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Forum Index : Solar : Inverter help please
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| curiosity Newbie  Joined: 04/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 31 |
Allan, Yes it has a presscontrol and that was that part that burnt out. I din't pay for the repairs (my sister did) but I doubt it was cheap as the pump itself was not an "L cheap O" It was supplied by a plumber who did some gas and water work for us. The pump would not have had 10hrs run time. I guess my sister thinks it's a problem 
I can measure voltage under load and at different times. I had planed to over Easter when I will be there for a few days but frequency might be a different matter. I'm guessing I would need an oscilloscope for that? I think there actually is one at the farm but I have no idea if it is the right instrument for the job, nor do I know how to use it. Our father made it for something but I have no idea what for  Wish I could help myself a bit more and give you more info
Building the parts from china wouldn't fit into my time frame as they would arrive well after I return. I may not get there again till xmas and I'm wanting to get things on the move |
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| windlight Guru  Joined: 03/03/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 331 |
Justin, presscontrols were all made by White Industries originally then re-branded by pump makers, however China has copied them and seem to have done a good job. It is the generator voltage at the time you connect the pump that is critical, anything above 255V I would not plug mine in. To be sure no load voltage should be 250V, anything above that indicates the revs are too high or excitation problems as previously described. An oscilloscope is not the answer, have you a laser rev counter, available from your friendly tool store? one of those a small piece of reflective tape on the motor or generator shaft will suffice, 3000 RPM = 50 HZ. Or indeed a contact type rev counter on the end of the generator. Allan "I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" - (Act II, Scene IV). |
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| curiosity Newbie Joined: 04/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 31 |
yeah work has a tape type rev counter. I'll try that My brother tends to think it's hz rather than voltage but voltage is easy to check so I'll do that first. We do however need to ensure the generator is a pure sine wave as the inverter manual specifies |
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| windlight Guru Joined: 03/03/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 331 |
Hz is not as important to sensitive loads as voltage, water pumps are not sensitive loads, and it will be a sine wave, but do get the data off the generator. In the days of video recorders I ran mine off the generator once and the display did not like it, but came good back on the mains. The manual also tells you to hook 5 X 12V batteries in series for 48V remember, I recon those Chinese loose things in translation, they probably mean an AC generator. Allan "I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" - (Act II, Scene IV). |
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| curiosity Newbie Joined: 04/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 31 |
good point |
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| curiosity Newbie Joined: 04/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 31 |
My brother found this and I was hoping some of our gurus would look it over and comment on it 2012-04-05_173115_1KW&3KW-48DCVto240ACV_inverter.pdf |
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| curiosity Newbie Joined: 04/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 31 |
Checked voltage on the generator. It ran at 225v on start up for a second or so and 233v fairly constant while running our pump. The generator is a dunlite 4.8kva with honda motor, serial number 0007160. The pump has died again after half a dozen on/off cycles |
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| windlight Guru Joined: 03/03/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 331 |
Take the cover off the front of the controller and tell me if it smells or looks burnt. Allan "I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" - (Act II, Scene IV). |
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| curiosity Newbie Joined: 04/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 31 |
Sure does smell burnt.. I did some more testing with a 1200w fan/heater i found in the cupboard. Wish I had the brains to look around and try it fist cos it wont burn out like that. Running it was 216v. At switch off we got a spike of 257v. DOH. Think we've found a problem. I understand anything below 220v is no good. |
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| windlight Guru Joined: 03/03/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 331 |
Your pump would not have pulled the volts down quite as far as the heater did but there is nothing wrong with the voltages you have recorded. The water pump will not be harmed by 220V or even 200v it will be down on performance but.... Is that presscontrol still under warranty? If it was mine I would convert it to a pressure switch and small pressure tank, pumps with presscontrols should be used with a surge diverter just like F&P washing machines should. Since it smells that is normally caused by over voltage, I will take a pic of the control board later. My petrol generator is a Dunlight and I have had it for a good 20 years, run all sorts of things off it, in my experience they are as good as any of them, it should be suitable for use with the original inverter you posted about. Allan "I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" - (Act II, Scene IV). |
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| windlight Guru Joined: 03/03/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 331 |
Pics of presscontrol, in the pic of the control board the capacitor is the grey oblong upper central and the dropping resistor is the blue one mounted vertical to the right of the capacitor. 
If either or both those are burnt it is usually high voltage, if you have any chance of warranty don't remove the three speedy nuts to reveal the control board, they frequently break of the plastic stud. "I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" - (Act II, Scene IV). |
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| curiosity Newbie Joined: 04/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 31 |
fair enough. my work electrician was the one who said anything below 220 was no good. Our pump is exactly the same presscontrol as the one above. I haven't taken the nuts off to check the resistor or capacitor as yet but I rang my sister and she doubts we would get any warranty as the last one was melted so I'll give it a go |
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| windlight Guru Joined: 03/03/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 331 |
I mention those voltages in reference to them not harming the controller, your electrician is correct for normal operation. If you are trying for warranty avoid mentioning it running off a generator, not that it is a problem but it may harm your case if you do so. Allan "I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" - (Act II, Scene IV). |
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| curiosity Newbie Joined: 04/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 31 |
think they may remember me from less than a week ago somehow anyway. I picked it up. I'd say we may change tack.
So would hooking our generator up to that inverter still damage appliances and possibly the inverter? |
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| windlight Guru Joined: 03/03/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 331 |
Justin I can not say categorically that your generator will not harm your proposed inverter, I suggest you have a workshop check it out, I don't believe it will but......... The inverters I have had dealings with sample the incoming power for acceptable voltage and frequency before synchronizing to that power then they close the contactor. Were you able to try a digital clock on that generator? If you are not going for warranty then take the three speed nuts off the circuit board cover and as before, if that capacitor and resistor are chard then it is an over voltage problem. With the pump plugged into the generator the control board is still receiving power even when the pump motor is off. Was the generator powering any other load when the pump failed or just the pump? You could always use an inverter and a separate charger Allan "I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" - (Act II, Scene IV). |
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| curiosity Newbie Joined: 04/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 31 |
Just the pump was being used when it failed. Looks like the resistor was never soldered in properly. I've soldered it back and it's all go for the moment but i'm not game to use it |
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| windlight Guru Joined: 03/03/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 331 |
So there is no evidence of charring/ "I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" - (Act II, Scene IV). |
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| curiosity Newbie Joined: 04/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 31 |
nope. just the resistor was not connected. I doubt it was ever through the board as it should have been |
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| TronicSavyyJohn Newbie Joined: 31/03/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 20 |
I found a site selling 8ZED Inverters, Anyone using these? They are selling the huge 5000W Pure sine wave cheap. Also whats the difference between inverter and the solar charger inverter. |
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| windlight Guru Joined: 03/03/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 331 |
8ZED I have never heard of them until you mentioned them but looking on the inverter shop site they will probably work like any cheep inverter. Using 5Kw off 12 V is not advisable, in round figures that's 400 amps @ 5 Kw with an 800A surge, the picture of the cables and lugs is more in keeping with a 500W unit (probably a generic picture). Quote from mentioned web site. All 8ZED Power Inverters come with a 1 Year Replacement Warranty and carry the required C-Tick labeling to indicate compliance with Australian regulations. This quiet running, robust and reliable 5000W 12V DC to 240V AC Pure Sine Wave power inverter connects standard Australian 3 pin electrical devices of up to 5000 Watts to a 12volt cigarette lighter socket or battery. With the 8ZED 12V 5000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter you can quickly and easily power a whole range of household appliances, anywhere, anytime. The 8ZED 5000 Watt True Sine Wave Power Inverters can be used anywhere you can take your vehicle. This nicely compact unit is suitable for storing inside your glove box or under your seat. Ideal for people on the move, who require a mobile office or are involved in outdoor work. Say what!!!!!!!!!! Now I am worried a 5Kw inverter in the glove box, stated operating temperatures -10 to 40Deg C, guess it depends where you are in OZ but hardly made for rugged Australian conditions. Difference between inverter and solar inverter, well here Google is your friend, but simply an inverter takes DC and makes AC, an inverter charger takes DC and makes AC plus has a built in charger that can charge your batteries from an external AC source. Grid connect inverters take Dc and make AC but (hopefully) have approval and circuitry to back feed the grid. Solar inverters fall into the category of DC to AC grid connect a range mostly for urban elf's. Some of it a play on words, bit like rolling your own smokes. Scratching the surface a bit harder it seems they are imported by an on line reseller business called WallCann , I pods, hair curlers etc oh and inverters. All in all see opening statement. Allan "I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" - (Act II, Scene IV). |
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