is stable

[@codraven57]

That was a steal for that gen if you have a use for the big power…….. your inverter doesn’t like the juice it produces…… it may be the hertz that needs to be adjusted……. There is a way to adjust those parameters so that the inverter will accept it…….check it out.

[@offgridwanabe]

You are right I did adjust it and it works

[@drsolar]

We have the same issues with our gasoline generators. The inverter did not like them. That little generator is noisy.

[@offgridwanabe]

I would get a chargeverter but they cost as much as a generator

[@TheKiloG69]

Nice set up you got what that board for the inverter.😊

[@offgridwanabe]

Treated plywood 2 sheets of 3/4 inch glued together

[@JonOffgrid]

😎👍

[@offgridwanabe]

[@bruced4236]

Similar problem. I have the newer Calpha but it won’t charge from my Honda 2000 inverter generator. It will show 128v coming into the Calpha but no amps going to the batteries. So far support can’t seem to fix it

[@offgridwanabe]

I turned down the amps to 20 and reset the governer so the Hertz were 62 and it started to charge see my next video

[@offgridwanabe]

On my Calpha it is setting 028 and since you have 2000 watt inverter it may need to set at 15 amps or lower.

[@bruced4236]

@@offgridwanabe So I figured it out. I had to switch the charge setting to AC 1st priority. The manual states you can only charge the battery bank via PV input and AC grid if you choose AC 1st priority for power. So I don't really understand why it doesn't work on "Hybrid" setting but at least now in a pinch I can charge via my generator. Also, you were correct about the amps. My little 1800 w generator can only charge at 15 amps. I have a new 3600W generator on the way so I can quickly dump more power into the battery bank. Thanks for the reply!

[@offgridwanabe]

@@bruced4236 Awesome glad it worked sometimes we have to use a workaround I am surprised support did not know that.

[@jasonl8648]

The Honda is pure sine wave. The large one is not.

[@offgridwanabe]

I figured so too.

[@frankz1125]

Interesting . I guess the inverter generators are better?

[@offgridwanabe]

I did finally get it to work at 20 amp and the Hz at 63 just old I guess. I adjusted the govener

[@frankz1125]

@@offgridwanabe ok so the hrz is off on the geny.

[@offgridwanabe]

@@frankz1125 From what I could see when it was first running the hz were like 45 so when I turned up the governer it would stay above 60 and start charging but still 20 amps is all it will charge even tho it is a 4000 watt geny