Off Grid Power: How Much Do You Really Need? EG4 Chargeverter Troubleshooting & Installation

[@Deagle367]

The chargeverter comes only with a 240VAC plug that will get you the full 5120 KW rating, if you're going to run 120VAC, you need to change the plug and wire per the instructions but will only get about 3050 Kwh rating. The manual does indicate the type of plug was 240VAC and how to rewire down to 120VAC. The original plug adapter you bought may not have worked since it doesn't really convert 120VAC to 240VAC. I'm pretty sure the X connection is bridged to the Y connection which is just sending 120VAC from X to Y and the chargeverter doesn't like that since its expecting an actual 240VAC power.

[@rongray4118]

Just checked the math with a calculator - 35a x 53v = 1855 watts=/- ... hope you are up and running and things are smooth now.

[@TerraformTogether]

I played with it a little bit and we were able to get around 3500 watts per hour without the generator bogging down. Considering it's a 4000 watt generator, that seems pretty good.

[@rongray4118]

@@TerraformTogether fantastic!!

[@gcs8]

Not sure what your problem is with Signutar Solar / EG4, my stuff has been fine, guess I will watch your other video, but from the sound of it, duh? If you are running the battries down to 0% the BMS is not going to like that and you will have to "jump start" the BMS to get it to turn back on, thats pretty standard, the EG4 batts for faily cycle use to get the full ~8000 rated cycles out of them are at 80% DoD, so you would only want to run them down to 20%. That would fix your system not auto restarting when the sun comes back out or it gets input power from somewhere. The ChargeVerter uses a standard L14-30P plug, seems to be pretty standard on generators that do 120/240 on the same receptical, but it is odd how they have it setup, I assume they are just using an auto-switching power supply so it can be 120 OR 240 so they only have to produce one unit to keep costs down and have compatability with diff grids eg: US/UK. The manual is right there on their site with wireing dieagram and pinouts for a L5-30P or a TT-30P, though, for 240V I would use a L6-30P myself, just my prefrance. As far as the LifePower4 batts it looks like you have go, set the charger program 1 56.2V or as close as you can, and program 2 to 60A as it looked like you had 2 battries, thats 30A per batt, Think that is 0.3C for these batts, so that would be ~3,372W of power going into the battries, you could move up to 0.5C (50A per battery) and that would be ~5,620W if ivr math is still true. Though the Chargeverter says it's max out is 5,120W at 240V or 3050W at 120V. Side note, too lazy to rewind, but it looks like you have the Champion 3500W dual fuel generator, the specsheet on that says on Propane it is only good for 3150W running, oh, sadness, it only does 120V, so the most you will get out of it with the chargeverter is ~3000W, the cheaper gensets also don't always play nice after you get over 50% load also, but the chargeverter should make the dirty power useable, maybe at a lower effechancy though, so, maybe ~2800W? So you really should be running at program 1 56.2V and program 2 49-50A for ~24.9A per battery. Hmm, more math, if at 120V the chargeverter is only ~92% efficent at converting AC to DC, then you would need ~3024W in to get ~2800W out, 92% of 2800 is 2576, so 224W of loss in the conversion, so yeah, my earlier math is right, cool. I am starting to think all your "bad experances" is just a painful lack of RTFM and you just redirecting your anger at someone else for your failure(s). Also, for the DC side, your battries should all hook to a busbar or thick copper plate you drill holes into for both pos and neg, (seprate one for each), then any battery you hook up has a common point to hook to, charge/discharge from, etc, if you are seeing your battries not charging/discharging pretty closely, it's cuz it looks like you wired your pattries in paralell via the termnals, that will charge/discharge them at differant rates, that will get worse the more battries you add to the system. For only two battries, the quick fix is to tap the pos on one batt and the neg on the other and should help spread the load, but more than 2, get a busbar or the middle batt if you had 3 would charge/discharge differntly than the outter ones. If you want someone to explan it on video for you, Will Prowse is probaly a good youtube channel to go check out for some of his core concepts videos.

[@TerraformTogether]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@joshm3342]

Excellent analysis. Don't forget the 3-1/2% per 1000 ft of elevation DERATING of power output for any fuel-burning generator.

[@thomasstephens1598]

I want to just give the heads up on my situation and maybe it will help you out we have been off grid for the past 5 years we started with a 9000 watt generator to power our camper we then figured out that we could power our camper with our car we have a Prius and we bought a 2000 watt inverter and we were able to power are camper we then bought a Growatt 12 k inverter and a 233 amp hr Big Battery. We used the generator to charge the battery and used it for when we were not home and this has worked well but still cost more than the average utility bill because of gas and just so you know it cost more to run your generator on propane the only reason I would run my generator on propane is because I have a 320 Gal. tank and I don't have to worry about running out. I bought the EG4 charge verter was because it is supposed to be able to charge on 110 volts which is what my car puts out charges my battery.

[@TerraformTogether]

I can see how propane would be more expensive. I don't like the idea of gasoline sitting in the generator for extended amounts of time though... Since we only use this maybe a couple times a month for about a 3 month period.

[@VideoByPatrick]

How did you get the old pc to recognize the EG4 batteries.

[@TerraformTogether]

There was an antiquated software that they put on a CD that eventually let me update the firmware.

[@VideoByPatrick]

@TerraformTogether I just downloaded their Bluetooth EG4 app to monitor battery cells of their 100amp 12v battery. That's where the future is, Bluetooth apps; no ground shunt, nor victron cables. EG4 battery has built in smart Bluetooth transmitter ! No way do I have the patience you have with that CAT cable to pc just to monitor cells.

[@larrymiller7128]

Whar are u running with your solar system? Cause i have 4 48v 200ah n doesn't ladt a full day, but im running 2 ac n 1 mini ac..

[@TerraformTogether]

That sounds like a lot of power for that amount of battery. We have 2 - 48V 100 amp hour batteries and 2800 watts of panels and I can only run a single mini split maybe an hour or two on a good day.

[@larrymiller7128]

@@TerraformTogether fixing to buy the zg4 chrgeverter n generator for all night use..

[@GypsyStacker]

So it was the janky power adapter that failed you, and not signature solar it appears.

[@TerraformTogether]

No way of telling if it was the adapter or their plug.

[@GypsyStacker]

yokay! @@TerraformTogether

[@coreygillum12]

My Man. You bought the wrong generator. Don't blame SS for your stupidity. It's very clear what plug is on the chargeverter. You were just too lazy to return the genny. There is a reason it's a 4 prong plug bro.

[@MichaelBrown-xb6pp]

Yes there is. It's called a multi-meter. 8 bucks Harbor Freight.@@TerraformTogether

[@johnc6409]

I have a huge solar array using everything EG4! I have had no issues at all. These are electronics and you have to set them up correctly... read the instructions! Having to change the plug is not an issue with EG4! Not setting it up correctly was the problem and that was on you! They should also be kept in a clean and dust-free environment with plenty of ventilation. Not trying to be mean...just maybe you should be putting the blame for your issues where they really belong and that isn't the product! EG4 has been a great product!

[@TerraformTogether]

I don't have a problem with having to change the plug out. But some instruction on the how/why/possible trouble shooting options would be great. The instruction manual is literally a 4x6 two page piece. The big problem I have with them is them marketing their product as a super simple DIY friendly system, but then requiring a ton of problem solving and modifications to get the equipment to work correctly.

[@gcs8]

@@TerraformTogether It sounds like the level of DIY you are looking for is more along the lines of an EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra vs the lego kit that is EG4/Growatt/MPP-Sloar type of thing. These types of systems are closer to people who grab components off of Amazon/digikey/mouzer/whatever and build their own electronics VS the people who buy "DIY" kits where you just put it together but don't need a soldering iron.

[@meilyn22]

Having to buy Chargers separately is theft. A hybrid inverter should be able to charge your batteries with a generator or from the grid.

[@TerraformTogether]

Agreed...

[@krslavin]

The problem is if you need to charge from a gas or propane generator, the output is "dirty" AC at higher loads. The Chargeverter is designed to deal with dirty power. Also you cannot put dirty AC into the grid input of your EG4 6000EX as it is designed for only clean grid AC or a lightly loaded pure sine gas/propane generator.

[@matthewknight5641]

Signature solar has a bad rep for selling junk that is often damaged or something wrong with... It's kinda like they must get scratch and dent stuff from China then mark up the price and resale it. A couple of my friends have been really unhappy with ss and I'll never use them... Ever

[@TerraformTogether]

It's unfortunate. You get what you pay for I guess

[@matthewknight5641]

@@TerraformTogether man that's the truth..

[@MichaelBrown-xb6pp]

Biden voter vibe is strong with this one. A little more learning on how things work and less blaming others please.

[@TerraformTogether]

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