Why is my inverter doing this?

[SolarLover]

Growatt SPH3000 inverter

Why on earth is the stupid inverter pulling off the grid when there’s 11kwh in the battery

 

[Barx]

What is the opertaion mode set to?
Has it always done this?
the operation mode may be set to backup priority or only start discharging fully after a certain time.

 

[SolarLover]

Trying to understand the Growatt SPH3000 via their Shine Phone app is a black art see attached

 

[Barx]

I haven't fit any of these, so it's not like I know them like the back of my hand and this info could be wrong.
but
It looks like the inverter operation mode is 'Bat First'. Now the blurb from the manual states...

2.Battery first: when SPH working in this mode, battery would be charged first, it's
suitable working on the period when the electric charge is low. user need to set the
mode ON and OFF time, and the end time of battery SOC. user can set power rate
which less than the battery maximum output power. If the customer don't enable
the AC CHG (AC grid charging function). Inverter will charge battery by PV power as
large as it can do. If the customer enable the AC CHG (AC grid charging function).
Inverter will charge battery by PV power and AC power from grid as large as it can do.

Not the easiest chinglish to understand mind.

I 'think' you need Load Fist operating mode. which is stated as

1.Load first: load first is the default mode, when it's working in this mode, PV energy
would offer to load and battery prior; when PV is Insufficient, battery would
discharge; when PV is sufficient for load ,the excess energy would feed to battery. if
there is no battery or battery is full ,the excess energy would feed to Grid(except anti
-reflux ).

Does that look more like what you are expecting to happen?

May be worth consulting someone who knows the inverters better. Or, if you like to tinker, just remember what you change in case you need to change it back

 

[binky]

EPS maybe wrong - I'm guessing that's another term for UPS, so it would keep charge in the battery. Grid volatge lower limit is also wrong, should be more like 225V. Power factor zero also looks wrong to me? I would be inclined to give the Growatt technical helpline a call

 

[SolarLover]

I haven't fit any of these, so it's not like I know them like the back of my hand and this info could be wrong.
but
It looks like the inverter operation mode is 'Bat First'. Now the blurb from the manual states...


Not the easiest chinglish to understand mind.

I 'think' you need Load Fist operating mode. which is stated as



Does that look more like what you are expecting to happen?

May be worth consulting someone who knows the inverters better. Or, if you like to tinker, just remember what you change in case you need to change it back

Ha ha yes you need a degree to translate this as Google would even suffer

It’s not at all intuitive on how to set these up even with the simple menus but I guess it’s tinker time as my installer is pretty useless supporting me

Thanks for your help

 

[SolarLover]

EPS maybe wrong - I'm guessing that's another term for UPS, so it would keep charge in the battery. Grid volatge lower limit is also wrong, should be more like 225V. Power factor zero also looks wrong to me? I would be inclined to give the Growatt technical helpline a call

I emailed them twice

They come back saying which country are you from

I reply

And into the ether the query goes

Not the best support so need to find a number

Thanks

 

[SolarLover]

EPS maybe wrong - I'm guessing that's another term for UPS, so it would keep charge in the battery. Grid volatge lower limit is also wrong, should be more like 225V. Power factor zero also looks wrong to me? I would be inclined to give the Growatt technical helpline a call

Wonder if firmware also needs an update from base firmware? As it’s v1.0

 

[binky]

UK helpline

 

[SolarLover]

UK helpline

Thanks

 

[Si_Oakwood]

I've just had a Growatt SPH3600 inverter w/batteries installed and have identical settings but haven't experienced this. I thought it worth mentioning that the online dashboard ShineServer (https://server.growatt.com) is quite useful. It does show a bit more info such as the operating mode (Mine is in load first mode) and also exportable graphs. One brief incident yesterday when it used grid to boil the kettle for about 20 secs but it probably just didn't respond quick enough. Have attached graph of what was a pretty cloudy day yesterday.

 

[revor]

I have complete different system to you and have experienced similar event. I found that putting a load on depending on size (the bigger the load the greater) can cause a spike depending on how low the battery is and whether solar is generating. Guess it is to do with the algorithms employed. We have an induction hob and boil a kettle on that but when we switch on we ramp it up stepwise that gives time I find for the system to accommodate the sudden load. At other times if generating. and battery well up. can run a 9Kw shower without causing a spike providing the sun is generating enough. As example took a shower yesterday pm sun was generating 5.5 Kw and took very little from the battery. This time of year the incoming water is warmer so probably were not drawing more that about 6-7 kw on the shower.

 

[johnb2713]

In answer to the OP, my SPH6000 does the same, a conversation with Growatt and my installer both said the inverter is doing a self test routine when the panels start supplying and when they cease eg sunrise and sunset. It goes into mode of drawing from the grid instead of the battery whilst this is going on, typically between 5 and 7 minutes.

Hope this helps

 

[binky]

In answer to the OP, my SPH6000 does the same, a conversation with Growatt and my installer both said the inverter is doing a self test routine when the panels start supplying and when they cease eg sunrise and sunset. It goes into mode of drawing from the grid instead of the battery whilst this is going on, typically between 5 and 7 minutes.

Hope this helps

Batteries are quite complicated beasties and do all sorts of strange things.

 

[johnb2713]

Batteries are quite complicated beasties and do all sorts of strange things.

Its not really a battery issue though, it's the inverter thats not ramping up its output to feed the premises?

 

[binky]

If you want to be precise it's a combination of the inverter and BMS maintaining the battery in good condition and preventing damage to the cells.

 

[johnb2713]

If you want to be precise it's a combination of the inverter and BMS maintaining the battery in good condition and preventing damage to the cells.

I bow to your greater knowledge but I dont see how the battery not being used when it's at 86% SOC is protecting the cells?

Every day a school day, please tell!!

J

 

[Gian]

I've just had a Growatt SPH3600 inverter w/batteries installed and have identical settings but haven't experienced this. I thought it worth mentioning that the online dashboard ShineServer (https://server.growatt.com) is quite useful. It does show a bit more info such as the operating mode (Mine is in load first mode) and also exportable graphs. One brief incident yesterday when it used grid to boil the kettle for about 20 secs but it probably just didn't respond quick enough. Have attached graph of what was a pretty cloudy day yesterday.

View attachment 13708

The growat dash board is a life saver. As said you can get a understanding about what is or has happened. I take it your CT clamp is working correctly . I just had an issue on a off grid system I installed and I I knew it was not working by using my dash board and not the off grid info. It turned out to be one of the ct clamp wires broken.

 

[binky]

I bow to your greater knowledge but I dont see how the battery not being used when it's at 86% SOC is protecting the cells?

Every day a school day, please tell!!

J

I'm not versed in the algorithms used. But at around 86% soc, charging rates slow down to prevent cell damage.

 

[johnb2713]

I'm not versed in the algorithms used. But at around 86% soc, charging rates slow down to prevent cell damage.

Charging rates do slow down when the charging mode changes from constant current to constant voltage. The scenario from the OP is one of discharge though not one of charging. There was 84% capacity showing in the battery, the load from the house was 1.35kW and the system was importing 1.09 kW from the grid, 0.26 kW from the battery. It is one of the 'features' of the Growatt SPH series which allegedly does a self test routine when the panels come alive and when they shut down again, it exists for 5 to 7 minutes and then expected operation resumes.

Heres mine doing the exact same thing.