Solar PV battery options

DrPhilG · 20-03-2021 12:09am

graememk wrote: »

Yep

No probs. I've sent a message to confirm.

I do intend to build some insulation around the shelving unit though for the winter months. And can add one a tubular heater too if needed.

championc · 20-03-2021 7:48am

DrPhilG wrote: »

No probs. I've sent a message to confirm.

I do intend to build some insulation around the shelving unit though for the winter months. And can add one a tubular heater too if needed.

I have the tubular Heater plugged into an IFTTT type socket which turns on if the local weather is under 5°C. Simple but effective

DrPhilG · 20-03-2021 12:26pm

championc wrote: »

I have the tubular Heater plugged into an IFTTT type socket which turns on if the local weather is under 5°C. Simple but effective

I already have a motion sensor right beside my battery and inverter which has a temperature reading. Smartthings automation could turn on a heater based on that temp reading.

DrPhilG · 20-03-2021 9:07pm

Those using either Daly or Heyo bms, has anyone connected one to an inverter using the CAN connection?

Support for both have told me it's straightforward but when I asked for a video instructional they just give me a video with instructions for connecting to a PC via CAN.

championc · 20-03-2021 9:33pm

DrPhilG wrote: »

Those using either Daly or Heyo bms, has anyone connected one to an inverter using the CAN connection?

Support for both have told me it's straightforward but when I asked for a video instructional they just give me a video with instructions for connecting to a PC via CAN.

It's straight forward in that it's likely to be an RJ11 or RJ45 connector.

But the INVERTER has to support the BMS, not the other way around. Sofar have confirmed that they do NOT support either the DALY or the HEYO

By "support it", I mean that their inverter cannot talk to or understand what the BMS is saying

DrPhilG · 20-03-2021 9:51pm

Thanks, I'll push the Solis people for an answer then.

DrPhilG · 20-03-2021 10:14pm

From a Solis Facebook group...

I'd still like to track down someone who has successfully done it though.

championc · 21-03-2021 1:22am

You'd be better asking Solis themselves. We have the same information for the Sofar. I could make a cable for sure, but Sofar basically said that any data would be ignored.

DrPhilG · 21-03-2021 9:20am

championc wrote: »

You'd be better asking Solis themselves. We have the same information for the Sofar. I could make a cable for sure, but Sofar basically said that any data would be ignored.

I've emailed Solis tech support also, and asked if there are any BMS systems that they DO support, if they don't support Daly/Heyo.

Sorry if I've asked before, but how do you check your state of charge for a live or nearly live status?

graememk · 21-03-2021 9:31am

DrPhilG wrote: »

I've emailed Solis tech support also, and asked if there are any BMS systems that they DO support, if they don't support Daly/Heyo.

Sorry if I've asked before, but how do you check your state of charge for a live or nearly live status?

We just use the solar man app, (or pull it directly from the inverter)

It still has a SOC. It just can be inaccurate at times, ie 5% too high or too low

Eg mine stopped charging yesterday at 95% because it hit it's voltage limit ( battery was full), the night before it done it's recalculation on the current voltage and it must have calculated a little bit low.

DrPhilG · 21-03-2021 9:46am

graememk wrote: »

We just use the solar man app

Where does the Solar Man take it from? Is that a Sofar system?

It's not the end of the world if I can't get the SOC to show up on the Solis app, but I definitely need to be able to get a live or close to live status from somewhere.

graememk · 21-03-2021 9:59am

DrPhilG wrote: »

Where does the Solar Man take it from? Is that a Sofar system?

It's not the end of the world if I can't get the SOC to show up on the Solis app, but I definitely need to be able to get a live or close to live status from somewhere.

Solar man/solis app are the same server. - will show up like it usually does.

I can log into the solis website with the same login as the solarman .

DrPhilG · 21-03-2021 10:05am

graememk wrote: »

Solar man/solis app are the same server. - will show up like it usually does.

I can log into the solis website with the same login as the solarman .

Gotcha. So that still leaves me in the same boat, the Solis app can get me a SOC, but only if the inverter is getting that info from the BMS.

Or am I confusing myself, can the inverter take the SOC directly from the battery?

championc · 21-03-2021 10:43am

DrPhilG wrote: »

Gotcha. So that still leaves me in the same boat, the Solis app can get me a SOC, but only if the inverter is getting that info from the BMS.

Or am I confusing myself, can the inverter take the SOC directly from the battery?

The Solis will do it's OWN calculation, based on the battery voltage vs the battery parameters you setup. If fully charged was 53v and discharged was 51v, and you were standing with 52v, you would likely guess you had 50% remaining. That is what the Solis will do.

graememk · 21-03-2021 10:43am

DrPhilG wrote: »

Gotcha. So that still leaves me in the same boat, the Solis app can get me a SOC, but only if the inverter is getting that info from the BMS.

Or am I confusing myself, can the inverter take the SOC directly from the battery?

If the inverter doesn't have a bms supplying a soc, it takes an estimate (based on settings) and works from that.

Eg on the Sofar, there is an empty voltage and full voltage,

championc · 21-03-2021 10:46am

If anyone is buying a HEYO BMS, can they please contact me privately. I'm looking for someone to order an additional RS485 and a Canbus interface for me. It seems that you can maybe only order them with a new BMS purchase (which seems daft)

DrPhilG · 21-03-2021 11:06am

graememk wrote: »

If the inverter doesn't have a bms supplying a soc, it takes an estimate (based on settings) and works from that.

Eg on the Sofar, there is an empty voltage and full voltage,

Ah gotcha. So the Solis app WILL still have a battery percentage showing, along with the charge/discharge rate at that time, but it will be more accurate if the BMS is communicating correctly via canbus?

championc · 21-03-2021 11:29am

DrPhilG wrote: »

Ah gotcha. So the Solis app WILL still have a battery percentage showing, along with the charge/discharge rate at that time, but it will be more accurate if the BMS is communicating correctly via canbus?

Indeed, my understanding is that the inverter becomes a Dumb / Slave unit to the External BMS which then ultimately becomes the controller of charging and discharging.

Since you already have Pylontechs, surely you already see a SOC% in the app ? And surely too, if you disconnect the current Pylontech Canbus cable, it must surely disable the battery pack participation in the setup ?

DrPhilG · 21-03-2021 11:54am

championc wrote: »

Indeed, my understanding is that the inverter becomes a Dumb / Slave unit to the External BMS which then ultimately becomes the controller of charging and discharging.

Gotcha.

championc wrote: »

Since you already have Pylontechs, surely you already see a SOC% in the app? And surely too, if you disconnect the current Pylontech Canbus cable, it must surely disable the battery pack participation in the setup ?

I do get a SOC, my mistake was that I thought that without canbus connection to the Daly BMS, the Solis would not know a SOC at all. Now I understand that it will, but it won't be as accurate as it would with a canbus connection.

championc wrote: »

if you disconnect the current Pylontech Canbus cable, it must surely disable the battery pack participation in the setup?

If I disconnect the Canbus cable from the PylonTech, won't the Solis be in the in the same position as if I connect a LiFePo4 pack without can connection? I.e. it will estimate the SOC rather than have a definite reading?

DrPhilG · 21-03-2021 12:11pm

This is the information coming from the Solis app on my system.

Main screen

Battery screen

BMS screen

DrPhilG · 21-03-2021 1:46pm

PS the guy I spoke to on Facebook is part of the official Solis support team, albeit in the Philippines!

He said that there had been discussion with Solis tech team about officially supporting the Daly, as it is very popular among DIY users out there. He is hoping that a future firmware update will support it.

slave1 · 21-03-2021 3:19pm

Hey Phil, I have a Solis inverter but the App looks nothing like yours. I'm particularly interested in the first screen.
What's the exact name of the App?
Cheers

championc · 21-03-2021 3:25pm

DrPhilG wrote: »

If I disconnect the Canbus cable from the PylonTech, won't the Solis be in the in the same position as if I connect a LiFePo4 pack without can connection? I.e. it will estimate the SOC rather than have a definite reading?

Not at all. As I said, the inverter is somewhat dumb / slave in "Pylontech" mode, so knows nothing about anything.

So to run the LiFePO4's, it needs to be in Default Mode, and be setup to mimic Lead-Acid's but with tweaked settings for LiFePO4.

So disconnect the cable and it is likely to shut down charging and discharging

DrPhilG · 21-03-2021 3:40pm

slave1 wrote: »

Hey Phil, I have a Solis inverter but the App looks nothing like yours. I'm particularly interested in the first screen.
What's the exact name of the App?
Cheers

Solis Home by Ginlong.

championc · 21-03-2021 3:48pm

slave1 wrote: »

Hey Phil, I have a Solis inverter but the App looks nothing like yours. I'm particularly interested in the first screen.
What's the exact name of the App?
Cheers

Or Solarman from IGEN Tech. There are several, so the one you want us the blue icon on the white background

graememk · 21-03-2021 5:56pm

slave1 wrote: »

Hey Phil, I have a Solis inverter but the App looks nothing like yours. I'm particularly interested in the first screen.
What's the exact name of the App?
Cheers

If you don't have a hybrid inverter you Get something like this.

slave1 · 21-03-2021 7:44pm

slave1 wrote: »

Hey Phil, I have a Solis inverter but the App looks nothing like yours. I'm particularly interested in the first screen.
What's the exact name of the App?
Cheers

DrPhilG wrote: »

Solis Home by Ginlong.

That’s the one I have

graememk wrote: »

If you don't have a hybrid inverter you Get something like this.

Yeah, that’s what I get, but I would like to see Grid and Consumption too. I see that data on the MyEnegri app but it’s not accurate, prefer info direct from inverter if possible...

graememk · 21-03-2021 9:15pm

slave1 wrote: »

That’s the one I have

Yeah, that’s what I get, but I would like to see Grid and Consumption too. I see that data on the MyEnegri app but it’s not accurate, prefer info direct from inverter if possible...

I know the inverter can use a CT for export limiting, it would definitely need one to have any chance of knowing the house load.

How come the myengri app is inaccurate?

Deagol · 21-03-2021 10:25pm

graememk wrote: »

I know the inverter can use a CT for export limiting, it would definitely need one to have any chance of knowing the house load.

How come the myengri app is inaccurate?

Wondering that too. I have two CT clamps: A Harvi for the Eddi and another for the inverter. Of the two, the Harvi gives much faster updates (about every 30 seconds) compared to the inverter app which is only updated every 5 or 6 minutes.

championc · 22-03-2021 12:00am

slave1 wrote: »

That’s the one I have

Yeah, that’s what I get, but I would like to see Grid and Consumption too. I see that data on the MyEnegri app but it’s not accurate, prefer info direct from inverter if possible...

So long as you have the CT clamps connected to the inverter, then it's down to setting the correct Plant type in Inyep > Other Info

Solar PV battery options

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