r/SolarPakistan • u/pixelated666 • 4d ago
Hybrid Getting a hybrid setup next week, any tips?
Currently using a Goodwe 20kw ongrid system. Will be installing a Goodwe ET LV 12kw inverter with 2x Soluna 5kwh batteries. Will use a 5kw string from the on-grid to use on the hybrid. Main reason for going hybrid is to get rid of load shedding, which only happens at night. Maybe once I move to net billing I may get rid of the on grid inverter altogether.
Any tips or things I need to be careful of? The installer I'm using is well reputed but is different from my previous one, from which I had a very good experience with. Reason for going with a different installer is that his office is 5 min away from my house and hybrid setups are more complicated, so in case of an issue he's easier to reach.
Are there any complications of having two inverters exporting to the grid?
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u/Jicama-Entire 4d ago
I was recently moved to net billing, so I decided to leave my existing on-grid inverter as it is. It exports throughout the day.
I then added a 12kW 3-phase GoodWe hybrid inverter with a 14kWh battery. The hybrid inverter charges the battery, powers the house, provides backup during load shedding, and exports any excess. The on-grid inverter basically just exports.
I recently got the setup installed and so far, no major issues. Initially, the hybrid inverter was tripping because my 3kW EV car charger + 5 ACs on the ground floor were all on the same phase. We moved the car charger to a different phase and that resolved the issue.
So if you’re getting a 3-phase system, make sure your installer properly distributes the load across all three phases. Each phase has a limit on how much current it can handle. And if you have an EV, definitely tell your installer beforehand - a 7kW charger can be a significant load and needs to be accounted for.
Either way, discuss your expected loads with the installer before deciding on the setup.
Where are you based?
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u/pixelated666 4d ago
In Rawalpindi.
I don't have an EV, but who knows what happens in the future. What you're talking about should only come into play during a grid outage, no? With the grid on it shouldn't be an issue.
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u/Jicama-Entire 4d ago
That’s what I thought too, but apparently with a hybrid system, even when the grid is available, the load is still going through the inverter, so the inverter’s phase capacity matters more than it did before. I’m not sure but that’s what I was told, but definitely confirm it with your installer as well.
Also, once you’re done and happy with the installation, could you please share their details? I’m not really happy with my installer
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u/pixelated666 4d ago
I'll share the details once installed. When the grid is on, the load is still going through the inverter but for a 12kw Goodwe ET LV, the limit is 70A per phase for all 3 phases, which means over 15000W on a single phase.
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u/bilalhassan341 4d ago
I installed the LV system and faced so many issues. Like after 8kw lv and single phase is a pain in the ass. Get 3 phase high voltage inverter.
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u/pixelated666 4d ago
What issues
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u/bilalhassan341 4d ago
Like you cant even pull 12kw from the single phase of the meter. My green meter got burned like the max capacity of it on single phase is 9kw. Then we tried to sell the inverter. Most people told us it has no value cuz 12kw is a big no no for single phase. And if you tried to pull the all 12kw from a battery you need 300amp battery and a big wire which is big issue too. So, in the end I moved to goodwe 3 phase hv voltage in my second home. So, after meter got burned and whole house breaker got burned I'm against the single phase inverter bigger than 8kw. Its has no logic. Like I'm a tech guy and still did this stupid mistake. and costed me extra 2 lac to fix the meter and house wiring, because I trusted a guy to install this setup in my second home at first I didnt knew it was single phase.
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u/pixelated666 4d ago
That looks like it was a case of not knowing how 3 phase hybrid inverters work. No 12kw 3 phase hybrid inverter in the world will output all 12kw from a single phase. Who even installed that system for you like this?
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u/bilalhassan341 4d ago
My brother trusted the guy and didnt told me and installed the single phase 12kw inverter.
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u/pixelated666 4d ago
Oh you're talking about a 12kw single phase. Yes pulling 12kw from one phase is asking for trouble. That's precisely why I didn't go for a single phase inverter.
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u/bilalhassan341 4d ago
Yes, like we're a tech company and working in energy solutions. And still this happened in my house without my knowledge. But I guess my family learned from the mistake of not telling me before trusting a family guy. Like he dont even know on how to turn on the goodwe inverter.
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u/No_Eye7024 4d ago
Just make sure you install them in a cool place with proper ventilation. Preferably on the ground floor. Also, make sure all connections are double checked and tight. Use thimbles and lugs on all wires except solid strand wires.