Update: The absolute maximum voltage open circuit of the 18K is 600V. Compare to sol ark 15K which is 550V max. And get this! Current Connected is doing pre-orders for the EG4 18K (affiliate link): www.currentconnected.com/product/eg4-18kpv/?ref=wp You can buy 18K direct from signature solar here: signaturesolar.com/eg4-18kpv-hybrid-inverter-all-in-one-solar-inverter-eg4-18kpv-12lv/?ref=cPwLcVc0SW-BjN&PV-product-launch& If you need a sol ark 15K, buy it from current connected: www.currentconnected.com/product/sa-15k/?ref=wp If you need a budget friendly 48V system, go here: www.mobile-solarpower.com/48v-complete-system-blueprint.html *Does off-grid solar confuse you?* Check out my DIY friendly website for solar system packages and product recommendations, and so much more! www.mobile-solarpower.com *Join our DIY solar community* #1 largest solar forum on the internet for beginners and professionals alike: www.diysolarforum.com *Check out my Book* Best-selling and beginner-friendly guide to 12V off-grid solar! amzn.to/2Aj4dX4 If DIY is not for you, but you love solar and need an offgrid system, check out Tesla Energy! They will price out a system and get your house offgrid: ts.la/william57509 *My DIY Solar Equipment Recommendations (Constantly updated! Check here first):* 12V/48V Lithium Solar Batteries: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-batteries.html Complete Solar System Component Directory: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solarcomponents.html Complete 48V System Blueprint: www.mobile-solarpower.com/48v-complete-system-blueprint.html Plug-N-Play System Recommendations: www.mobile-solarpower.com/full-size-systems.html Complete "Add to Cart" 48V System Kits: www.mobile-solarpower.com/complete-48v-solar-kits.html DIY Friendly Air Conditioner/ Heat Pumps: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-friendly-air-conditioners.html *My Favorite Online Stores for DIY Solar Products:* *Signature Solar* Offgrid One-Stop-Shop. Best Value 48V LiFePO4, Victron and Offgrid Specific Heat Pumps: www.signaturesolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek *Current Connected* SOK, Victron, Mr.Cool Heatpumps and High Quality Components. Fantastic customer support: currentconnected.com/?ref=wp *Litime* My favorite 12V budget battery!: www.litime.com/?ref=XBIA62RFcalHns *Epoch Batteries* My favorite high-quality 12V battery: www.epochbatteries.com/products/12v-460ah-lifepo4-battery-ip67-heated-bluetooth-victron-comms?rfsn=7352625.50494d *Renogy* A classic 12V solar store that has been around for ages! DC to DC Chargers and more! renogy.sjv.io/n1VjXx *Rich Solar* Renogy's biggest competitor! Similar products, but at a better price: richsolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek *Battery Hookup* Cheap cell deals bit.ly/2mIxSqt 5% off code: diysolar *Contact Information:* I am NOT available for personal solar system consult! If you wish to contact me, this is my direct email: williamprowsediysolar@gmail.com Join the forum at diysolarforum.com/ if you wish to hang out with myself and others and talk about solar *FTC Disclosure Statement and Disclaimers:* Every video includes some form of paid promotion or sponsorship. Some links on this youtube channel may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these. My videos are for educational purposes only. Information is subject to change/update at any time. Electricity is DANGEROUS and can kill. Be smart and use common sense :) DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Sol-Ark is flattered that Luxpower has imitated our revolutionary hybrid inverter design, but to suggest that a cheaper inverter is also a better inverter is inaccurate. AC power is more important than DC power, and Sol-Ark provides 25% more daytime AC power critical for those heavy HVAC and well pumps. On the DC side, either way, the batteries get full on sunny days for well-designed systems. That's a long ways towards that price difference right out of the gate, before getting into MPPT comparison. On that note, the MPPT are very different (~50% more for Sol-Ark). Getting to 18kW on the Luxpower is very difficult, requiring maxing out the MPPT which can trigger temperature design concerns on cold sunny days. Whereas it's easy to max out the Sol-Ark PV capacity due to its full sized MPPTs, even without expensive, premium solar modules. Which begs the question - what solar module configuration did Luxpower use to validate its 18kW claim? Can they show any long term endurance testing to verify that specification? Perhaps Will can do his own testing but the video only goes up to ~14kW. Other technical issues - charge/discharge efficiencies are worse and the certifications don't match Sol-Ark - which has UL9540 2020 and UL1741SB options on the market today as required in California and most of the USA grid-tied market next year, and necessary for those utility battery incentives to improve the ROI. Sol-Ark is proud to be the leader in the hybrid inverter. There are many imitations coming out daily, but only one, true original setting the standard. Also - Best-in-class is not just about engineering, innovation and R&D, but it is in the people and treatment of our customer-base. We're now moving into a 300,000 sq. ft. campus sized for 500 employees in our Texas headquarters.
@@Sol-Ark just learned last night about the increased AC output when solar available on the forum last night. Did not know that at all! I posted the spec after I found it. And fortress power seems to be the first imitation. Not eg4. Yes, we will see what listings they will have and how well the support is. I have no idea at this point. I love the competition though! We need more options in the market, for sure. You guys are the leaders in this space 😁 I'm surprised they didn't imitate every specification. Doesn't seem that hard to do. Love what you guys do and have a lot of happy viewers running your units! I don't think I have a single forum member to have complained about your support, either. It will be interesting to see how these other companies will compare. Do you have any plans to lower prices in the future? I assume you guys sell predominantly to installers, but I could be wrong. I feel like the luxpowers and others coming out will be more popular for direct to consumer. I can't wait to see people compete with the 18K in the next year. Perhaps voltronic will come out with something even better. By the way, I sell all of my sol arks through current connected, and they are fantastic! I am glad you work with them.
@@Sol-Ark and yes I need some more strings. They are saying it can go up to 600VDC on the input. I have a lot of viewers that want a sol ark but simply can't afford it and instead buy the lv6548 clones. For $2,999, it's not bad. Not code compliant in some areas but they are cheap and get the job done. Could sol ark make a off-grid specific unit to compete with the lv6548 clones? That would be so cool!! The more competition the better
@@pvbatts there are some variation between all of the models but I'm not sure yet to what extent. They are saying they can have the VOC up to 600 on the EG4 version. I know there are some differences with the fortress power version as well. I put 500 in the video because that's what they recommend is the working voltage. Some of the official documents are not consistent though so let's see what they have when they are listed.
My thought exactly. I bought a Sol Ark and I still would even if this had been out. It’s been rock solid. Specs mean noting if the unit dies or glitching constantly.😊😊
@@NeverTakeNoCut-offs been running a 8kw deye, 15kw solark and this 12kw luxpower. and hands down luxpower is the best value. and the solark has more issues than the others, its very sensitive to unbalanced loads.
@@alexandermoore6027 I have had my Sol Ark for over a year and never once had an unbalanced load issue, and I have had some very heavy loads on it. Of course I designed my system based on the published specification and best wiring practices and use the most recent firmware. It's a non-issue for me.
I've been testing this 18k unit for over a week now it's working great And soon I will be able to provide tech support for the 18k units we sell And we will answer the phone. Great video keep up the good work.
This looks like something many people are waiting for, lets see how it goes "in the wild" for a few months, if it proves reliable it'll be a big seller !!! I'm using SMA Sunny Island/Boy which has been flawless for the last 5 years, hopefully they have a good recipe here !!!
can't help but love your content and break downs, that help with understanding what the upside and down sides to all units you show. Really helps when it comes to is this unit for me and my use. And made me realize that what I needed and didn't need depending on application use. Keep the hits coming... love your channel. So very very helpful!!!
Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad to hear that my videos have been helpful in understanding different units and their applications. The Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series could be a great addition to your outdoor gear. Its massive capacity, fast recharging, and waterproof technology make it a reliable choice for camping and home backup power. Keep exploring and enjoying your outdoor adventures!
I just bought two batteries and the 18k. I’m praying I can use your videos to get my system up and running. My plan is to use a generator to recharge daily, while I’m trying to decide if I need to invest in solar panels. I’m in west central Illinois right on the Mississippi River at lock and dam 19.
Well that looks very promising, enough to look after our house and I can start with Net 0 and add batteries in future for backup, much much better than the micro inverters option our solar providers are using (we are less than a kilometre from the ocean and here in Vancouver BC with all that salt moisture etc not friendly to micro inverters), great review and again a great product, UL/CSA it is a no brainier, totally awesome! Thanks Will, you bring such a great resource to alternate energy!!! Keep it up!
So I've been doing a lot of research and I found this video to be very informative. I really like all the features on this system, it's got evening I'm looking for and then some. And for the $$ I haven't seen anything else that beats it. I personally don't care about customer support. I've been in IT for +25y & elevator mech for 11y before that and I don't ever call tech support.
As always good video Will. You are one of the lucky few who have been able to get their hands on this thing! I’ve heard a lot of complaints about EG4 inverter software issues. Seems like a lot of people have been burned by them before. I love their 48v lithium V2 batteries though. Hopefully they have solved the software issues.
Will, I am blown away at your technological capabilities as well as your impeccable communication ability. I'm in Pahrump which is about an hour away from you in Sin City. I'm off grid here with (2) EG4 6500's with (28) 445 watt Eversolar panels all acquired via Signature Solar. Should be up and running in a few days if all is good w/o needing firmware updates. Much of the installation procedures are followed by your incredible input and I thank you very much for what you do for us, your followers.
A friend of mine who's a heavy hauler he's been Heavy Hauling for many years moved to Pahrump from San Diego. Paul is his name now I can't remember his last name dang it. Anyway enjoy your solar. Sure is amazing stuff I wish I was a little bit better at doing it slowly but surely I guess. I can't believe how good most of these DYI peeps are doing😊
@@VinceBadovinatz88 Small world indeed, eh? I drove 18 wheelers for about 10 years 48 states & Canada back in the mid 70's thru mid 80's. Retired now and been prepping for years for what's to come. Stay safe and hope you can become totally self sustaining.
In Texas it does not currently pay to grid tie as those electric plans are much more expensive. But this seems viable for back up power and select off grid power to split system hvac and EV. Ready to get going. Thanks for your thorough instructions.
Will, they need to put you on retainer, as you're doing the field testing work for them. Pointing out the problems with their earlier products and the improvements that will make them better and easier to use. I save your videos so when I get time I'll use them as a buying and setup guide for the system I need. Thank you.
Thx Will, I finally found the best way to setup my ultimate solar system. The EG4 18K-PV plus 4 Discover AES 42-48-6650 (each battery has 6,650 amp hour) no system can beat this type of combo.
Hey Will, great informative video as always! The only comment here is in minute 8:25 where you explain the CT positions. The manual actually says the arrows should be pointing toward the inverter.
Buyer beware! Be very careful when buying from Signature solar. I purchased a system weeks ago and I'm still sitting on hold with them daily to try to resolve simple issues. I'm not going to complain but please be vigilant, verify... verify... verify if you buy a system from them. Will good vid as usual!
This inverter looks very encouraging. Can't wait to see your follow up videos after a few weeks of use. For your next video, can you also look into neutral ground bonding for this device to make sure it's configured correctly for various connection use cases (offgrid, on-grid/grid tied etc).
Software HUI is remarkably similar to the Sol-Ark. As you mentioned, the gripe I have about the Sol-Ark 15k is the amount of room in the wiring area. Also, to use the SA as the grid connect a 200A service panel needs a minimum of 2/0 copper, but SA's punchouts are 1.5". They should have been 2" due to the NEC conduit filling percentage rules. Forget about trying to use 4/0 aluminum.
You are spot on correct about that but I have been able to get the 15K installed with 2/0 DLO cable on the output and 2/0 THHN on the input. IF you want to save $$$ by using the 4/0 Aluminum it might be beneficial to mount a distribution block in a large wire duct (gutter) under the inverter and just use a short run of 2/0 THHN up to the inverter.
@@MrWatlow Good point. After I did my first one, it occured to me I could run the aluminum 4/0 to a Polaris and go 2/0 copper from there. Too late, but at least that and your thought are possibilities.
I am currently setting up an EG4 18KPV and just wanted to report my experience so far with EG4 support, I have made 2 calls and have received great support with very short wait times so far, I just wanted to put that out there if anything changes I will post it up. Depending on how this goes I may be buying a second to be able to use Solar and Battery as my primary source (right now I am setting it up as a critical load panel setup only) with grid for back up under extreme load scenario's (it's in a very large house) but we will see, this is my first solar setup (I do have prior residential electrician experience so can't really comment on the DIY end, it could be a bit daunting I suppose but for me it has been pretty simple), so still experimenting.
Think this will push me over the edge to build my first system. I was worried about code compliance and simplicity of design of alot of older units , I think this paired with eg4 server rack and 12kw Canadian bifacials will be the ticket!
@John Dawkins yeah, signature solar said they submitted all the released info and testing for approval. But I'm sure california will take their time and I know the "standards" for those tests being qualified are stupid strict.
@@bschmitty77 thanks. I’m glad to hear that at least the process has started. Unfortunately, we do take forever in California. I’ll hope for good news. If you hear any updates, please reply again. Thanks!
@@bschmitty77 I’ve been in contact w SDGE and Signature Solar the last week trying to get this and the batteries on the CEC list. We are still waiting on SS to provide the testing for the inverter to the contact I have at SDGE and then they will submit. Frustrating, and maybe a bit of a red flag, that SS isn’t eager to provide that. That opens up a bunch of business as soon as these are CEC approved.
Most homes have a 200A panel - the 18K will be so easy to install. It's one less box on the wall. Remove the 200A from the Panel - attach 18K output - back to panel. Done Very Simple. The LV6548 - are so much harder to wire on 240V side. You almost always need a sub panel.
I have learned so much from you and have built my own system, choosing the parts carefully based on the information I learned. I love your fair and analytical approach testing and sharing information. Don't let others affect you negatively, I think in those cases they might be trying to rise to your level by posing a false strength. The sad part is they could never reach it and perhaps that fear manifests as negativity 💪 Thank you again!
In your next video about this can you talk about what you can do if you have more than the 12kpv to charge? For instance if you have 2 server rack tower banks and 30kpv and want to charge faster than 12k. A side question: is there a limit on how much you can sell to the power company where you live? Do other areas have limits?
I took the Upgrade option. Traded in 2x 6000EX for an 18Kpv. I'm glad I did. The new inverter does every thing. I especially like the sealed electronics and imbalance issues are way better. Setting up the 18K was easy. Getting the batteries set up to work was not. I had issues setting this up with my EG4 batteries. Hunting for Battery Firmware for a mixed generation to communicate with each other and upgrading was a nightmare. Inverter: 18Kpv Battery: LL-s, LL-V1, LifePower4
Really hope to see self consumption working on this inverter. I can’t sell to grid in my area but would like to power loads in main panel if critical loads are met and there is excess PV or battery.
That thing looks really nice and well built. And it's the first one on the channel where when you show what you're doing on the display, it actually just makes immediate sense to me. Good signs.
The specs for this says that "in case of power outage, this can be used for backup power without use of solar". I assume this means that in the event of grid failure, it does not automatically (with an ATS) cut the grid connection so solar is unavailable. Can I reinstate the solar connection with a manual transfer switch so I can use solar/battery if the grid goes down?
Hey Mr. Will, Love your videos, super helpful. I bought the 18K and thought I would let you know the issue I was having. I have a Generac generator hooked up to the inverter and turns out that the dry contacts will not change state when the power shuts off without a battery bank in the mix. I don't have my batteries installed yet so my inverter will not fire up my generator during a power loss. Signature solar tried and didn't get it done so I called EG4 and they tried with no success. The tech said he was going to get with R & D to put that in the next firmware. They were supposed to get back to me and never did. I just bought all my solar cells and Overkill bms units, so I will probably get the battery bank in before they fix it. Just FYI.
My FL utility raised its kWh rates to $0.11 for the 1st 1000 kWh then $0.13 over 1000 kWh each month for residential. Raised about 1 penny. You guys are tough out west paying those high rates.
sounds like a great upgrade for those of us who originally built string inverter systems before there were any offgrid/hybrid options for grid connected systems. Any panel adds at this point would kill my NEM 1 agreement with utilities. But in the meantime, I could add this, add battery, and when the time is right (after NEM agreement expires) I can add more panels, and handle fully electric home needs plus EV. Thanks.
What a great video. What a great product I hope the long-term is great. There's no way I can afford it right now but if it's a great product long-term I want to get one. What a great idle consumption. I have to watch the video again I can't quite remember or understand how much PV input you need to make it run. It seemed like that was rather High. That could be one downfall for people that don't have a million panels. I'll have to recheck it or if somebody has time they can let me know in a comment. Very impressive . N once again i really love your video presentations.😊😊
As a retiring educator, I am most impressed with your work, and your abilities. That said, if we have a unique scenario, we are thinking about doing in our lives, is there a way to communicate with you about that? Fee set up? Friendly help? I’m sure you’re quite busy. Anyway, thank you for your time.
Yeah, I was going back and forth between the 2(18k and 6500's). It's my first jump into solar for the house. I'll spend the extra and have the options. I'm like you Will, I hate the phone trying to get help, I'll figure it out. sig has some really good PV pallet deals. Go big or go home? Eh...it's better than Solar City for sure...
You hit the nail on the head with the support issues with signature solar. Sadly, their support has gone from really good to horrible in the past year. The reality is none of this stuff is plug-and-play or perfect and you have issues here and there and will need support. I have been waiting a literally a month for a case on a 6500 from them. It is a sad situation because they are the cheapest around but their support is god awful today.
Solark has the same problem. They used to be great now they're beyond awful. To the point where the Solark support guy gas lights you, ignores what you're telling and showing him. I guess Idiocracy is a sign of the times.
I actually drove to signature solar while on business in Texas and visited SS in person. I was treated very professionally, and several hours of questions were adequately responded to. They were also very honest and upfront about manual issues with the 8k and so on. I suspect the "support" issue rises if you find a firmware issue, or need something an actual engineer building the stuff has to address. I was not under the impression they built these here, and I imagine part of that $3k difference (emp protection?) Is access to the people who construct and engineer the systems if needed.
If you hook two of these up in parallel can you send 24kW to the grid or batteries? 500A? How many EG4 batteries can each each 18K be connected to? Thanks!
Excellent video, but the Sol-Ark 15K produce 3KW of extra power? You said 12K was the output of this model from PV. I would also like to know about the Generator starting function and also how many time slots this one has compared to the Sol-Ark 15K.
I have a Sol-Ark 15k and did a video on it. It can push 15kw (12kw to loads and 3kw to charge batteries) when it’s running on solar. When it’s pulling solely from the batteries (off grid at night) it can only push 12kw to the loads. I’ve reviewed the spec sheet on the EG4 18kpv and did a video on it as well. I still can’t figure out if like the Sol-Ark it can utilize 15kw when it’s pulling in solar energy. EG4 hasn’t been very clear on it thus far.
@@unpluggedtexan Sorry, but your wrong about that. There is a UA-cam video showing a Sol-Ark 15K sending 15KW to the Loads and an extra 1KW to charge the battery.
Awesome , finally something that just works. This looks ideal for my shop and it should run my AC, lighting tools and possibly my air compressor as well.
Hi Will, thanks for all tbe great videos. In the comparison to the Sol Ark at the end, it's worth noting that the Sol Ark 15K has a 15kW inverter, but the 18K PV only has a 12kW inverter. Per kW, the Sol Ark is still slightly more expensive, but not as much as this comparison would suggest.
Wow, solar has evolved. My LV6548’s are doing their job(thanks to you) and don’t really have complaints but when I move, these may be sold or left behind. I may be looking at my next inverter. Great job on your review as always.
If its California compliant, you know it's good. This is the unit a lot of us have been waiting for. I never liked the hybrid units a few years ago, because the cheap ones were sketchy and the good ones were crazy expensive and ran at low PV voc. Having such a high PV voltage and several mppt's is so useful, and with the panels on the market, you can size it cheaply and easily. P.s. they have a lot of "refurbished" units a year later. For around the same price as a 12kpv that's brand new.
Question on inputs. My understanding is you can use micro inverters with the sol-ark and run 240v into the generator input. Can the new EG4 do that? Second is that the optimum way to maximize the solar panels?
I love your videos..but just noticed your instructions on the CT clamps seems wrong after looking at the manual..shows the arrows pointing to the inverter..u said to point toward the meter / grid
This looks like the all-in-one inverter I've been waiting for to run my entire house. My daily consumption is 20-30kWh and I would like to tap into the grid to charge up the batteries during off-season if needed based on cloudy days. No sub panel needed? Run entire main breaker panel with a single inverter? Count me in!
@xLifeOnTheRoadxLOL My house is nearly 4000 sq ft and all electric. In January and February here in Ohio, I pull four to five thousand kilowatts per month. The minimum I've seen is 1500 kilowatts in one month. With an average of only four peak sun hours per day and an electric rate of 11 cents per kilowatt-hour, it would take me thirty years to pay off a system.
@LOTR A 2500 Square foot house need heating and cooling. 8-10kWh can be expected daily when the temperature outside match the temperature inside. What gets me up to the 20-30kWh is also from charging an EV that has a 60kWh battery. Food for thought: Driving 50 miles on it equates to roughly 11kWh of daily consumption EXTRA on top of what the entire house uses. Gas here is California is 4.5 $/gallon and electricity is 0.42 $/kWh Basically an energy efficient EV cost the same in electricity as a Toyota Prius costs in Fuel.
Hi Will, love your videos. Have you considered making a video on how to run an evaporative cooler on DC. I live in West Texas and evaporative coolers are still being used. Also, could this be economical to the average person living off grid.
Now for the important question. Which system will integrate with Home Assistant and which will never require connection outside my local network, ie the cloud. Thanks for the great video.
Great video! Had been nice if you mentioned whos the OEM manufacturer for this unit, so people can have the option to import it for a lower price. Another version would also be required for almost everyone outside North America, so knowing the actual manufacturer would be helpful
I'd love to tell you how mine is functioning, but I am still working through an order with Signature Solar. Not the easiest process. I am ordering this, 6 EG4 batteries, and a pallet of 400W bifacial from Canadian Solar.
Great content Will. I'm amazed on how hybrid inverters have evolved in the last 12 months. Can this unit operate as a 240v single phase system if you love outside United States? Thanks again.🙂
Why the external T class fuses to the tower rack bank of batteries and external natural overload breaker/busbar? Is there not room to locate them in the unit? Other than that, I like the connectivity, LCD and it's features for energy distribution (PV panels, grid, battery storage and off peak demand) I also like the isolation side switch on the side. 🌏🇭🇲
I am shocked! I expected this unit to have the same issues as the eg4 8kexp-240. So glad you were willing to give this a try after you had so many issues with the other eg4. Thank you!
Question? I have designed and built my system based on the knowledge you have shared, thank you. I had 3 Eg4 v2 batteries in a rack and I bought a full rack of 6 and they are the newest with the dip switches on the front. My big question is can I just connect the tower of 3 to my busbar next to my rack of 6 and connect the BMS communications or do I need to balance the racks?
Super thanks for the video particularly the programing demo the manual is good but it's so much better watching some one work the interface. I am now installing my 18K but being a inverter newbie it's taking some time to get to know this piece of hardware / software and more info is good info.
hey look inside on the boards, I am curious if all these really are the same - LUX, Deye, sol Ark, Fortress Envy, EG4, gro watts version - yes see software different some. the box, and other components on outside look similar.
Will I think you're wrong about signature solar. I just purchased the 6000XP and the power pro. All thanks to you and your videos. But I called Signature Solar several times and the customer service line only rang a few times every time I called. Their emails keep me in contact which I like. So maybe I got lucky 3 or 4 times,or maybe they have more people now. I'm pretty tough on customer service and can't stand when you have to talk to some other country. Signature is out of TX I like that also. My 2 cents.
Thank you it's amazing the technology that is constantly coming out this is more information to consider when setting up an off grid system thank you for sharing this six stars
Most inverters don't like standard generators because the phase drifts as the generator speeds up and slows down, they call instead for an Inverter generator. I think that Sol-Ark can charge from a standard generator. Can you test the EG4 18KPV's standard generator compatibility?
Have you considered connecting an EG4 48V 100A chargeverter directly to the battery. It is designed to work with generators. It would essentially perform the same.
@@lunatik9696 only problem I see using a charverter is if the inverter has software to monitor charging and usage of the battery, you just took that out of the picture by charging from the side.
The way the Solark handles the generator input is incredibly stupid. It is supposed to be one of the better ones which makes me wonder how bad and awful the other inverters are.
Sure sounds like a nice unit especially compared to the smaller earlier Eg4s or Growatt. I wonder if they are planning on bringing out a smaller unit? Not everyone needs 18k input or 12k out. A smaller efficient unit like this would be great.
Just ordered a 16 k array with eg4 6500 ex times 2 from signature solar. I credit Will for the knowledge and training to take this project on. Will, do a segment on insurance/ power company contracts etc. My system is gonna be off grid and uninsured.
It's the exact same setup as Fortress has it, we actually just did 8 of them in tandem on a project in Virginia, including 8 Fortress energy fault batteries
Can you please test all of these systems you are reviewing with an oscilloscope. I would like to see the "quality" of the AC sine wave itself from the inverters going to the main load panel. People may be using sensitive electronic equipment in an off grid situation. The quality of the sine wave is critical for longevity and consistency of the equipment. From my experience the cheaper inverters can chop or distort the sine wave where it can cause problems. Curious if these products are cutting corners in this department.
I've tested all of the inverters in my shop about a year ago and the THD was lower than the grid so it's not even a concern to me at all. If you're buying an inverter from harbor freight then yes you should be worried. When you spend a few thousand dollars it's just not going to happen. I'll keep checking them though, I still do.
Question regarding pass-through: When the house load exceeds the AC output of the inverter (supply from battery or solar or both), does the inverter passthrough the grid completely? Or does the inverter passthrough only the incremental power from grid? Example: If house load goes from 10kw to 17kw, will it passthrough all of the 17kw from grid? or just the additional 5kw from grid (17kw load - 12kw output rating) . Thank you
I love the content. It gives us hope we can be in charge of our future concerning power. But I find the actual strength and the overtime reliability is a constant money pit.
Super video Will I glad you’re the first to feature this unit I’ve been looking forward to this unit since I received a notification from Signature Solar First all not sure it’s for me due to the rather high cost I do love many of the features But I think I’m still going the 6500EX due to the fact that they will give me 13K inverter power and I’m only losing 2000 watts of solar with the 6500s What did catch my eye was the Dongle Internet connection plus those CTs that you pointed too can you please cover this in more detail and can it be used on the 6500s Once again thank you
Will, I reviewed this video several times to see if you had mentioned the difference in power loss between Sol-Ark and the EG4 regarding efficiency ? I know that Sol-Ark has a company standard on their inverters of 97% efficiency.
How would this compare to a victron Quattro 15k? Seems about the same price not saying this new eg4 isn't a good deal... but for $5200, you can buy a victron.
The only other difference I know of is being able to use the generator input as an output dump, which could be great for off grid for a secondary water heater, etc.
Jeff Sowers for off-grid only setups, you would use the "grid" inputs as your generator input. This frees up your generator input to be repurposed through software to output power only when your batteries reach a pre programed state of charge. Once the sun goes down this output will shut off.
Signature solar needs to improve their customer service. I bought this inverter and it doesn’t discharge power to my load. Got on the phone with someone for two hours trying to resolve and the tech mentioned sending me a new wire, had to check with manager what to do, then tried to update software for batteries, then quit on that. Eventually, told me will receive call from someone which I never did. Very disappointed!
Update: The absolute maximum voltage open circuit of the 18K is 600V. Compare to sol ark 15K which is 550V max.
And get this! Current Connected is doing pre-orders for the EG4 18K (affiliate link): www.currentconnected.com/product/eg4-18kpv/?ref=wp
You can buy 18K direct from signature solar here: signaturesolar.com/eg4-18kpv-hybrid-inverter-all-in-one-solar-inverter-eg4-18kpv-12lv/?ref=cPwLcVc0SW-BjN&PV-product-launch&
If you need a sol ark 15K, buy it from current connected: www.currentconnected.com/product/sa-15k/?ref=wp
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Sol-Ark is flattered that Luxpower has imitated our revolutionary hybrid inverter design, but to suggest that a cheaper inverter is also a better inverter is inaccurate.
AC power is more important than DC power, and Sol-Ark provides 25% more daytime AC power critical for those heavy HVAC and well pumps. On the DC side, either way, the batteries get full on sunny days for well-designed systems. That's a long ways towards that price difference right out of the gate, before getting into MPPT comparison.
On that note, the MPPT are very different (~50% more for Sol-Ark). Getting to 18kW on the Luxpower is very difficult, requiring maxing out the MPPT which can trigger temperature design concerns on cold sunny days. Whereas it's easy to max out the Sol-Ark PV capacity due to its full sized MPPTs, even without expensive, premium solar modules. Which begs the question - what solar module configuration did Luxpower use to validate its 18kW claim? Can they show any long term endurance testing to verify that specification? Perhaps Will can do his own testing but the video only goes up to ~14kW.
Other technical issues - charge/discharge efficiencies are worse and the certifications don't match Sol-Ark - which has UL9540 2020 and UL1741SB options on the market today as required in California and most of the USA grid-tied market next year, and necessary for those utility battery incentives to improve the ROI.
Sol-Ark is proud to be the leader in the hybrid inverter. There are many imitations coming out daily, but only one, true original setting the standard. Also - Best-in-class is not just about engineering, innovation and R&D, but it is in the people and treatment of our customer-base. We're now moving into a 300,000 sq. ft. campus sized for 500 employees in our Texas headquarters.
@@Sol-Ark just learned last night about the increased AC output when solar available on the forum last night. Did not know that at all! I posted the spec after I found it.
And fortress power seems to be the first imitation. Not eg4.
Yes, we will see what listings they will have and how well the support is. I have no idea at this point.
I love the competition though! We need more options in the market, for sure. You guys are the leaders in this space 😁 I'm surprised they didn't imitate every specification. Doesn't seem that hard to do.
Love what you guys do and have a lot of happy viewers running your units! I don't think I have a single forum member to have complained about your support, either. It will be interesting to see how these other companies will compare.
Do you have any plans to lower prices in the future? I assume you guys sell predominantly to installers, but I could be wrong. I feel like the luxpowers and others coming out will be more popular for direct to consumer. I can't wait to see people compete with the 18K in the next year. Perhaps voltronic will come out with something even better.
By the way, I sell all of my sol arks through current connected, and they are fantastic! I am glad you work with them.
@@Sol-Ark and yes I need some more strings. They are saying it can go up to 600VDC on the input.
I have a lot of viewers that want a sol ark but simply can't afford it and instead buy the lv6548 clones. For $2,999, it's not bad. Not code compliant in some areas but they are cheap and get the job done.
Could sol ark make a off-grid specific unit to compete with the lv6548 clones? That would be so cool!! The more competition the better
@@pvbatts there are some variation between all of the models but I'm not sure yet to what extent. They are saying they can have the VOC up to 600 on the EG4 version. I know there are some differences with the fortress power version as well. I put 500 in the video because that's what they recommend is the working voltage. Some of the official documents are not consistent though so let's see what they have when they are listed.
@@Sol-Ark what does sol ark think about the fortress power version of this unit? It's been out for a while now.
THIS is what I have been waiting for. Please, oh please, let this thing be reliable.
My thought exactly. I bought a Sol Ark and I still would even if this had been out. It’s been rock solid. Specs mean noting if the unit dies or glitching constantly.😊😊
@@NeverTakeNoCut-offs been running a 8kw deye, 15kw solark and this 12kw luxpower. and hands down luxpower is the best value. and the solark has more issues than the others, its very sensitive to unbalanced loads.
@@alexandermoore6027 What size loads are running on the Solark? My maximum load is is 7kw, but I still worry about the load balance on the 15kw.
Had my solark 15k for 8 months now and it's already got like 13 MWH through it.
@@alexandermoore6027 I have had my Sol Ark for over a year and never once had an unbalanced load issue, and I have had some very heavy loads on it. Of course I designed my system based on the published specification and best wiring practices and use the most recent firmware. It's a non-issue for me.
I've been testing this 18k unit for over a week now it's working great And soon I will be able to provide tech support for the 18k units we sell And we will answer the phone. Great video keep up the good work.
Do you sell complete packages
@@jeffsowers1290 yes
Good review. This unit is going to be a big hit I think. And you’re right, that thing is super quiet.
That is the cleanest and easily accessible cabinet I've seen so far. Must been a dream to work on.
so easy
This looks like something many people are waiting for, lets see how it goes "in the wild" for a few months, if it proves reliable it'll be a big seller !!! I'm using SMA Sunny Island/Boy which has been flawless for the last 5 years, hopefully they have a good recipe here !!!
can't help but love your content and break downs, that help with understanding what the upside and down sides to all units you show. Really helps when it comes to is this unit for me and my use. And made me realize that what I needed and didn't need depending on application use. Keep the hits coming... love your channel. So very very helpful!!!
Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad to hear that my videos have been helpful in understanding different units and their applications. The Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series could be a great addition to your outdoor gear. Its massive capacity, fast recharging, and waterproof technology make it a reliable choice for camping and home backup power. Keep exploring and enjoying your outdoor adventures!
I just bought two batteries and the 18k. I’m praying I can use your videos to get my system up and running. My plan is to use a generator to recharge daily, while I’m trying to decide if I need to invest in solar panels. I’m in west central Illinois right on the Mississippi River at lock and dam 19.
Well that looks very promising, enough to look after our house and I can start with Net 0 and add batteries in future for backup, much much better than the micro inverters option our solar providers are using (we are less than a kilometre from the ocean and here in Vancouver BC with all that salt moisture etc not friendly to micro inverters), great review and again a great product, UL/CSA it is a no brainier, totally awesome! Thanks Will, you bring such a great resource to alternate energy!!! Keep it up!
So I've been doing a lot of research and I found this video to be very informative. I really like all the features on this system, it's got evening I'm looking for and then some. And for the $$ I haven't seen anything else that beats it. I personally don't care about customer support. I've been in IT for +25y & elevator mech for 11y before that and I don't ever call tech support.
As always good video Will. You are one of the lucky few who have been able to get their hands on this thing! I’ve heard a lot of complaints about EG4 inverter software issues. Seems like a lot of people have been burned by them before. I love their 48v lithium V2 batteries though. Hopefully they have solved the software issues.
Will, I am blown away at your technological capabilities as well as your impeccable communication ability. I'm in Pahrump which is about an hour away from you in Sin City. I'm off grid here with (2) EG4 6500's with (28) 445 watt Eversolar panels all acquired via Signature Solar. Should be up and running in a few days if all is good w/o needing firmware updates. Much of the installation procedures are followed by your incredible input and I thank you very much for what you do for us, your followers.
A friend of mine who's a heavy hauler he's been Heavy Hauling for many years moved to Pahrump from San Diego. Paul is his name now I can't remember his last name dang it. Anyway enjoy your solar. Sure is amazing stuff I wish I was a little bit better at doing it slowly but surely I guess. I can't believe how good most of these DYI peeps are doing😊
@@VinceBadovinatz88 Small world indeed, eh? I drove 18 wheelers for about 10 years 48 states & Canada back in the mid 70's thru mid 80's. Retired now and been prepping for years for what's to come. Stay safe and hope you can become totally self sustaining.
@@leonardharview4577 yes it is ,and thank you very much😊
Paul Goldstein Heavy Haul
In Texas it does not currently pay to grid tie as those electric plans are much more expensive. But this seems viable for back up power and select off grid power to split system hvac and EV. Ready to get going. Thanks for your thorough instructions.
Im in Texas as well looking forward to using the grid as backup and solar as the primary. Not looking to backfeed at all
Will, they need to put you on retainer, as you're doing the field testing work for them. Pointing out the problems with their earlier products and the improvements that will make them better and easier to use. I save your videos so when I get time I'll use them as a buying and setup guide for the system I need. Thank you.
Thx Will, I finally found the best way to setup my ultimate solar system. The EG4 18K-PV plus 4 Discover AES 42-48-6650 (each battery has 6,650 amp hour) no system can beat this type of combo.
That battery seems expensive per kWh, no? Why do you call it part of your ultimate system?
@@jamesreichert Absolutely! You got that right. Being the best should come with a price though.
Hey Will, great informative video as always! The only comment here is in minute 8:25 where you explain the CT positions. The manual actually says the arrows should be pointing toward the inverter.
I was about to ask about this as well. The way Will has it makes more sense to me but everything in the manual shows it facing towards the inverter
Buyer beware! Be very careful when buying from Signature solar. I purchased a system weeks ago and I'm still sitting on hold with them daily to try to resolve simple issues. I'm not going to complain but please be vigilant, verify... verify... verify if you buy a system from them. Will good vid as usual!
This inverter looks very encouraging. Can't wait to see your follow up videos after a few weeks of use. For your next video, can you also look into neutral ground bonding for this device to make sure it's configured correctly for various connection use cases (offgrid, on-grid/grid tied etc).
Remember adding a dorm fridge to a camper?
lol 😂 love this content!
I ordered mine as soon as Signature Solar had it available to order. Excited to try it!
Software HUI is remarkably similar to the Sol-Ark. As you mentioned, the gripe I have about the Sol-Ark 15k is the amount of room in the wiring area. Also, to use the SA as the grid connect a 200A service panel needs a minimum of 2/0 copper, but SA's punchouts are 1.5". They should have been 2" due to the NEC conduit filling percentage rules. Forget about trying to use 4/0 aluminum.
I will echo the room concern aluminum wiring eats it up instantly.
I have a harbor freight hydraulic punch and I'm not afraid to use it.
@@jkj2r80fojf23 Yeah. I use expansion couplers to join up to 2" conduit. Keeps an inspector happy.
You are spot on correct about that but I have been able to get the 15K installed with 2/0 DLO cable on the output and 2/0 THHN on the input. IF you want to save $$$ by using the 4/0 Aluminum it might be beneficial to mount a distribution block in a large wire duct (gutter) under the inverter and just use a short run of 2/0 THHN up to the inverter.
@@MrWatlow Good point. After I did my first one, it occured to me I could run the aluminum 4/0 to a Polaris and go 2/0 copper from there. Too late, but at least that and your thought are possibilities.
I am currently setting up an EG4 18KPV and just wanted to report my experience so far with EG4 support, I have made 2 calls and have received great support with very short wait times so far, I just wanted to put that out there if anything changes I will post it up. Depending on how this goes I may be buying a second to be able to use Solar and Battery as my primary source (right now I am setting it up as a critical load panel setup only) with grid for back up under extreme load scenario's (it's in a very large house) but we will see, this is my first solar setup (I do have prior residential electrician experience so can't really comment on the DIY end, it could be a bit daunting I suppose but for me it has been pretty simple), so still experimenting.
Think this will push me over the edge to build my first system. I was worried about code compliance and simplicity of design of alot of older units , I think this paired with eg4 server rack and 12kw Canadian bifacials will be the ticket!
What state are you in? If in California the eg4 server racks are technically not allowed because they are not on the cec approved battery list (yet)
@@bschmitty77 thanks for pointing that out. Do you have any information on that being subject to change.
@John Dawkins yeah, signature solar said they submitted all the released info and testing for approval. But I'm sure california will take their time and I know the "standards" for those tests being qualified are stupid strict.
@@bschmitty77 thanks. I’m glad to hear that at least the process has started. Unfortunately, we do take forever in California. I’ll hope for good news. If you hear any updates, please reply again. Thanks!
@@bschmitty77 I’ve been in contact w SDGE and Signature Solar the last week trying to get this and the batteries on the CEC list. We are still waiting on SS to provide the testing for the inverter to the contact I have at SDGE and then they will submit. Frustrating, and maybe a bit of a red flag, that SS isn’t eager to provide that. That opens up a bunch of business as soon as these are CEC approved.
Most homes have a 200A panel - the 18K will be so easy to install. It's one less box on the wall. Remove the 200A from the Panel - attach 18K output - back to panel. Done Very Simple. The LV6548 - are so much harder to wire on 240V side. You almost always need a sub panel.
I’d love to see that in a before and after diagram.
I have learned so much from you and have built my own system, choosing the parts carefully based on the information I learned. I love your fair and analytical approach testing and sharing information. Don't let others affect you negatively, I think in those cases they might be trying to rise to your level by posing a false strength. The sad part is they could never reach it and perhaps that fear manifests as negativity 💪 Thank you again!
In your next video about this can you talk about what you can do if you have more than the 12kpv to charge? For instance if you have 2 server rack tower banks and 30kpv and want to charge faster than 12k.
A side question: is there a limit on how much you can sell to the power company where you live? Do other areas have limits?
I took the Upgrade option. Traded in 2x 6000EX for an 18Kpv. I'm glad I did. The new inverter does every thing. I especially like the sealed electronics and imbalance issues are way better.
Setting up the 18K was easy. Getting the batteries set up to work was not. I had issues setting this up with my EG4 batteries. Hunting for Battery Firmware for a mixed generation to communicate with each other and upgrading was a nightmare.
Inverter: 18Kpv
Battery: LL-s, LL-V1, LifePower4
Really hope to see self consumption working on this inverter. I can’t sell to grid in my area but would like to power loads in main panel if critical loads are met and there is excess PV or battery.
Thanks!
That thing looks really nice and well built. And it's the first one on the channel where when you show what you're doing on the display, it actually just makes immediate sense to me. Good signs.
The specs for this says that "in case of power outage, this can be used for backup power without use of solar". I assume this means that in the event of grid failure, it does not automatically (with an ATS) cut the grid connection so solar is unavailable. Can I reinstate the solar connection with a manual transfer switch so I can use solar/battery if the grid goes down?
Hey Mr. Will, Love your videos, super helpful. I bought the 18K and thought I would let you know the issue I was having. I have a Generac generator hooked up to the inverter and turns out that the dry contacts will not change state when the power shuts off without a battery bank in the mix. I don't have my batteries installed yet so my inverter will not fire up my generator during a power loss. Signature solar tried and didn't get it done so I called EG4 and they tried with no success. The tech said he was going to get with R & D to put that in the next firmware. They were supposed to get back to me and never did. I just bought all my solar cells and Overkill bms units, so I will probably get the battery bank in before they fix it. Just FYI.
My FL utility raised its kWh rates to $0.11 for the 1st 1000 kWh then $0.13 over 1000 kWh each month for residential. Raised about 1 penny. You guys are tough out west paying those high rates.
sounds like a great upgrade for those of us who originally built string inverter systems before there were any offgrid/hybrid options for grid connected systems. Any panel adds at this point would kill my NEM 1 agreement with utilities. But in the meantime, I could add this, add battery, and when the time is right (after NEM agreement expires) I can add more panels, and handle fully electric home needs plus EV. Thanks.
What a great video. What a great product I hope the long-term is great. There's no way I can afford it right now but if it's a great product long-term I want to get one. What a great idle consumption.
I have to watch the video again I can't quite remember or understand how much PV input you need to make it run. It seemed like that was rather High. That could be one downfall for people that don't have a million panels. I'll have to recheck it or if somebody has time they can let me know in a comment. Very impressive . N once again i really love your video presentations.😊😊
As a retiring educator, I am most impressed with your work, and your abilities. That said, if we have a unique scenario, we are thinking about doing in our lives, is there a way to communicate with you about that? Fee set up? Friendly help? I’m sure you’re quite busy. Anyway, thank you for your time.
Thank you for all your work.
Bought your hardcopy book. Love the videos
Excellent video. Love your very thorough discussion. Keep up the good work.
Will, when you measure sound level it's usually measured at a specific distance (like 3 feet). Great video!
Yeah, I was going back and forth between the 2(18k and 6500's). It's my first jump into solar for the house. I'll spend the extra and have the options. I'm like you Will, I hate the phone trying to get help, I'll figure it out. sig has some really good PV pallet deals. Go big or go home? Eh...it's better than Solar City for sure...
Do they have any deals on 550 watt panels
Can you send me a link I am looking for some panels that are 8 ft long
You hit the nail on the head with the support issues with signature solar. Sadly, their support has gone from really good to horrible in the past year. The reality is none of this stuff is plug-and-play or perfect and you have issues here and there and will need support. I have been waiting a literally a month for a case on a 6500 from them. It is a sad situation because they are the cheapest around but their support is god awful today.
Dennis, if you are comfortable letting me know what your email is I will look into this for you tomorrow morning.
Solark has the same problem. They used to be great now they're beyond awful. To the point where the Solark support guy gas lights you, ignores what you're telling and showing him. I guess Idiocracy is a sign of the times.
I actually drove to signature solar while on business in Texas and visited SS in person. I was treated very professionally, and several hours of questions were adequately responded to. They were also very honest and upfront about manual issues with the 8k and so on.
I suspect the "support" issue rises if you find a firmware issue, or need something an actual engineer building the stuff has to address. I was not under the impression they built these here, and I imagine part of that $3k difference (emp protection?) Is access to the people who construct and engineer the systems if needed.
Thanks so much for this review. I’ve been waiting for someone to review this unit and you’re the man I trust.
If you hook two of these up in parallel can you send 24kW to the grid or batteries? 500A? How many EG4 batteries can each each 18K be connected to? Thanks!
Excellent video, but the Sol-Ark 15K produce 3KW of extra power? You said 12K was the output of this model from PV.
I would also like to know about the Generator starting function and also how many time slots this one has compared to the Sol-Ark 15K.
I have a Sol-Ark 15k and did a video on it. It can push 15kw (12kw to loads and 3kw to charge batteries) when it’s running on solar. When it’s pulling solely from the batteries (off grid at night) it can only push 12kw to the loads. I’ve reviewed the spec sheet on the EG4 18kpv and did a video on it as well. I still can’t figure out if like the Sol-Ark it can utilize 15kw when it’s pulling in solar energy. EG4 hasn’t been very clear on it thus far.
@@unpluggedtexan Sorry, but your wrong about that. There is a UA-cam video showing a Sol-Ark 15K sending 15KW to the Loads and an extra 1KW to charge the battery.
@@Dreadlk I hope you’re right. I wasn’t aware of that.
Will, another great video!!! In future, can you do an AC coupled system with this and review their monitoring?
This one is the best fit so far to what I’d like to do.
Awesome , finally something that just works. This looks ideal for my shop and it should run my AC, lighting tools and possibly my air compressor as well.
Will, we're building an off-grid cabin. It sounds like this will more than suit our needs!!! 🤞👍
Thanks for reviewing this one Will i seen it sold out quite quickly already
New load just released
Hi Will, thanks for all tbe great videos.
In the comparison to the Sol Ark at the end, it's worth noting that the Sol Ark 15K has a 15kW inverter, but the 18K PV only has a 12kW inverter.
Per kW, the Sol Ark is still slightly more expensive, but not as much as this comparison would suggest.
Wow, solar has evolved. My LV6548’s are doing their job(thanks to you) and don’t really have complaints but when I move, these may be sold or left behind. I may be looking at my next inverter. Great job on your review as always.
Finally a all in one that is not too expensive I want it take my money
If its California compliant, you know it's good. This is the unit a lot of us have been waiting for. I never liked the hybrid units a few years ago, because the cheap ones were sketchy and the good ones were crazy expensive and ran at low PV voc. Having such a high PV voltage and several mppt's is so useful, and with the panels on the market, you can size it cheaply and easily.
P.s. they have a lot of "refurbished" units a year later. For around the same price as a 12kpv that's brand new.
Amazing how far these units have advanced in the last 5 years. Unreal
Question on inputs. My understanding is you can use micro inverters with the sol-ark and run 240v into the generator input. Can the new EG4 do that? Second is that the optimum way to maximize the solar panels?
This is the power of competition!
I'm curious how this compares to the Schneider Conext XW Pro. Mostly about startup for large appliances like A/Cs.
I'm concerned about UL listing.... has it received any certifications? beyond the Chinese one on the spec sheet?
I think it's another week for all the listings. By the time you get it it should be on every list for code compliance
Including California
I love your videos..but just noticed your instructions on the CT clamps seems wrong after looking at the manual..shows the arrows pointing to the inverter..u said to point toward the meter / grid
This looks like the all-in-one inverter I've been waiting for to run my entire house.
My daily consumption is 20-30kWh and I would like to tap into the grid to charge up the batteries during off-season if needed based on cloudy days.
No sub panel needed? Run entire main breaker panel with a single inverter?
Count me in!
@xLifeOnTheRoadxLOL My house is nearly 4000 sq ft and all electric. In January and February here in Ohio, I pull four to five thousand kilowatts per month. The minimum I've seen is 1500 kilowatts in one month.
With an average of only four peak sun hours per day and an electric rate of 11 cents per kilowatt-hour, it would take me thirty years to pay off a system.
@LOTR A 2500 Square foot house need heating and cooling.
8-10kWh can be expected daily when the temperature outside match the temperature inside.
What gets me up to the 20-30kWh is also from charging an EV that has a 60kWh battery.
Food for thought:
Driving 50 miles on it equates to roughly 11kWh of daily consumption EXTRA on top of what the entire house uses.
Gas here is California is 4.5 $/gallon and electricity is 0.42 $/kWh
Basically an energy efficient EV cost the same in electricity as a Toyota Prius costs in Fuel.
I always enjoying your informative video’s. Thank You
Now that you have done the EG4 18k, will you be doing the Sol-Ark 15k follow up? Did your buddy ever get it installed?
I really need to do that haha He's on the other side of town and I just stay in my lab all day 😂
But yes that is needed
Hi Will, love your videos.
Have you considered making a video on how to run an evaporative cooler on DC. I live in West Texas and evaporative coolers are still being used. Also, could this be economical to the average person living off grid.
Now for the important question. Which system will integrate with Home Assistant and which will never require connection outside my local network, ie the cloud. Thanks for the great video.
Victron with modbus
Man, I miss the teardown, does it have a good size transformer
They must be proud of that 18k PV to put it on the front, lol.. that grid supplement is a very cool feature. Have not seen such a feature before.
Great video! Had been nice if you mentioned whos the OEM manufacturer for this unit, so people can have the option to import it for a lower price. Another version would also be required for almost everyone outside North America, so knowing the actual manufacturer would be helpful
It's lux power but they won't sell direct. it will be a few distributors only
@@WillProwse okay, thanks for the info.
@@TheJensss He actually said Lux Power in the Video.
@@itswhiskeytime8538 ah okay, I didn't get that
they are open outside the USA
I'd love to tell you how mine is functioning, but I am still working through an order with Signature Solar. Not the easiest process. I am ordering this, 6 EG4 batteries, and a pallet of 400W bifacial from Canadian Solar.
I'd like to hear your thoughts of how this compares to the Schneider Conext XW PRO 6.8KW. Clearly, 2 Schneiders would be required.
Great content Will. I'm amazed on how hybrid inverters have evolved in the last 12 months. Can this unit operate as a 240v single phase system if you love outside United States? Thanks again.🙂
Will I been waiting for u to get one too see how they are there nice..... Keep it up brother
Why the external T class fuses to the tower rack bank of batteries
and external natural overload breaker/busbar? Is there not room to locate them in the unit?
Other than that, I like the connectivity, LCD and it's features for energy distribution (PV panels, grid, battery storage and off peak demand) I also like the isolation side switch on the side.
🌏🇭🇲
I am shocked! I expected this unit to have the same issues as the eg4 8kexp-240.
So glad you were willing to give this a try after you had so many issues with the other eg4.
Thank you!
Question? I have designed and built my system based on the knowledge you have shared, thank you. I had 3 Eg4 v2 batteries in a rack and I bought a full rack of 6 and they are the newest with the dip switches on the front. My big question is can I just connect the tower of 3 to my busbar next to my rack of 6 and connect the BMS communications or do I need to balance the racks?
Super thanks for the video particularly the programing demo the manual is good but it's so much better watching some one work the interface. I am now installing my 18K but being a inverter newbie it's taking some time to get to know this piece of hardware / software and more info is good info.
hey look inside on the boards, I am curious if all these really are the same - LUX, Deye, sol Ark, Fortress Envy, EG4, gro watts version - yes see software different some. the box, and other components on outside look similar.
Will I think you're wrong about signature solar. I just purchased the 6000XP and the power pro. All thanks to you and your videos.
But I called Signature Solar several times and the customer service line only rang a few times every time I called. Their emails keep me in contact which I like. So maybe I got lucky 3 or 4 times,or maybe they have more people now. I'm pretty tough on customer service and can't stand when you have to talk to some other country. Signature is out of TX I like that also. My 2 cents.
Thank you it's amazing the technology that is constantly coming out this is more information to consider when setting up an off grid system thank you for sharing this six stars
is N and G bonded within the Unit? Did you check if the case was zappy?⚡
Most inverters don't like standard generators because the phase drifts as the generator speeds up and slows down, they call instead for an Inverter generator. I think that Sol-Ark can charge from a standard generator. Can you test the EG4 18KPV's standard generator compatibility?
Have you considered connecting an EG4 48V 100A chargeverter directly to the battery.
It is designed to work with generators. It would essentially perform the same.
@@lunatik9696 only problem I see using a charverter is if the inverter has software to monitor charging and usage of the battery, you just took that out of the picture by charging from the side.
Seconded test various generators with this unit.
The way the Solark handles the generator input is incredibly stupid. It is supposed to be one of the better ones which makes me wonder how bad and awful the other inverters are.
btw, I'm 100% positive that this is manufactured by the same company that manufactures the Solark in China.
Yep, this is the video I have been waiting for.
Great review as always Will. Thank you.
Sure sounds like a nice unit especially compared to the smaller earlier Eg4s or Growatt. I wonder if they are planning on bringing out a smaller unit? Not everyone needs 18k input or 12k out. A smaller efficient unit like this would be great.
Just ordered a 16 k array with eg4 6500 ex times 2 from signature solar. I credit Will for the knowledge and training to take this project on.
Will, do a segment on insurance/ power company contracts etc. My system is gonna be off grid and uninsured.
It's the exact same setup as Fortress has it, we actually just did 8 of them in tandem on a project in Virginia, including 8 Fortress energy fault batteries
Can you please test all of these systems you are reviewing with an oscilloscope. I would like to see the "quality" of the AC sine wave itself from the inverters going to the main load panel. People may be using sensitive electronic equipment in an off grid situation. The quality of the sine wave is critical for longevity and consistency of the equipment. From my experience the cheaper inverters can chop or distort the sine wave where it can cause problems. Curious if these products are cutting corners in this department.
Only TIG welders like a triangle wave 😂
I’m posting sine wave of this inverter on my channel tomorrow.
I've tested all of the inverters in my shop about a year ago and the THD was lower than the grid so it's not even a concern to me at all. If you're buying an inverter from harbor freight then yes you should be worried. When you spend a few thousand dollars it's just not going to happen. I'll keep checking them though, I still do.
Always enjoyed your videos and style 👍🏼
Question regarding pass-through: When the house load exceeds the AC output of the inverter (supply from battery or solar or both), does the inverter passthrough the grid completely? Or does the inverter passthrough only the incremental power from grid? Example: If house load goes from 10kw to 17kw, will it passthrough all of the 17kw from grid? or just the additional 5kw from grid (17kw load - 12kw output rating) . Thank you
I love the content. It gives us hope we can be in charge of our future concerning power. But I find the actual strength and the overtime reliability is a constant money pit.
Super video Will I glad you’re the first to feature this unit I’ve been looking forward to this unit since I received a notification from Signature Solar
First all not sure it’s for me due to the rather high cost I do love many of the features
But I think I’m still going the 6500EX due to the fact that they will give me 13K inverter power and I’m only losing 2000 watts of solar with the 6500s
What did catch my eye was the Dongle
Internet connection plus those CTs that you pointed too can you please cover this in more detail and can it be used on the 6500s
Once again thank you
Will, I reviewed this video several times to see if you had mentioned the difference in power loss between Sol-Ark and the EG4 regarding efficiency ? I know that Sol-Ark has a company standard on their inverters of 97% efficiency.
I love the user interface screen 😊 better than the growatt 12kw.. I wish growatt can upgrade their user interface for their 12kw inverter.
How would this compare to a victron Quattro 15k? Seems about the same price not saying this new eg4 isn't a good deal... but for $5200, you can buy a victron.
I currently have a grid-tied solaredge system with power optimizers. Will an inverter such as this one work with solaredge power optimizers?
No, you will need to run into the generator input from the solar edge inverter. Same with the solark
The only other difference I know of is being able to use the generator input as an output dump, which could be great for off grid for a secondary water heater, etc.
Does this not do it? I was waiting on him to talk about it but didn't hear it.
Just checked the manual on page 54. Works the same way as solark. Gen input can be used as smartload output.
Well that is awesome! Idk how I missed that!! Thanks!
Can you tell me more about the generator output for the water heater
Jeff Sowers for off-grid only setups, you would use the "grid" inputs as your generator input. This frees up your generator input to be repurposed through software to output power only when your batteries reach a pre programed state of charge. Once the sun goes down this output will shut off.
Signature solar needs to improve their customer service. I bought this inverter and it doesn’t discharge power to my load. Got on the phone with someone for two hours trying to resolve and the tech mentioned sending me a new wire, had to check with manager what to do, then tried to update software for batteries, then quit on that. Eventually, told me will receive call from someone which I never did. Very disappointed!
My next house is gonna have this setup. Thanks Will
Question about thus unit… would you be able to hook up a wind turbine and solar???? Ty for this review. Love it!!!!😊😊😊😊
As always, very thorough and well explained. Thank you Will.
Hi Will, can you test sine wave and 60 cycle accuracy under various loads? Also test LED lights, which we all use, with the inverters.
I'd also like to see this.