Use your GEN INPUT as POWER OUTPUT || Sol-Ark Smart Load Application Guide
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- In this video, we explain the Smart Load feature in our inverters, how to turn the feature ON, and some of the logic behind whether the Smart Load is on or off.
Smart Load means you can use your GEN terminal input as a Load Output.
This is one of three main ways to use the GEN terminal:
1) Smart Load Output
2) Generator Input
3) AC Coupled Systems' Input
For any questions, feel free to send us an email at support@sol-ark.com (for technical questions) and sales@sol-ark.com (for purchasing questions).
I just got off the phone with (a wonderfully knowledgeable & patient) Jason at Sol-Ark. He said unequivocally that off-grid is fine for the 15k. He confirmed that ac-coupling & Smart Load power management don't require a grid connection.
Perhaps certain loads are more easily handled via a grid link, but I agree with your other commenter that your sweeping statement that the grid is a requirement is unfortunate & misleading.
Sol-Ark has robust certifications for grid-tied applications but a strong foundation in supplying offgrid power.
Can the "GEN INPUT as POWER OUTPUT" be used for a LEVEL 2 EV charger?
Hi Chad,
That's a great question. If you intend to have a level 2 EV Charge as your Smart Load, then the smallest inverter you could use is our Sol-Ark 15K. The 200A passthrough on the 15K will prevent any overloads while the grid is available and the EV charger is being used. If you have any more questions regarding your specific application, please ask one of our engineers and they will be happy to help: www.sol-ark.com/contact-us/
@@Sol-Ark What if the EV is set to only use 32amps, will the SOL-ARK 8k then be okay with smart load?
The information at 2:03 is inaccurate according to your own tech support and my real world experience. Solar power setting does nothing to prevent the smart load from drawing power from the batteries if the batteries are above the ON setpoint. I'm waiting on a reply from solark in an email I sent requesting this be fixed.
Does having a ATS (working alone, no solark intervention) to switch between Grid and Gen, conected through the Grid port, and no battery, allows for Net Metering? Or it will back feed to the Gen when Grid is out? And the remaining Gen port can be used tor A/C Coupling or Smart Load simultaneously?
When wanting a generator with an autostart and a grid connection, it is best to use the generator on the GEN port and AC-couple on the load side. In that case do not implement smart load, just wait for the SL-14 to be released and implement load control then. If the solar AC coupling is too large for a load side connection or you would prefer the dedicated monitoring that comes with connecting to the GEN port rather than mixing in the solar energy with the load, then only manually run the generator, on a manual transfer, sharing the GEN port with the AC-coupled solar. But in your specific configuration (when the generator is used on the GRID side of the inverter, along with a GRID connection) you are right to be concerned about the inverter thinking the generator is the grid which could be backfed by the solar array. In your specific configuration, one solution would be to implement your ATS controls to only have the generator come on at night.
Does Gen terminal can be used at the same time for Smart Load Output and AC Coupled Systems' Input ? or it can only perform one function at a time ?
One function at a time. You can put a
I have a 15k solark in an off grid state and want to set up smart load. Do I need anything special or just a seperate breaker box?
It depends on the number of breakers you want to utilize. It's easiest to just use the smart load for one thing (ex. electric hot water tank). You could utilize a separate breaker box for multiple circuits but recommend waiting on the SL-14 launch as it is coming soon.
Can an integrator/installer already order SmartLoads-14?
What's the current price?
MSRP is around $2k, early 2024
To be clear, you *CANNOT* use "GEN INPUT as POWER OUTPUT" if you have a generator connected, right? You're basically *repurposing* the Sol-Ark's "GEN" terminals to send power to a load like a water heater? I really wish Sol-Ark would use more descriptive terms in their user interface, or at least publish a detailed glossary. Or warn people not to use this with a generator connected. It would be awful if someone fried a generator or inverter because they misunderstood the terms Sol-Ark chose to use, and tried to *send* power from their inverter to a generator.
Hi Alec, you can find this information in the inverter manuals (ex. page 27 of 15k manual under Smart Load). Generators are best tied into the GRID connection with off-grid and GEN connection when grid-tied. When utilizing the GEN port for multiple purposes (i.e. generator + smart load) you must keep the devices isolated by a manual transfer switch. Best to avoid in design but nice to know about. You can always fill out a support ticket on our website for design questions.