[RE-wrenches] Midnite AIO Generator Functionality

Tue May 13 09:15:11 PDT 2025

Hi Michael,

When you install the A10, let us know a comparison to the Midnite Rosie. 
I would like that as I am in the same boat as you with Schneider getting 
out of offgrid. Schneider Home is even worse than the Power wall. No gen 
input and at least the Powerwall builds the cells here in Northern 
Nevada. Still no Gen input...

I forgot to add that I had to change a spark plug on the Honda once. It 
did not need it though.

Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
"we go where powerlines don't"
    [1]https://offgridsolar1.com/ [2]  [1]
e-mail  offgridsolar at sti.net
text 209 813 0060

On 2025-05-13 8:53 am, Michael Morningstar via RE-wrenches wrote:

> I've had good luck with the Victron/Discover pairing for small 
> off-gridsystems. The drawbacks are: No tech support (as far as I know), 
> requires stacking for 120/240 and more than 3kw, no conduit boxes on 
> MPPTs, lots of BOS components, and lots of comms and a familiarity with 
> the various comms cables. Also, I haven't come up with a reliable 
> solution for installing the touch screen at distance from the power 
> system. That is system in a power shed remote from the dwelling.
> 
> I've had zero issues with this pairing and it will probably be my go to 
> for awhile. We're installing our first AIO offgrid in a few days, as I 
> purchased the equipment for the project early last fall when they were 
> first released, not realizing their unsuitability for off-grid.
> 
> It's weird, I would have expected better from Midnite and wonder just 
> WHO engineered the unit?
> 
> Generators: Simple diesel genset 1st choice always or liquid cooled/low 
> RPM LPG for 20kw up, Honda eu7000is w/ LPG conversion for smaller 
> requirements
> 
> On Tue, May 13, 2025 at 7:50 AM MDElectricSolar via RE-wrenches 
> <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
> After having many many failures very prematurely with the Kohler 14 and 
> 20s I've switched to the Cummins-Onan air cooled two wires start units 
> and they have been flawless so far.
> 
> Michael D Nelson
> MD Electric & Solar, Inc.
> 707-684-0064 mobile
> 707-884-1862 office
> www.mdelectricsolar.com [3]
> www.facebook.com/mdelectricandsolar [4]
> 
> On May 13, 2025, at 7:33 AM, Mac Lewis via RE-wrenches 
> <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello Jay,
> 
> I am using Kohler 14 RCAs in Colorado.  It has the off-grid warranty 
> 18-month/1000 hr.  I have seen good results, I probably have 60-70 out 
> there now.  If you can make it through the 6 month mark, its probably 
> going to be pretty good machine (control and /or sensor failures).  I 
> have had random issues, they aren't perfect, but its the best I've come 
> across for an autostart machine that works well with elevation derate 
> here.  Very simple to troubleshoot, stepper motor, controller, not much 
> else.  Btw, Kohler sold its residential line to Rehlko recently so who 
> knows!
> 
> On Tue, May 13, 2025 at 8:21 AM Jay via RE-wrenches 
> <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
> 
> I've installed one. It works and simple
> Like the other AIOs.
> It has a different firmware/display than the 8,12 kw units which is a 
> bit frustrating.
> 
> The main drawback with the 6 is it's only 3kw per leg. It doesn't like 
> being too out of balance either. Tare loss is a bit high and the fans 
> seems to run a lot but better cooler than hotter.
> But it's less than 1/2 the price of the 8kw. It's about $1600.
> If you just bought it as a CC it'd be a great deal.
> 
> As to it not being made in China I think is nothing more than 
> simantics.
> It might now be assembled in Texas but the parts are all made in China.
> So draw your own conclusions
> 
> On May 13, 2025, at 6:10 AM, Drake Chamberlin via RE-wrenches 
> <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
> 
> Talking to Steve at Zonna about the problems with off grid equipment, 
> he recommended the EG4 6000XP as a good off grid inverter. He said they 
> are no longer made in China and are a very good product. Does anyone 
> have experience with that unit?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Drake
> 
> _Drake Chamberlin_
> 
> _Athens Electric LLC_
> 
> _Ohio Electrical Contractor's License 44810_
> 
> _NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional_
> 
> ---
> 
> On 2025-05-12 13:11, Ray Walters via RE-wrenches wrote:
> 
> So the bypass switch gets the house power on, and I too always 
> recommend a hard bypass switch. However, you still need a 48 v power 
> supply to get the battery system back up, and that's becoming a serious 
> pain in my aging backside.  Until AIOs with Li+ batteries, lead acid 
> would have enough voltage to get the charge controller to come back on, 
> and eventually the customer could get the inverter back on too.  No 
> special trip out.
> 
> We need an independent circuit that would sense array voltage, and wake 
> up the battery, so it could take a charge: a backup battery for the 
> offgrid battery.  Without that, AIOs and Li+ batteries are not self 
> healing like Lead Acid.  We are going backwards fast, but with an 
> amazing amount of new Chinese technology driving the jalopy in reverse. 
>  (Danger Will Robinson)
> 
> Ray Walters
> Remote Solar
> 
> On 5/12/2025 10:54 AM, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches wrote:
> 
> We always recommend a transfer switch to bypass the inverter and send 
> generator power to the loads. Most clients take us up on it. For 
> retrofits, sometimes there can be space limitations, however.
> 
> As for the function of the AIO, there is no integrated mechanical 
> bypass, and since there is an internal relay controlling the generator 
> input (or smart load output on that breaker), I think the default 
> function is for the relay to open when the inverter turns off. AC 
> voltage on the load side of the breaker does not close the relay and 
> turn the inverter back on automatically.
> 
> Jason Szumlanski
> Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
> NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
> Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
> Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208
> 
> On Mon, May 12, 2025 at 9:49 AM Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar via 
> RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
> 
> All sounds wrong to me. Call Midnite.
> 
> Typically there is a AC bypass mechanical switch that allows the gen to 
> bypass the inverter and power loads.
> 
> Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
> "we go where powerlines don't"
> [1]https://offgridsolar1.com/ [2]  [1]
> e-mail  offgridsolar at sti.net
> text 209 813 0060
> 
> On 2025-05-12 9:29 am, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches wrote:
> 
> Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems like there is a flaw in the 
> logic for how generator integration works with this product. Unlike 
> some of the other AIOs, you can't put the generator on the Grid input 
> in an off-grid scenario. You have to use the Generator smart load 
> breaker, which isn't a dedicated generator input, but a programmable 
> circuit. This is problematic because it seemingly has a normally open 
> internal relay that closes only when the inverter is ON. At least, 
> that's how it seems to work in my limited experience.
> 
> Why is this a problem? If the battery capacity drops below the low 
> voltage cutoff, the inverter turns off. You have to turn the inverter 
> ON for the generator relay to close so you can charge the battery, but 
> since the battery is too low, the inverter won't turn on. You would 
> have to reprogram the inverter to drop the cutoff voltage/SOC below the 
> current battery state. For people who do not want to use AGS, or if AGS 
> fails to start the generator for any reason, getting the generator to 
> charge the battery manually is no easy task.
> 
> Moreover, turning the generator on manually when the inverter is in an 
> OFF state will not pass power to the loads, and will not turn the 
> inverter ON automatically. You have to get the inverter turned ON 
> somehow so that the generator power can pass through to the loads. And 
> since the startup sequence for this inverter is very quirky, 
> non-intuitive, and unreliable, that makes the problem even worse. I'm 
> not sure if you can even turn the inverter ON when there is generator 
> input and the battery is too low. I don't think you can because the 
> relay is open and the inverter doesn't even see generator voltage when 
> it is in an OFF state.
> 
> This seems like a serious oversight and a reason to go with one of the 
> other AIOs on the market. I believe the Sol-Ark 15K and EG4 18kPV will 
> both immediately power loads and start charging when the generator is 
> on, regardless of whether the generator is connected to the Grid or 
> Generator input. Any AC input immediately passes through to the loads. 
> This is because those inverters stay "on" when a low battery condition 
> is met, and they simply stop using the battery to invert power if the 
> battery conditions do not allow it, based on the settings.
> 
> The logic of the Midnite AIOs turning "off" when battery cutoff is met 
> and opening the generator relay doesn't make sense to me. Am I wrong 
> about how this works?
> 
> Jason Szumlanski
> Principal Solar Designer
> Florida Solar Design Group
> 
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