Important Update: LCD Version 18 Firmware

That's pretty funny Don...I wrote to Jared a couple days ago and said the exact same thing...almost word for word. He agreed and said he would ask the team to implement it.

@donbarber this has been reported, and we are actively looking into having this corrected.

The new firmware (FAAB-CC1E or FAAB-1E1E, plus the LCD v18) seem to have much worse performace compared to the previous I have been using for the last few months. I have an 18kPV coupled with three Powerpro outdoor battries and about 10kw peak of solar panels. The system is connected to the grid but configured not export power, while set to self-consumption most of the time. After about a week of testing, I have noticed the following issues so far:

1. Lower threshold to pull from grid. At ~7kw the system automatically switches power source from solar and/or batteries to the grid. Previously would get to ~11-12kw before it pulls from the grid.

2. Tendency to limit solar output to match load. The system randomly limits the solar output to the home consumption power, rather than allowing maximum output and sending excess power to charge the batteries. This is really strange.

3. Grid peak-shaving function now also shaves the peak off of solar production to match the home consumption. Rather than sending the excess solar to charge the battery.

4. Randomly significantly limits output on some strings (likely the lower voltage strings) and pulls power from batteries.

5. Decimal point issue on LCD for kw values. As highlighted by other users.

Another update to address these issues is desperately needed as we have to constantly baby-sit the system to ensure its behaving accordingly. Maybe EG4 can provide an option to revert to previous firmware. Also a limited release of new firmware to some power users prior to a wider release to everyone may help mitigate such issues.

@idee if you don't mind sending me a DM with the data or serial number of the inverter, I would definitely like to take a look.

I have noticed some unexpected behavior also..but am not sure if it is related to the latest firmware.

 
I have peak shaving enabled from 3pm-midnight (peak rate for me.) 
I also have AC-Charge enabled from 1pm to 2:55pm in order to charge my battery in case it is cloudy.

This all works okay.  However after the battery is full (but before 3pm), the household load is only drawn from the grid instead of the solar panels even though they are still producing much more power than the existing load.  So essentially, I am throwing away solar power and instead getting charged for taking power from the grid. Why?

Setup info:  Off-Grid mode is enabled. Grid Sell Back is disabled. Charge Last is disabled. Battery Backup Mode is disabled.

Wish List:  Selectable times for Quick Charge.  A Top-Off feature that will bring the battery to 100%

Here is an example of what I stated above in my previous post.  The picture on the left was taken after the battery was fully charged but before the 3pm cutoff for AC charging.  Notice that no solar power is being used and that the power consumed is coming from the grid.  I then disabled AC Charge to show that plenty of solar power was available.  Why?

Posted by: @idee

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The new firmware (FAAB-CC1E or FAAB-1E1E, plus the LCD v18) seem to have much worse performace compared to the previous I have been using for the last few months. I have an 18kPV coupled with three Powerpro outdoor battries and about 10kw peak of solar panels. The system is connected to the grid but configured not export power, while set to self-consumption most of the time. After about a week of testing, I have noticed the following issues so far:

1. Lower threshold to pull from grid. At ~7kw the system automatically switches power source from solar and/or batteries to the grid. Previously would get to ~11-12kw before it pulls from the grid.

2. Tendency to limit solar output to match load. The system randomly limits the solar output to the home consumption power, rather than allowing maximum output and sending excess power to charge the batteries. This is really strange.

3. Grid peak-shaving function now also shaves the peak off of solar production to match the home consumption. Rather than sending the excess solar to charge the battery.

4. Randomly significantly limits output on some strings (likely the lower voltage strings) and pulls power from batteries.

5. Decimal point issue on LCD for kw values. As highlighted by other users.

Another update to address these issues is desperately needed as we have to constantly baby-sit the system to ensure its behaving accordingly. Maybe EG4 can provide an option to revert to previous firmware. Also a limited release of new firmware to some power users prior to a wider release to everyone may help mitigate such issues.

Update: @Jared took a look at my system and noticed some parts of the update may not have been completed sucessfully. He recommended a re-installation and was able to initiate it remotely.

After a few days of testing, it appears all the issues listed previously have been resolved and the inverter is performing even more relaibly in self-consumption mode.

In future updates please include total solar production (in kw) on the LCD and website, its really time consuming having to do the math all the time just to determine the total solar production.

Great customer service by EG4!!!

Posted by: @caesarv

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Here is an example of what I stated above in my previous post.  The picture on the left was taken after the battery was fully charged but before the 3pm cutoff for AC charging.  Notice that no solar power is being used and that the power consumed is coming from the grid.  I then disabled AC Charge to show that plenty of solar power was available.  Why?

-- attachment is not available --

 

Have you tried disabling off-grid mode? The system may not be able to mix grid with battery and solar when the home is on EPS. Also, I experience significant power dips when I have off-grid enabled, so I just leave it off.

Thanks Idee, but I don't think I want to disable Off Grid Mode.  I was having numerous other issues until I finally enabled it.  I had thought that this mode meant you were NOT connected to the grid, but that is not what it means.  In any case, enabling this mode solved most of my issues.  This current problem is pretty minor in comparison...I just don't understand the logic behind it and was wondering if this was a bug...or a 'feature'.

@jared 

Can I DM you my station ID ? my update was problematic during install .