<div><div dir="auto">Hi Jeff,</div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Kind of an odd suggestion, but what if you try the following:</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Install a 240v to 120v auto transformer (like the Outback PSX 240) and have the grid feed your 240v input and then either split your 120v output into 2 conductors for 240v or transform from 120 back to 240v. This may help take some of the wonky voltage right down to a constant output voltage. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I\u2019ve never tried this, but sounds crazy enough to work. </div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 3:02 PM Jeff Clearwater <<a href="mailto:jeffc@villagepowerdesign.com">jeffc@villagepowerdesign.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
Good Day Esteemed Wrenchers,<br>
<br>
So we are doing more work in developing countries where the grid is
super unreliable but on for some hours almost daily.<br>
<br>
So let's say we have a grid that's on 9 AM - 11 AM and 4 PM - 7 PM each
day but often browns-out during those hours and comes on and off during
those hours. 230 VAC voltage can drop to 160-180 periodically or go
above 260 in spikes.<br>
<br>
The present practice in many of these situations is for battery based
system designers/installers is to set up an off-grid system in parallel
to the mains but not relying on them - so the grid AC IN is not
connected. They just install a transfer switch and manually switch or
they wire a critical loads panel to the solar.<br>
<br>
This avoids constant switching and nuisance shut-downs from the battery
inverter and protects it from burning out trying to handle the grid.<br>
<br>
<span style="font-weight:bold">MY QUESTION:</span><br>
<br>
I'm wondering what we can do to use the grid when it is up for
opportunity charging of the batteries while at the same time not
subjecting our nice new battery inverters to constant brown-out tripping
and possibly long term damage.<br>
<br>
<span style="font-weight:bold">So question #1 </span>- Is anyone
using existing battery inverters but succesfully navigating such a grid
variablity settings such that you are able to take advantage of the grid
even if browning out often?<br>
<br>
<span style="font-weight:bold">or question #2</span> - Can we add
some sort of high Voltage and Frequency tolerant battery charger to the
system - keep the battery inverter/charger off grid - but charge the
batteries from something able to handle the wonky grid without
constantly nuisance charging or burning itself up?<br>
<br>
Your thoughts and wisdom I await!!!<br>
<br>
Best,<br>
<br>
Jeff<br>
<br>
<br>
<div>-- <br><span>~~~~~~~~~~~<br>
</span>
<div>
<span>Jeff Clearwater</span><span><span><br>
</span>Village Power Design<br>
</span><span><span><span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-clearwater-0622a312/" target="_blank">linkedin</a>
</span></span></span><br>
<span><span><a href="http://www.villagepowerdesign.com" target="_blank">www.villagepowerdesign.com</a></span><br>
cell - <span style="display:inline;font-size:inherit;padding:0px;color:rgb(80,80,80)">413-559-9763<br>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></span></div>
<span><span style="display:inline;font-size:inherit;padding:0px;color:rgb(80,80,80)"></span></span></div>
</div>
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</blockquote></div></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div>Chris Sparadeo</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>C_802-369-4458</div><div>H_802-728-3059</div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>