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paul_mac1

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Joined: 17/05/2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 74

Posted: 06:57am 18 Jan 2012

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Hi Guys,
Has anyone had any experience with the inverters Hi_iq on Ebay sell? They look ok, here's the LINK. I have also been in touch with SWEA, they sell Australian Approved Grid Tie inverters, $300 +GST +Postage for a 250W one

. I have tried to get a final figure from them including postage to Adelaide, but got no reply, I had to email SWEA in the Netherlands and they contacted LadderTech, who then emailed me, but they don't like answering questions, so I guess their support will be crap due to the lack of communication I have received.

Who uses what inverter and where did you get it?

My 300w PowerJack died and I need something to replace it asap

Cheers Guys,
PaulEdited by paul_mac1 2012-01-19

VK4AYQ
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Joined: 02/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2539

Posted: 11:44am 18 Jan 2012

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Hi Paul
Buy one in Australia as the postage is less and warranty is here I have seen some on ebay
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/270754680784?ssPageName=STRK:MEWA X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_4860wt_952
This one you are looking at looks like it is made by Powerjack anyway it appears the same as their latest model.

BobEdited by VK4AYQ 2012-01-19

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VK4AYQ
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Posted: 12:01pm 18 Jan 2012

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Hi Paul

You could also use a approved high power GTI 1.5 KW 300 volt in by using a inverter to drive the unit mod sine wave inverter rectify to dc and feed the normal GTI.

Bob

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paul_mac1

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Joined: 17/05/2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 74

Posted: 12:52pm 18 Jan 2012

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Hi Bob,
Thanks for the info.

I'll have a look and see what is allegedly being sold from Aus

I'll go for a higher wattage one, as the 300w one was getting pretty warm before it went pop, they give off a hell of a belt when they blow, hey?

Thanks again matey.

Best Regards,
Paul

VK4AYQ
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Joined: 02/12/2009
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Posted: 01:05pm 18 Jan 2012

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Hi Paul

I have the 600 watt one as well and did the fan mod on it as they get too hot as well and they dont like sitting in a bucket of water. Sounds like you blew the input caps, they are prone to this on a wind turbine as the volts go to high before the thing can sync in on the mains and pop goes the weasel and the magic smoke leaves.

Bob

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paul_mac1

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Joined: 17/05/2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 74

Posted: 01:11pm 18 Jan 2012

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Hi Bob,
I never had the turbine connected at the time just the panel and thought I would try it direct to the panel.......POP!!!

There wasn't any smoke, just a pop and a jolt/tingly arm. I got in touch with the seller who are very good, he said send him $50USD and he will post a new circuit board out to me, but I think this might happen again with the 300w inverter.

Cheers,
Paul

VK4AYQ
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Location: Australia
Posts: 2539

Posted: 01:20pm 18 Jan 2012

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Hi Paul

What voltage panels are you using as if 24 volt they can go as high as 40 volts off load, mine do anyway and these inverters pop at about 33 volts input, not really worth repairing as they will not supply a circuit and in mine the components are sanitized.
They are really only meant for a 12 volt panel that peaks at 20 volts.

All the best

Bob

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paul_mac1

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Joined: 17/05/2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 74

Posted: 08:01am 19 Jan 2012

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Hi Bob,

Its a 20v nominal panel,and open circuit voltage is 30.3v

Just bought THIS ONE off Ebay, hopefully it will last longer.

Cheers,
PaulEdited by paul_mac1 2012-01-20

VK4AYQ
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Joined: 02/12/2009
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Posted: 09:33am 19 Jan 2012

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Hi paul

I hope it is better for you keep us in the loop as to how it performs.

All the best
Bob

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paul_mac1

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Joined: 17/05/2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 74

Posted: 10:02am 19 Jan 2012

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Hi Bob,

I will do. Erm, Take a look at the specs Table:

Grid-series models 500W

Recommend use solar panels 620Wp

DC Maximum Input Power 600W

DC maximum voltage VpvDC30.2VDC

DC voltage range Vpv 10.5V~28VDC

Maximum output power factor 99%

BUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE IT SAYS THIS:

Installation and connection DC Input limits:

Operating Voltage range: 10.5V to 28V

Maximum input Voltage: 28V

Solar Panel: 30W minimum, only use PV panels with maximum power voltage at 17.5V.

Can ONLY connect panels in parallel. DO NOT connect them in series!

Wind Turbine: Rated output voltage 24VDC, Maximum voltage 28VDC

What the?? What does this mean? How does the inverter know wether the voltage is from a PV or Wind Turbine?

Cheers,
Paul

VK4AYQ
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Joined: 02/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2539

Posted: 10:26am 19 Jan 2012

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Hi Paul

The thing with wind turbines is that their voltage is a product of wind speed and loading, if a gust hits the mill and the voltage increases before the inverter can sync with the mains and load the mill it can go quite high and shut the inverter off on overvoltage lockout or blow its little brain in extreme cases, I have a 24 volt nominal system and last year when the main controller broke down the voltage went to 90 volts in gusty conditions blowing the inverter.

Solar is a more or less fixed voltage due to the design so is much more regulated mine sits at 28 volts under load and open circuit it goes to 40 volts.

What they are saying is to use 12 volt nominal voltage panel as they peak at 18 - 20 volts. I do not agree that this is the best solution as lower volts needs more amps and more resistive losses and more heat produced.

I use large capacitance on the input to absorb the voltage peaks a bit and even the flow to the inverter a bit, not ideal but it helps.

I would recommend a couple of batteries to act as a damper to the voltage that can swing wildly at times, this will clamp to battery voltage about 28 volts and reduce the amps input which is a good thing. Make up glenns little control circuit to switch the inverter off at 25 volts and on at 27.5 volts. Link from the projects on info page.

All the best

Bob

Edited by VK4AYQ 2012-01-20

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paul_mac1

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Joined: 17/05/2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 74

Posted: 11:08am 19 Jan 2012

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Hi Bob,

I have everything going into 4x12v batteries wired in series/parralell to 24v, and the inverter will be running through a LVD, this worked great, until I decided I could connect the panel directly to the inverter....KABOOM!! was the end result, and a tingly arm.

So the new 500w inverter will be connected to the batteries and LVD.

Cheers again Bob,
Regards,
Paul

VK4AYQ
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Joined: 02/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2539

Posted: 01:01pm 19 Jan 2012

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Hi Paul

All good fun but sometimes a bit expensive, keep up the good work

Bob

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paul_mac1

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Joined: 17/05/2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 74

Posted: 08:14am 20 Jan 2012

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Hi Bob,
Its ok, I sold some Toasted Oak Chips on ebay, and that covered the cost of this inverter.

I'll let you know how I get on with it.

Thanks,
Paul

VK4AYQ
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Joined: 02/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2539

Posted: 10:09am 20 Jan 2012

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Hi Paul

I usually toast computer chips but haven't found a market for them yet, you should call your chips "Mackas Toasted Oak Chips" might be able to charge more with a good name.

Bob

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