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Forum Index : Solar : Chinese Inverters
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paul_mac1 Regular Member  Joined: 17/05/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 74 |
Hi All, Ive got one of those 300 watt Grid Tie Inverters off eBay, used to have it hooked up to the windmill, but now have a 220w BP Solar panel, a Wellsee 20A controller and a 24v LVD, charging 2x12v batteries (24v) hooked up to it. My question is: The inverter gets to anywhere from 50w to 200w then the red Fault light comes on, then it restarts, it does this over and over again, and sometimes it takes a while for it to restart properly as it only gets to 12-14v and its buzzing. I have changed a couple of mosfets, the power switch and the fan, but this has made no difference. Anyone know whats going on? I have tried to contact the seller but alas, no response, nothing new there from China. Cheers, Paul |
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| VK4AYQ Guru  Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Paul I find they overheat and there is a problem in the fan switching circuit, I have cut a hole in the top and fitted a 12 volt case fan on a 12 volt reg direct on the power line. I think the problem you are having is in the controller chip a little smd, it controls the fan and temp sensor with the id ground off so heavens knows what it is. From my experience if the do not work they are a throw away device as it is impossible to get any info or a circuit to repair them. Cheap and nasty with the nasty being most likely. The bigger ones are a bit better but still overheat badly. All the best Bob PS: Try a big cap across the input and try lowering the voltage a bit, as the controller shuts down if the volts go to high and that is a similar symptom to what you get. Foolin Around |
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| paul_mac1 Regular Member Joined: 17/05/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 74 |
Hi Bob, The fan is coming on and going off as it should now, I upgraded the fan, and its dragging loads of air through, my next stage is to cut a hole in the botton and install a 24v fan, and feed this from the controller load terminals, as this is a stable 24v feed. Failing that, the SWEA gti's look good, just waiting to hear from the Aussie supplier as to how much.....might still be going with the 600w power jack one yet 
There's always something to go wrong hey 
Cheers mate, Paul |
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AMUN-RA Senior Member  Joined: 10/03/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 144 |
power jack ive got one you can have only worked 3 times then goes into fault mode Every day the sun shines & gravity sucks= free energy. |
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WindyMiller Regular Member Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: United StatesPosts: 62 |
Just for the heck of it. This should be of interest regarding power jack. Inverter I haven't found one here state side? I am looking for a dead one to mess around with rebuilding it for another project. Anyone got one they don't want? I am not a expert on electronics, but I am seriously considering a career in the field and that would eventually lead me to my final thought on the manner. I plan on building a 6000 watt transformer type inverter as they are less complicated, and better for what I want to do. The Xantrex and Outback inverters are nice, but they are expensive. This is the base of what I have in mind for a transformer type inverter. Inverter 2 Although I plan on redesigning the thing extenssively, adding some things, and removing others. I know it does not make sense to build one my self, but I just really want to do such a thing for what ever reason. No good idea why though? I just love to make, build, and invent stuff. Robert |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Windy I wouldn't waste my time on a powerjack inverter as they are crap with the only redeeming factor that three in ten might keep working for a while, they have a good case and that's about it. I think you are on the right track doing a transformer one maybe not as efficient but that's debatable as i have never found a transformer less one more than 80 percent. When you make your own you can use components that you can see and make it modular, so service isn't an issue. I have a few of them in my junk box but plan to use them as a buck converter case and some of the useful components salvaged. The main problem with your project is sourcing suitable transformers. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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| WindyMiller Regular Member Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: United StatesPosts: 62 |
Bob, I plan on ordering the steel and making the transformer from scratch. This site has some good information on doing just that. Transformer Design 1 Transformer Design 2 Robert |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Rob You are certainly Keen to go from scratch with sheet metal, you may be better to look around some of the electrical disposal yards for material as cutting out a heap of laminations would be a real contract, the winding is the easy part but to get the laminations cut really meeds a die punch. You may find a torriode core manufacturer over there with some big cores. Back in the early days I wound a lot of audio and power transformers but you could buy ready made laminations and bobbins to suite that made it a lot easier. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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| WindyMiller Regular Member Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: United StatesPosts: 62 |
I would think one could still get the laminations someplace in the world? I will have to keep on the lookout for a huge transformer just for the core if nothing else. I am keen on making everything from scratch these days as there is so much crap out there that just does not cut the mustard. Inverters I have had my fair share of problems with over the last few years. Robert |
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| Warpspeed Guru Joined: 09/08/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 4406 |
I have done a fair bit of transformer design, professionally.... Two problems with a transformer inverter efficiency that need to be understood. The first one is no load losses, or magnetising current. Otherwise known as the current drawn by a transformer with no secondary load. To minimise that, you absolutely must reduce eddy current loss in the core, and have the highest possible primary inductance for the number of primary turns used. Two possible solutions, use a tape wound torroidal core (with no air gap) or at the very least, use grain oriented silicon steel and the thinner laminations these always come in. Neither are cheap material to work with, but the results will be well worth it. The grain oriented silicon steel is usually reserved for audio transformers, and other high grade applications. Any transformer winding business will have them, or can get grain oriented laminations easily enough in standard sizes. Using recovered garbage laminations from an old transformer will be extremely lossy and just not worth the effort. The second and lesser issue, is efficiency at full load. The secret there is to get as much copper as you possibly can into the window to lower the ohmic resistance as far as possible. Rectangular wire is very helpful with this when very large currents are involved. I do agree that transformer inverters are far more bullet proof and reliable, just not as efficient, particularly at very low loads. Cheers, Tony. |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Tony On the reliability they are great but the lower efficiency can be offset by the postage of sending non transformer ones back for repair or the damage caused when you throw them out and miss the rubbish bin. The potential is there to make reliable transformer-less machines but unfortunately when suffering from AIDS (acute income deficiency syndrome)our pocket subjects us to the rubbish end of the market. Perhaps a couple more solar panels to make up for loss of efficiency may be in order. Also bigger dump loads may not be necessary All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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| WindyMiller Regular Member Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: United StatesPosts: 62 |
I would think a good electric motor and transformer shop would have the laminations? I am going to contact the fella who wrote the articles I linked above and ask him were he gets his laminations? Robert |
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