Update: The absolute maximum voltage open circuit of the 18K is 600V. Compare to sol ark 15K which is 550V max. And get this! Current Connected is doing pre-orders for the EG4 18K (affiliate link): www.currentconnected.com/product/eg4-18kpv/?ref=wp You can buy 18K direct from signature solar here: signaturesolar.com/eg4-18kpv-hybrid-inverter-all-in-one-solar-inverter-eg4-18kpv-12lv/?ref=cPwLcVc0SW-BjN&PV-product-launch& If you need a sol ark 15K, buy it from current connected: www.currentconnected.com/product/sa-15k/?ref=wp If you need a budget friendly 48V system, go here: www.mobile-solarpower.com/48v-complete-system-blueprint.html *Does off-grid solar confuse you?* Check out my DIY friendly website for solar system packages and product recommendations, and so much more! www.mobile-solarpower.com *Join our DIY solar community* #1 largest solar forum on the internet for beginners and professionals alike: www.diysolarforum.com *Check out my Book* Best-selling and beginner-friendly guide to 12V off-grid solar! amzn.to/2Aj4dX4 If DIY is not for you, but you love solar and need an offgrid system, check out Tesla Energy! They will price out a system and get your house offgrid: ts.la/william57509 *My DIY Solar Equipment Recommendations (Constantly updated! Check here first):* 12V/48V Lithium Solar Batteries: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-batteries.html Complete Solar System Component Directory: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solarcomponents.html Complete 48V System Blueprint: www.mobile-solarpower.com/48v-complete-system-blueprint.html Plug-N-Play System Recommendations: www.mobile-solarpower.com/full-size-systems.html Complete "Add to Cart" 48V System Kits: www.mobile-solarpower.com/complete-48v-solar-kits.html DIY Friendly Air Conditioner/ Heat Pumps: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-friendly-air-conditioners.html *My Favorite Online Stores for DIY Solar Products:* *Signature Solar* Offgrid One-Stop-Shop. Best Value 48V LiFePO4, Victron and Offgrid Specific Heat Pumps: www.signaturesolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek *Current Connected* SOK, Victron, Mr.Cool Heatpumps and High Quality Components. Fantastic customer support: currentconnected.com/?ref=wp *Litime* My favorite 12V budget battery!: www.litime.com/?ref=XBIA62RFcalHns *Epoch Batteries* My favorite high-quality 12V battery: www.epochbatteries.com/products/12v-460ah-lifepo4-battery-ip67-heated-bluetooth-victron-comms?rfsn=7352625.50494d *Renogy* A classic 12V solar store that has been around for ages! DC to DC Chargers and more! renogy.sjv.io/n1VjXx *Rich Solar* Renogy's biggest competitor! Similar products, but at a better price: richsolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek *Battery Hookup* Cheap cell deals bit.ly/2mIxSqt 5% off code: diysolar *Contact Information:* I am NOT available for personal solar system consult! If you wish to contact me, this is my direct email: williamprowsediysolar@gmail.com Join the forum at diysolarforum.com/ if you wish to hang out with myself and others and talk about solar *FTC Disclosure Statement and Disclaimers:* Every video includes some form of paid promotion or sponsorship. Some links on this youtube channel may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these. My videos are for educational purposes only. Information is subject to change/update at any time. Electricity is DANGEROUS and can kill. Be smart and use common sense :) DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Sol-Ark is flattered that Luxpower has imitated our revolutionary hybrid inverter design, but to suggest that a cheaper inverter is also a better inverter is inaccurate. AC power is more important than DC power, and Sol-Ark provides 25% more daytime AC power critical for those heavy HVAC and well pumps. On the DC side, either way, the batteries get full on sunny days for well-designed systems. That's a long ways towards that price difference right out of the gate, before getting into MPPT comparison. On that note, the MPPT are very different (~50% more for Sol-Ark). Getting to 18kW on the Luxpower is very difficult, requiring maxing out the MPPT which can trigger temperature design concerns on cold sunny days. Whereas it's easy to max out the Sol-Ark PV capacity due to its full sized MPPTs, even without expensive, premium solar modules. Which begs the question - what solar module configuration did Luxpower use to validate its 18kW claim? Can they show any long term endurance testing to verify that specification? Perhaps Will can do his own testing but the video only goes up to ~14kW. Other technical issues - charge/discharge efficiencies are worse and the certifications don't match Sol-Ark - which has UL9540 2020 and UL1741SB options on the market today as required in California and most of the USA grid-tied market next year, and necessary for those utility battery incentives to improve the ROI. Sol-Ark is proud to be the leader in the hybrid inverter. There are many imitations coming out daily, but only one, true original setting the standard. Also - Best-in-class is not just about engineering, innovation and R&D, but it is in the people and treatment of our customer-base. We're now moving into a 300,000 sq. ft. campus sized for 500 employees in our Texas headquarters.
@@Sol-Ark just learned last night about the increased AC output when solar available on the forum last night. Did not know that at all! I posted the spec after I found it. And fortress power seems to be the first imitation. Not eg4. Yes, we will see what listings they will have and how well the support is. I have no idea at this point. I love the competition though! We need more options in the market, for sure. You guys are the leaders in this space 😁 I'm surprised they didn't imitate every specification. Doesn't seem that hard to do. Love what you guys do and have a lot of happy viewers running your units! I don't think I have a single forum member to have complained about your support, either. It will be interesting to see how these other companies will compare. Do you have any plans to lower prices in the future? I assume you guys sell predominantly to installers, but I could be wrong. I feel like the luxpowers and others coming out will be more popular for direct to consumer. I can't wait to see people compete with the 18K in the next year. Perhaps voltronic will come out with something even better. By the way, I sell all of my sol arks through current connected, and they are fantastic! I am glad you work with them.
@@Sol-Ark and yes I need some more strings. They are saying it can go up to 600VDC on the input. I have a lot of viewers that want a sol ark but simply can't afford it and instead buy the lv6548 clones. For $2,999, it's not bad. Not code compliant in some areas but they are cheap and get the job done. Could sol ark make a off-grid specific unit to compete with the lv6548 clones? That would be so cool!! The more competition the better
@@pvbatts there are some variation between all of the models but I'm not sure yet to what extent. They are saying they can have the VOC up to 600 on the EG4 version. I know there are some differences with the fortress power version as well. I put 500 in the video because that's what they recommend is the working voltage. Some of the official documents are not consistent though so let's see what they have when they are listed.
My thought exactly. I bought a Sol Ark and I still would even if this had been out. It’s been rock solid. Specs mean noting if the unit dies or glitching constantly.😊😊
@@NeverTakeNoCut-offs been running a 8kw deye, 15kw solark and this 12kw luxpower. and hands down luxpower is the best value. and the solark has more issues than the others, its very sensitive to unbalanced loads.
@@alexandermoore6027 I have had my Sol Ark for over a year and never once had an unbalanced load issue, and I have had some very heavy loads on it. Of course I designed my system based on the published specification and best wiring practices and use the most recent firmware. It's a non-issue for me.
can't help but love your content and break downs, that help with understanding what the upside and down sides to all units you show. Really helps when it comes to is this unit for me and my use. And made me realize that what I needed and didn't need depending on application use. Keep the hits coming... love your channel. So very very helpful!!!
Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad to hear that my videos have been helpful in understanding different units and their applications. The Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series could be a great addition to your outdoor gear. Its massive capacity, fast recharging, and waterproof technology make it a reliable choice for camping and home backup power. Keep exploring and enjoying your outdoor adventures!
So I've been doing a lot of research and I found this video to be very informative. I really like all the features on this system, it's got evening I'm looking for and then some. And for the $$ I haven't seen anything else that beats it. I personally don't care about customer support. I've been in IT for +25y & elevator mech for 11y before that and I don't ever call tech support.
I've been testing this 18k unit for over a week now it's working great And soon I will be able to provide tech support for the 18k units we sell And we will answer the phone. Great video keep up the good work.
Will, I am blown away at your technological capabilities as well as your impeccable communication ability. I'm in Pahrump which is about an hour away from you in Sin City. I'm off grid here with (2) EG4 6500's with (28) 445 watt Eversolar panels all acquired via Signature Solar. Should be up and running in a few days if all is good w/o needing firmware updates. Much of the installation procedures are followed by your incredible input and I thank you very much for what you do for us, your followers.
A friend of mine who's a heavy hauler he's been Heavy Hauling for many years moved to Pahrump from San Diego. Paul is his name now I can't remember his last name dang it. Anyway enjoy your solar. Sure is amazing stuff I wish I was a little bit better at doing it slowly but surely I guess. I can't believe how good most of these DYI peeps are doing😊
@@VinceBadovinatz88 Small world indeed, eh? I drove 18 wheelers for about 10 years 48 states & Canada back in the mid 70's thru mid 80's. Retired now and been prepping for years for what's to come. Stay safe and hope you can become totally self sustaining.
Well that looks very promising, enough to look after our house and I can start with Net 0 and add batteries in future for backup, much much better than the micro inverters option our solar providers are using (we are less than a kilometre from the ocean and here in Vancouver BC with all that salt moisture etc not friendly to micro inverters), great review and again a great product, UL/CSA it is a no brainier, totally awesome! Thanks Will, you bring such a great resource to alternate energy!!! Keep it up!
This looks like something many people are waiting for, lets see how it goes "in the wild" for a few months, if it proves reliable it'll be a big seller !!! I'm using SMA Sunny Island/Boy which has been flawless for the last 5 years, hopefully they have a good recipe here !!!
Buyer beware! Be very careful when buying from Signature solar. I purchased a system weeks ago and I'm still sitting on hold with them daily to try to resolve simple issues. I'm not going to complain but please be vigilant, verify... verify... verify if you buy a system from them. Will good vid as usual!
Think this will push me over the edge to build my first system. I was worried about code compliance and simplicity of design of alot of older units , I think this paired with eg4 server rack and 12kw Canadian bifacials will be the ticket!
@John Dawkins yeah, signature solar said they submitted all the released info and testing for approval. But I'm sure california will take their time and I know the "standards" for those tests being qualified are stupid strict.
@@bschmitty77 thanks. I’m glad to hear that at least the process has started. Unfortunately, we do take forever in California. I’ll hope for good news. If you hear any updates, please reply again. Thanks!
@@bschmitty77 I’ve been in contact w SDGE and Signature Solar the last week trying to get this and the batteries on the CEC list. We are still waiting on SS to provide the testing for the inverter to the contact I have at SDGE and then they will submit. Frustrating, and maybe a bit of a red flag, that SS isn’t eager to provide that. That opens up a bunch of business as soon as these are CEC approved.
I am currently setting up an EG4 18KPV and just wanted to report my experience so far with EG4 support, I have made 2 calls and have received great support with very short wait times so far, I just wanted to put that out there if anything changes I will post it up. Depending on how this goes I may be buying a second to be able to use Solar and Battery as my primary source (right now I am setting it up as a critical load panel setup only) with grid for back up under extreme load scenario's (it's in a very large house) but we will see, this is my first solar setup (I do have prior residential electrician experience so can't really comment on the DIY end, it could be a bit daunting I suppose but for me it has been pretty simple), so still experimenting.
I just bought two batteries and the 18k. I’m praying I can use your videos to get my system up and running. My plan is to use a generator to recharge daily, while I’m trying to decide if I need to invest in solar panels. I’m in west central Illinois right on the Mississippi River at lock and dam 19.
That thing looks really nice and well built. And it's the first one on the channel where when you show what you're doing on the display, it actually just makes immediate sense to me. Good signs.
I took the Upgrade option. Traded in 2x 6000EX for an 18Kpv. I'm glad I did. The new inverter does every thing. I especially like the sealed electronics and imbalance issues are way better. Setting up the 18K was easy. Getting the batteries set up to work was not. I had issues setting this up with my EG4 batteries. Hunting for Battery Firmware for a mixed generation to communicate with each other and upgrading was a nightmare. Inverter: 18Kpv Battery: LL-s, LL-V1, LifePower4
As always good video Will. You are one of the lucky few who have been able to get their hands on this thing! I’ve heard a lot of complaints about EG4 inverter software issues. Seems like a lot of people have been burned by them before. I love their 48v lithium V2 batteries though. Hopefully they have solved the software issues.
Thx Will, I finally found the best way to setup my ultimate solar system. The EG4 18K-PV plus 4 Discover AES 42-48-6650 (each battery has 6,650 amp hour) no system can beat this type of combo.
In Texas it does not currently pay to grid tie as those electric plans are much more expensive. But this seems viable for back up power and select off grid power to split system hvac and EV. Ready to get going. Thanks for your thorough instructions.
This inverter looks very encouraging. Can't wait to see your follow up videos after a few weeks of use. For your next video, can you also look into neutral ground bonding for this device to make sure it's configured correctly for various connection use cases (offgrid, on-grid/grid tied etc).
Awesome , finally something that just works. This looks ideal for my shop and it should run my AC, lighting tools and possibly my air compressor as well.
Hey Will, great informative video as always! The only comment here is in minute 8:25 where you explain the CT positions. The manual actually says the arrows should be pointing toward the inverter.
Will, they need to put you on retainer, as you're doing the field testing work for them. Pointing out the problems with their earlier products and the improvements that will make them better and easier to use. I save your videos so when I get time I'll use them as a buying and setup guide for the system I need. Thank you.
Software HUI is remarkably similar to the Sol-Ark. As you mentioned, the gripe I have about the Sol-Ark 15k is the amount of room in the wiring area. Also, to use the SA as the grid connect a 200A service panel needs a minimum of 2/0 copper, but SA's punchouts are 1.5". They should have been 2" due to the NEC conduit filling percentage rules. Forget about trying to use 4/0 aluminum.
You are spot on correct about that but I have been able to get the 15K installed with 2/0 DLO cable on the output and 2/0 THHN on the input. IF you want to save $$$ by using the 4/0 Aluminum it might be beneficial to mount a distribution block in a large wire duct (gutter) under the inverter and just use a short run of 2/0 THHN up to the inverter.
@@MrWatlow Good point. After I did my first one, it occured to me I could run the aluminum 4/0 to a Polaris and go 2/0 copper from there. Too late, but at least that and your thought are possibilities.
sounds like a great upgrade for those of us who originally built string inverter systems before there were any offgrid/hybrid options for grid connected systems. Any panel adds at this point would kill my NEM 1 agreement with utilities. But in the meantime, I could add this, add battery, and when the time is right (after NEM agreement expires) I can add more panels, and handle fully electric home needs plus EV. Thanks.
Most homes have a 200A panel - the 18K will be so easy to install. It's one less box on the wall. Remove the 200A from the Panel - attach 18K output - back to panel. Done Very Simple. The LV6548 - are so much harder to wire on 240V side. You almost always need a sub panel.
I am shocked! I expected this unit to have the same issues as the eg4 8kexp-240. So glad you were willing to give this a try after you had so many issues with the other eg4. Thank you!
Really hope to see self consumption working on this inverter. I can’t sell to grid in my area but would like to power loads in main panel if critical loads are met and there is excess PV or battery.
Wow, solar has evolved. My LV6548’s are doing their job(thanks to you) and don’t really have complaints but when I move, these may be sold or left behind. I may be looking at my next inverter. Great job on your review as always.
Most inverters don't like standard generators because the phase drifts as the generator speeds up and slows down, they call instead for an Inverter generator. I think that Sol-Ark can charge from a standard generator. Can you test the EG4 18KPV's standard generator compatibility?
Have you considered connecting an EG4 48V 100A chargeverter directly to the battery. It is designed to work with generators. It would essentially perform the same.
@@lunatik9696 only problem I see using a charverter is if the inverter has software to monitor charging and usage of the battery, you just took that out of the picture by charging from the side.
The way the Solark handles the generator input is incredibly stupid. It is supposed to be one of the better ones which makes me wonder how bad and awful the other inverters are.
If its California compliant, you know it's good. This is the unit a lot of us have been waiting for. I never liked the hybrid units a few years ago, because the cheap ones were sketchy and the good ones were crazy expensive and ran at low PV voc. Having such a high PV voltage and several mppt's is so useful, and with the panels on the market, you can size it cheaply and easily. P.s. they have a lot of "refurbished" units a year later. For around the same price as a 12kpv that's brand new.
Yeah, I was going back and forth between the 2(18k and 6500's). It's my first jump into solar for the house. I'll spend the extra and have the options. I'm like you Will, I hate the phone trying to get help, I'll figure it out. sig has some really good PV pallet deals. Go big or go home? Eh...it's better than Solar City for sure...
In your next video about this can you talk about what you can do if you have more than the 12kpv to charge? For instance if you have 2 server rack tower banks and 30kpv and want to charge faster than 12k. A side question: is there a limit on how much you can sell to the power company where you live? Do other areas have limits?
You hit the nail on the head with the support issues with signature solar. Sadly, their support has gone from really good to horrible in the past year. The reality is none of this stuff is plug-and-play or perfect and you have issues here and there and will need support. I have been waiting a literally a month for a case on a 6500 from them. It is a sad situation because they are the cheapest around but their support is god awful today.
Solark has the same problem. They used to be great now they're beyond awful. To the point where the Solark support guy gas lights you, ignores what you're telling and showing him. I guess Idiocracy is a sign of the times.
I actually drove to signature solar while on business in Texas and visited SS in person. I was treated very professionally, and several hours of questions were adequately responded to. They were also very honest and upfront about manual issues with the 8k and so on. I suspect the "support" issue rises if you find a firmware issue, or need something an actual engineer building the stuff has to address. I was not under the impression they built these here, and I imagine part of that $3k difference (emp protection?) Is access to the people who construct and engineer the systems if needed.
Just ordered a 16 k array with eg4 6500 ex times 2 from signature solar. I credit Will for the knowledge and training to take this project on. Will, do a segment on insurance/ power company contracts etc. My system is gonna be off grid and uninsured.
The specs for this says that "in case of power outage, this can be used for backup power without use of solar". I assume this means that in the event of grid failure, it does not automatically (with an ATS) cut the grid connection so solar is unavailable. Can I reinstate the solar connection with a manual transfer switch so I can use solar/battery if the grid goes down?
My FL utility raised its kWh rates to $0.11 for the 1st 1000 kWh then $0.13 over 1000 kWh each month for residential. Raised about 1 penny. You guys are tough out west paying those high rates.
If you hook two of these up in parallel can you send 24kW to the grid or batteries? 500A? How many EG4 batteries can each each 18K be connected to? Thanks!
What a great video. What a great product I hope the long-term is great. There's no way I can afford it right now but if it's a great product long-term I want to get one. What a great idle consumption. I have to watch the video again I can't quite remember or understand how much PV input you need to make it run. It seemed like that was rather High. That could be one downfall for people that don't have a million panels. I'll have to recheck it or if somebody has time they can let me know in a comment. Very impressive . N once again i really love your video presentations.😊😊
Wish the EG4 6500's I have had an interface like this one. Looks like alien writing from the movie predator. Glad they got to the year 2023 with this model interface.
I have learned so much from you and have built my own system, choosing the parts carefully based on the information I learned. I love your fair and analytical approach testing and sharing information. Don't let others affect you negatively, I think in those cases they might be trying to rise to your level by posing a false strength. The sad part is they could never reach it and perhaps that fear manifests as negativity 💪 Thank you again!
This looks like the all-in-one inverter I've been waiting for to run my entire house. My daily consumption is 20-30kWh and I would like to tap into the grid to charge up the batteries during off-season if needed based on cloudy days. No sub panel needed? Run entire main breaker panel with a single inverter? Count me in!
@xLifeOnTheRoadxLOL My house is nearly 4000 sq ft and all electric. In January and February here in Ohio, I pull four to five thousand kilowatts per month. The minimum I've seen is 1500 kilowatts in one month. With an average of only four peak sun hours per day and an electric rate of 11 cents per kilowatt-hour, it would take me thirty years to pay off a system.
@LOTR A 2500 Square foot house need heating and cooling. 8-10kWh can be expected daily when the temperature outside match the temperature inside. What gets me up to the 20-30kWh is also from charging an EV that has a 60kWh battery. Food for thought: Driving 50 miles on it equates to roughly 11kWh of daily consumption EXTRA on top of what the entire house uses. Gas here is California is 4.5 $/gallon and electricity is 0.42 $/kWh Basically an energy efficient EV cost the same in electricity as a Toyota Prius costs in Fuel.
Question on inputs. My understanding is you can use micro inverters with the sol-ark and run 240v into the generator input. Can the new EG4 do that? Second is that the optimum way to maximize the solar panels?
hey look inside on the boards, I am curious if all these really are the same - LUX, Deye, sol Ark, Fortress Envy, EG4, gro watts version - yes see software different some. the box, and other components on outside look similar.
Hey Mr. Will, Love your videos, super helpful. I bought the 18K and thought I would let you know the issue I was having. I have a Generac generator hooked up to the inverter and turns out that the dry contacts will not change state when the power shuts off without a battery bank in the mix. I don't have my batteries installed yet so my inverter will not fire up my generator during a power loss. Signature solar tried and didn't get it done so I called EG4 and they tried with no success. The tech said he was going to get with R & D to put that in the next firmware. They were supposed to get back to me and never did. I just bought all my solar cells and Overkill bms units, so I will probably get the battery bank in before they fix it. Just FYI.
The only other difference I know of is being able to use the generator input as an output dump, which could be great for off grid for a secondary water heater, etc.
Jeff Sowers for off-grid only setups, you would use the "grid" inputs as your generator input. This frees up your generator input to be repurposed through software to output power only when your batteries reach a pre programed state of charge. Once the sun goes down this output will shut off.
Super thanks for the video particularly the programing demo the manual is good but it's so much better watching some one work the interface. I am now installing my 18K but being a inverter newbie it's taking some time to get to know this piece of hardware / software and more info is good info.
I currently have a Generac generator with its automatic transfer switch, would like to instal grid-tie system and and just connect battery until generator kicks in, it would be so helpful if you do a video of doing something like this, if it’s possible.
Thank you it's amazing the technology that is constantly coming out this is more information to consider when setting up an off grid system thank you for sharing this six stars
At the 13:08min mark you speak about the load coming from the battery and then the remainder is coming from the grid. Can you setup this system where the first phase load comes from the sun, then the battery and then finally the grid? We pay about 50 cents per kwh. This is why I am asking this. We would like to use the sun energy the most and then the battery and then the grid? The sol-ark does this but does the EG4 do it too?
As a retiring educator, I am most impressed with your work, and your abilities. That said, if we have a unique scenario, we are thinking about doing in our lives, is there a way to communicate with you about that? Fee set up? Friendly help? I’m sure you’re quite busy. Anyway, thank you for your time.
Hi Will, love your videos. Have you considered making a video on how to run an evaporative cooler on DC. I live in West Texas and evaporative coolers are still being used. Also, could this be economical to the average person living off grid.
Sound should be measured in 1 meter distance. Nice video as always 👍 You can probably set it to "Zero export to CT" and will automatically get your meter to stay at zero.
Now for the important question. Which system will integrate with Home Assistant and which will never require connection outside my local network, ie the cloud. Thanks for the great video.
Hi Will, thanks for all tbe great videos. In the comparison to the Sol Ark at the end, it's worth noting that the Sol Ark 15K has a 15kW inverter, but the 18K PV only has a 12kW inverter. Per kW, the Sol Ark is still slightly more expensive, but not as much as this comparison would suggest.
It's the exact same setup as Fortress has it, we actually just did 8 of them in tandem on a project in Virginia, including 8 Fortress energy fault batteries
How would this compare to a victron Quattro 15k? Seems about the same price not saying this new eg4 isn't a good deal... but for $5200, you can buy a victron.
Sure would be nice if both this and SolArk could take 4/0 for the grid input. The wiring from our meter to the breaker box 200a is 4/0 aluminum. So, we would have to upgrade to 2/0 copper.
@@keything8487 Well yeah - but that's something like 20 feet of three copper runs from our meter to the breaker box. If these took 4/0 aluminum I would be a cheaper install. Minutiae I know but still.
Transition from aluminum to copper at the external disconnect - a common AHJ requirement. Don't like the cost of copper? Well do your projects now cuz its only going to get worse :^P
Great content Will. I'm amazed on how hybrid inverters have evolved in the last 12 months. Can this unit operate as a 240v single phase system if you love outside United States? Thanks again.🙂
Question regarding pass-through: When the house load exceeds the AC output of the inverter (supply from battery or solar or both), does the inverter passthrough the grid completely? Or does the inverter passthrough only the incremental power from grid? Example: If house load goes from 10kw to 17kw, will it passthrough all of the 17kw from grid? or just the additional 5kw from grid (17kw load - 12kw output rating) . Thank you
Update: The absolute maximum voltage open circuit of the 18K is 600V. Compare to sol ark 15K which is 550V max.
And get this! Current Connected is doing pre-orders for the EG4 18K (affiliate link): www.currentconnected.com/product/eg4-18kpv/?ref=wp
You can buy 18K direct from signature solar here: signaturesolar.com/eg4-18kpv-hybrid-inverter-all-in-one-solar-inverter-eg4-18kpv-12lv/?ref=cPwLcVc0SW-BjN&PV-product-launch&
If you need a sol ark 15K, buy it from current connected: www.currentconnected.com/product/sa-15k/?ref=wp
If you need a budget friendly 48V system, go here: www.mobile-solarpower.com/48v-complete-system-blueprint.html
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*Renogy*
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Sol-Ark is flattered that Luxpower has imitated our revolutionary hybrid inverter design, but to suggest that a cheaper inverter is also a better inverter is inaccurate.
AC power is more important than DC power, and Sol-Ark provides 25% more daytime AC power critical for those heavy HVAC and well pumps. On the DC side, either way, the batteries get full on sunny days for well-designed systems. That's a long ways towards that price difference right out of the gate, before getting into MPPT comparison.
On that note, the MPPT are very different (~50% more for Sol-Ark). Getting to 18kW on the Luxpower is very difficult, requiring maxing out the MPPT which can trigger temperature design concerns on cold sunny days. Whereas it's easy to max out the Sol-Ark PV capacity due to its full sized MPPTs, even without expensive, premium solar modules. Which begs the question - what solar module configuration did Luxpower use to validate its 18kW claim? Can they show any long term endurance testing to verify that specification? Perhaps Will can do his own testing but the video only goes up to ~14kW.
Other technical issues - charge/discharge efficiencies are worse and the certifications don't match Sol-Ark - which has UL9540 2020 and UL1741SB options on the market today as required in California and most of the USA grid-tied market next year, and necessary for those utility battery incentives to improve the ROI.
Sol-Ark is proud to be the leader in the hybrid inverter. There are many imitations coming out daily, but only one, true original setting the standard. Also - Best-in-class is not just about engineering, innovation and R&D, but it is in the people and treatment of our customer-base. We're now moving into a 300,000 sq. ft. campus sized for 500 employees in our Texas headquarters.
@@Sol-Ark just learned last night about the increased AC output when solar available on the forum last night. Did not know that at all! I posted the spec after I found it.
And fortress power seems to be the first imitation. Not eg4.
Yes, we will see what listings they will have and how well the support is. I have no idea at this point.
I love the competition though! We need more options in the market, for sure. You guys are the leaders in this space 😁 I'm surprised they didn't imitate every specification. Doesn't seem that hard to do.
Love what you guys do and have a lot of happy viewers running your units! I don't think I have a single forum member to have complained about your support, either. It will be interesting to see how these other companies will compare.
Do you have any plans to lower prices in the future? I assume you guys sell predominantly to installers, but I could be wrong. I feel like the luxpowers and others coming out will be more popular for direct to consumer. I can't wait to see people compete with the 18K in the next year. Perhaps voltronic will come out with something even better.
By the way, I sell all of my sol arks through current connected, and they are fantastic! I am glad you work with them.
@@Sol-Ark and yes I need some more strings. They are saying it can go up to 600VDC on the input.
I have a lot of viewers that want a sol ark but simply can't afford it and instead buy the lv6548 clones. For $2,999, it's not bad. Not code compliant in some areas but they are cheap and get the job done.
Could sol ark make a off-grid specific unit to compete with the lv6548 clones? That would be so cool!! The more competition the better
@@pvbatts there are some variation between all of the models but I'm not sure yet to what extent. They are saying they can have the VOC up to 600 on the EG4 version. I know there are some differences with the fortress power version as well. I put 500 in the video because that's what they recommend is the working voltage. Some of the official documents are not consistent though so let's see what they have when they are listed.
@@Sol-Ark what does sol ark think about the fortress power version of this unit? It's been out for a while now.
THIS is what I have been waiting for. Please, oh please, let this thing be reliable.
My thought exactly. I bought a Sol Ark and I still would even if this had been out. It’s been rock solid. Specs mean noting if the unit dies or glitching constantly.😊😊
@@NeverTakeNoCut-offs been running a 8kw deye, 15kw solark and this 12kw luxpower. and hands down luxpower is the best value. and the solark has more issues than the others, its very sensitive to unbalanced loads.
@@alexandermoore6027 What size loads are running on the Solark? My maximum load is is 7kw, but I still worry about the load balance on the 15kw.
Had my solark 15k for 8 months now and it's already got like 13 MWH through it.
@@alexandermoore6027 I have had my Sol Ark for over a year and never once had an unbalanced load issue, and I have had some very heavy loads on it. Of course I designed my system based on the published specification and best wiring practices and use the most recent firmware. It's a non-issue for me.
can't help but love your content and break downs, that help with understanding what the upside and down sides to all units you show. Really helps when it comes to is this unit for me and my use. And made me realize that what I needed and didn't need depending on application use. Keep the hits coming... love your channel. So very very helpful!!!
Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad to hear that my videos have been helpful in understanding different units and their applications. The Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series could be a great addition to your outdoor gear. Its massive capacity, fast recharging, and waterproof technology make it a reliable choice for camping and home backup power. Keep exploring and enjoying your outdoor adventures!
That is the cleanest and easily accessible cabinet I've seen so far. Must been a dream to work on.
so easy
So I've been doing a lot of research and I found this video to be very informative. I really like all the features on this system, it's got evening I'm looking for and then some. And for the $$ I haven't seen anything else that beats it. I personally don't care about customer support. I've been in IT for +25y & elevator mech for 11y before that and I don't ever call tech support.
I've been testing this 18k unit for over a week now it's working great And soon I will be able to provide tech support for the 18k units we sell And we will answer the phone. Great video keep up the good work.
Do you sell complete packages
@@jeffsowers1290 yes
Remember adding a dorm fridge to a camper?
lol 😂 love this content!
Will, I am blown away at your technological capabilities as well as your impeccable communication ability. I'm in Pahrump which is about an hour away from you in Sin City. I'm off grid here with (2) EG4 6500's with (28) 445 watt Eversolar panels all acquired via Signature Solar. Should be up and running in a few days if all is good w/o needing firmware updates. Much of the installation procedures are followed by your incredible input and I thank you very much for what you do for us, your followers.
A friend of mine who's a heavy hauler he's been Heavy Hauling for many years moved to Pahrump from San Diego. Paul is his name now I can't remember his last name dang it. Anyway enjoy your solar. Sure is amazing stuff I wish I was a little bit better at doing it slowly but surely I guess. I can't believe how good most of these DYI peeps are doing😊
@@VinceBadovinatz88 Small world indeed, eh? I drove 18 wheelers for about 10 years 48 states & Canada back in the mid 70's thru mid 80's. Retired now and been prepping for years for what's to come. Stay safe and hope you can become totally self sustaining.
@@leonardharview4577 yes it is ,and thank you very much😊
Paul Goldstein Heavy Haul
Well that looks very promising, enough to look after our house and I can start with Net 0 and add batteries in future for backup, much much better than the micro inverters option our solar providers are using (we are less than a kilometre from the ocean and here in Vancouver BC with all that salt moisture etc not friendly to micro inverters), great review and again a great product, UL/CSA it is a no brainier, totally awesome! Thanks Will, you bring such a great resource to alternate energy!!! Keep it up!
Good review. This unit is going to be a big hit I think. And you’re right, that thing is super quiet.
This looks like something many people are waiting for, lets see how it goes "in the wild" for a few months, if it proves reliable it'll be a big seller !!! I'm using SMA Sunny Island/Boy which has been flawless for the last 5 years, hopefully they have a good recipe here !!!
Buyer beware! Be very careful when buying from Signature solar. I purchased a system weeks ago and I'm still sitting on hold with them daily to try to resolve simple issues. I'm not going to complain but please be vigilant, verify... verify... verify if you buy a system from them. Will good vid as usual!
Think this will push me over the edge to build my first system. I was worried about code compliance and simplicity of design of alot of older units , I think this paired with eg4 server rack and 12kw Canadian bifacials will be the ticket!
What state are you in? If in California the eg4 server racks are technically not allowed because they are not on the cec approved battery list (yet)
@@bschmitty77 thanks for pointing that out. Do you have any information on that being subject to change.
@John Dawkins yeah, signature solar said they submitted all the released info and testing for approval. But I'm sure california will take their time and I know the "standards" for those tests being qualified are stupid strict.
@@bschmitty77 thanks. I’m glad to hear that at least the process has started. Unfortunately, we do take forever in California. I’ll hope for good news. If you hear any updates, please reply again. Thanks!
@@bschmitty77 I’ve been in contact w SDGE and Signature Solar the last week trying to get this and the batteries on the CEC list. We are still waiting on SS to provide the testing for the inverter to the contact I have at SDGE and then they will submit. Frustrating, and maybe a bit of a red flag, that SS isn’t eager to provide that. That opens up a bunch of business as soon as these are CEC approved.
I am currently setting up an EG4 18KPV and just wanted to report my experience so far with EG4 support, I have made 2 calls and have received great support with very short wait times so far, I just wanted to put that out there if anything changes I will post it up. Depending on how this goes I may be buying a second to be able to use Solar and Battery as my primary source (right now I am setting it up as a critical load panel setup only) with grid for back up under extreme load scenario's (it's in a very large house) but we will see, this is my first solar setup (I do have prior residential electrician experience so can't really comment on the DIY end, it could be a bit daunting I suppose but for me it has been pretty simple), so still experimenting.
I just bought two batteries and the 18k. I’m praying I can use your videos to get my system up and running. My plan is to use a generator to recharge daily, while I’m trying to decide if I need to invest in solar panels. I’m in west central Illinois right on the Mississippi River at lock and dam 19.
That thing looks really nice and well built. And it's the first one on the channel where when you show what you're doing on the display, it actually just makes immediate sense to me. Good signs.
I took the Upgrade option. Traded in 2x 6000EX for an 18Kpv. I'm glad I did. The new inverter does every thing. I especially like the sealed electronics and imbalance issues are way better.
Setting up the 18K was easy. Getting the batteries set up to work was not. I had issues setting this up with my EG4 batteries. Hunting for Battery Firmware for a mixed generation to communicate with each other and upgrading was a nightmare.
Inverter: 18Kpv
Battery: LL-s, LL-V1, LifePower4
I ordered mine as soon as Signature Solar had it available to order. Excited to try it!
As always good video Will. You are one of the lucky few who have been able to get their hands on this thing! I’ve heard a lot of complaints about EG4 inverter software issues. Seems like a lot of people have been burned by them before. I love their 48v lithium V2 batteries though. Hopefully they have solved the software issues.
Thx Will, I finally found the best way to setup my ultimate solar system. The EG4 18K-PV plus 4 Discover AES 42-48-6650 (each battery has 6,650 amp hour) no system can beat this type of combo.
That battery seems expensive per kWh, no? Why do you call it part of your ultimate system?
@@jamesreichert Absolutely! You got that right. Being the best should come with a price though.
This is the power of competition!
In Texas it does not currently pay to grid tie as those electric plans are much more expensive. But this seems viable for back up power and select off grid power to split system hvac and EV. Ready to get going. Thanks for your thorough instructions.
Im in Texas as well looking forward to using the grid as backup and solar as the primary. Not looking to backfeed at all
This inverter looks very encouraging. Can't wait to see your follow up videos after a few weeks of use. For your next video, can you also look into neutral ground bonding for this device to make sure it's configured correctly for various connection use cases (offgrid, on-grid/grid tied etc).
Awesome , finally something that just works. This looks ideal for my shop and it should run my AC, lighting tools and possibly my air compressor as well.
Hey Will, great informative video as always! The only comment here is in minute 8:25 where you explain the CT positions. The manual actually says the arrows should be pointing toward the inverter.
I was about to ask about this as well. The way Will has it makes more sense to me but everything in the manual shows it facing towards the inverter
Thank you for all your work.
Bought your hardcopy book. Love the videos
Will, they need to put you on retainer, as you're doing the field testing work for them. Pointing out the problems with their earlier products and the improvements that will make them better and easier to use. I save your videos so when I get time I'll use them as a buying and setup guide for the system I need. Thank you.
Finally a all in one that is not too expensive I want it take my money
Software HUI is remarkably similar to the Sol-Ark. As you mentioned, the gripe I have about the Sol-Ark 15k is the amount of room in the wiring area. Also, to use the SA as the grid connect a 200A service panel needs a minimum of 2/0 copper, but SA's punchouts are 1.5". They should have been 2" due to the NEC conduit filling percentage rules. Forget about trying to use 4/0 aluminum.
I will echo the room concern aluminum wiring eats it up instantly.
I have a harbor freight hydraulic punch and I'm not afraid to use it.
@@jkj2r80fojf23 Yeah. I use expansion couplers to join up to 2" conduit. Keeps an inspector happy.
You are spot on correct about that but I have been able to get the 15K installed with 2/0 DLO cable on the output and 2/0 THHN on the input. IF you want to save $$$ by using the 4/0 Aluminum it might be beneficial to mount a distribution block in a large wire duct (gutter) under the inverter and just use a short run of 2/0 THHN up to the inverter.
@@MrWatlow Good point. After I did my first one, it occured to me I could run the aluminum 4/0 to a Polaris and go 2/0 copper from there. Too late, but at least that and your thought are possibilities.
sounds like a great upgrade for those of us who originally built string inverter systems before there were any offgrid/hybrid options for grid connected systems. Any panel adds at this point would kill my NEM 1 agreement with utilities. But in the meantime, I could add this, add battery, and when the time is right (after NEM agreement expires) I can add more panels, and handle fully electric home needs plus EV. Thanks.
Yep, this is the video I have been waiting for.
Most homes have a 200A panel - the 18K will be so easy to install. It's one less box on the wall. Remove the 200A from the Panel - attach 18K output - back to panel. Done Very Simple. The LV6548 - are so much harder to wire on 240V side. You almost always need a sub panel.
I’d love to see that in a before and after diagram.
Excellent video. Love your very thorough discussion. Keep up the good work.
This one is the best fit so far to what I’d like to do.
Thanks so much for this review. I’ve been waiting for someone to review this unit and you’re the man I trust.
Amazing how far these units have advanced in the last 5 years. Unreal
I always enjoying your informative video’s. Thank You
I am shocked! I expected this unit to have the same issues as the eg4 8kexp-240.
So glad you were willing to give this a try after you had so many issues with the other eg4.
Thank you!
Really hope to see self consumption working on this inverter. I can’t sell to grid in my area but would like to power loads in main panel if critical loads are met and there is excess PV or battery.
Wow, solar has evolved. My LV6548’s are doing their job(thanks to you) and don’t really have complaints but when I move, these may be sold or left behind. I may be looking at my next inverter. Great job on your review as always.
Most inverters don't like standard generators because the phase drifts as the generator speeds up and slows down, they call instead for an Inverter generator. I think that Sol-Ark can charge from a standard generator. Can you test the EG4 18KPV's standard generator compatibility?
Have you considered connecting an EG4 48V 100A chargeverter directly to the battery.
It is designed to work with generators. It would essentially perform the same.
@@lunatik9696 only problem I see using a charverter is if the inverter has software to monitor charging and usage of the battery, you just took that out of the picture by charging from the side.
Seconded test various generators with this unit.
The way the Solark handles the generator input is incredibly stupid. It is supposed to be one of the better ones which makes me wonder how bad and awful the other inverters are.
btw, I'm 100% positive that this is manufactured by the same company that manufactures the Solark in China.
If its California compliant, you know it's good. This is the unit a lot of us have been waiting for. I never liked the hybrid units a few years ago, because the cheap ones were sketchy and the good ones were crazy expensive and ran at low PV voc. Having such a high PV voltage and several mppt's is so useful, and with the panels on the market, you can size it cheaply and easily.
P.s. they have a lot of "refurbished" units a year later. For around the same price as a 12kpv that's brand new.
Yeah, I was going back and forth between the 2(18k and 6500's). It's my first jump into solar for the house. I'll spend the extra and have the options. I'm like you Will, I hate the phone trying to get help, I'll figure it out. sig has some really good PV pallet deals. Go big or go home? Eh...it's better than Solar City for sure...
Do they have any deals on 550 watt panels
Can you send me a link I am looking for some panels that are 8 ft long
Hi Will, can you test sine wave and 60 cycle accuracy under various loads? Also test LED lights, which we all use, with the inverters.
I'd also like to see this.
In your next video about this can you talk about what you can do if you have more than the 12kpv to charge? For instance if you have 2 server rack tower banks and 30kpv and want to charge faster than 12k.
A side question: is there a limit on how much you can sell to the power company where you live? Do other areas have limits?
You hit the nail on the head with the support issues with signature solar. Sadly, their support has gone from really good to horrible in the past year. The reality is none of this stuff is plug-and-play or perfect and you have issues here and there and will need support. I have been waiting a literally a month for a case on a 6500 from them. It is a sad situation because they are the cheapest around but their support is god awful today.
Dennis, if you are comfortable letting me know what your email is I will look into this for you tomorrow morning.
Solark has the same problem. They used to be great now they're beyond awful. To the point where the Solark support guy gas lights you, ignores what you're telling and showing him. I guess Idiocracy is a sign of the times.
I actually drove to signature solar while on business in Texas and visited SS in person. I was treated very professionally, and several hours of questions were adequately responded to. They were also very honest and upfront about manual issues with the 8k and so on.
I suspect the "support" issue rises if you find a firmware issue, or need something an actual engineer building the stuff has to address. I was not under the impression they built these here, and I imagine part of that $3k difference (emp protection?) Is access to the people who construct and engineer the systems if needed.
Just ordered a 16 k array with eg4 6500 ex times 2 from signature solar. I credit Will for the knowledge and training to take this project on.
Will, do a segment on insurance/ power company contracts etc. My system is gonna be off grid and uninsured.
The specs for this says that "in case of power outage, this can be used for backup power without use of solar". I assume this means that in the event of grid failure, it does not automatically (with an ATS) cut the grid connection so solar is unavailable. Can I reinstate the solar connection with a manual transfer switch so I can use solar/battery if the grid goes down?
Will, when you measure sound level it's usually measured at a specific distance (like 3 feet). Great video!
I'm curious how this compares to the Schneider Conext XW Pro. Mostly about startup for large appliances like A/Cs.
Great review as always Will. Thank you.
My FL utility raised its kWh rates to $0.11 for the 1st 1000 kWh then $0.13 over 1000 kWh each month for residential. Raised about 1 penny. You guys are tough out west paying those high rates.
Thanks for reviewing this one Will i seen it sold out quite quickly already
New load just released
If you hook two of these up in parallel can you send 24kW to the grid or batteries? 500A? How many EG4 batteries can each each 18K be connected to? Thanks!
What a great video. What a great product I hope the long-term is great. There's no way I can afford it right now but if it's a great product long-term I want to get one. What a great idle consumption.
I have to watch the video again I can't quite remember or understand how much PV input you need to make it run. It seemed like that was rather High. That could be one downfall for people that don't have a million panels. I'll have to recheck it or if somebody has time they can let me know in a comment. Very impressive . N once again i really love your video presentations.😊😊
They must be proud of that 18k PV to put it on the front, lol.. that grid supplement is a very cool feature. Have not seen such a feature before.
Will, another great video!!! In future, can you do an AC coupled system with this and review their monitoring?
Will, we're building an off-grid cabin. It sounds like this will more than suit our needs!!! 🤞👍
Wish the EG4 6500's I have had an interface like this one. Looks like alien writing from the movie predator. Glad they got to the year 2023 with this model interface.
My next house is gonna have this setup. Thanks Will
I have learned so much from you and have built my own system, choosing the parts carefully based on the information I learned. I love your fair and analytical approach testing and sharing information. Don't let others affect you negatively, I think in those cases they might be trying to rise to your level by posing a false strength. The sad part is they could never reach it and perhaps that fear manifests as negativity 💪 Thank you again!
I'd like to hear your thoughts of how this compares to the Schneider Conext XW PRO 6.8KW. Clearly, 2 Schneiders would be required.
So so happy to see this review! So dope!!!
Ya He's easy@ 😂eyeS
This looks awesome. I’ll probably get one if people don’t have issues.
This looks like the all-in-one inverter I've been waiting for to run my entire house.
My daily consumption is 20-30kWh and I would like to tap into the grid to charge up the batteries during off-season if needed based on cloudy days.
No sub panel needed? Run entire main breaker panel with a single inverter?
Count me in!
@xLifeOnTheRoadxLOL My house is nearly 4000 sq ft and all electric. In January and February here in Ohio, I pull four to five thousand kilowatts per month. The minimum I've seen is 1500 kilowatts in one month.
With an average of only four peak sun hours per day and an electric rate of 11 cents per kilowatt-hour, it would take me thirty years to pay off a system.
@LOTR A 2500 Square foot house need heating and cooling.
8-10kWh can be expected daily when the temperature outside match the temperature inside.
What gets me up to the 20-30kWh is also from charging an EV that has a 60kWh battery.
Food for thought:
Driving 50 miles on it equates to roughly 11kWh of daily consumption EXTRA on top of what the entire house uses.
Gas here is California is 4.5 $/gallon and electricity is 0.42 $/kWh
Basically an energy efficient EV cost the same in electricity as a Toyota Prius costs in Fuel.
Very high technical inverter wow
Question on inputs. My understanding is you can use micro inverters with the sol-ark and run 240v into the generator input. Can the new EG4 do that? Second is that the optimum way to maximize the solar panels?
hey look inside on the boards, I am curious if all these really are the same - LUX, Deye, sol Ark, Fortress Envy, EG4, gro watts version - yes see software different some. the box, and other components on outside look similar.
Waw, really awesome and very informative. Great video, as usual!
this is one of those videos that in the first minute I'm like this is just too good. thanks Will!
Will I been waiting for u to get one too see how they are there nice..... Keep it up brother
Man, I miss the teardown, does it have a good size transformer
Hey Mr. Will, Love your videos, super helpful. I bought the 18K and thought I would let you know the issue I was having. I have a Generac generator hooked up to the inverter and turns out that the dry contacts will not change state when the power shuts off without a battery bank in the mix. I don't have my batteries installed yet so my inverter will not fire up my generator during a power loss. Signature solar tried and didn't get it done so I called EG4 and they tried with no success. The tech said he was going to get with R & D to put that in the next firmware. They were supposed to get back to me and never did. I just bought all my solar cells and Overkill bms units, so I will probably get the battery bank in before they fix it. Just FYI.
This looks like the solution I want for what I want to do. Nice review, Will!
The only other difference I know of is being able to use the generator input as an output dump, which could be great for off grid for a secondary water heater, etc.
Does this not do it? I was waiting on him to talk about it but didn't hear it.
Just checked the manual on page 54. Works the same way as solark. Gen input can be used as smartload output.
Well that is awesome! Idk how I missed that!! Thanks!
Can you tell me more about the generator output for the water heater
Jeff Sowers for off-grid only setups, you would use the "grid" inputs as your generator input. This frees up your generator input to be repurposed through software to output power only when your batteries reach a pre programed state of charge. Once the sun goes down this output will shut off.
Thanks!
Looks good.. Hopefully Sol-ark drop their prices a bit
Super thanks for the video particularly the programing demo the manual is good but it's so much better watching some one work the interface. I am now installing my 18K but being a inverter newbie it's taking some time to get to know this piece of hardware / software and more info is good info.
I currently have a Generac generator with its automatic transfer switch, would like to instal grid-tie system and and just connect battery until generator kicks in, it would be so helpful if you do a video of doing something like this, if it’s possible.
Always enjoyed your videos and style 👍🏼
Id love to see how it handles imbalanced loads. David poz scrapped his solark 15k because it he couldnt get it balanced and it kept shutting down.
Dave Poz is a shill. What he says is based on who pays him, so it may.. or may NOT be true.
Thank you it's amazing the technology that is constantly coming out this is more information to consider when setting up an off grid system thank you for sharing this six stars
At the 13:08min mark you speak about the load coming from the battery and then the remainder is coming from the grid. Can you setup this system where the first phase load comes from the sun, then the battery and then finally the grid? We pay about 50 cents per kwh. This is why I am asking this. We would like to use the sun energy the most and then the battery and then the grid? The sol-ark does this but does the EG4 do it too?
As a retiring educator, I am most impressed with your work, and your abilities. That said, if we have a unique scenario, we are thinking about doing in our lives, is there a way to communicate with you about that? Fee set up? Friendly help? I’m sure you’re quite busy. Anyway, thank you for your time.
is N and G bonded within the Unit? Did you check if the case was zappy?⚡
Excellent presentation, as always!
Hi Will, love your videos.
Have you considered making a video on how to run an evaporative cooler on DC. I live in West Texas and evaporative coolers are still being used. Also, could this be economical to the average person living off grid.
I love the user interface screen 😊 better than the growatt 12kw.. I wish growatt can upgrade their user interface for their 12kw inverter.
I hope the smaller units get upgraded with new fans/heat management so they run quiet enough for to have in your workspace
Sound should be measured in 1 meter distance. Nice video as always 👍 You can probably set it to "Zero export to CT" and will automatically get your meter to stay at zero.
Now for the important question. Which system will integrate with Home Assistant and which will never require connection outside my local network, ie the cloud. Thanks for the great video.
Victron with modbus
This is the Luxpower 12kW hybrid inverter. It's great to see this as I was eagerly anticipating it for a while now.
Hi Will, thanks for all tbe great videos.
In the comparison to the Sol Ark at the end, it's worth noting that the Sol Ark 15K has a 15kW inverter, but the 18K PV only has a 12kW inverter.
Per kW, the Sol Ark is still slightly more expensive, but not as much as this comparison would suggest.
It's the exact same setup as Fortress has it, we actually just did 8 of them in tandem on a project in Virginia, including 8 Fortress energy fault batteries
How would this compare to a victron Quattro 15k? Seems about the same price not saying this new eg4 isn't a good deal... but for $5200, you can buy a victron.
Sure would be nice if both this and SolArk could take 4/0 for the grid input. The wiring from our meter to the breaker box 200a is 4/0 aluminum. So, we would have to upgrade to 2/0 copper.
tap it, and convert it to copper = 2/0
@@keything8487 Well yeah - but that's something like 20 feet of three copper runs from our meter to the breaker box.
If these took 4/0 aluminum I would be a cheaper install.
Minutiae I know but still.
Transition from aluminum to copper at the external disconnect - a common AHJ requirement. Don't like the cost of copper? Well do your projects now cuz its only going to get worse :^P
Great content Will. I'm amazed on how hybrid inverters have evolved in the last 12 months. Can this unit operate as a 240v single phase system if you love outside United States? Thanks again.🙂
Question regarding pass-through: When the house load exceeds the AC output of the inverter (supply from battery or solar or both), does the inverter passthrough the grid completely? Or does the inverter passthrough only the incremental power from grid? Example: If house load goes from 10kw to 17kw, will it passthrough all of the 17kw from grid? or just the additional 5kw from grid (17kw load - 12kw output rating) . Thank you
This is a "Beast" for the price. Let's hope reliability is good.
Been waiting on this one