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EG4 18KPV User Manual

Hybrid inverter
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E G 4
1 8 K P V
®
H Y B R I D I N V E R T E R
U S E R M A N U A L
©2024 EG4 ELECTRONICS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
VERSION 2.6.3 | INFORMATION SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
MODEL #: IV-12000-HYB-AW-00

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Summary of Contents for EG4 18KPV

  • Page 1 H Y B R I D I N V E R T E R U S E R M A N U A L ©2024 EG4 ELECTRONICS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. VERSION 2.6.3 | INFORMATION SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    ONLINE MONITORING SYSTEM USER INTERFACE ............... 29 SMARTPHONE APP SETUP ......................30 ENABLE APP NOTIFICATIONS ..................... 32 LOCAL MONITORING SETUP WITH THE EG4® MONITOR APP .......... 34 THIRD-PARTY RS485 COMMUNICATION ................34 OPERATION GUIDE ..........................35 INVERTER START-UP AND SHUTDOWN PROCEDURE ............35 LCD SCREEN .............................
  • Page 3: Technical Specifications

    1. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AC INPUT DATA 120/240VAC; 120/208VAC (L1/L2/N required) NOMINAL AC VOLTAGE 50/60Hz FREQUENCY 50A @ 240VAC MAX. AC CURRENT 12000W MAX. AC INPUT POWER 200A MAX. AC BYPASS AC GRID OUTPUT DATA MAX. OUTPUT CURRENT 120/240VAC; 120/208VAC (L1/L2/N required) OUTPUT VOLTAGE 180-270VAC OPERATING VOLTAGE RANGE...
  • Page 4 IEEE 1547.1:2020; IEEE 1547:2018 HAWAII RULE 14H CALIFORNIA RULE 21 PHASE I, II, III FCC PART 15, CLASS B *For information regarding warranty registration on EG4 Electronics products, please navigate to ® https://eg4electronics.com/warranty/ and select the corresponding product to begin the registration process.
  • Page 5: Abbreviation List

    2. ABBREVIATION LIST • In-lbs. – Inch Pounds • AWG – American Wire Gauge • kW – Kilowatt • A – Amps • kWh – Kilowatt-hour • Ah – Amp hour(s) • LCD – Liquid Crystal Display • AC – Alternating Current LFP –...
  • Page 6: Inverter Safety

    3. INVERTER SAFETY SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS International safety regulations have been strictly observed in the design and testing of the inverter. Before beginning any work, carefully read all safety instructions, and always observe them when working on or with the inverter. The installation must follow all applicable national or local standards and regulations.
  • Page 7 Cancer and Reproductive Harm – See www.P65Warnings.ca.gov for more details. DISCLAIMER EG4 reserves the right to make changes to the material herein at any time without notice. Please refer to www.eg4electronics.com for the most updated version of our manuals/spec sheets.
  • Page 8: System Diagrams

    4. SYSTEM DIAGRAMS This unit and its associated system are suitable for the following applications:...
  • Page 9: Installation

    5. INSTALLATION 5.1 PACKING LIST When the product is unpacked, the contents should match those listed below: Pictures for reference only. User Manual Keys 1” CT (2) L Bracket (2) Wi-Fi Dongle Paper Board Mounting Bracket Cross Head Screw M3×10 (4) Hybrid Inverter RJ45 Terminals (4) Cross Head Screw...
  • Page 10: Location Selection And Installation

    5.3 LOCATION SELECTION AND INSTALLATION Requirements for Installation Location DANGER: Ensure there is at least 7.9 inches of space around the inverter for heat to dissipate or else there is a risk of fire. Ensure the inverter is mounted away from all combustible materials.
  • Page 11: Installing The Inverter

    Installing the Inverter The inverter is designed to be wall-mounted on a vertical, solid non-combustible surface such as brick or concrete. Two or more people may be needed to install the inverter due to its weight. The slots on the mounting bracket can accommodate various stud spacings from 12 in. (305 mm) to 16 in.
  • Page 12 4. For concrete or brick wall installation, insert the expansion bolts into the drilled holes. Install the bracket to the wall, ensuring the arrow is pointing up. Use the corresponding nuts and washers (packaged together with the expansion bolts) to affix the bracket to the wall. For stud wall installation, use the proper screws and affix the bracket to the wall.
  • Page 13 7. Remove the angle bracket and drill a hole at the marking. Use the drill bit size based on the anchor type or screw size as directed in step 3 (repeat this step for both sides. 8. Attach the angle brackets (one on each side) to the inverter and to the wall using the correct hardware.
  • Page 14: Connection Overview

    6. CONNECTION OVERVIEW Breaker selection recommendation for both DC and AC Label Breaker/Switch Description PV Input See Section 6.1 Integrated Bonded Battery Breaker 200A × 2 L1:200A Integrated Bonded Load Breaker L2:200A AC Input/Output See Section 6.2 Generator 240VAC/100A Overview of the Cable Box For more information on wiring and connections, see section 6.9.
  • Page 15 Overview of Connection Ports h. ±12V: reserved for customer to use 500mA a. Battery communication port (CAN & RS485) b. CT interface (refer to Section 6.2 for CT i. CAN matching resistance: set DIP switch connection) c. INV 485: debugging port when using inverters in parallel d.
  • Page 16 Back View of the Cable Box Knockouts Bottom View of Cable Box Knockouts...
  • Page 17: Pv Connection

    6.1 PV CONNECTION Cable Requirements*: Cable Size Minimum Insulator Voltage 10 AWG – 6 AWG (Max.) (6 mm – 16 mm 600V *Consult installer to ensure that appropriate cable sizing is used due to various factors such as voltage drop and Voc. IMPORTANT: Verify the lowest ambient temperature of the installation location.
  • Page 18: String Sizing

    To make this calculation, use a string calculator or consult a solar designer or solar electrician. For all modules, the calculations must be verified by consulting a professional. To use EG4’s new solar string sizing tool, navigate to https://eg4electronics.com/wp-content/themes/hello-elementor/eg4-solar-panel-string-sizer/ DANGER: DAMAGE WILL OCCUR if the string voltage on a cold, sunny morning exceeds the inverter’s maximum input voltage of 600V!
  • Page 19 When solar modules are put in a series string, the voltage multiplies times the number of • modules and the amperage stays the same as each module. Calculate the maximum current of the string so as not to exceed the inverter’s MPPT circuit •...
  • Page 20 Steps for PV Wiring 1. Ensure all breakers and disconnect switches are in the OFF position before connecting or disconnecting wires. Use a voltmeter to confirm there is no voltage present. 2. Strip off 1/4 in. – 5/16 in. (6 mm – 8 mm) insulation on the PV string’s positive and negative conductors.
  • Page 21 Contact the distributor for this file or navigate to https://www.eg4electronics.com/ for the most recent updates and documentation. For communication with EG4 batteries, select “Lithium” under “Battery Type” and then select “0:EG4” under “Lithium Batteries” Description 1 2 3 4 5 6 7...
  • Page 22 2. After connecting the battery power and communication cables, enter the “Advanced” settings to choose the battery type and brand. When prompted, enter “00000” as the password to enter settings menu For Lithium Battery: Ensure that the lithium battery being used is compatible with the inverter.
  • Page 23: Ac Wiring Information

    6.2 AC WIRING INFORMATION When sizing AC wires, adhere to the following information. Cable Requirements: Terminal Connection Wire Size Torque Values 95 – 165 in-lbs. (10.7Nm – 18.6Nm) GRID 6 – 4/0AWG (26.7 mm² – 107 mm²) depending on wire 95 –...
  • Page 24: Pin Description

    To measure the power imported from and exported to the grid, a pair of CTs or one three-phase meter must be installed at the service entry point in or near the main service panel. Two CTs are provided with each inverter. CT Port Pin Definition The CT interface for the two (2) CT connections is an RJ45 port.
  • Page 25: Working With A Generator

    Extending the CT Clamp Cable The CT wires can be extended with a common ethernet cable if they are not long enough. An RJ45 adapter is needed for the extension. The CT wires can be extended up to 300 ft. (around 90 m). 6.3 WORKING WITH A GENERATOR Generator System Connection This hybrid inverter can work with a generator by connecting it to the GEN terminals on the inverter.
  • Page 26: Off-Grid Wiring

    GEN terminal. After the AC couple function is enabled: When the grid is on, the 18kPV sends the AC power of the grid-interactive inverter to the loads and battery bank. Any remaining energy will be exported to the grid.
  • Page 27: Parallel System Connection

    What is frequency-shifting power reduction? All UL1741SA compliant grid-interactive inverters have the Frequency-Watt feature, which requires the grid-interactive inverter to reduce power with increasing grid frequency. The power will drop to zero before the over-frequency trip threshold is reached. When the grid is down and the hybrid inverter requires an AC coupled inverter to reduce power, it simply shifts the output frequency up slightly, and the grid-interactive inverter will limit its output power accordingly after sensing this frequency shift.
  • Page 28 REMINDER: If the inverter-to-inverter paralleling cable needs to be extended, ensure the cable is a straight-through CAT5 and up cable. See image below for reference Parallel Information Display The information in the blue box shows the parallel information: Pnum: 01 – 10 •...
  • Page 29: Parallel Configuration

    Parallel Configuration: 1. Verify that all inverters are updated with the latest firmware. Contact the distributor to confirm the latest version. 2. Make sure the power cables and parallel communications cables have been wired correctly and verify the DIP switch configurations are correct. 3.
  • Page 30: Grid And Load Connections For Split- Phase Service

    Generator Smart Loads Configuration 7. MONITOR SYSTEM SETUP Besides the LCD screen, the inverter can be programmed and monitored with the EG4 ® Monitor Center Website (monitor.eg4electronics.com) and the EG4 Monitor App. The following sections discuss the various ways to communicate with the inverter.
  • Page 31: Wi-Fi/4G Dongle Connection

    7.1 WI-FI/4G DONGLE CONNECTION A Wi-Fi/4G dongle can be used to monitor the inverter and remotely view the monitoring data on a computer or smart phone. Attach this module by plugging it in to the side of the inverter and securing it with the four (4) Phillips head screws (see image below).
  • Page 32: Smartphone App Setup

    5. After saving the settings, the dongle will restart. After setting the password, three lights will be solid on, which means the inverter is connected to the server. 6. Navigate to the Monitor Center Website (monitor.eg4electronics.com) or the EG4 Monitor ®...
  • Page 33 2. When registering the account, provide the following information: a. Customer code: Contact the distributor or installer to obtain this code. b. Dongle SN: The serial number is attached to the dongle shell. c. Dongle PIN: PIN is attached to the dongle shell below the SN. 3.
  • Page 34: Enable App Notifications

    7.4 ENABLE APP NOTIFICATIONS The EG4 Mobile App allows the end-user to easily check real-time system information regarding the ® inverters, batteries, and other informative values. Enable Notifications in Monitor Center: 1. Go to monitor.eg4electronics.com and log in. 2. At the top of the screen, select “Configuration”, then “Users.”...
  • Page 35 Enable Notifications on a Mobile Device: NOTE: Make sure the app is up to date before beginning! 1. Login to the EG4 Monitor App. Select the user icon at the top right corner of the screen. ® 2. Select “Notifications” > “Allow Notifications,” and make selections for which notifications to receive.
  • Page 36: Local Monitoring Setup With The Eg4® Monitor App

    7.5 LOCAL MONITORING SETUP WITH THE EG4® MONITOR APP If there is no Wi-Fi available at the location, use the local function to monitor or set up the system: 1. Download the EG4 Monitor app. 2. Connect the mobile device to the Wi-Fi hotspot after the INV LED on the Wi-Fi module is solid on.
  • Page 37: Operation Guide

    8. OPERATION GUIDE 8.1 INVERTER START-UP AND SHUTDOWN PROCEDURE Starting up the inverter 1. If equipped, turn on (close) the DC breaker between battery and inverter first. Turn on the BAT breaker located in the cable box of the inverter and then power on the battery system. 2.
  • Page 38: Setting Parameters

    Setting Parameters Select the gear icon at the bottom of the screen to get into the parameter setting page for the inverter. If prompted during setting changes, enter “00000” as the password. 1. Basic Settings: “Standby”: This setting is to set the •...
  • Page 39 “Discharge power (kW)” until battery SOC or voltage reaches “Stop discharge” value. NOTE: When using EG4 ® batteries with the 18kPV inverter, it is recommended to set the cut-off SOC to 20% to maintain the 80% Depth of Discharge (DOD).
  • Page 40 • “Grid peak-shaving”: Peak- shaving is used to avoid peak demand charges from the grid. Peak-shaving can be accomplished by halting grid charging at specific time. “Grid peak-shaving • Power(kW)”: The maximum power the inverter can draw from the grid. “Grid peak-shaving Start •...
  • Page 41 IMPORTANT: The following settings may need to be adjusted by the installer after installation. Consult with the installer/ distributor before making any changes to avoid conflicting settings or damage the system! 5. Advanced Settings: • “Grid type”: Choose 240/120V or 220/208 •...
  • Page 42 NOTE: Zero Export cannot prevent export of energy supplied by inverters that are AC coupled to the 18kPV “Export to Grid”: This selection is • to set a zero-export function. If exporting solar power is not allowed, disable the “Export to Grid”...
  • Page 43: Device Info

    7. Device Info. “Time”: the format for inputting • the time is the four-digit year, two-digit month, two-digit day. Followed the two-digit hour, two- digit minute, and two-digit second (in 24-hour format.) “Backlight time(S)”: how long the • backlight will stay lit. “Inverter information”: this •...
  • Page 44 Weather Optimize Function: Used to collect real-time weather data to automatically adjust the state of charge. This maximizes the efficient use of solar energy by ensuring the battery bank remains adequately charged for stable electricity consumption. “Charge Priority Mode” prioritizes battery charging to ensure stable electricity usage, making it ideal for areas with unstable power supply.
  • Page 45: Working Modes

    Working Modes: Working modes are pre-set priority systems that allow users to configure the system to meet their demands through extensive customizations. These modes can be found under the Maintenance tab by selecting “Working Mode.” Scroll past “Application Setting” to the “Working Mode Setting” section. Working Mode Definitions: Backup Mode: Used to save battery power as a last resort.
  • Page 46 Peak Shaving: When setting the station into this mode, the inverter will use peak-shaving to avoid peak demand charges from the grid. The user will be able to configure the system to pull limited (or no) power from the grid by setting maximum power pulled from the grid, the SOC/voltage of the battery bank in which to start grid peak-shaving, and by setting time of use.
  • Page 47 AC Charge Mode: Users can charge battery bank with grid power when electricity prices are low, then use battery power to run loads or export to the grid when electricity prices are high. When setting the station into Backup/AC Charge mode, the user can configure the system to prioritize charging batteries from grid power.
  • Page 48 PV Charge Priority: The order of priority for solar power usage will be Battery >Load >Grid. During the “PV Charge Priority” period, loads are first supplied power from the grid. If there is excess solar power after charging batteries, the excess solar will power the loads along with grid power. Solar power will be used to charge the battery bank first.
  • Page 49 Discharge Power(kW)” until the battery SOC or voltage set point reaches the “Stop Discharge” value. ® Note: EG4 suggests setting this value no lower than 20% to maintain the recommended 80% Depth of Discharge (DOD). Upon selecting the working mode, the system must be configured using the settings listed below: Forced Discharge Enable: “Enable”...
  • Page 50 Self-Consumption: The station will default to Self-Consumption mode. The order of priority for powering loads is Solar > Battery > Grid. The order priority for solar power is Load > Battery > Grid which creates an ideal scenario when needing to prioritize solar power generation over other types of power. Self- Consumption mode will increase the self-consumption rate of solar power and reduce energy bills significantly.
  • Page 51: Rapid Shutdown (Rsd)

    A rapid shutdown switch should be connected to the RSD terminals on the inverter and mounted on a readily accessible location outdoors (check with the local AHJ for requirements). NOTE: When using supported EG4 ® batteries in closed-loop communications with the inverter, the RSD also initiates ESS Disconnect as required by NEC code.
  • Page 52 External RSD Wiring Instructions NOTE: If the inverter does not have the RSD terminals located in the image, contact the distributor for information regarding the steps for RSD installation. Wire the E-Stop Switch into the RSD terminals according to the switch’s specifications.
  • Page 53: Firmware Updates

    9.1 FIRMWARE UPDATE VIA EG4® ELECTRONICS APP NOTE: When updating firmware through the EG4 app, be sure to have plenty of battery on the device and do not close the application. Make sure the Wi-Fi dongle is connected securely and correctly configured (see section 8.1 for Wi-Fi dongle steps) for the inverter before performing the following steps.
  • Page 54: Firmware Update Via Monitor Center (Website)

    9.2 FIRMWARE UPDATE VIA MONITOR CENTER (WEBSITE) 1. Distributors and installers can update the firmware for their inverters by using the EG4 ® Electronics website monitoring system. Contact EG4 to confirm the files are most up to date. 2. Log into the EG4 Electronics Monitor System. Select “Maintenance,” and then select “Remote Update.”...
  • Page 55: Regular Maintenance

    2. Prior to setting the password, add the dongle to the system. After registering and entering the Wi-Fi SN and PIN, the dongle is automatically added to the system. While logged in, go to the “Configuration” tab. Select “Dongles”, and “Add dongle, on monitor.eg4electronics.com to add this dongle to the current configuration if there...
  • Page 56: Troubleshooting Based On Lcd Screen

    10.4 TROUBLESHOOTING BASED ON LCD SCREEN Once there is any warning or fault occurring, users can troubleshoot according to the LED status description and the warning/fault information on the LCD screen. Faults on the LCD and Fault List If the dot on the left of the fault item is red, it means the fault is active.
  • Page 57 Voltage between N and G is greater than Ensure the neutral wire is connected Neutral fault correctly. Disconnect all PV strings from the inverter. PV short circuit Short circuit detected on PV input If the error persists, contact the supplier. Install the inverter in a place with good ventilation and no direct sunlight.
  • Page 58 Alarm on the LCD and Alarm List If the dot to the left of the fault item is yellow, it means the fault is active. When it is grey, it means the fault is inactive. Alarm Meaning Troubleshooting Check if the communication cable pinout is correct, and if the correct battery brand on Bat com failure Inverter fails to communicate with battery...
  • Page 59 Check whether each PV string is Inverter detected a short circuit in PV connected correctly. PV short circuit input Restart inverter. If the alarm persists, contact the supplier. GFCI module Restart inverter. If the alarm persists, contact GFCI module is abnormal the supplier.
  • Page 60 NOTES...
  • Page 61 CONTACT US support@eg4electronics.com (903) 609-1988 www.eg4electronics.com...

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