[RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark Gen Exercise Cycle

Thu Nov 12 13:01:39 EST 2020

We’ve had the same issue.

Michael D Nelson
MD Electric & Solar, Inc.
707-684-0064 mobile
707-884-1862 office
www.mdelectricsolar.com
www.facebook.com/mdelectricandsolar

> On Nov 11, 2020, at 11:53 PM, Bill Hennessy <bill at berkssolar.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi folks--We've also been disappointed with the Sol-Ark two-wire generator start. The unit starts at the charge set point, but the inverter will shut down for about a minute every time the generator stops running. After the minute wait, the inverter restarts and everything is fine. But it is aggravating for the homeowners to be left wondering in the dark.
> 
> Sol-Ark says that when the generator shuts off, the frequency drops out of the Sol-Ark range and causes the inverter shut down. 
> They suggested we find a way to increase the generator speed to avoid the frequency drop at shutdown. This seems like a lame suggestion, since the generator has no idea of when the batteries will be satisfied--it only responds to the on/off signal from the Sol-Ark. I would think that the unit could be programmed to ignore the frequency drop when it sends the shut off signal to the generator. The system has an an Ecogen 15kW.
> 
> Not having an exercise function is also a miss. As mentioned below, the time of use can be used, but one has to go out and play with the programming to check the generator.
> 
> regards, bill
> 
> Bill Hennessy
> Berks Solar, LLC
> 371 Centennial Rd
> Mertztown, PA 19539
> 
> o 610 682 4300
> c 484 560 4666
> NABCEP certified installer
> PA contractor #44411
> www.berkssolar.com
> 
> 
> On Wednesday, November 11, 2020, 8:20:57 PM EST, Chris Sparadeo <sparadeo.chris at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Thanks for the suggestion, Jay. 
> 
> Yes, the Sol-Ark has a very basic and limited AGS for 2 wire compatible gen sets. Gen start can be programmed with voltage or SOC, however gen stop is not a function that can not be readily programmed. Instead, the Sol-Ark is programmed to charge the battery bank to 90% of  the rated Ah capacity of the battery bank before turning off the generator. You can ultimately adjust this gen stop parameter to be based on a specific SOC or voltage, but I believe that doing so requires a call into tech support. The tech I spoke with updated a setting (having to do with a TOU parameter I believe) that was not accessible via the system interface. AGS  from Schnieder, Outback and even Magnum are less clunky, but I am hoping that Sol-Ark will eventually come out with new programming to remediate these minor but nevertheless, important issues
> 
> -Chris
> 
> On Wed, Nov 11, 2020 at 3:58 PM Jay <jay.peltz at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Chris
> 
> I would install a timer. There are many dry contact dc or ac powered with a high degree of programmability. 
> 
> A question about the normal function of the AGS. I’ve talked to a few people that have mentioned that the ags has its own fuzzy logic, with limited programming. And they have had issues with it not turning on or not turning off 
> 
> What do you say?
> 
> Jay
> 
>>> On Nov 11, 2020, at 10:43 AM, Glenn Burt <Glenn.burt at glbcc.com> wrote:
>>> 
>> 
>> I believe the Atkinson GSCM could be used to do this.
>> 
>> -Glenn
>> Sent from my 'smart'phone, so please excuse typos and spelling errors.
>> 
>> ------ Original message------
>> From: Chris Sparadeo
>> Date: Wed, Nov 11, 2020 11:16 AM
>> To: RE-wrenches;
>> Cc:
>> Subject:[RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark Gen Exercise Cycle
>> 
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> According to Sol-Ark tech support, they do not currently have a programmable exercise cycle for
>> its two-wire start function. When paired with a generator like a Generac Ecogen (exercise cycle is automatically disabled when configured with two wire start) this means that the only way to effectively run an exercise cycle on your generator would be to do it manually. I am wondering if anyone has run into this issue and if there are work arounds? Kind of a bummer and my first and only negative experience with Sol-Ark thus far. 
>> 
>> Kindly,
>> 
>> Chris Sparadeo 
>> -- 
>> Chris Sparadeo
>> 
>> 
>> C_802-369-4458
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> 
> -- 
> Chris Sparadeo
> 
> 
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