Hi Joe, Enjoyed you walk-through and it seems to me to be spot on. It appears you are monitoring your loads with CTs. Sometime in the future would you discuss your load monitoring scheme? Thanks, Howard
Hi, is the growatt still working with no problems and for how long have you been using it. My Genetry Solar inverter stopped working after 3 months without any obvious reason, and I am looking for a better quality inverter.
Yeah the Growatt is still running strong. Have had it running mostly 24/7 for the past few years. Few quirks but no major issues. I would buy it again no problem. Did gentry not cover anything under warrenty?
@AveRage_Joe I sent a message to their business phone with pictures ,then sent an email but i got no reply. Today , Sean made a video saying that he's experiencing some hard time. I think I'll buy the Growatt and forget about the GS inverter. BTW ! Thank you for your great videos
I'm so glad that I found your video. Because your scenario is exactly what I have in mind to do with main and sub panel to divide the breakers. Now, I know how to use main panel supply ac power to inverter. That is how inverter could auto switch over to the grid when battery is low or out. Plus, you explain the neutral and ground bar very clear. Thank you so much.
😆😆😆100% NAILED IT! Ive recorded long extensive projects before and had so much footage......didnt know where to start. Ive done it many times and always end up scrapping it🤷♂️
@@AveRage_Joe Yeah, unless you've done it, you really don't understand how much time and effort goes into making these videos, and the work it takes trying to shorten them down without losing any valuable info. Thanks again!
Looks great. I had to go from 20.6kWp to 31.6kWp with a 160kWh battery bank to make it through the winter in Ky. All electric home. Wood burner below 25F is needed on long cloudy spells. Love ❤️ our solar system and ZERO power bill!
Thanks! Yeah we need moar solar FO SHO lol. You all get a lot of ice storms over there? I feel like I see that. Or maybe just a few but bad ones? We also can burn wood if the gas ever quits but just fireplaces. Ill be zero billin someday🤠🤘
Typically a 1/4” of ice once every other year. Feb 2021, we had 3/4”. That is when I bought my first setup 400W! It just snowballed from there. OG 3/22.
Hey, loved your commentary.....How one set out to do your set up.....Thinking about solar.....Every end of summer and in winter we have intermitten power outages.......hate them....wondering how to start with solar with battery bank...I have propane for heat....want to use solar for lights, fridge and or cook....what is the most efficient way.....so much info online.....true beginner...need some guidance....Thank you.
Thanks and Thanks for watching! Yeah Ive had the emporia for a few months and like seeing the instant data and how much certain things draw! Love it!😆🤘
HOWdy A-R-J, ... thanks I have the "little" brother to your 12,000 watt Growatt ... Mine is the GROWATT SPF 6000T DVM-MPV & runs my entire home except, like you, I did not wire my my 240 volt APPLIANCES to my SOLAR Circuit-Breaker PANEL STOVE = 240 volt Electric ( comes in handy to SEE when the GRID has gone DOWN - the Digital CLOCK flashes 12:00 -LOL ) Clothes Dryer ( never used ) I dry my clothes with WIND & SOLAR ( on a CLOTHES-LINE ) LOL Water-Heater ( used sparingly ) Pole-Barn = for my 240 volt WELDERS ( seldom Used ) Thanks for showing US Your SYSTEM & WIRING Connections COOP the WiSeNhEiMeR from Richmond,INDIANA ...
I had thought about a separate switch to provide the switching between inverter and utility power for critical loads. Including it in the sub panel is cheaper and easier. Did your utility company say anything or send out people when you started using less power? Have you had any code enforcement interaction? Great explanation - thanks.
I could have just ran the inverter wires to the top and remove the grid but wanted to be able to have both cause I need a way to power the sub panel when I do maintenance or turn off inverter for what ever reason. No havent had any utility peoples out or code enforcers. I had one utility guy looking for someones meter and he asked about the solar panels. I said it was not connected to utility and was a project.😆🤘
Looks like you need to reach out to an inverter company for another inverter to run your house if you need to do maintenance. Your house could run off that 12k 24/7 with grid assist when needed. The. You wouldn’t need the critical loads panel. Might help viewers who don’t want to add a whole other sub panel.
I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say. I do run off the inverter 24/7. If the batteries are low, then it goes into bypass mode. Maintenance does not mean inverter only. I personally test out a lot of other batteries, make videos ect...I need a way to put the house back on grid to do certain things. Powering a sub panel is the best way that I know that allows charging from the grid and or bypass mode. You could install a reliance transfer switch box but then you only get so many circuits plus its a sub panel.
Dear Average, great video. Seems like you connect the Critical Load Panel to the utility through both a direct connection via the Main Panel OR through the split phase output of your Growwatt Inverter. As I understand most of the all-in-one, grid connected (not grid tied*) inverters have a bypass capability which allows powering of the split phase output either from the inverter (batteries) OR from the utility inputs. At least this is how my MPP LV5048 works where you can set the priority of the source, either UTILITY, SOLAR or BATTERIES. So you could save some complexity and just power your Critical Loads Panel directly from the Growwatt. Just a humble suggestion to use a block diagram or schematic to illustrate your dialog. Just a thought and really enjoy the great channel ! *PS, my MPP LV5048 is grid connected, but not grid tied, so I cannot export power to the utility, I can only use utility power, but I'm guessing you knew that already.
I wouldn’t trust a box to pass through power to my critical loads. I have a 200A transfer switch that does that for me. Same with my 10kW LP generator, with 100A transfer switch.
So the growatt inverter also has pass through and we use that anytime there is no sun amd batteries are low. The reason the sub panel is connected this way is because that is how a sub panel is connected. I added an additional dbl pole breaker to power the sub panel as you would for adding a generator or another power source. Then of course adding the lockout. The great thing about having 2 ways to power the sub panel is if and when you need to turn off the inverter for maintenance. I can just switch the panel back to normal and turn off the inverter. Then switch it back off grid. I had planned on explaining that but assumed it was known and this was just a wiring connection video. I may do another to explain🤔🤘
I’m doing pretty much the same thing Flipping over to grid power when batteries run low. I’m currently knocking $100 a month off my central Florida power bill. It started as a backup for storms and kinda got out of hand as far as money goes 😂😂😂
Are you flipping over manually on the panel or does your inverter have a transfer switch to auto switch for you? That is one thing I forgot to add in the video that the inverter switches over all by itself and only need to use the breakers if doing maintenance. Yeah we have shaved off quite a bit each year!!!😎🤘
@@AveRage_Joe I’m running it through a generator switch. Only one can run at a time. I started with an Ecoflow delta pro with an expansion battery Then I added a eg4 3000 watt and 3 batteries (eg4) Not running the AC and stove and the most I’ve drawn is 1400 watts and usually 4/5 hundred watts is the usual. Only had an overload when my daughter was visiting and she doesn’t grasp that blow dryer curling iron and a vacuum cleaner all going at once causes issues 😂😂😂 Can’t blame the equipment because she’s tripped the breaker more than once 😂 Now I switch to the grid when she’s visiting
Thanks for your straightforward lesson. That configuration will not return excess power to power company, right? I suppose in an offgrid context there is just the connection between panel and inverter?
Good explanation. Given a little more time and more 💰 you’re self DIY project is moving forward. Going back over the last year you’ve done some work even building boxes and batteries. With that said I would say in another year 😊
@@AveRage_Joe Also your getting some good reviews done ✅ have you seen the quality of the products coming up. And it pushing the prices down. That’s helping everyone.
Yeah getting some reviews done as well. I keep getting requests for review but there are so many I have to turn them down. I wont ever get back to my build....but some I say yes to cause there pretty AWESOME!😆 So not only are some getting better, we are getting flooded with products which brings the price down. Everyone lowers there price to beat the next. So yeah, it is helping everyone!💥🤘
Hey man thank you so much for sharing this video! You’re a Godsend sir you clear a few doubts I had regarding where to connect the input and output from the Inverter and now I see what you did. My other question would be, instead of providing power to the Subpanel from the Main through the 60amp breaker, can I take it straight to the Grid slots (Sol-Ark Inverter has Grid, Gen, Load) and then of course the Load to my main since I want to energize the whole house?
I have the ACs and the pool inverter motor on a separate small subpanel on the roof and is connected to a 100amp breaker at the Main so I usually shut that off when I need to run the generator which is what I have at the moment but I really want to do this myself, with what you share and other videos, is fairly doable.
Im just trying to figure out what happened to the off-grid battery we were building that was never updated or completed. Now I don't see it mounted to the wall anymore.
I have a Homeline 2 phase panel, I’ll connect to and EG4 6000XP. It recommends a 63amp breaker. Can I connect it directly to my lugs and swap the 100amp breaker to a 63amp?
Thanks Joe, need to check the manual. On this one for Australia we have a Hot + Neutral + Ground on output. Ground and neutral bonded in 12000. Show you soon.
Interesting. I see the inverter creates its own neutral, which connects to the utility's neutral throughout the subpanel connection. Seems funky to me. In a power outage you could be creating a potential, right? Did you check code for that?
No potential that I am aware of. Its the same if you wire up a protran transfer switch panel. Shared neutral on that as well. My electrician buddy has the same setup and is also wired the same.🤘
I can understand why the inverter output needs to handle high current, but I thought the AC line going to the inverter would just be needed to sense the voltage and phase, so I don't understand why the AC line going to the inverter would need to be high current.
Im powering electric double oven, range, 2 central air units total 4 tons, 3 fridges, 2 dehumidifiers, 2 deep freezers with this inverter. I have only overloaded it one time and it auto restarts usually the ac or I've that tripped it wont autostart. The ac waits 10 mins. My bypass is 50 amps because i dont charge from grid. So 50 amps aka 12,000 watts is all it will allow to bypass without faulting anyways. Here in Michigan with 12kw panels and 70kwh of battery i still have several cloudy days in in summer Where it will switch to bypass around 6 am and stay in bypass till noon or later depending on just how bad the overcast is then switch back to solar and run it through the night rinse repeat. My electric bill is usually north of $200 its now $30-60. One issue is 7kw solar isnt enough. Because of the battery voltage at 57 volt max usuall 48-55v u can only get 6 kw olfrom solar. Ao im adding an external charge controller so when the sun does pike its head out i can collect it faster. Like 200 amps @55vdc fast i hope. We'll see
Yeah this is pretty much exactly my boat but with less solar. Once I can get smoar solar Ill add the stove, AC and dryer back to the panel. I also have all the trees in the back yard which I Love and hate at the same time💁♂️🙄😆
What are your thoughts on this setup compared to using something like a Reliance Pro/Tran2 Transfer switch to control the home circuits between grid and off grid? I only have 8 critical loads to move and wondered if it would be a correct solution. Thanks Joe!
So my goal is to show and or "teach" all the ways to have power. Everyone has different needs and I understand that. If all you need is a few circuits then the protrans transfer switch is a great option. I also have one installed here but is a 6 circuit version so I can show how it works ect. It does cost a bit more but also allows you to connect up different sources of power. If you checkout ecoflows RUclips channel, I did an install video for them of the protran2 of the one here at the house. I am a supporter!
I see that it is an off grid inverter. The model is SPF12000tDVM according to your video 2 years ago when you got it. Does your local utility require that it have UL 1741 certification? This is my obstacle to getting a Growatt, I am not sure that THIS model would pass inspection. If the grid power goes down I need to be 100% sure there is no leakage of current into my main panel. I understand there are other Growatts that do have the UL certification but they do not appear to be compatible with all batteries.
Joe I don’t know if this would work for you but why don’t you have a small panel at the inverter so you can switch from gen to utility easier I know it’s more of a hassle but it could help u switch over faster ?
Have you seen Ian @ watts 247 talking about the Growatt low frequency inverters? And how with grid input the can stress on a single leg of the system. He has stopped selling them. I have a 8K growatt and just use a transfer switch to power 10 breakers. I did not attach it to the grid only because I live in AZ and it's sunny almost every day. Thanks Joe.
Yeah I saw his video. How often does one lose a phase from the utility company. Ive never heard of it happening around here. Not saying it cant happen but not worried. Not sure what would happen on other inverters. Yeah in AZ Id probly be golden😲 I also have a CRAP TON of tall trees in my back yard and my panels wont see sun till 11:30🙄 Maybe I should put the panels in the front yard....🤭😆😆😆😆😆
I agree.i live in a town of 900 on 2 acre lots haven't seen a code enforce guy ever. So yes I put my panels on pole mounts I modified them to tilt and swivel. Front and back yard. My neighbors think they're big Starlink dishes lol... keep up with your channel Joe love the humor.
Indeed a little help AJ. I built a solar pergola, now I need to set up my inverter, my question is , why do you create a sub panel when you could just tune off the breakers to the large loads? I'm sure there a good answer, I just need to know why everyone I stalls a sub panel. Thank you man.
We setup another panel to power off the inverter. The main panel is for charging from grid or if batteries are low, the inverter can go into bypass mode. Main panel is also for items that the inverter cant power. Some people install a reliance panel instead. Both options are great.
Thank you for the response AJ, are you saying its not possible to have the main breaker panel and have the inverter feed the panel as well. How does this sound, I would move the main power from the utility to the inverter power in and the inverter power out would run t the main panel. I have a Hybrid 12kw inverter from Luxpower that has 4 mppts. and I have 48Kw of batteries that I have not assembled yet. They are still in boxes from the China distributor( OSO). I have 31 Longi bifacial panels that produce 550watt 48-51 v and 14amps. I was hoping the inverter would run the entire house, however in the event of a trip, I thought I would just go outside and turn off the breaker. AJ, when you install a sub panel, are you just running a jmper from the main panel from a specific breaker to the sub panel? Your not actually running a new cable from the appliance in question. Sry about the stupid questions.@@AveRage_Joe
Thanks for watching! 2 #6's for 240vac power input is for passthrough mode and charging from grid if wanted. Manual says to use #6. Might be able to use #4 but I purchased the #6 from ebay at the same time as inverter. Also wasnt sure if #4 would fit at that time. The #10 is the normal size when using #6awg for loads. Can always use bigger tho.🤠🤘
Thank you for this video, Could you have replaces the subpanel with a 10 circuit transfer switch (Reliance 510a) ? So Line from electric panel go to the inverter, then from inverter to the Transfer switch, tranfter switch connect back to 10 Circuit on the panel.
Hello, Thanks for the video. Just to ask, if two inverters were already in parallel and you were to power the two inverters from the main, how would you do this? Would you take another hot (red + black) from a breaker and run it into the second inverter? Also, with the two hot wires from the main, will this make the total voltage 240v? Thank you again!
Thanks! With inverters that can be paralled together, usually you have the hot black to inverter 1 and hot red to inverter 2. The paralleling kit that goes with the inverter allows it to work correctly along with a few settings. Which inverters are you using or thinking of using?
@@AveRage_Joe Thank you. Now I understand your response. So I'll have the hot black to inverter 1 and hot red to inverter 2. Then, each inverter will also have the neutral and ground? Also to clarify, I believe the two hot (red and black) will be 120v each, so, I will have to ensure my inverters is connected as split phase 120V. By the way, I'm using SRNE inverter. Thank you again!!
@@AveRage_Joe I have two 10kWh batteries. One battery is an all-in-one with inbuilt 5.5KW inverter and the other battery and inverter are separate. Do you have any experience with Enphase system?
Hmm.. where is your earth connection coming from when you are out of grid power? Seems to me like you have connected your off grid ground to your main grid panel. I might be all wrong, since i am not sure on how the grid ground works in US, but in Sweden there will be no ground if the grid falls out. And there will be a wery strange 0 to ground floating voltage..
Earth is always connected. We have earth connected to a ground rod and water pipes. Those are connected to the main panel which is connected to the earth from utility. Sub panel earth is connected to main panel with the #6 green wire. Then as I mentioned in video, the earth is connected to the inverter with the #10 green wire.
They are not anything special or electrically "insulating" per say but I LOVE them and use them every single day both for electrical and everything else. I get them from Menards locally for roughly the same price as amazon. Affiliate link -> amzn.to/44aLb1D
If your completely off grid can you charge your batteries with a generator through the inverter? The generator is wired to main breaker panel and can power the house when solar is low.
So, with your setup, if you lose power from the growatt for any reason (batteries die, solar insufficient, inverter fails etc) then your critical loads subpanel just goes dead completely? Until you access the panel and shut off the inverter breaker and power on the main breaker from utility power? How could it be wired so that you automatically get utility power when solar/inverter is insufficient?
Great questions and Yes. For mine, if any of those fail. My sub panel goes ded. If you wanted to add another fail safe like another inverter and battery (cause I am assuming grid would also be out). You could add an auto transfer switch like I have done(not videoed yet) on the inverter output wires. Basically have 2 off-grid systems feeding the auto transfer switch and the output of the transfer switch goes to the sub panel. If your "main" off grid system fails, the auto transfer switch "switches" to the other. If the main comes back online then it switches back.😆🤘 P.S. I have a picture on my community page of the transfer switch. Its a cheap 240v 100a from amazon. Works great so far when testing.
YeSirr! Its a smart energy monitor I purchased a while back to track consumption and see how many actual watts things were using. I got the one with like 16 ct's so I can monitor all the things lol. Still have a few more to install. It works great to btw. Real time and is fast!
Pretty clean install minus the inverter entry, she would of been better with a box there just as a service loop. Those inverters don't last forever FYI ;)
It is through the #10 green wire. That ground on the inverter is also grounded to the metal frame. Adding another case ground would just be adding another wire. You could and wouldnt hurt anything.
Hey looking for help and ideas. I was thinking of adding some wind to my growatt system. My initial thought is to run a 48 volt system and connect the mppt wind control right to the battery terminals in parallel with the growatt. But also thought about a 240 inverter and run it in on the grid port of growatt. I think the inverter would be to much loss since it would be inverted twice to charge batteries. Any thoughts or help would gladly be accepted.
Question, Comment and concerns? Question; you guys doing ok? Comment; I appreciate you. Concern; that there is a stale explosion about to happen for it was missing from this video
I have my Growatt powering my garage, runs our clothes washer and electric dryer. I need to connect the two panels so I can power more loads in the house but they are at opposite ends of the house, so I'm not sure how I'm going to do that and also keep the AC and electric over/stove on grid only, unless I install another panel next to the main.
Yeah you can just run some wires over there on that side of the house to a smaller sub panel. Leave the big items on the main panel and move the things over you want to power to the sub panel. You could also instal one of those transfer switch circuit breaker boxes. Its practically the same thing tho.
Yeah those a ct clamps from the emporia energy monitoring system. I left that out so I didnt get to far off subject lol I purchased it a while back so I could track over time. It actually works fan freakin tastic and is real time. I do need to reset it since I moved a bunch of stuff around🙄😆
Yeah the growatt has a transfer switch in it. Thats what I do if the batteries are low, just switch back to grid. The generator lockout is there so you dont accidentally turn both cb's on at the same time and if you ever need to do maintenance on your off-grid system you can easily switch everything back to grid while you do whatever it is your doing.😎
Question, why is the whole home suppressor I sub panel vs one in each since both can be powered by different sources (grid for main and when lockout active inverter for sub panel)?
Hey Joe, The one knock I have heard on split-phase inverters is that they have a high base consumption (i.e. if there is any load on the inverter, they soak up a relatively high amount of power to cover a modest A/C load). Do you have a good idea how much the inverters consume when running, and how much when in standby mode? Here in Maine we have net metering, so the only cost reason to add an inverter/battery setup is for backups. I am curious how much juice they drink when just standing by waiting for the grid to go down. Thanks. -Rob
Yeah its mainly the big ass transformer thats inside this particular beast. The no load idle draw was about 150-155w if I remember right. Its been a few years lol. Really just depends on what you wanna do. There are more efficient inverters out there nowa days.
You know, it just hit me, watching this video, that Joe looks SO MUCH like Rob Halford of Judas Priest. I was watching the video for Painkiller (released in 1990) and could not stop envisioning Average Joe jumping around on stage all clad in leather and studs. Come on, Joe, give us your best Rob Halford performance! At least put some metal studs on your gloves!
Thanks Joe, great video. Question, do you know what your inverter idle consumption is? I want to buy the same inverter and cannot seem to find that information. Thank you!
How do you like the Emporia? i have one and have it hooked up to my mains coming in and my Solar, but since day one it has never matched what my Electric company sends me.... i spoke with them and did some calibrations and its better but TBH im not sure who is correct lol
My SolArk12 K says I use 500 kWh less per month average than what my power company was charging me monthly throughout the year. Interesting. It’s a merica, greed, corruption and lack of integrity prevail since 1607.
I like it! It reads fast. Ive moved things around and ct's around so mine reads incorrectly. I mainly wanted to read consuption quickly and know how much certain items were using AND how much load was either on the inverter or grid. This was before I got solar assist and was still using the growatt app. That app would only update every 5 min which killed me lol. Once I have everything set where I want it Ill reset it to see if it matches the utility bill.
Did you find when moving circuits that your romex wasn't long enough to move from the main panel to the subpanel? If so, what did you do to join them? ps. *boom* nice video.
If your subpanel is right next to the main panel like mine then you can just use wire nuts or the newer wago connectors to extend the wires. If the subpanel is somewhere else, then again use the connectors to extend romex. You are "supose" to put those connections inside a box.
@@AveRage_Joe it's a funky old house setup for me, in that the outside meter goes to an outside box with two breakers. A 50a to the ac compressor and 100a through the wall to the recessed main panel. It's kinda awesome as I can completely de-energize the main panel, but it does make things like monitoring the AC draw really hard. There is no sub-(sub?)panel yet and the wiring going into the main one is a hodgepodge of original "let's have a fire any day now wire" and a little recent romex. I guess if I put the sub panel beside, I'd need to feed the circuit being moved into a junction and wago it down to the subpanel with some extra romex, though no doubt some sparky will say "that's not to code' ;)
Not in reference to your connectivity, but more to your Emporia. I've noticed that your SCTs, the wire pigtail goes away from the breakers. On mine, they would face the breakers. How come your SCT's have the "L" facing towards the breakers? K = Source, L = Load. These are located on the bottom of the SCT. Also, are you using stock Emporia firmware, or have you relfashed it with ESPHome?
I decided to flip them all around like you have, and now they seem to be reading correctly. Not sure what the deal is there. Follow the instructions and they are wrong 😹
@@AveRage_Joe Mine has ESPHome installed. So when they were on the "correct" way, some of the sensors were reading 0W usage. Not sure why. I do recall in the dev notes that they made changes so that negative numbers wouldn't show up. Maybe this is why I missed that they needed swapping. Oh well. The Emporia firmware they worked just fine, if I remember correctly. Because I tested it before I did the work of getting it reflashed just in case.
@@AveRage_Joe so far so good. I just need to do a re-calibration on it to make the numbers more accurate, and also get some 20A SCTs to replace the 50A ones to get finer resolution. Baby steps though :)
@AveRage_Joe Nice work... nicely done!!! I only have 1 comment or suggestion on the position of the Growatt inverter doble pole breaker. By code (NEC Code that is), it is recommended that the Inverter breaker should be placed on the opposite side of the subpanel main breaker in order to comply with the 120% rule for loads on it. In that way, you can ensure that, if the subpanel is fully loaded (like yours seems to be) then any of the two power sources connected (grid or inverter) can power up to 120% of the original designed ampacity (current) of the lugs of this subpanel. Your subpanel is definitely smaller than the main panel and quite populated with your house loads, so - eventhough I don't know it's designed ampacity - this way I'm refering guarantees some additional amps (probably needed) on an power outage situation without damaging the lugs on the subpanel or causing an event because of an overcurrent situation. Hope this helps.... 👋👋👋
Please tell me you are not an electrical inspector... There is no "opposite side" of the sub panel main breaker. Suggest glasses or better understanding next time. > Unbelievable...
@@w8stral Please study NEC code before responding or giving an opinion... very DISRESPECTFUL by the way... 👎👎 I quote: "The NEC allows adding a back-feed breaker so that the current supply is up to 120% of the rating of the bus bar"...
No studying of NEC book will help you as you still believe WRONGLY the breaker setup is unbalanced. As I said, YOU need glasses and UNDERSTANDING which you STILL do not have as NEITHER is true of his setup. @@Songomx
Hey there, I want to send you an email, and ask some very specific questions about a sytem like your all in one cart build for my home office/project room or tiny shop. Would you mind if I sent the email. Thank you in advance.
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Hi Joe, Enjoyed you walk-through and it seems to me to be spot on. It appears you are monitoring your loads with CTs. Sometime in the future would you discuss your load monitoring scheme? Thanks, Howard
Hi, is the growatt still working with no problems and for how long have you been using it. My Genetry Solar inverter stopped working after 3 months without any obvious reason, and I am looking for a better quality inverter.
Yeah the Growatt is still running strong. Have had it running mostly 24/7 for the past few years. Few quirks but no major issues. I would buy it again no problem. Did gentry not cover anything under warrenty?
@AveRage_Joe I sent a message to their business phone with pictures ,then sent an email but i got no reply. Today , Sean made a video saying that he's experiencing some hard time. I think I'll buy the Growatt and forget about the GS inverter. BTW ! Thank you for your great videos
I'm so glad that I found your video. Because your scenario is exactly what I have in mind to do with main and sub panel to divide the breakers. Now, I know how to use main panel supply ac power to inverter. That is how inverter could auto switch over to the grid when battery is low or out. Plus, you explain the neutral and ground bar very clear. Thank you so much.
Awesome! Glad it was some help!🤘
Nice setup. I definitely want to start small, powering what I can and letting the grid handle the rest as I expand it.
Thanks! Yeah thats how I have been doing to. One piece at a time!🤘
Great walk through Joe. Very similar to how I have mine wired up.
Thanks and thanks for watching! Its crazy how many times I get asked😄🤘
@@AveRage_Joe that’s cause you didn’t waste hours and hours of time and. footage when you wired it all up…. 🤣🤣🤣
😆😆😆100% NAILED IT! Ive recorded long extensive projects before and had so much footage......didnt know where to start. Ive done it many times and always end up scrapping it🤷♂️
@@AveRage_Joe Yeah, unless you've done it, you really don't understand how much time and effort goes into making these videos, and the work it takes trying to shorten them down without losing any valuable info. Thanks again!
Looks great. I had to go from 20.6kWp to 31.6kWp with a 160kWh battery bank to make it through the winter in Ky. All electric home. Wood burner below 25F is needed on long cloudy spells. Love ❤️ our solar system and ZERO power bill!
Thanks! Yeah we need moar solar FO SHO lol. You all get a lot of ice storms over there? I feel like I see that. Or maybe just a few but bad ones? We also can burn wood if the gas ever quits but just fireplaces. Ill be zero billin someday🤠🤘
Typically a 1/4” of ice once every other year. Feb 2021, we had 3/4”. That is when I bought my first setup 400W! It just snowballed from there. OG 3/22.
Ahh ok. I knew I remembered hearing something about ice. Well Im glad to hear the snowball effect has gone so well!😆🤘
Hey, loved your commentary.....How one set out to do your set up.....Thinking about solar.....Every end of summer and in winter we have intermitten power outages.......hate them....wondering how to start with solar with battery bank...I have propane for heat....want to use solar for lights, fridge and or cook....what is the most efficient way.....so much info online.....true beginner...need some guidance....Thank you.
Thanks for the run down on your setup, also noted your Emporia, had mine a year and have enjoyed the raw data. 👍👍nerd out 🤤
Thanks and Thanks for watching! Yeah Ive had the emporia for a few months and like seeing the instant data and how much certain things draw! Love it!😆🤘
HOWdy A-R-J, ...
thanks
I have the "little" brother to your 12,000 watt Growatt ...
Mine is the GROWATT SPF 6000T DVM-MPV
& runs my entire home except, like you,
I did not wire my my 240 volt APPLIANCES to my SOLAR Circuit-Breaker PANEL
STOVE = 240 volt Electric ( comes in handy to SEE when the GRID has gone DOWN - the Digital CLOCK flashes 12:00 -LOL )
Clothes Dryer ( never used ) I dry my clothes with WIND & SOLAR ( on a CLOTHES-LINE ) LOL
Water-Heater ( used sparingly )
Pole-Barn = for my 240 volt WELDERS ( seldom Used )
Thanks for showing US Your SYSTEM & WIRING Connections
COOP
the WiSeNhEiMeR from Richmond,INDIANA
...
I had thought about a separate switch to provide the switching between inverter and utility power for critical loads. Including it in the sub panel is cheaper and easier. Did your utility company say anything or send out people when you started using less power? Have you had any code enforcement interaction? Great explanation - thanks.
I could have just ran the inverter wires to the top and remove the grid but wanted to be able to have both cause I need a way to power the sub panel when I do maintenance or turn off inverter for what ever reason. No havent had any utility peoples out or code enforcers. I had one utility guy looking for someones meter and he asked about the solar panels. I said it was not connected to utility and was a project.😆🤘
Looks like you need to reach out to an inverter company for another inverter to run your house if you need to do maintenance. Your house could run off that 12k 24/7 with grid assist when needed. The. You wouldn’t need the critical loads panel. Might help viewers who don’t want to add a whole other sub panel.
I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say. I do run off the inverter 24/7. If the batteries are low, then it goes into bypass mode. Maintenance does not mean inverter only. I personally test out a lot of other batteries, make videos ect...I need a way to put the house back on grid to do certain things.
Powering a sub panel is the best way that I know that allows charging from the grid and or bypass mode. You could install a reliance transfer switch box but then you only get so many circuits plus its a sub panel.
Dear Average, great video. Seems like you connect the Critical Load Panel to the utility through both a direct connection via the Main Panel OR through the split phase output of your Growwatt Inverter.
As I understand most of the all-in-one, grid connected (not grid tied*) inverters have a bypass capability which allows powering of the split phase output either from the inverter (batteries) OR from the utility inputs. At least this is how my MPP LV5048 works where you can set the priority of the source, either UTILITY, SOLAR or BATTERIES.
So you could save some complexity and just power your Critical Loads Panel directly from the Growwatt. Just a humble suggestion to use a block diagram or schematic to illustrate your dialog.
Just a thought and really enjoy the great channel !
*PS, my MPP LV5048 is grid connected, but not grid tied, so I cannot export power to the utility, I can only use utility power, but I'm guessing you knew that already.
I wouldn’t trust a box to pass through power to my critical loads. I have a 200A transfer switch that does that for me. Same with my 10kW LP generator, with 100A transfer switch.
So the growatt inverter also has pass through and we use that anytime there is no sun amd batteries are low. The reason the sub panel is connected this way is because that is how a sub panel is connected. I added an additional dbl pole breaker to power the sub panel as you would for adding a generator or another power source. Then of course adding the lockout. The great thing about having 2 ways to power the sub panel is if and when you need to turn off the inverter for maintenance. I can just switch the panel back to normal and turn off the inverter. Then switch it back off grid. I had planned on explaining that but assumed it was known and this was just a wiring connection video. I may do another to explain🤔🤘
I’m doing pretty much the same thing
Flipping over to grid power when batteries run low.
I’m currently knocking $100 a month off my central Florida power bill.
It started as a backup for storms and kinda got out of hand as far as money goes 😂😂😂
Are you flipping over manually on the panel or does your inverter have a transfer switch to auto switch for you? That is one thing I forgot to add in the video that the inverter switches over all by itself and only need to use the breakers if doing maintenance. Yeah we have shaved off quite a bit each year!!!😎🤘
@@AveRage_Joe
I’m running it through a generator switch.
Only one can run at a time.
I started with an Ecoflow delta pro with an expansion battery
Then I added a eg4 3000 watt and 3 batteries (eg4)
Not running the AC and stove and the most I’ve drawn is 1400 watts and usually 4/5 hundred watts is the usual.
Only had an overload when my daughter was visiting and she doesn’t grasp that blow dryer curling iron and a vacuum cleaner all going at once causes issues 😂😂😂
Can’t blame the equipment because she’s tripped the breaker more than once 😂
Now I switch to the grid when she’s visiting
❤️❤️ Love that! Goes back to grid when daugter is home lol. No truer words for all those devices!
Thanks for your straightforward lesson. That configuration will not return excess power to power company, right? I suppose in an offgrid context there is just the connection between panel and inverter?
No power can be sent back to grid. If you use the grid, its like plugging the inverter to the wall.
Good explanation. Given a little more time and more 💰 you’re self DIY project is moving forward. Going back over the last year you’ve done some work even building boxes and batteries. With that said I would say in another year 😊
Thanks! Yeah a little moar time and money and we will get it🤔😆😆😆🤘
@@AveRage_Joe Also your getting some good reviews done ✅ have you seen the quality of the products coming up. And it pushing the prices down. That’s helping everyone.
Yeah getting some reviews done as well. I keep getting requests for review but there are so many I have to turn them down. I wont ever get back to my build....but some I say yes to cause there pretty AWESOME!😆 So not only are some getting better, we are getting flooded with products which brings the price down. Everyone lowers there price to beat the next. So yeah, it is helping everyone!💥🤘
Hey man thank you so much for sharing this video! You’re a Godsend sir you clear a few doubts I had regarding where to connect the input and output from the Inverter and now I see what you did. My other question would be, instead of providing power to the Subpanel from the Main through the 60amp breaker, can I take it straight to the Grid slots (Sol-Ark Inverter has Grid, Gen, Load) and then of course the Load to my main since I want to energize the whole house?
I have the ACs and the pool inverter motor on a separate small subpanel on the roof and is connected to a 100amp breaker at the Main so I usually shut that off when I need to run the generator which is what I have at the moment but I really want to do this myself, with what you share and other videos, is fairly doable.
Im just trying to figure out what happened to the off-grid battery we were building that was never updated or completed. Now I don't see it mounted to the wall anymore.
We still have it and it is still mounted to the wall. We will get back to it here shortly. PROMISE💥🤘
I have a Homeline 2 phase panel, I’ll connect to and EG4 6000XP. It recommends a 63amp breaker. Can I connect it directly to my lugs and swap the 100amp breaker to a 63amp?
Thanks Joe, need to check the manual. On this one for Australia we have a Hot + Neutral + Ground on output. Ground and neutral bonded in 12000. Show you soon.
Neutral and ground are not bonded in the US 12kw. Only bond is in the main panel.🤘
@AveRage_Joe O.k. page 8 here shows bonding for 240 Volts which is common here, mate. Do you want to do setting next, Joe?
Like a inverter settings video?
@@AveRage_Joe That is the one, Joe.
YeSirr that will be an upcoming video!😆🤘
Interesting. I see the inverter creates its own neutral, which connects to the utility's neutral throughout the subpanel connection. Seems funky to me. In a power outage you could be creating a potential, right? Did you check code for that?
No potential that I am aware of. Its the same if you wire up a protran transfer switch panel. Shared neutral on that as well. My electrician buddy has the same setup and is also wired the same.🤘
I can understand why the inverter output needs to handle high current, but I thought the AC line going to the inverter would just be needed to sense the voltage and phase, so I don't understand why the AC line going to the inverter would need to be high current.
If you are connected to grid, the wires should be big enough for passthrough ( if batteries are low) and be able to charge the batteries.
Im powering electric double oven, range, 2 central air units total 4 tons, 3 fridges, 2 dehumidifiers, 2 deep freezers with this inverter. I have only overloaded it one time and it auto restarts usually the ac or I've that tripped it wont autostart. The ac waits 10 mins. My bypass is 50 amps because i dont charge from grid. So 50 amps aka 12,000 watts is all it will allow to bypass without faulting anyways. Here in Michigan with 12kw panels and 70kwh of battery i still have several cloudy days in in summer Where it will switch to bypass around 6 am and stay in bypass till noon or later depending on just how bad the overcast is then switch back to solar and run it through the night rinse repeat. My electric bill is usually north of $200 its now $30-60. One issue is 7kw solar isnt enough. Because of the battery voltage at 57 volt max usuall 48-55v u can only get 6 kw olfrom solar. Ao im adding an external charge controller so when the sun does pike its head out i can collect it faster. Like 200 amps @55vdc fast i hope. We'll see
Yeah this is pretty much exactly my boat but with less solar. Once I can get smoar solar Ill add the stove, AC and dryer back to the panel. I also have all the trees in the back yard which I Love and hate at the same time💁♂️🙄😆
What are your thoughts on this setup compared to using something like a Reliance Pro/Tran2 Transfer switch to control the home circuits between grid and off grid? I only have 8 critical loads to move and wondered if it would be a correct solution. Thanks Joe!
So my goal is to show and or "teach" all the ways to have power. Everyone has different needs and I understand that. If all you need is a few circuits then the protrans transfer switch is a great option. I also have one installed here but is a 6 circuit version so I can show how it works ect. It does cost a bit more but also allows you to connect up different sources of power. If you checkout ecoflows RUclips channel, I did an install video for them of the protran2 of the one here at the house. I am a supporter!
I see that it is an off grid inverter. The model is SPF12000tDVM according to your video 2 years ago when you got it.
Does your local utility require that it have UL 1741 certification? This is my obstacle to getting a Growatt, I am not sure that THIS model would pass inspection. If the grid power goes down I need to be 100% sure there is no leakage of current into my main panel. I understand there are other Growatts that do have the UL certification but they do not appear to be compatible with all batteries.
Joe I don’t know if this would work for you but why don’t you have a small panel at the inverter so you can switch from gen to utility easier I know it’s more of a hassle but it could help u switch over faster ?
Have you seen Ian @ watts 247 talking about the Growatt low frequency inverters? And how with grid input the can stress on a single leg of the system. He has stopped selling them. I have a 8K growatt and just use a transfer switch to power 10 breakers. I did not attach it to the grid only because I live in AZ and it's sunny almost every day. Thanks Joe.
Yeah I saw his video. How often does one lose a phase from the utility company. Ive never heard of it happening around here. Not saying it cant happen but not worried. Not sure what would happen on other inverters. Yeah in AZ Id probly be golden😲 I also have a CRAP TON of tall trees in my back yard and my panels wont see sun till 11:30🙄 Maybe I should put the panels in the front yard....🤭😆😆😆😆😆
I agree.i live in a town of 900 on 2 acre lots haven't seen a code enforce guy ever. So yes I put my panels on pole mounts I modified them to tilt and swivel. Front and back yard. My neighbors think they're big Starlink dishes lol... keep up with your channel Joe love the humor.
Lol Neighbors think they are starlink dishes!!! OMG thanks for that huge lol😆😆😆🤘
Indeed a little help AJ. I built a solar pergola, now I need to set up my inverter, my question is , why do you create a sub panel when you could just tune off the breakers to the large loads? I'm sure there a good answer, I just need to know why everyone I stalls a sub panel. Thank you man.
We setup another panel to power off the inverter. The main panel is for charging from grid or if batteries are low, the inverter can go into bypass mode. Main panel is also for items that the inverter cant power. Some people install a reliance panel instead. Both options are great.
Thank you for the response AJ, are you saying its not possible to have the main breaker panel and have the inverter feed the panel as well. How does this sound, I would move the main power from the utility to the inverter power in and the inverter power out would run t the main panel. I have a Hybrid 12kw inverter from Luxpower that has 4 mppts. and I have 48Kw of batteries that I have not assembled yet. They are still in boxes from the China distributor( OSO). I have 31 Longi bifacial panels that produce 550watt 48-51 v and 14amps. I was hoping the inverter would run the entire house, however in the event of a trip, I thought I would just go outside and turn off the breaker. AJ, when you install a sub panel, are you just running a jmper from the main panel from a specific breaker to the sub panel? Your not actually running a new cable from the appliance in question. Sry about the stupid questions.@@AveRage_Joe
Thanks for the detailed walk through... Good info
4:31... Why 2 #6 (Blk+Red) for power and only 1 #10 (Grn) for ground to the inverter ?
Thanks for watching! 2 #6's for 240vac power input is for passthrough mode and charging from grid if wanted. Manual says to use #6. Might be able to use #4 but I purchased the #6 from ebay at the same time as inverter. Also wasnt sure if #4 would fit at that time. The #10 is the normal size when using #6awg for loads. Can always use bigger tho.🤠🤘
Thank you for this video, Could you have replaces the subpanel with a 10 circuit transfer switch (Reliance 510a) ? So Line from electric panel go to the inverter, then from inverter to the Transfer switch, tranfter switch connect back to 10 Circuit on the panel.
Yeah you could do that for sure!!!😎🤘
@@AveRage_Joe Thank you
Hello,
Thanks for the video. Just to ask, if two inverters were already in parallel and you were to power the two inverters from the main, how would you do this? Would you take another hot (red + black) from a breaker and run it into the second inverter? Also, with the two hot wires from the main, will this make the total voltage 240v?
Thank you again!
Thanks! With inverters that can be paralled together, usually you have the hot black to inverter 1 and hot red to inverter 2. The paralleling kit that goes with the inverter allows it to work correctly along with a few settings. Which inverters are you using or thinking of using?
@@AveRage_Joe Thank you. Now I understand your response. So I'll have the hot black to inverter 1 and hot red to inverter 2. Then, each inverter will also have the neutral and ground? Also to clarify, I believe the two hot (red and black) will be 120v each, so, I will have to ensure my inverters is connected as split phase 120V. By the way, I'm using SRNE inverter.
Thank you again!!
@@AveRage_Joe I have two 10kWh batteries. One battery is an all-in-one with inbuilt 5.5KW inverter and the other battery and inverter are separate. Do you have any experience with Enphase system?
Hmm.. where is your earth connection coming from when you are out of grid power? Seems to me like you have connected your off grid ground to your main grid panel. I might be all wrong, since i am not sure on how the grid ground works in US, but in Sweden there will be no ground if the grid falls out. And there will be a wery strange 0 to ground floating voltage..
Earth is always connected. We have earth connected to a ground rod and water pipes. Those are connected to the main panel which is connected to the earth from utility. Sub panel earth is connected to main panel with the #6 green wire. Then as I mentioned in video, the earth is connected to the inverter with the #10 green wire.
QUESTION: Are those special electrically insulated gloves to protect yourself when working on electrical?
Where can they be purchased?
They are not anything special or electrically "insulating" per say but I LOVE them and use them every single day both for electrical and everything else. I get them from Menards locally for roughly the same price as amazon. Affiliate link -> amzn.to/44aLb1D
If your completely off grid can you charge your batteries with a generator through the inverter? The generator is wired to main breaker panel and can power the house when solar is low.
Yeah you can do that. I charged from my generator during an outage. Video is on my channel!
Were you scared the first time you added a breaker to your house box? 😂
YES 100% LOL
So, with your setup, if you lose power from the growatt for any reason (batteries die, solar insufficient, inverter fails etc) then your critical loads subpanel just goes dead completely? Until you access the panel and shut off the inverter breaker and power on the main breaker from utility power?
How could it be wired so that you automatically get utility power when solar/inverter is insufficient?
Great questions and Yes. For mine, if any of those fail. My sub panel goes ded. If you wanted to add another fail safe like another inverter and battery (cause I am assuming grid would also be out). You could add an auto transfer switch like I have done(not videoed yet) on the inverter output wires. Basically have 2 off-grid systems feeding the auto transfer switch and the output of the transfer switch goes to the sub panel. If your "main" off grid system fails, the auto transfer switch "switches" to the other. If the main comes back online then it switches back.😆🤘
P.S. I have a picture on my community page of the transfer switch. Its a cheap 240v 100a from amazon. Works great so far when testing.
Very informative video,
joe. For DIYer, it is a very professional job.
Thanks, this will help a lot of people.
Rudy
In Florida.
Thank You! Im sure I could have added another 10-20min lol. Hope it helps shed some light for people.🤘
2:04 What is that "Emporia" and the little CTs for?
I assume that is a smart meter system that measures power consumption of appliance?
YeSirr! Its a smart energy monitor I purchased a while back to track consumption and see how many actual watts things were using. I got the one with like 16 ct's so I can monitor all the things lol. Still have a few more to install. It works great to btw. Real time and is fast!
Pretty clean install minus the inverter entry, she would of been better with a box there just as a service loop. Those inverters don't last forever FYI ;)
Lol thanks😄 Ive had pretty good luck with the inverter since install a few years back. If it ever blows up then we just replace🫣🤠
Nice how much solar and size of battery you have with this setup? How long can you run with just battery.
Should the inverter be grounded to the panel, not to provide a ground, but to ground the inverter itself?
It is through the #10 green wire. That ground on the inverter is also grounded to the metal frame. Adding another case ground would just be adding another wire. You could and wouldnt hurt anything.
Hey looking for help and ideas. I was thinking of adding some wind to my growatt system. My initial thought is to run a 48 volt system and connect the mppt wind control right to the battery terminals in parallel with the growatt. But also thought about a 240 inverter and run it in on the grid port of growatt. I think the inverter would be to much loss since it would be inverted twice to charge batteries. Any thoughts or help would gladly be accepted.
You are correct for the 2nd option, to much waste. I would connect the wind gen controller to the batteries.
The panels’ wiring is very sexy!
Okay Peter🤣
Thank You!💥💥💥🤘
Great video! Interested in reviewing our POWERWIN BT100 1280Wh LiFePO4 Battery?
Question, Comment and concerns?
Question; you guys doing ok?
Comment; I appreciate you.
Concern; that there is a stale explosion about to happen for it was missing from this video
We are doing Fan Freakin Tastic!
Thank You!
I wanted to throw in a 💥 SOOO BAD LOL😆😆😆
"Don't forget to like that Smash Button" huh....lol
Dont forget🤞🤞🤞😆🔨👍
I have my Growatt powering my garage, runs our clothes washer and electric dryer. I need to connect the two panels so I can power more loads in the house but they are at opposite ends of the house, so I'm not sure how I'm going to do that and also keep the AC and electric over/stove on grid only, unless I install another panel next to the main.
Yeah you can just run some wires over there on that side of the house to a smaller sub panel. Leave the big items on the main panel and move the things over you want to power to the sub panel. You could also instal one of those transfer switch circuit breaker boxes. Its practically the same thing tho.
What are the white chokes or shunts on each of the leads? are you monitoring consumption on various devices?
Yeah those a ct clamps from the emporia energy monitoring system. I left that out so I didnt get to far off subject lol I purchased it a while back so I could track over time. It actually works fan freakin tastic and is real time. I do need to reset it since I moved a bunch of stuff around🙄😆
Hey Joe, When did you switch to a 250v Growatt vs the 150v 12Kw and why?
Does the growwat have a transfer switch in. So the generator lock out is not needed Just tell the growatt to switch between grid and inverter
Yeah the growatt has a transfer switch in it. Thats what I do if the batteries are low, just switch back to grid. The generator lockout is there so you dont accidentally turn both cb's on at the same time and if you ever need to do maintenance on your off-grid system you can easily switch everything back to grid while you do whatever it is your doing.😎
Question, why is the whole home suppressor I sub panel vs one in each since both can be powered by different sources (grid for main and when lockout active inverter for sub panel)?
Great question. Answer is there expensive lol😆 I may get one for the other panel unless I get more solar first🤔😄
Hey Joe, The one knock I have heard on split-phase inverters is that they have a high base consumption (i.e. if there is any load on the inverter, they soak up a relatively high amount of power to cover a modest A/C load). Do you have a good idea how much the inverters consume when running, and how much when in standby mode? Here in Maine we have net metering, so the only cost reason to add an inverter/battery setup is for backups. I am curious how much juice they drink when just standing by waiting for the grid to go down.
Thanks. -Rob
Yeah its mainly the big ass transformer thats inside this particular beast. The no load idle draw was about 150-155w if I remember right. Its been a few years lol. Really just depends on what you wanna do. There are more efficient inverters out there nowa days.
@@AveRage_Joe thanks much.
You Betcha!👊
Great info!
thx
Thank You and Thanks for Watching!!😎🤘
Nice job!
Thanks Man!🤘
You know, it just hit me, watching this video, that Joe looks SO MUCH like Rob Halford of Judas Priest. I was watching the video for Painkiller (released in 1990) and could not stop envisioning Average Joe jumping around on stage all clad in leather and studs. Come on, Joe, give us your best Rob Halford performance! At least put some metal studs on your gloves!
Thanks Joe, great video. Question, do you know what your inverter idle consumption is? I want to buy the same inverter and cannot seem to find that information. Thank you!
Thanks! I think I remember around 150watts idle from my old vid.🤘
Pretty clean, even if it would give a NFPA committee member a seizure. :)
Thanks! I think they would say Yep Looks Fan Freakin Tastic, turn around and walk away!🤞😲😆
How do you like the Emporia? i have one and have it hooked up to my mains coming in and my Solar, but since day one it has never matched what my Electric company sends me.... i spoke with them and did some calibrations and its better but TBH im not sure who is correct lol
My SolArk12 K says I use 500 kWh less per month average than what my power company was charging me monthly throughout the year. Interesting. It’s a merica, greed, corruption and lack of integrity prevail since 1607.
@@USA-GreedyMenOfNoIntegrity mine varies by the month but to be honest it reads low lol
I like it! It reads fast. Ive moved things around and ct's around so mine reads incorrectly. I mainly wanted to read consuption quickly and know how much certain items were using AND how much load was either on the inverter or grid. This was before I got solar assist and was still using the growatt app. That app would only update every 5 min which killed me lol. Once I have everything set where I want it Ill reset it to see if it matches the utility bill.
Did you find when moving circuits that your romex wasn't long enough to move from the main panel to the subpanel? If so, what did you do to join them? ps. *boom* nice video.
Good question! I'd hate to have to pull new Romex throughout my 110+ y/o house. (Though most of the wiring was redone in the 70s.)
If your subpanel is right next to the main panel like mine then you can just use wire nuts or the newer wago connectors to extend the wires. If the subpanel is somewhere else, then again use the connectors to extend romex. You are "supose" to put those connections inside a box.
@@AveRage_Joe it's a funky old house setup for me, in that the outside meter goes to an outside box with two breakers. A 50a to the ac compressor and 100a through the wall to the recessed main panel. It's kinda awesome as I can completely de-energize the main panel, but it does make things like monitoring the AC draw really hard. There is no sub-(sub?)panel yet and the wiring going into the main one is a hodgepodge of original "let's have a fire any day now wire" and a little recent romex. I guess if I put the sub panel beside, I'd need to feed the circuit being moved into a junction and wago it down to the subpanel with some extra romex, though no doubt some sparky will say "that's not to code' ;)
Good job. Nice and clean install. Now, the generator input would go to the GroWatt? And....what? No kitty? Come on man. Thanks for sharing
Thanks! Yeah we need a transfer switch for that ol genny lol. Yeah this was a quick video while my inspectors were sleeping😲😆🐈⬛🐈⬛
Not in reference to your connectivity, but more to your Emporia. I've noticed that your SCTs, the wire pigtail goes away from the breakers. On mine, they would face the breakers. How come your SCT's have the "L" facing towards the breakers? K = Source, L = Load. These are located on the bottom of the SCT.
Also, are you using stock Emporia firmware, or have you relfashed it with ESPHome?
I decided to flip them all around like you have, and now they seem to be reading correctly. Not sure what the deal is there. Follow the instructions and they are wrong 😹
Lol You got it figured out. So was yours reading all weird or what was it doing?
@@AveRage_Joe Mine has ESPHome installed. So when they were on the "correct" way, some of the sensors were reading 0W usage. Not sure why. I do recall in the dev notes that they made changes so that negative numbers wouldn't show up. Maybe this is why I missed that they needed swapping.
Oh well.
The Emporia firmware they worked just fine, if I remember correctly. Because I tested it before I did the work of getting it reflashed just in case.
Oh ok gotcha. How is the esphome working?
@@AveRage_Joe so far so good. I just need to do a re-calibration on it to make the numbers more accurate, and also get some 20A SCTs to replace the 50A ones to get finer resolution.
Baby steps though :)
@AveRage_Joe Nice work... nicely done!!! I only have 1 comment or suggestion on the position of the Growatt inverter doble pole breaker. By code (NEC Code that is), it is recommended that the Inverter breaker should be placed on the opposite side of the subpanel main breaker in order to comply with the 120% rule for loads on it. In that way, you can ensure that, if the subpanel is fully loaded (like yours seems to be) then any of the two power sources connected (grid or inverter) can power up to 120% of the original designed ampacity (current) of the lugs of this subpanel.
Your subpanel is definitely smaller than the main panel and quite populated with your house loads, so - eventhough I don't know it's designed ampacity - this way I'm refering guarantees some additional amps (probably needed) on an power outage situation without damaging the lugs on the subpanel or causing an event because of an overcurrent situation.
Hope this helps....
👋👋👋
Please tell me you are not an electrical inspector... There is no "opposite side" of the sub panel main breaker. Suggest glasses or better understanding next time. > Unbelievable...
@@w8stral Please study NEC code before responding or giving an opinion... very DISRESPECTFUL by the way... 👎👎
I quote: "The NEC allows adding a back-feed breaker so that the current supply is up to 120% of the rating of the bus bar"...
No studying of NEC book will help you as you still believe WRONGLY the breaker setup is unbalanced. As I said, YOU need glasses and UNDERSTANDING which you STILL do not have as NEITHER is true of his setup. @@Songomx
@@w8stral I'll just ignore you and your ongoing ramp of unrespectful comments...
Yes, your illinformed ignorant comments are VERY disrespectful@@Songomx
Whats your no load power consumption on this inverter
I think I remember around 150w
@@AveRage_Joe alright
@sharonstorm6306 alright
As always great content and thanks for sharing
Thanks and Thanks for watching!🤘
like
Thank You!!!😎🤘
I did prefer the time you were playing with batteries took from laptops. What you now show is 100% US things, so useless to me.
That was a great time! I learned so much during that time!
Hey there, I want to send you an email, and ask some very specific questions about a sytem like your all in one cart build for my home office/project room or tiny shop. Would you mind if I sent the email. Thank you in advance.
Sure go ahead. 👍
Nice job!
Thanks Man!🤘