Lux ac battery controller

ianatkin

NrSouthampton said:

I have a question for any of you that have the Lux Hybrid 3.6 Inverter i have tried reading all the specs but am now totally confused.

i am going to be installing a 5kw system for my son and would like to match that with the Lux hybrid unit, but cant decide which model we need.

i cant understand with the 3.6 version exactly what the solar output maximum is ..i know the maximum the battery's will output is around 3.2-3,4 KW when discharging.

so does that mean that anything we generate over 3.6kw gets clipped and lost ?

there is also a 5kw model available which looks to have a higher output of 5KW.

With the 4.9 kw Panels we will be installing is it worth going for the higher spec.

The Other option is to put in a separate 5kw inverter and use the lux AC unit.

i hope you understand where im going with this.

any advice would be appreciated

i should point out that i have 2 x lux ac parallel units with 2 banks of pylontechs  which i am very happy with.

Hi there - I have the Lux hybrid 3.6kW inverter paired with a 4.62kW nominal solar array and UHome batteries.

The Pylontechs may differ slightly but in my experience the UHomes can charge at up to 3.6kW and discharge at up to 3kW.

The important thing to note is the 3.6kW inverter rating is for the AC output specifically.  If the batteries are fully charged then your solar generation is capped at 3.6kW and anything above that is clipped, but if the batteries have space in them then the inverter can simultaneously charge them *and* supply 3.6kW AC (for house consumption and/or export).

Today for example I have seen periods where my 4.62kW solar has actually been producing 5.7kW, with the battery charging at 3.6kW and the other 2.1kW being split between the house load and export.

This is my first summer with the system and what I am finding is that the batteries are usually not getting a chance to discharge much below 80% and so I am losing some output to clipping on sunny days, but I don't feel like the amount I'm losing would've made it worth the extra expense of the higher AC output options (plus the extra grid notifications etc etc).

In my case I have an EV with a Zappi charger and what I'm doing is "trickle" charging the car (using the Eco+ mode for those who know) at 1.5kW which uses a little bit of the house battery early in the day, freeing up space which allows the solar to produce more in the middle of the day because it isn't clipping.

I hope that helps a bit?

philologus

Thank you to Dave Fowler.

I tried his suggestion and it worked!

I've had to go back and change all the other things that I managed to change, printer etc, back as well - but now I'm up and running again.

I love this forum.

George

Solarchaser

ianatkin said:

NrSouthampton said:

I have a question for any of you that have the Lux Hybrid 3.6 Inverter i have tried reading all the specs but am now totally confused.

i am going to be installing a 5kw system for my son and would like to match that with the Lux hybrid unit, but cant decide which model we need.

i cant understand with the 3.6 version exactly what the solar output maximum is ..i know the maximum the battery's will output is around 3.2-3,4 KW when discharging.

so does that mean that anything we generate over 3.6kw gets clipped and lost ?

there is also a 5kw model available which looks to have a higher output of 5KW.

With the 4.9 kw Panels we will be installing is it worth going for the higher spec.

The Other option is to put in a separate 5kw inverter and use the lux AC unit.

i hope you understand where im going with this.

any advice would be appreciated

i should point out that i have 2 x lux ac parallel units with 2 banks of pylontechs  which i am very happy with.

Hi there - I have the Lux hybrid 3.6kW inverter paired with a 4.62kW nominal solar array and UHome batteries.

The Pylontechs may differ slightly but in my experience the UHomes can charge at up to 3.6kW and discharge at up to 3kW.

The important thing to note is the 3.6kW inverter rating is for the AC output specifically.  If the batteries are fully charged then your solar generation is capped at 3.6kW and anything above that is clipped, but if the batteries have space in them then the inverter can simultaneously charge them *and* supply 3.6kW AC (for house consumption and/or export).

Today for example I have seen periods where my 4.62kW solar has actually been producing 5.7kW, with the battery charging at 3.6kW and the other 2.1kW being split between the house load and export.

This is my first summer with the system and what I am finding is that the batteries are usually not getting a chance to discharge much below 80% and so I am losing some output to clipping on sunny days, but I don't feel like the amount I'm losing would've made it worth the extra expense of the higher AC output options (plus the extra grid notifications etc etc).

In my case I have an EV with a Zappi charger and what I'm doing is "trickle" charging the car (using the Eco+ mode for those who know) at 1.5kW which uses a little bit of the house battery early in the day, freeing up space which allows the solar to produce more in the middle of the day because it isn't clipping.

I hope that helps a bit?

I do this also with my Zappi, however if you want more, you can put the zappi on fast, but limit the input in the vehicle also.
So if it is a Tesla you can limit through the app to say 20a, so 5kw or less if you just want to take the clip off.

ianatkin

Solarchaser said:

ianatkin said:

NrSouthampton said:

I have a question for any of you that have the Lux Hybrid 3.6 Inverter i have tried reading all the specs but am now totally confused.

i am going to be installing a 5kw system for my son and would like to match that with the Lux hybrid unit, but cant decide which model we need.

i cant understand with the 3.6 version exactly what the solar output maximum is ..i know the maximum the battery's will output is around 3.2-3,4 KW when discharging.

so does that mean that anything we generate over 3.6kw gets clipped and lost ?

there is also a 5kw model available which looks to have a higher output of 5KW.

With the 4.9 kw Panels we will be installing is it worth going for the higher spec.

The Other option is to put in a separate 5kw inverter and use the lux AC unit.

i hope you understand where im going with this.

any advice would be appreciated

i should point out that i have 2 x lux ac parallel units with 2 banks of pylontechs  which i am very happy with.

Hi there - I have the Lux hybrid 3.6kW inverter paired with a 4.62kW nominal solar array and UHome batteries.

The Pylontechs may differ slightly but in my experience the UHomes can charge at up to 3.6kW and discharge at up to 3kW.

The important thing to note is the 3.6kW inverter rating is for the AC output specifically.  If the batteries are fully charged then your solar generation is capped at 3.6kW and anything above that is clipped, but if the batteries have space in them then the inverter can simultaneously charge them *and* supply 3.6kW AC (for house consumption and/or export).

Today for example I have seen periods where my 4.62kW solar has actually been producing 5.7kW, with the battery charging at 3.6kW and the other 2.1kW being split between the house load and export.

This is my first summer with the system and what I am finding is that the batteries are usually not getting a chance to discharge much below 80% and so I am losing some output to clipping on sunny days, but I don't feel like the amount I'm losing would've made it worth the extra expense of the higher AC output options (plus the extra grid notifications etc etc).

In my case I have an EV with a Zappi charger and what I'm doing is "trickle" charging the car (using the Eco+ mode for those who know) at 1.5kW which uses a little bit of the house battery early in the day, freeing up space which allows the solar to produce more in the middle of the day because it isn't clipping.

I hope that helps a bit?

I do this also with my Zappi, however if you want more, you can put the zappi on fast, but limit the input in the vehicle also.
So if it is a Tesla you can limit through the app to say 20a, so 5kw or less if you just want to take the clip off.

Fair comment - as my Leaf doesn't have an adjustable charge rate what I've experimented with lately is doing as you say but fiddling with the maximum current setting buried in the Zappi menus to limit it to about 3kW (12A ish) and using Fast mode as you describe. Bit of a faff but does achieve the same result (just have to remember to go out to the charger and change it back again!)

Solarchaser

Ahh yes good point, I've never looked into that.

The wife's leaf is a 24, so it's a theoretical max of 3.3kw, though zappi reports 3.6, so as I have a large array, unless its overcast I just let it crack on at fast, but certainly as we move back into the duller months I will be using more of the 1 leaf setting

devondumpling1961

Hi Everyone

Having trawled through 101 pages of this forum, I must say it's lovely to see such a supportive group.

I have recently had some batteries put in and have some queries, which I'll do one at a time.

My set up is 4 x Uhome LFP2400 (waiting on delivery of 6 more) with two Lux 3600 AC inverters, two batteries to each inverter.  I also have 3.8kW of solar that has been happily running for over 10 years.

The inverters are running firmware bAAB-0606 (master) and bAAB-0605 (slave)

My first issue relates to unexpected usage of mains power.  I know there have been similar questions on the forum before, but they seemd to be resolved by an upgrade to firmware much earlier than the one I'm on.

Most of the time the monitoring shows exactly zero power from the grid (household load being covered by solar and battery), yet my actual consumption (from my smart meter) shows a regular draw from the grid averaging 60w, totalling around 1.5 kWh per day (photo attached - the peaks are cooking for breakfast lunch and dinner). 

I've done the calculations and that's far too much for the lag caused when the household load increases.

My installer has suggested it is because "the LUX unit is drawing power which cannot be supplied by the batteries.  The LUX unit is attached to the main power which it needs to be able to monitor grid frequency etc and by design cannot be supported by batteries. I do not believe it is correct to classify this as being incorrect but a function of the electronics which controls the whole system"

I am suspicious of this as the Lux units can work off grid, so MUST be able to run off battery power.

Any thoughts / suggestions gratefully received.

Jeremy

Spies

Contact Lux and tell them you're pulling a constant 60w and they should be able to fix it.

devondumpling1961

Spies said:

Contact Lux and tell them you're pulling a constant 60w and they should be able to fix it.

Thanks - how do I do that?  My only contact is with the installer.  Is there a specific email address I should use?

devondumpling1961

Next issue:

A reminder of my system:

My set up is 4 x Uhome LFP2400 (waiting on delivery of 6 more) with two Lux 3600 AC inverters, two batteries to each inverter.  I also have 3.8kW of solar that has been happily running for over 10 years.

The inverters are running firmware bAAB-0606 (master) and bAAB-0605 (slave)

When I am charging, over an hour the system draws 4.8kWh from the mains, which is what I would expect (a rate of 1.2kW per battery).

But, the batteries only increase their charge by 2.9kWh - that's an efficency of just over 60%.

I expect some losses, but this seems far too high.  The specs say the lux inverter works at 95% efficiency.  What's going on?  I have adjusted for household consumption. 

Solarchaser

devondumpling1961 said:

Spies said:

Contact Lux and tell them you're pulling a constant 60w and they should be able to fix it.

Thanks - how do I do that?  My only contact is with the installer.  Is there a specific email address I should use?

Yeah, info@luxpowertek.com
Include your serial numbers for both of your inverters, they will reduce the offset by 60w.
I'd advise tracking the export of your smart meter too.
I increased my offset to 80w, but a few months later realised I was exporting In the dead of winter, so got them to adjust again.
So track import and export for a week after the change and get lux to adjust accordingly. 
Also note in parallel systems the exported amount in the app is actually half the real figure, even when viewing in parallel mode.

I'm afraid your next issue seems to be the uhome batteries. 
The behaviour you describe seems consistent with others reports.

If I was you, I'd look at pylontech batteries online and in ebay and perhaps approach your installer with the comments of the uhome charging unreliably and see if you can swap to pylontech. 

Lots of us use pylontech with no issues.
There's been an uptick in those using uhome. But for my money, they are more expensive, more unpredictable and less reliable.

Edit. I think your batteries will be taking the full 4.8.... or maybe 4.4 with conversion losses, its the state of charge the batteries are reporting thats wrong most likely going by similar complaints on here