Anyone Using Solax X1 AC 3.6kW Inverter with Batteries

MikeHEQA

Looking at battery storage, my solar is 5.2kW split on two roofs, 7 JA 380 each covers most of the day with Solax X1 Boost 3.6kW since last September 2021.

Octopus Go is now at 34p Peak and 7.5p Off-Peak  and 44p daily standing charge when I renew in four months, big increase in annual cost need EV tariff for Car.

Now considering using Solax X1 AC 3.6kW inverter for batteries, mainly to keep Apps down which will show on one App: do I go for Solax batteries or is there alternatives like Pylontech, and do they work with the  Solax inverter.  I have emailed both Solax UK and Solax but as of yet no replies to confirm if other batteries can be used in conjunction with the Solax X1 AC 3.6kW.
Thanks for any info

Exiled_Tyke

I have a solax battery with and X1 battery inverter (note NOT the X1 hybrid inverter).  I'm very happy with it. . My installer however has moved away from Solax batteries as they have supply problems. Although they also added that the battery they changed to is now difficult to get hold of too.   I was recently told that I could use my inverter with another make. I've got a feeling this was Pylontech but to be fair I'm not sure as my enquiry was to add to the existing system not replace it so I didn't pay too much attention. 

MikeHEQA

Exiled_Tyke said:

I have a solax battery with and X1 battery inverter (note NOT the X1 hybrid inverter).  I'm very happy with it. . My installer however has moved away from Solax batteries as they have supply problems. Although they also added that the battery they changed to is now difficult to get hold of too.   I was recently told that I could use my inverter with another make. I've got a feeling this was Pylontech but to be fair I'm not sure as my enquiry was to add to the existing system not replace it so I didn't pay too much attention. 

Thanks Exiled Tyke, appreciate your input.... My Solar inverter has inputs only for solar connections is not the Hybrid, which has solar pv connections and battery connections.

What type of model is yours as I am looking at Solax X1 AC 3.6kW with battery only connection to connect to the AC side.
Looking at the LFP 5.8kW Master BMS battery, and eventually connect up a further slave batteries.  

What size or generation are your batteries, and did you add Eastron SDM 230 meter or Chint DDSU666 for monitoring.
Any issues with your system and have you charged them on cheaper night tariff... easy to schedule and do

I do note these Solax batteries are high voltage 115v compared to like the Pylontech 50v.   Appreciate any more info on your setup, cheers

Exiled_Tyke

You are at the limits of my technical knowledge now!  

I do have the Solax X1 AC 3.6kW (although my installer insists its actually the 3kW for some reason!).    

The battery is two years old so before the current ranges came out.  It's a first generation 6.3kWh. I wanted to extend this but couldn't get another of the same battery and I"m certainly not buying a new BMS.  

 I just monitor using the Solax portal - it does me fine.    

 I do charge overnight - yes, it is easy to set up from the phone app.  I could get away without doing this at this time of year but then I'd find a couple of cloudy days and it would cost me more day time electricity.  

The BMS does odd things - occasionally charging up to 100% but stopping at 95% most of the time.  Same on discharge - once in a while it empties pretty much all the way. I'm hoping this is intentional to get the best out of the battery rather than some random blip.   

MikeHEQA

Exiled Tyke thank you for the very informative use of your battery system, the LFP 5.8kW battery Master has the BMS and extra batteries are slaves requiring no extra BMS, so slightly different to the 1st generation and presumably cost factor.

Great to know it can all be solar and battery for monitoring in one place, mine is setup by installer which gives lots of information,
Yes charging in the winter is one of the goals with Octopus Go.. cheaper off peak tariff.

Reference the BMS, seen a solax video on UTube with near the same thing, needed a firmware update for the inverter...
have you contacted info@solaxuk.co.uk what their thoughts are.

Do you have the Eastron SDM 230 meter for metering mainly for import and export showing the data in the Solax App or Portal, I have SEG with Octopus Energy...

How does the 6.3 kW cover your useage at night, base load etc and time to charge from solar on a good sunny day i know it all varies with use, just an insight is required... whether to get a slave battery at the same time... I know the LFP 5.8kW is good for 5kW useage with 90% DOD.

Many thanks the information is greatly appreciated cheers
 

MikeHEQA

The new Pylontech Force H2 7.1 kW battery system with 192 voltage (37AH Battery system capacity) will be/is available in UK
compatible with Solax AC inverters amongst other inverters depending on the battery leads connecting to the Solax AC which model is the question.  Cost approx £2840.

Exiled_Tyke

OK I'll do my best on these.  

Yes, my intention was to get an additional slave battery but it would need to be a first gen to run off the BMS and I can't find one anywhere.   So the only way to do this is to swap out the battery which is not financially viable.  If you think there still may be a solution to this I'd love to hear it. 

I'll look up the video - if you still know the link it would be really helpful. 

The Solax monitoring is fine. I have a friend who has his PV on solax too so it's all very neat and tidy. Mine doesn't really understand my set up so some of the info is 'misinterpreted' but I can live with that.  I monitor production on the solaredge site and battery performance on the solax site. 

I'm on FIT so I haven't concerned myself with export monitoring even though it's recorded. So I've never attempted to reconcile meter readings to portal data. The meter is a Landis so can't really help you there. 

At this time of year 6.3kWh generally gets me through to 12.30 when I start charging from the grid. In winter it generally runs out mid evening.  If I'm cooking a big meal (using both oven and induction hob) then I can run out, or occasionally draw more power than the battery supplies so start using some peak time power.  I've limited output to 2.4kW for a bit of extra battery protection.  If I'd managed to get another battery that would have allowed me to increase the draw as well as the capacity (obviously) and would have liked both benefits. 

Recently I've been away from home so on a sunny day battery capacity only drops to around 80% by 12.30. So I could really turn off the overnight charging but as I said before it would be just by luck to not reset it before a cloudy day and then be using peak grid power all day! 

Exiled_Tyke

Actually now I've checked more carefully my installer is wrong. My battery is 2gen - so if you know of anyone who has any I'd love to hear about it! thanks 

MikeHEQA

Exiled TykeThanks for the insight of running the battery, and pattern... yes I intend to charge overnight for Winter period.... been two great days for generation of 21 kW for both days.... battery would of helped the base load and more, lovely generation curve and flatten out at midday and still recharge battery during the day.. really surprised how good the orientation of the two roofs and panels are producing so much energy so early on in the year, not had a Summer yet.

Found a local installer near me who does Solax, and his quote is reasonable Solax inverter and one battery 5.8, WiFi dongle and Eastron SDM 230 meter installed, early days will keep looking for more quotes.

Hope you find a battery

Beckyw1991

Newly installed x1-ac invertor and battery system any help appreciated... apparently x1-ac non hybrid doesn't connect to solar, it's costing my a fortune in electric at the moment as it only seems to feed the grid or charge the battery ... not powering the home at all. Am I missing a setting somewhere? 

QrizB

Beckyw1991 said:

Newly installed x1-ac invertor and battery system any help appreciated... apparently x1-ac non hybrid doesn't connect to solar, it's costing my a fortune in electric at the moment as it only seems to feed the grid or charge the battery ... not powering the home at all. Am I missing a setting somewhere? 

@Beckyw1991

You asked the same question over on the Energy board, and received some replies there.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6593473/solax-invertor-with-battery-not-powering-the-house