Hi guys,
I've got a scenario that I cannot come around by myself and I hope someone might have some suggestions. I've browsed through various forums but none seem to be similar to mine.
More about my system:
I've got a Multiplus 48/3000/35 running ESS through a Venus GX device, a Smartsolar 150/70 MPPT with 12 x 330W canadian solar panels ( 4 x 3s) and 2 x Freedom won E5000 eTower batteries, 10kwh of which 80% usable.
I am connected to a stable grid but we do have outages quite a lot in South Africa so I've connected a 6.5Kva Ellies Diesel silent type generator through a motorized break before make automatic transfer switch with the municipal grid supply to AC1. I've set up the generator stop/start assistant to start the generator only when the batteries are below 20% SOC, as well as with an inverter overload or over temperature alarm. I've also connected the starting circuit of the generator through a NC relay which is energized by Grid supply to keep it open. This means that the Generator stop/start assistant will only be effectively be able to start the generator should grid supply fall away.
This setup works fine but I do however have an issue. When the grid falls away and the assistant starts the generator, the multiplus goes into passthru mode and do not charge the batteries, even when no PV is available. This is only with ESS enabled.
Is there a way, through settings, for a Multiplus to detect loss of grid supply and charge the batteries from the excess power available from the generator? Current limit is set to 12Amps on AC1 and this morning, during an outage, the generator was running with a 3 Amp load on Passthru while it could have charged the batteries with the surplus. I guess the ESS assistant should be able to detect when the Generator start/stop assistant is actively running the generator and change the ESS charging conditions? Technically AC1 will be the effective input for Mains as well as generator, unlike the AC1/AC2 in the Quattro's but this can be distinguished via software with the active assistants, am I right?
I'm not sure if I missed a setting somewhere seeing that I've tried a lot of different settings but cannot seems to figure it out.
This the ESS assistant cannot detect generator operation through AC1, maybe this might be reserved as a future option when both ESS and generator start/stop assistant are being used.
The Multi can't distinguish between the options itself on a single input, so needs to be told. But this also means it will treat grid input the same, and that may not suit you. And VRM will now store usage in a different register (and it doesn't handle Generator input the same way).
