Programación del inversor

Ejemplo de inversor/cargador programable con pantalla LCD y botones.

Los inversores autónomos más simples se basan en la configuración de fábrica y no permiten ninguna programación. La función de muchos inversores autónomos estándar es simplemente convertir entre CC y CA; no se requiere mucha capacidad de ajuste. A medida que los inversores se vuelven más complicados y comienzan a la opción de incorporar un generador como una fuente de carga y plataformas de monitoreo y comunicaciones para una mejor gestión del sistema, las opciones de programación se complican rápidamente.

Para programar un inversor es necesario tener a mano manuales para el inversor y cualquier otro componente principal (comunicaciones/monitorización, generador).

Configuración básica

• Interruptor de baja tensión: Se puede configurar un inversor para que deje de invertir automáticamente si la tensión del sistema de almacenamiento de energía alcanza un cierto valor mínimo para protegerlo de descargas profundidas que pueden reducir en gran medida su vida útil. Normalmente se establece en alrededor del 20% del estado de carga (SOC) para baterías de plomo-ácido. También es posible establecer el valor en el que el inversor comienza a funcionar nuevamente para darle al banco de baterías tiempo suficiente para recargarse; se recomienda un valor superior al 20% de SOC para baterías de plomo-ácido.

Inversor/cargador

Un inversor/cargador que usará un generador como una fuente de carga requiere mucha más programación ya que funciona como un controlador de carga también. Esto significa que debe configurarse para cargar correctamente el sistema de almacenamiento de energía específico al que se conectará. Además, muchos inversores/cargadores ofrecerán la función de arranque automático de generador (AGS) para arrancar el generador según lo programado.

• Inverter battery charging set points: These are the set points that will control how the charger moves between different charging phases. The same values that were used for charge controller programming can be used here. These values are found in the battery manual.

• Maximum charge rate: This is the maximum amount of current that the charger will supply to charge the battery bank. The same value that was used for charge controller programming can be used. This value is found in the battery manual.

• Maximum AC input current: This is the maximum amount of current that the inverter will use from a generator to supply loads and charge the battery bank. This value is determined by choosing the smaller of the two following variables:

1. The overcurrent current protection device (OCPD) rating.
2. The maximum continuous duty current rating of the generator.

Auto start settings

Every inverter/charger will have specific programming and setup that is required. This will be detailed in the manual. There are various important parameters that are common to many different inverter chargers that require careful consideration to ensure a system that functions harmoniously.

• Auto-start voltage: A charger can be set to start the generator automatically when the voltage of the battery bank reaches a certain point for a certain period of time. The period of time is important to avoid the generator automatically starting as battery voltage dips due to large loads and to allow the [[Special:MyLanguage/PV module|PV source to perform its role. The appropriate time and voltage values for a system depends upon the loads that the system supplies, the size of the PV source, the size of the Energy storage system and the size of the generator. The goal is to choose values that minimize generator run-time, but prolong battery bank longevity by reducing deep discharges.

• Auto state of charge start: A charger can be set to start the generator when the state of charge reaches a certain value. The system must have a shunt integrated for this to work. Starting a generator based upon the state of charge rather than voltage or current demand can have advantages as the generator will not be started if the battery bank voltage drops temporarily for a brief period due to large loads.

• Auto-load start: A charger can be set to start the generator automatically when the current required by loads exceeds a certain value to protect the battery bank from deep discharges. If this setting is to be used, it is important to make sure that a value is chosen that will not lead to the generator starting needlessly for brief periods of high current demand. It can be useful to automatically start the generator to run period large loads like well-pumps.

• Total run time: A charger can be set to automatically turn off the generator after a certain amount of time. This can be important to protect the generator from damage or excessive consumption of fuel. If the battery bank suffers a failure that leads to a chronically low voltage reading, a charger that does not have a run-time limit will keep the generator running indefinitely.

• Generator exercise schedule: A charger can be set to automatically start the generator and run it for a set period of time on a programmed schedule as a form of maintenance. Periodically running a generator is good to ensure that it has a long life.