So far I don’t have a link for the new conduit box that’s needed. I will link it as soon as it’s available. I’m told it will be soon. Affiliate links: Signature Solar’s link to the 12000xp signaturesolar.com/eg4-12000xp-off-grid-inverter-48v-split-phase-24kw-pv-input-12kw-power-output/?ref=mpmddlkx6M9tPo&XP%20Inverter%20Launch&Homepage%2011%2F1&Homepage%20banner%2011%2F1 Current Connected’s link. It should qualify for free shipping in November. www.currentconnected.com/product/eg4-12000xp-48v-split-phase-off-grid-inverter/?ref=xhJJBPDS
I really appreciate that. That’s nice to hear really. You’d be hard pressed to find a more introverted person than me. On the other hand I really like helping people. And I love solar, so this channel is a great way to do both.
Great initial review! Besides the eg4 being a 12kw inverter, would you say this is a better unit than the NHX 10KW? I know it is very early on to make much of a fair assessment.
@ a bit better surge capacity on the 12k. Similar idle consumption between the 2. Less MPPT’s on the 12k. But more overall solar capacity. The NHX is an outdoor unit. So no filters or moisture issues. Then again the NHX is also a hybrid, so you have some grid connectivity features with that you won’t have on the 12k. But the NHX doesn’t have ac coupling. And then as you mentioned that 2kw difference. Yeah there is a lot to consider between the two really. They both have a place.
@@GavinStoneDIY thanks for the quick reply as always. Yeah, this is going to be a tough decision for me to make. I was nearly ready to drop the hammer and purchase the NHX, and might still. But this eg4 has me in limbo now, LOL 😆
Nice to see they're taking some of the really beneficial features from the hybrid inverters and bringing them to the off-grid inverters! Too bad they didn't bring the display...not a fan... 5:44 It is odd that they didn't put breakers on the Gen/Grid connections. Interesting to see the Arc Fault component next to the ground bus bar. Surprised to see that in the wiring cabinet. I thought that was always built into the upper sections of the inverters with the PCBs. 6:44 For the EG4 wireways, since their different inverters seem to have different knockouts, it would be nice if they had an "inverter plate" for each inverter that would just slide into the wireway. That would get rid of the need for a new wireway each time they come out with a new inverter. Obviously that wouldn't work very well with the outdoor units because it wouldn't be water-tight, but it should work fine for the indoor ones. 12:29 The small size for the pv screws might make it difficult to get a proper torque screwdriver in there. 13:08 Do they recommend doubling up the DC cables to get the full current draw? 14:31 Maybe the original game boy...yeah, not a fan. 19:26 That is one nice thing I like about a lot of off-grid inverters. Even when they shut down or they're in standby mode (not inverting) they can still charge with PV. Saves some power if you don't need to generate any AC power as well! 21:50 Nice to see a good, high imbalance capability. 24:07 As I get memorized by the spinning circle behind you, I started wondering if that's actually some kind of status indicator or is it just for show? Can it be turned off? Seems like there might be some places where you don't want a "green eye of Sauron" glowing throughout the night. 28:05 I'm wondering if they put so many features into this new model that they had to cut cost somewhere. Kinda the same reason they ended up not putting a display in the FlexBoss - most people will end up using their phone/monitoring website. The display would really just be used for quick glances. Tabitha did a great job! Wow, that was a long video...😁 (pot calling the kettle black...)
They don’t recommend doubling up cables. I assume you’re talking about PV? With some panels you’d need to use a combiner box most likely to achieve that maximum wattage rating. I don’t think the small size for the PV screw will affect torquing. Although I haven’t checked the torque spec on those yet. They don’t have a breaker on the grid input port in the 18kpv or 12kpv. So I think that’s just the 6000xp for some reason. And the smart port doubles as the AC coupling port on this inverter, so I suppose they didn’t need the Gen breaker on this one. I’m sure the display was a cost consideration. Then again I actually do prefer it over the 6000xp. It has a better layout. I don’t think the indicator light can be turned off. But I need to go step by step through all the options.
@@GavinStoneDIY The "doubling up" I was talking about was just the fact that there's two positive and two negative battery terminals. As far as the PV connections, I just want to make sure you can still get a torque screwdriver in there to tighten things down properly. Since you had to use such a small screwdriver in your video, I'm just hoping the terminal itself isn't that small. I could just see my nephew going down into the basement and seeing a spinning green light down the hallway...would probably wet himself and run upstairs screaming! 😁. On second thought, nevermind...lets leave it on! 😈
@ haha. Yeah that green light actually looks pretty space age. It’s an interesting touch. I like it. Yeah they provide 2 terminals for the battery connections. Honestly a lot of 2/0 could reach that amperage limit without an issue. But in order to keep things cool I suppose it makes sense to have 2-2/0. But they also allow for 1/0 if it’s no longer then 8’ I believe. At least that was the spec on the 18kpv. When inverters exceed 10kw you’ll usually see double terminals like this nowadays.
Excellent presentation! Thank you I'm a redundancy guy...I have two 6000xps. I bought the EG4 charge controller and may add another array attached to my battery bus bars. Close to the Canadian border...need all the PV I can get in the winter
Yeah, as my wife always says “one is none and two is one”. You guys are running a bit lean on sunshine up there in the winter. I would do the same if I were you. I’m adding another array also in the next couple months.
Without any doubt this inverter is a monster. I think the challenge with this one is trying to max out the MPPTs safely. Dual wielding 12000xps in a home could be the next best thing to do I think. If one fails, the other can cover easily. The Flexboss21 (stand alone) is going to be better if IP65 is needed. Great video!
Yeah this is going to be a popular one. Maxing out the MPPT’s is something I will cover in the next video. In my opinion, a combiner box would be the easiest way.
Thanks Gavin, glad to see the review of the 12000XP. always well done and very informative. you are the reason i got our 18KPV a year ago. were has the time gone?
I can imagine that in six months, you'll be testing an EG4 48k that's as big as a fridge, lol That's a monster powerhouse, I couldn't the array you'll need to max out the input. Thanks for sharing, and as always, keep building 👍
Always enjoy your reviews. Would love to see you provide an example sketch of how the 24k pv could be wired. What would be the ideal panel voltage and configuration to reach the 24k. With the limited 480v. It seems like a stretch..
Yes it would definitely depend on the panel type. With some panels you may even have 3 strings combined to each input. You’d need a combiner box for that configuration though. These are good questions though. I’ll try and add this in to a follow up I’m filming soon.
Hi Gavin, thank you for taking the time to create these videos. Is it possible you could create a video just focused on the critical load panal, this one is a bit confusing, perhaps a bit more dummy proof, just think about when you had no idea what you were doing, like making sure when your removing a breaker, reiterate that this is the main breaker as it was before attempting to install an inverter, stuff like that… are the wires you will transfer to the new sub panel only one wire? And would a 220v say for a central air both wires? These are just Some questions that are not quite clear ( to Me), or I’m beyond slow. Like a one legged sick turtle with arthritis on the one leg😮
Gavin, thanks for all the details. You and Rodney have been great at getting videos out quickly on this inverter ! Couple of questions from a newbie .. I have the 12000XP on order and I am using it basically for a UPS - can't have solar per the HOA. 1. With the AC output being 50 Amps - if this sufficient to service light and receptacles in the 4 bedroom house ? The only other item to cover is a microwave ? No water heater, no electric heat, no kitchen cooktop (all gas). 2. I am looking at the on-line manual and in the WORKING MODES for BAT OFF-GRID the display shows 3,000 Watts is that just the display at the point when the picture of the GameBoy screen was taken or is there a limitation that I am not aware of ? 3. I know there is an inverter breaker for the grid but does another in line fuse makes sense or is that overkill ? 4. Your are using 2 awg battery cables and 2 of them ... is this what you would suggest ?
So the continuous output is 50 amps. I’ve actually been running my house on that for a year and a half with the 18kpv. So it should definitely handle what you’re describing. The only limiting factor would be the size of your battery. Make sure you have enough to output the full 12kw is necessary. Which they recommend 400ah I believe. So as far as the grid input, the breaker from the main panel should be sufficient as far as protection is concerned.
I really like this unit. It ticks all the boxes in terms of functionality. I just wish that the screen was a bit brighter and the -ve and +ve battery terminals inside the inverter had some kind of insulation material between the terminals similar to what the 18KPV has. That way, makes it kinda difficult for any accidents to happen with those battery cables when inserting or removing them. Being able to process 24KW of PV on a single inverter at this price point and this quality equipment is insane.
Yeah the screen brightness wasn’t really an issue for me. But that’s a good point about some type of divider between the terminals. They are somewhat offset from one another, even still things can happen. I think we will end up seeing a lot of these installed. I’d love to see some videos of these starting up 5 ton AC units. I bet it can do it.
We plan on total off gride and still looking at the 6000xp want at least two of them down the road but also looking for redundancy and start up price. Plan on one then later on add another one as build
@@roverdogs_keithwhelchel I remember a year ago people telling me DIY batteries were a thing of the past. But honestly I see them more now than ever. Especially with the cases you can buy for them now.
That is going to be a serious power system. Definitely take advantage of their free shipping if possible then. And make sure to sign in. They give an extra discount when you do that.
I like the game boy screen. Seems easy to see. I have the 6000xp and 18kpv off grid. If I was getting equipment for my off grid setup now I would go with either the flex boss or this 12000xp. I do like the the 18kpv, but these new units are a better value for most people I think.
Yeah for the price it’s hard to beat. On the UL aspect. What about hooking to a central busbar? I haven’t researched this so I’m not up so speed on that.
Is this pretty similar to the flexboss? The flexboss can handle up to 21kpv, but otherwise it is essentially an off grid inverter with 12k output. Are there other differences?
@@tompumphreykayak the flexboss can output 16kw with solar present. And is designed to pair with the grid boss for the hybrid functions. It’s outdoor rated also. Which means no filters to clean. Also it has an extra mppt. 5 year longer warranty on the flex boss as well. If you do pair the flex boss with the grid boss you get a massive amount of functionality. But for those that only want it for off grid then they’d have to weigh those options and decide if it’s worth the extra cost.
Without the grid boss, the flexboss is sort of just an off grid inverter-yes? So 16k output max vs 12k max for the xp. Not as much solar (21k vs 24k), outdoor rated and longer warranty. Is noise better on the flexboss!
@@tompumphreykayak personally I’d prefer the additional mppt input the flexboss has over that extra solar on the 12000xp. I’m not sure on the noise, I haven’t tested the flexboss yet. Hopefully I’ll get a chance in a bit. So those are just some of the things that stood out for me.
The largest would be my water well probably. Which did run quite a bit, I never saw any issues. I do have 120v inductive loads like miter saws, which I’ll be testing next.
@@GavinStoneDIY My main concern is my well pump it’s a 3/4 hp 240v with inrush of 36a runs at only 7.4a . I’m afraid that these HF inverters won’t start it .Any thoughts ? Is your well similar? Been thinking I need Schneider 6848 to take well and garage off grid
@@DonnieThomas-m2y that’s the exact pump I have. That won’t be an issue at all. Even the 6000xp started my well up fine. This has double the power, so you would be good to go with this.
I notice your battery is sitting on the floor. Are you still hooking up the wall mount or using something else for earthquake restraint so the battery doesn't tip over. My battery sits 3inch from the wall due to the way the foundation is built. So I am looking for ideas on restraints.
@@chumanji9 the wall mount plate should be fine for what you’re wanting. On my testing section I don’t have it mounted to the wall no. Earthquakes really aren’t an issue where we are.
I read in the manual that I could use no communication batteries and it would charge using the battery voltage level. Do you have any experience with this?
@@martinbernard1250 yeah that’s a simple setting. I actually ran my system like this for over a year on the 18kpv. You’d change it to lead acid and then set your charging and discharging parameters.
Does this unit go to bypass mode when charging from gen? Or will it still invert from battery while charging battery? Seams like most use the inverting circuit as the charger. I have a military 10kw diesel genny with clean power. Problem is when i charge at max im at like 80% load on my gen. Then when the wife starts cooking or something it adds to the charging load and iverloads my genny. Or is it at least smart enough to monitor input load to not exceen geny capabilities. Like it will reduce charging until load comes down to not exceed set incoming amps
Good question. I believe you can set loads as priority and have charging second. So that way it won’t exceed your generators capacity. I suppose worse case you could lower your charging amps a bit if you suspect you’ll be overloading it. But that would sorta be a pain to toggle back and forth.
@@GavinStoneDIYbottom of page 44 in manual I'm reading now says u can set the max watts if generator and it will not exceed 90% of that. So that's an awesome feature. Trying to max charge with varying loads is a hassle
Are the MPPTs hard-wired to be parallel? I thought there was an option to make them independent in software, but I'm probably mistaken. With 35A, you could almost run to a combiner and combine again, unless you've got some crazy high Imp/Isc.
Yeah they are designed to be paralleled. I think some people will end up using combiner boxes. I actually really like combiner boxes. It’s a great place to installed SPD’s. But it does add some cost and complexity to an install.
If you were going to go off-grid only, what do you think between this 12000xp, the flexboss 21 and the 18kpv. I know the 18Kpv is EMP hardened, not sure on the other two. Obviously the other two are hybrids but they have some nice features like 18k AC output w/ solar on the flexboss and the 18kpv is just a nice tank with a good screen on the front. Also, appears the 18kpv is more efficient putting energy from the PV to the batteries and grid...
I haven’t tested the flexboss 21 yes. But the higher ac output with solar is what interests me. 16kw with solar input. I really like the weather/dust proofing on the 18kpv and flexboss. That might be a small thing to some people, but that’s big for me. I like not having filters or cleaning. Their extra mppt means you can have a third array in a different area. Plus the warranty is 5 years longer. And there’s other factors as well if I thought about it long enough. On the other hand, the price on the 12000xp is just so good. It still runs and operates really well. Great surge rating, good idle consumption numbers. The monitoring software is basically the same. The setup is easy. If I were just starting out? It would be hard to justify the extra cost for the factors I mentioned above. It would be a hard decision.
@@GavinStoneDIY I agree. If they can get the EMP certification on the Flexboss and they get the screen add on I think that would be the way to go. I am curious why the MPPT is less efficient but maybe it's just more accurate rating? I'd think the circuitry on the controllers would be similar so wouldn't expect what I'm seeing on the spec sheet unless allowing greater amperage in somehow means a less efficient controller.
You technically can add the 6000 xp into the grid or generator ports of the 12000xp. But that wouldn’t be a parallel in the true sense because the inverters wouldn’t be communicating.
I’ve seen quite a few 6000xp in RV’s. So I believe they can handle it yeah. Keep in mind the 12kpv’s continuous output is 8kw. So the name can sometimes confuse people. So it’ll depend on your total needs. That amount of storage would work great. Just make sure you have a good method from keeping those batteries stabilized. Either way you’ll have some serious power. How many watts of solar do you think you’ll be able to install?
hello excellent video as always. but going of topic here I got a ?. what's your thoughts on what china did to customer in usa on their inverters (deye) solark on shutting their system off
I’ve heard of quite a few people that have been affected in Puerto Rico and Canada as well. I think that is extremely troubling. I understand Deye is likely attempting to uphold some type of contractual agreement. But in my opinion they could shut someone access off to the online portal. But disabling their inverters? That is going way too far as far as I’m concerned.
Good questions. The amperage should be adjustable yeah. The 120v input I’m not sure on. I believe the answer to that is no. But I’m not positive. I’ll check into it though.
@@deanburrito6943 it really comes down to preference. I prefer the 12000xp. It’s quieter and uses less idle consumption. Both will do the job though, and some people prefer the redundancy of having 2 6000xp’s
@ no the fans don’t really start running till around 6kw and higher. At the lower ranges it’s nearly silent. I cover this a bit more in my follow up video
The smart port only. I’ll try to cover this more in my next video. I believe this is the only inverter on the market that will ac couple to a dedicated port instead of a generator input.
@@exploitthechildless1510 yes the THD tolerance on most of the inverters is usually fairly low. 5% or less. So you’ll likely need an inverter generator. That’s why I usually recommend a chargeveter. I made a video on that as well. It eliminates the possible issues with a generator. I’m not sure what you mean by grounding exactly.
@@GavinStoneDIY In Western NC, there were several problems with non-inverter generators having their generator ground to the generator ground as well as their main electrical panels. Also note that these generator had the ground bonded to neutral. This caused problems with the neutral carrying voltage.
It’s recommended to have at least 400ah of battery available. So technically you’ll only be drawing 250ish amps at one time. But that will ensure you won’t be pulling too much from the battery bank. The more batteries you have available, the less stress you’ll be putting on them.
Suppose I have 8000 watts of panels facing east, 8000 watts of panels facing south and 8000 watts of panels facing west. Can these be connected to one of these units in a way that makes sense?
That wouldn’t work no. The 2 inputs would limit you to 2 arrays in the same area or at a different azimuth. If you had 3 directions you wanting to have arrays, then you’d need another charger controller. Or the 18kpv does has 3 inputs.
Is there any combination of solar panels that will give you the 24000 maximum PV without exceeding the maximum voltage or wattage?? Or is 24000 just a marketing tactic??
I’m going to cover this in my next video. It really depends on the panel. But to reach that maximum wattage some people will likely have to put a combiner box and have 3 strings combined to each input. So no, it’s not a marketing tactic, but it will take some extra wiring to achieve that 24kw in some cases. I think it would be easy to achieve 16-18kw as is though. So for those that want the maximum wattage they’ll just have to plan ahead depending on their panel specs.
@@GavinStoneDIY awesome thanks for the response. I have a transformer based growatt 12k I want to upgrade. Apparently the transformer based units are good for big loads but they have an issue with "back feeding" on the neutral. Actually tries to balance loads on the neighborhood's transformer when in bypass mode. I found a work around but it only allows for bypass when my batteries are dead but won't allow me to keep a physical bypass connected because I'm forced to have my grid neutral isolated from my house. "Not ideal at all" it'd be fine if your the only house on the transformer or if totally off grid but that's it. Otherwise you're paying for part of your neighbor's load as that current goes through your meter. Thanksgiving is coming up so I will have to reconnect my house to the grid and disconnect my inverter so my wife can use the double ovens and cook top all at the same time. Inconvenience to say the least
@@electromechanicalstuff2602 yeah I’ve seen that can be an issue with some of the transformer based units. That’s actually kinda scary to be honest. This would be a big improvement over that. Plus the MPPT’s on this are far superior to the growatt 12k. That was another downside to those units.
I have 380 watt Canadian solar panels and if I use 10 panels I get 350 V at my other inverter. How many strings of 10 3800 watts can I hook to this inverter. I have 10 and 10 panels for 7600 watts with 350 volts. Can I hook 40 panels to this one.
It would depend on the size of the battery bank. The more batteries you have the less amperage each will be receiving. You’d need enough battery for a 230-250 amps discharge to reach the full potential of this inverters output also. So either way it needs a decent size battery bank.
Missing breakers, no, breakers are to protect downstream wiring not upstream. With the Off Grid models they served no purpose. The Grid input should have had a Breaker sized for wire gauge at the distribution, likewise the Generator should have the Breaker at its source. I should amend my previous model Generator input. The latest Firmware allows the Generator Input to be configured a as a Smart Load Output. There in, it would require a Breaker.
For an off grid inverter personally I think 100 amps is plenty. Most people are going to be supplying a critical loads panel. And that panel ideally should be designed to your total output of the inverter.
They were already knocked out from previous installs. And I’d rather not hack the box up for this install, since I’ll be using it again in the future on the 12kpv’s. That was a lot of lol’s though. Nice work. 🫡
Great video Gavin. Sure wish Growatt would send you their 10 kWh Hybrid Inverter to test and compare to the EG4 12 kWh off grid inverter as the costs are similar. Some don’t have an external grid but for those that do, it would be nice to export excess power for those that over panel.
Man I wish they would too! I may ask Signature Solar if they’d be willing to let me test one. They started carrying those units as well. I’ve heard good things about them.
@@GavinStoneDIY Great video Gavin, I agree a comparison with Growatt would be great… I got excited at minute 2 seeing the white thing in the wall then I remembered the review you did on the NHX-10… would the NHX-12 be a better comparison although @$500 difference? That would be nice. Thanks again for your informative video
@@pedvan02 yeah the nhx 12k might be a better comparison due to the output capacity. I’m going to be reviewing that next month I think. Then again I’ve heard people often compare the midnight 10kw unit to the 18kpv. So I suppose when you get up here to these higher wattage units it’s more the operation and the features people are looking at rather than those 2kw. 🤷🏼♂️
@ looking forward for next month then. Excited to see those 12k. Yeah the 2k might make a world of difference … I’ve been pushing through the load diet with my 8k Growatt for the past 30 months. Your next review on NHX 12k may help my decision making between Eg4 vs NHX 12. Thanks in advance
@@honumoorea873 60-70 watts wouldn’t be enormous by most industry standards. Although Schneider and Victron definitely have lower numbers in some cases.
I wish reviewers of this product with quick crying about the screen or a manual. Why do you keep trying to take the price of a product up? Pull up your pants and accept what you have for a great price
@@satguyou I realize others have had similar complaints. I believe I was the first though, a true pioneer. I don’t think adding a paper manual would raise the price. As far as the screen, it is extremely detailed. So it has definitely grown on me. It was a small critique, I even mentioned that in the video. It’s a solid inverter. I’m not sure how much adding color to the screen would raise the price really. But part of my job when I review a product is to look for areas where it can possibly be improved. So if I see something that can be tweaked, I try my best to cover it.
So far I don’t have a link for the new conduit box that’s needed. I will link it as soon as it’s available. I’m told it will be soon.
Affiliate links:
Signature Solar’s link to the 12000xp
signaturesolar.com/eg4-12000xp-off-grid-inverter-48v-split-phase-24kw-pv-input-12kw-power-output/?ref=mpmddlkx6M9tPo&XP%20Inverter%20Launch&Homepage%2011%2F1&Homepage%20banner%2011%2F1
Current Connected’s link. It should qualify for free shipping in November.
www.currentconnected.com/product/eg4-12000xp-48v-split-phase-off-grid-inverter/?ref=xhJJBPDS
Your channel is fast becoming one of my favorites. You are a natural in front of the camera.
Agreed 👍
I really appreciate that. That’s nice to hear really. You’d be hard pressed to find a more introverted person than me.
On the other hand I really like helping people. And I love solar, so this channel is a great way to do both.
@GavinStoneDIY as an introvert myself, I applaud your efforts.
@@chevrofreak totally agree
Another great video by gavin stone!
Great job Gavin! This thing is awesome so far. The PV amps are crazy and definitely a big plus
Exactly yeah. The improvement in equipment in just the last 2-3 years is crazy.
Great initial review! Besides the eg4 being a 12kw inverter, would you say this is a better unit than the NHX 10KW? I know it is very early on to make much of a fair assessment.
@ a bit better surge capacity on the 12k. Similar idle consumption between the 2. Less MPPT’s on the 12k. But more overall solar capacity. The NHX is an outdoor unit. So no filters or moisture issues. Then again the NHX is also a hybrid, so you have some grid connectivity features with that you won’t have on the 12k. But the NHX doesn’t have ac coupling. And then as you mentioned that 2kw difference. Yeah there is a lot to consider between the two really. They both have a place.
@@GavinStoneDIY thanks for the quick reply as always. Yeah, this is going to be a tough decision for me to make. I was nearly ready to drop the hammer and purchase the NHX, and might still. But this eg4 has me in limbo now, LOL 😆
@@jetkrazee and to further muddy the waters I’ll hopefully be reviewing the NHX 12k next month. 🤓
Nice to see they're taking some of the really beneficial features from the hybrid inverters and bringing them to the off-grid inverters! Too bad they didn't bring the display...not a fan...
5:44 It is odd that they didn't put breakers on the Gen/Grid connections. Interesting to see the Arc Fault component next to the ground bus bar. Surprised to see that in the wiring cabinet. I thought that was always built into the upper sections of the inverters with the PCBs.
6:44 For the EG4 wireways, since their different inverters seem to have different knockouts, it would be nice if they had an "inverter plate" for each inverter that would just slide into the wireway. That would get rid of the need for a new wireway each time they come out with a new inverter. Obviously that wouldn't work very well with the outdoor units because it wouldn't be water-tight, but it should work fine for the indoor ones.
12:29 The small size for the pv screws might make it difficult to get a proper torque screwdriver in there.
13:08 Do they recommend doubling up the DC cables to get the full current draw?
14:31 Maybe the original game boy...yeah, not a fan.
19:26 That is one nice thing I like about a lot of off-grid inverters. Even when they shut down or they're in standby mode (not inverting) they can still charge with PV. Saves some power if you don't need to generate any AC power as well!
21:50 Nice to see a good, high imbalance capability.
24:07 As I get memorized by the spinning circle behind you, I started wondering if that's actually some kind of status indicator or is it just for show? Can it be turned off? Seems like there might be some places where you don't want a "green eye of Sauron" glowing throughout the night.
28:05 I'm wondering if they put so many features into this new model that they had to cut cost somewhere. Kinda the same reason they ended up not putting a display in the FlexBoss - most people will end up using their phone/monitoring website. The display would really just be used for quick glances.
Tabitha did a great job!
Wow, that was a long video...😁 (pot calling the kettle black...)
The green circle is an indicator. It’s yellow when the unit is in standby.
I believe they are coming up with a plate for a conduit boxes yeah.
They don’t recommend doubling up cables. I assume you’re talking about PV? With some panels you’d need to use a combiner box most likely to achieve that maximum wattage rating.
I don’t think the small size for the PV screw will affect torquing. Although I haven’t checked the torque spec on those yet.
They don’t have a breaker on the grid input port in the 18kpv or 12kpv. So I think that’s just the 6000xp for some reason. And the smart port doubles as the AC coupling port on this inverter, so I suppose they didn’t need the Gen breaker on this one.
I’m sure the display was a cost consideration. Then again I actually do prefer it over the 6000xp. It has a better layout.
I don’t think the indicator light can be turned off. But I need to go step by step through all the options.
@@GavinStoneDIY The "doubling up" I was talking about was just the fact that there's two positive and two negative battery terminals.
As far as the PV connections, I just want to make sure you can still get a torque screwdriver in there to tighten things down properly. Since you had to use such a small screwdriver in your video, I'm just hoping the terminal itself isn't that small.
I could just see my nephew going down into the basement and seeing a spinning green light down the hallway...would probably wet himself and run upstairs screaming! 😁. On second thought, nevermind...lets leave it on!
😈
@ haha. Yeah that green light actually looks pretty space age. It’s an interesting touch. I like it.
Yeah they provide 2 terminals for the battery connections. Honestly a lot of 2/0 could reach that amperage limit without an issue. But in order to keep things cool I suppose it makes sense to have 2-2/0. But they also allow for 1/0 if it’s no longer then 8’ I believe. At least that was the spec on the 18kpv. When inverters exceed 10kw you’ll usually see double terminals like this nowadays.
Excellent presentation! Thank you I'm a redundancy guy...I have two 6000xps. I bought the EG4 charge controller and may add another array attached to my battery bus bars. Close to the Canadian border...need all the PV I can get in the winter
Yeah, as my wife always says “one is none and two is one”.
You guys are running a bit lean on sunshine up there in the winter. I would do the same if I were you. I’m adding another array also in the next couple months.
Without any doubt this inverter is a monster.
I think the challenge with this one is trying to max out the MPPTs safely.
Dual wielding 12000xps in a home could be the next best thing to do I think. If one fails, the other can cover easily. The Flexboss21 (stand alone) is going to be better if IP65 is needed.
Great video!
Yeah this is going to be a popular one.
Maxing out the MPPT’s is something I will cover in the next video. In my opinion, a combiner box would be the easiest way.
Great job making your points with this comparison and explanation, Gavin!
I appreciate that sir.
Thanks Gavin.
Thanks Gavin, glad to see the review of the 12000XP. always well done and very informative. you are the reason i got our 18KPV a year ago. were has the time gone?
This is so true! Quite a few megawatts later and I’m still loving the 18kpv.
Great video as always!
I appreciate that. Are you planning on reviewing this one?
@GavinStoneDIY yes, I have it. I will be reviewing it soon. And I eventually plan to replace my 6000XP with it.
@@CountryViewAcres good stuff. Looking forward to that review.
I can imagine that in six months, you'll be testing an EG4 48k that's as big as a fridge, lol
That's a monster powerhouse, I couldn't the array you'll need to max out the input.
Thanks for sharing, and as always, keep building 👍
I’ll need a hoist! My back won’t handle that.
Always enjoy your reviews. Would love to see you provide an example sketch of how the 24k pv could be wired. What would be the ideal panel voltage and configuration to reach the 24k. With the limited 480v. It seems like a stretch..
Yes it would definitely depend on the panel type. With some panels you may even have 3 strings combined to each input. You’d need a combiner box for that configuration though. These are good questions though. I’ll try and add this in to a follow up I’m filming soon.
And in cold environments, your panels could hit higher voltages.
@@GavinStoneDIY Appreciate it Thank you.
Hi Gavin, thank you for taking the time to create these videos. Is it possible you could create a video just focused on the critical load panal, this one is a bit confusing, perhaps a bit more dummy proof, just think about when you had no idea what you were doing, like making sure when your removing a breaker, reiterate that this is the main breaker as it was before attempting to install an inverter, stuff like that… are the wires you will transfer to the new sub panel only one wire? And would a 220v say for a central air both wires?
These are just Some questions that are not quite clear ( to Me), or I’m beyond slow. Like a one legged sick turtle with arthritis on the one leg😮
@@Cross75777 I know how it is. Have you tried watching the wiring video I did on the 6000xp?
Thanks for another great video 🎉
Thanks for watching!
Gavin, thanks for all the details. You and Rodney have been great at getting videos out quickly on this inverter !
Couple of questions from a newbie .. I have the 12000XP on order and I am using it basically for a UPS - can't have solar per the HOA.
1. With the AC output being 50 Amps - if this sufficient to service light and receptacles in the 4 bedroom house ? The only other item to cover is a microwave ? No water heater, no electric heat, no kitchen cooktop (all gas).
2. I am looking at the on-line manual and in the WORKING MODES for BAT OFF-GRID the display shows 3,000 Watts is that just the display at the point when the picture of the GameBoy screen was taken or is there a limitation that I am not aware of ?
3. I know there is an inverter breaker for the grid but does another in line fuse makes sense or is that overkill ?
4. Your are using 2 awg battery cables and 2 of them ... is this what you would suggest ?
So the continuous output is 50 amps. I’ve actually been running my house on that for a year and a half with the 18kpv. So it should definitely handle what you’re describing. The only limiting factor would be the size of your battery. Make sure you have enough to output the full 12kw is necessary. Which they recommend 400ah I believe.
So as far as the grid input, the breaker from the main panel should be sufficient as far as protection is concerned.
What a beast!
I really like this unit. It ticks all the boxes in terms of functionality. I just wish that the screen was a bit brighter and the -ve and +ve battery terminals inside the inverter had some kind of insulation material between the terminals similar to what the 18KPV has. That way, makes it kinda difficult for any accidents to happen with those battery cables when inserting or removing them.
Being able to process 24KW of PV on a single inverter at this price point and this quality equipment is insane.
Yeah the screen brightness wasn’t really an issue for me. But that’s a good point about some type of divider between the terminals. They are somewhat offset from one another, even still things can happen.
I think we will end up seeing a lot of these installed. I’d love to see some videos of these starting up 5 ton AC units. I bet it can do it.
@GavinStoneDIY I agree. I think these units will be EG4's most sold inverter.
We plan on total off gride and still looking at the 6000xp want at least two of them down the road but also looking for redundancy and start up price. Plan on one then later on add another one as build
Yeah the 6000xp is a great way to start your system. They are split phase, easy to install, and for the size they can take in a lot of solar.
@@GavinStoneDIY yup and will be in Southeast Arizona. Also plan on doing my own batteries. So they will start out around the 300ah rating.
@@roverdogs_keithwhelchel I remember a year ago people telling me DIY batteries were a thing of the past. But honestly I see them more now than ever. Especially with the cases you can buy for them now.
@@GavinStoneDIY still get more bang for your buck, then have two like that will be sweet
is your PV voltage total is correct? i see a post recently with the PV being limited.
@@Ttew-b8f I haven’t seen any limiting. But I have heard of the issue. I believe there is a firmware update for it.
Great video! Any chance you can test it when it falls back to grid, both when overloaded and when battery/PV is too low?
Yeah I’ll try and test that in another follow up. I’m editing one today.
I would like to know how loud it is at around a 5000 watt load compared to the 6000xp. I find 6000xp too loud.
Roger that. I’ll take a look/listen
Id like to do two 12000 xp's & 8 sok batterys for redundancy, starting with half that soon.
That is going to be a serious power system. Definitely take advantage of their free shipping if possible then. And make sure to sign in. They give an extra discount when you do that.
I like the game boy screen. Seems easy to see. I have the 6000xp and 18kpv off grid. If I was getting equipment for my off grid setup now I would go with either the flex boss or this 12000xp. I do like the the 18kpv, but these new units are a better value for most people I think.
What they need to figure out is the ability to use more than 3 wall batteries and stay within the ul listings. I have 3, but would like to have 5-7.
Yeah for the price it’s hard to beat.
On the UL aspect. What about hooking to a central busbar? I haven’t researched this so I’m not up so speed on that.
Is this pretty similar to the flexboss? The flexboss can handle up to 21kpv, but otherwise it is essentially an off grid inverter with 12k output. Are there other differences?
@@tompumphreykayak the flexboss can output 16kw with solar present. And is designed to pair with the grid boss for the hybrid functions. It’s outdoor rated also. Which means no filters to clean. Also it has an extra mppt. 5 year longer warranty on the flex boss as well.
If you do pair the flex boss with the grid boss you get a massive amount of functionality. But for those that only want it for off grid then they’d have to weigh those options and decide if it’s worth the extra cost.
Without the grid boss, the flexboss is sort of just an off grid inverter-yes? So 16k output max vs 12k max for the xp. Not as much solar (21k vs 24k), outdoor rated and longer warranty. Is noise better on the flexboss!
“?” Not “!”
@@tompumphreykayak personally I’d prefer the additional mppt input the flexboss has over that extra solar on the 12000xp.
I’m not sure on the noise, I haven’t tested the flexboss yet. Hopefully I’ll get a chance in a bit. So those are just some of the things that stood out for me.
Great job! Do you have any inductive loads to run it on?
The largest would be my water well probably. Which did run quite a bit, I never saw any issues. I do have 120v inductive loads like miter saws, which I’ll be testing next.
@@GavinStoneDIY My main concern is my well pump it’s a 3/4 hp 240v with inrush of 36a runs at only 7.4a . I’m afraid that these HF inverters won’t start it .Any thoughts ? Is your well similar? Been thinking I need Schneider 6848 to take well and garage off grid
@@DonnieThomas-m2y that’s the exact pump I have. That won’t be an issue at all. Even the 6000xp started my well up fine. This has double the power, so you would be good to go with this.
I notice your battery is sitting on the floor. Are you still hooking up the wall mount or using something else for earthquake restraint so the battery doesn't tip over. My battery sits 3inch from the wall due to the way the foundation is built. So I am looking for ideas on restraints.
@@chumanji9 the wall mount plate should be fine for what you’re wanting. On my testing section I don’t have it mounted to the wall no. Earthquakes really aren’t an issue where we are.
I read in the manual that I could use no communication batteries and it would charge using the battery voltage level. Do you have any experience with this?
@@martinbernard1250 yeah that’s a simple setting. I actually ran my system like this for over a year on the 18kpv.
You’d change it to lead acid and then set your charging and discharging parameters.
Does this unit go to bypass mode when charging from gen? Or will it still invert from battery while charging battery? Seams like most use the inverting circuit as the charger. I have a military 10kw diesel genny with clean power. Problem is when i charge at max im at like 80% load on my gen. Then when the wife starts cooking or something it adds to the charging load and iverloads my genny. Or is it at least smart enough to monitor input load to not exceen geny capabilities. Like it will reduce charging until load comes down to not exceed set incoming amps
Good question. I believe you can set loads as priority and have charging second. So that way it won’t exceed your generators capacity. I suppose worse case you could lower your charging amps a bit if you suspect you’ll be overloading it. But that would sorta be a pain to toggle back and forth.
@@GavinStoneDIYbottom of page 44 in manual I'm reading now says u can set the max watts if generator and it will not exceed 90% of that. So that's an awesome feature. Trying to max charge with varying loads is a hassle
Are the MPPTs hard-wired to be parallel? I thought there was an option to make them independent in software, but I'm probably mistaken.
With 35A, you could almost run to a combiner and combine again, unless you've got some crazy high Imp/Isc.
Yeah they are designed to be paralleled. I think some people will end up using combiner boxes. I actually really like combiner boxes. It’s a great place to installed SPD’s. But it does add some cost and complexity to an install.
Great content 👌 support from P.R And Florida
Gracias primo.
If you were going to go off-grid only, what do you think between this 12000xp, the flexboss 21 and the 18kpv. I know the 18Kpv is EMP hardened, not sure on the other two. Obviously the other two are hybrids but they have some nice features like 18k AC output w/ solar on the flexboss and the 18kpv is just a nice tank with a good screen on the front. Also, appears the 18kpv is more efficient putting energy from the PV to the batteries and grid...
I haven’t tested the flexboss 21 yes. But the higher ac output with solar is what interests me. 16kw with solar input.
I really like the weather/dust proofing on the 18kpv and flexboss. That might be a small thing to some people, but that’s big for me. I like not having filters or cleaning. Their extra mppt means you can have a third array in a different area. Plus the warranty is 5 years longer. And there’s other factors as well if I thought about it long enough.
On the other hand, the price on the 12000xp is just so good. It still runs and operates really well. Great surge rating, good idle consumption numbers. The monitoring software is basically the same. The setup is easy. If I were just starting out? It would be hard to justify the extra cost for the factors I mentioned above. It would be a hard decision.
@@GavinStoneDIY I agree. If they can get the EMP certification on the Flexboss and they get the screen add on I think that would be the way to go. I am curious why the MPPT is less efficient but maybe it's just more accurate rating? I'd think the circuitry on the controllers would be similar so wouldn't expect what I'm seeing on the spec sheet unless allowing greater amperage in somehow means a less efficient controller.
Thanks Gavin! Can i add this to my 6000XP?
You technically can add the 6000 xp into the grid or generator ports of the 12000xp. But that wouldn’t be a parallel in the true sense because the inverters wouldn’t be communicating.
Would you recommend either the 1200xp or 12Kpv to be used in a R.V. environment? In your opinion would they have the stamina for going down the road?
Planning 5 to 6 rack batteries to feed
I’ve seen quite a few 6000xp in RV’s. So I believe they can handle it yeah.
Keep in mind the 12kpv’s continuous output is 8kw. So the name can sometimes confuse people. So it’ll depend on your total needs.
That amount of storage would work great. Just make sure you have a good method from keeping those batteries stabilized. Either way you’ll have some serious power. How many watts of solar do you think you’ll be able to install?
Do you install these in people's homes
I’m not an installer no. I have helped friends or family with projects. But I don’t do that for a living.
Yesss, OLED Color Screens, thats what we want. Without price increase though.
Yeah that would be cool for sure.
hello excellent video as always. but going of topic here I got a ?. what's your thoughts on what china did to customer in usa on their inverters (deye) solark on shutting their system off
I’ve heard of quite a few people that have been affected in Puerto Rico and Canada as well.
I think that is extremely troubling. I understand Deye is likely attempting to uphold some type of contractual agreement. But in my opinion they could shut someone access off to the online portal. But disabling their inverters? That is going way too far as far as I’m concerned.
So can the 12k also take 120v genorator? Also, is the input amps adjustable for the genorator input?
Good questions. The amperage should be adjustable yeah. The 120v input I’m not sure on. I believe the answer to that is no. But I’m not positive. I’ll check into it though.
What do you think is the better option for an off-grid system. Two 6000s or one 12000 with 20kw panels and 32kw batteries?
@@deanburrito6943 it really comes down to preference. I prefer the 12000xp. It’s quieter and uses less idle consumption. Both will do the job though, and some people prefer the redundancy of having 2 6000xp’s
Awesome stuff
It looks like it is very loud. I am looking to upgrade my Solark 8k that I have in the house, but the EG4 would be too loud.
@@mlg779 it’s actually fairly quiet. At full PV or full output it does get louder for sure.
@@GavinStoneDIY is the fan running all the time? From the video it sounds loud.
@ no the fans don’t really start running till around 6kw and higher. At the lower ranges it’s nearly silent. I cover this a bit more in my follow up video
Can you do AC Coupling with both the Smart Port and the Gen Port?
The smart port only. I’ll try to cover this more in my next video. I believe this is the only inverter on the market that will ac couple to a dedicated port instead of a generator input.
@@GavinStoneDIY Does the Generator port require a true sin wave generator and what is the requirement for ground?
@@exploitthechildless1510 yes the THD tolerance on most of the inverters is usually fairly low. 5% or less. So you’ll likely need an inverter generator. That’s why I usually recommend a chargeveter. I made a video on that as well. It eliminates the possible issues with a generator.
I’m not sure what you mean by grounding exactly.
@@GavinStoneDIY In Western NC, there were several problems with non-inverter generators having their generator ground to the generator ground as well as their main electrical panels. Also note that these generator had the ground bonded to neutral. This caused problems with the neutral carrying voltage.
Someone else said you needed enough batteries for 400A of current draw... is that true?
It’s recommended to have at least 400ah of battery available. So technically you’ll only be drawing 250ish amps at one time. But that will ensure you won’t be pulling too much from the battery bank. The more batteries you have available, the less stress you’ll be putting on them.
Suppose I have 8000 watts of panels facing east, 8000 watts of panels facing south and 8000 watts of panels facing west. Can these be connected to one of these units in a way that makes sense?
That wouldn’t work no. The 2 inputs would limit you to 2 arrays in the same area or at a different azimuth.
If you had 3 directions you wanting to have arrays, then you’d need another charger controller. Or the 18kpv does has 3 inputs.
Is there any combination of solar panels that will give you the 24000 maximum PV without exceeding the maximum voltage or wattage?? Or is 24000 just a marketing tactic??
I’m going to cover this in my next video. It really depends on the panel. But to reach that maximum wattage some people will likely have to put a combiner box and have 3 strings combined to each input.
So no, it’s not a marketing tactic, but it will take some extra wiring to achieve that 24kw in some cases.
I think it would be easy to achieve 16-18kw as is though. So for those that want the maximum wattage they’ll just have to plan ahead depending on their panel specs.
@ Yeah, I thought 16-18k would be easier to achieve and will be interesting to see how in your next video.
Nice video. Could you use this inverter with 320ah battery bank ?
Yeah for sure, ideally you’ll want something that can output at least 250 amps.
@GavinStoneDIY Thanks. I appreciate it the quick response. 🙏
So the grid bypass.... Will it bypass when overloaded? Or only when u tell it to?
Both. The bypass will kick in during an overload. Or based off whatever SOC or voltage parameters you define.
@@GavinStoneDIY awesome thanks for the response. I have a transformer based growatt 12k I want to upgrade. Apparently the transformer based units are good for big loads but they have an issue with "back feeding" on the neutral. Actually tries to balance loads on the neighborhood's transformer when in bypass mode. I found a work around but it only allows for bypass when my batteries are dead but won't allow me to keep a physical bypass connected because I'm forced to have my grid neutral isolated from my house. "Not ideal at all" it'd be fine if your the only house on the transformer or if totally off grid but that's it. Otherwise you're paying for part of your neighbor's load as that current goes through your meter. Thanksgiving is coming up so I will have to reconnect my house to the grid and disconnect my inverter so my wife can use the double ovens and cook top all at the same time. Inconvenience to say the least
@@electromechanicalstuff2602 yeah I’ve seen that can be an issue with some of the transformer based units. That’s actually kinda scary to be honest.
This would be a big improvement over that. Plus the MPPT’s on this are far superior to the growatt 12k. That was another downside to those units.
The one I have has 250 volt max. But only 7kw
@@electromechanicalstuff2602 yeah they are sorta lacking in that department.
How's light flicker?
I didn’t see any. I checked sensitive LED’s and dimmer switches. No flickering.
I have 380 watt Canadian solar panels and if I use 10 panels I get 350 V at my other inverter. How many strings of 10 3800 watts can I hook to this inverter. I have 10 and 10 panels for 7600 watts with 350 volts. Can I hook 40 panels to this one.
You should be able to yeah. What is the amperage and voc specs on the panels?
Pmax 385 watts vmp 30.2 volts imp 12.77 A. voc 36.2 volts isc 13.63 amps short circuit current
@@silveradoblue327 that would actually work perfect then. So you’d hook 20 panels per input. 10+10 paralleled. Twice
I can’t think of any battery company recommending over 200 A charging? I would think it would shorten the life of the battery.
It would depend on the size of the battery bank. The more batteries you have the less amperage each will be receiving. You’d need enough battery for a 230-250 amps discharge to reach the full potential of this inverters output also. So either way it needs a decent size battery bank.
Why not just cut a rectangle out of the top of that box then mount it up there?
That wouldn’t be practical in my case.
You need a ceiling mounted winch
Christmas is coming soon. 👀
@@GavinStoneDIYsounds good. I'll start shopping
Missing breakers, no, breakers are to protect downstream wiring not upstream. With the Off Grid models they served no purpose. The Grid input should have had a Breaker sized for wire gauge at the distribution, likewise the Generator should have the Breaker at its source.
I should amend my previous model Generator input. The latest Firmware allows the Generator Input to be configured a as a Smart Load Output. There in, it would require a Breaker.
Yes indeed. I was just pointing out the difference in the models. Although it is nice to have another means a disconnect there. They aren’t needed.
Only disappointment is the pass-thru is limoted to 100A; it should be 200A
For an off grid inverter personally I think 100 amps is plenty. Most people are going to be supplying a critical loads panel. And that panel ideally should be designed to your total output of the inverter.
Lolololololololol you knocked all the knockouts out!!! Nothing like measuring things and using your brain!!!
They were already knocked out from previous installs. And I’d rather not hack the box up for this install, since I’ll be using it again in the future on the 12kpv’s.
That was a lot of lol’s though. Nice work. 🫡
I dont know, i kinda like the screen. 😂
I agree about the paper manuals. I wish they sent them as well. But printing, like you said, is a close second.
Hahaha. I bet you do. Honestly it’s not that bad. It’s easier to read than the 6000xp. And it gives all the details you’d need.
Yeah I’m old school in a lot of ways. I like paper to comb through.
Great video Gavin. Sure wish Growatt would send you their 10 kWh Hybrid Inverter to test and compare to the EG4 12 kWh off grid inverter as the costs are similar. Some don’t have an external grid but for those that do, it would be nice to export excess power for those that over panel.
Man I wish they would too! I may ask Signature Solar if they’d be willing to let me test one. They started carrying those units as well. I’ve heard good things about them.
@@GavinStoneDIY
Great video Gavin, I agree a comparison with Growatt would be great… I got excited at minute 2 seeing the white thing in the wall then I remembered the review you did on the NHX-10… would the NHX-12 be a better comparison although @$500 difference? That would be nice.
Thanks again for your informative video
@@pedvan02 yeah the nhx 12k might be a better comparison due to the output capacity. I’m going to be reviewing that next month I think.
Then again I’ve heard people often compare the midnight 10kw unit to the 18kpv. So I suppose when you get up here to these higher wattage units it’s more the operation and the features people are looking at rather than those 2kw. 🤷🏼♂️
@ looking forward for next month then. Excited to see those 12k. Yeah the 2k might make a world of difference … I’ve been pushing through the load diet with my 8k Growatt for the past 30 months. Your next review on NHX 12k may help my decision making between Eg4 vs NHX 12.
Thanks in advance
I do not get why people use those eg4 inverters...lot noise, enormous idle power draw....
@@honumoorea873 60-70 watts wouldn’t be enormous by most industry standards. Although Schneider and Victron definitely have lower numbers in some cases.
I wish reviewers of this product with quick crying about the screen or a manual. Why do you keep trying to take the price of a product up? Pull up your pants and accept what you have for a great price
@@satguyou I realize others have had similar complaints. I believe I was the first though, a true pioneer.
I don’t think adding a paper manual would raise the price. As far as the screen, it is extremely detailed. So it has definitely grown on me. It was a small critique, I even mentioned that in the video. It’s a solid inverter. I’m not sure how much adding color to the screen would raise the price really. But part of my job when I review a product is to look for areas where it can possibly be improved. So if I see something that can be tweaked, I try my best to cover it.