I’m wondering how the firmware is updated? USB or other? I’ve looked on the website but I couldn’t find any instructions.
Thx Jay > On Nov 12, 2020, at 7:58 PM, Jeff Clearwater <je...@villagepowerdesign.com> > wrote: > > Thanks Dustin for keeping us up to date on Sol-Arks feature progress. > > While you are upgrading your firmware: :) > > So an essential feature for off-grid with a generator is to be able to > program various SOC levels for generator start AND shuf-off after charge. > 90% is way too high for many sunny climes and other configurations. Often > batteries need a boost in the wee morning hours - when they drop below the > preferred recharge point but that's only perhaps a few hours before the sun > comes up - So say you want to start a gen to charge a Lead-acid battery at > 50% or an LFP batter at 20% SOC but you only want to bring it through to the > next often or possibly sunny morning. So you set it to run from 50% to 65% > (or from 20%-40% for LFP) - knowing that the morning sun will take it the > rest of the way. 90% would waste a ton of fuel in this scenario not too > mention unwanted noise and wear and tear on the genny. Depending on the > clients use profile, the climate, and relative size of the array and battery > and gen, these figures could vary anywhere from 20% to 100%. So it's > essential us off-grid installers have that flexibility. > > Also I know that your TOU settings might cover this (though not in all modes > I believe) but another nice feature is to have 2 or 3 time periods with > different start and stop settings (Sunny Island does this nicely). So if the > minimum SOC is reached in the evening you might as well bring it up to a > higher SOC for gen shut down as it needs to get through the entire night > whereas if that minimum SOC start trigger is met after 3 AM it needs to only > bring it to a lower SOC as described above. > > I'm loving the Sol-Ark product so far but it is obvious the software is a > work in progress - the architecture and thought behind it is an excellent > foundation - thanks for your work and openness for input to make it even > better. > > Best, > > Jeff > > ~~~~~~~~~~~ > Jeff Clearwater > Village Power Design > linkedin > www.villagepowerdesign.com > cell - 413-559-9763 > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > >> Dustin Douglas November 12, 2020 at 11:46 AM >> Hi All, >> >> First and foremost thank you for sharing your experiences the the Sol-Ark >> system. We try very hard to have different capabilities and add new features >> that make it flexible for the customer. The two-wire start is a feature >> however that we want to be seamless. In the instance where the customer is >> seeing the system shutdown once the generator shuts off has been addressed >> and fixed with a software update. With this update we are able to handle >> larger generators that tend to drift from 60hz. Please give our support team >> a call so that we can update the customer accordingly. We are also looking >> at adding more features including the ability exercise the generator in the >> near feature. >> >> Thank you and have a blessed day, >> Dustin Douglas >> Sol Ark Engineering Support >> (972) 575-8875 x 108 >> www.sol-ark.com >> >> >> ---- On Thu, 12 Nov 2020 08:08:51 -0600 Jay <jay.pe...@gmail.com> wrote ---- >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the >> other: >> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> Jay November 12, 2020 at 9:08 AM >> Hi Bill >> >> In the past I’ve had similar issues with generators/inverters. Usually a >> relay on the output power wires that opens( disconnects) when the stop >> signal is sent works as the frequency doesn’t slowly go down, it drops to 0 >> instantly. >> I don’t know if it will fix your issue. >> >> Seems like solark needs to greatly improve their firmware. >> >> Jay >> >> Peltz power. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the >> other: >> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> Bill Hennessy November 11, 2020 at 10:03 PM >> Hi folks--We've also been disappointed with the Sol-Ark two-wire generator >> start. The unit starts at the charge set point, but the inverter will shut >> down for about a minute every time the generator stops running. After the >> minute wait, the inverter restarts and everything is fine. But it is >> aggravating for the homeowners to be left wondering in the dark. >> >> Sol-Ark says that when the generator shuts off, the frequency drops out of >> the Sol-Ark range and causes the inverter shut down. >> They suggested we find a way to increase the generator speed to avoid the >> frequency drop at shutdown. This seems like a lame suggestion, since the >> generator has no idea of when the batteries will be satisfied--it only >> responds to the on/off signal from the Sol-Ark. I would think that the unit >> could be programmed to ignore the frequency drop when it sends the shut off >> signal to the generator. The system has an an Ecogen 15kW. >> >> Not having an exercise function is also a miss. As mentioned below, the time >> of use can be used, but one has to go out and play with the programming to >> check the generator. >> >> regards, bill >> >> Bill Hennessy >> Berks Solar, LLC >> 371 Centennial Rd >> Mertztown, PA 19539 >> >> o 610 682 4300 >> c 484 560 4666 >> NABCEP certified installer >> PA contractor #44411 >> www.berkssolar.com >> >> >> On Wednesday, November 11, 2020, 8:20:57 PM EST, Chris Sparadeo >> <sparadeo.ch...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> Thanks for the suggestion, Jay. >> >> Yes, the Sol-Ark has a very basic and limited AGS for 2 wire compatible gen >> sets. Gen start can be programmed with voltage or SOC, however gen stop is >> not a function that can not be readily programmed. Instead, the Sol-Ark is >> programmed to charge the battery bank to 90% of the rated Ah capacity of >> the battery bank before turning off the generator. You can ultimately adjust >> this gen stop parameter to be based on a specific SOC or voltage, but I >> believe that doing so requires a call into tech support. The tech I spoke >> with updated a setting (having to do with a TOU parameter I believe) that >> was not accessible via the system interface. AGS from Schnieder, Outback >> and even Magnum are less clunky, but I am hoping that Sol-Ark will >> eventually come out with new programming to remediate these minor but >> nevertheless, important issues >> >> -Chris >> >> On Wed, Nov 11, 2020 at 3:58 PM Jay <jay.pe...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> -- >> Chris Sparadeo >> >> >> C_802-369-4458 >> H_802-728-3059 >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the >> other: >> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the >> other: >> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >> > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >
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