INVERTER SETTINGS FOR RENTECH

LITHIUM IRON PHOSPHATE (LFP) BATTERIES

SETTINGS FOR 48V

DESCRIPTION PRGM Oryx 5K-48 PRGM Axpert VMII 5K-48 PRGM INFINISOLAR V 5K-48
Output source priority: 01 SUb: Solar; Then Utility; 01 SbU: Solar; Then Battery; 01 SUb: Solar; Then Utility;
How is the load powered? Then Battery Then Utility Then Battery
SbU: Solar; Then Battery; Utl: Utility; Then Solar and SbU: Solar; Then Battery;
Then Utility Battery Then Utility
USb: Utility; Then Solar and SOL: Solar; Then Battery;
Battery Then Utility
NB: SUb works like a UPS mode and NB: No destinction between Solar NB: SUb works like a UPS mode and
will save Battery for load shedding and Battery. You can’t save Battery will save Battery for load shedding
while SbU does not for load shedding like a UPS mode. while SbU does not
In SbU and SOL modes the battery
WILL discharge to the value set
in program 12 even when Utility is
available
Solar supply priority N/A N/A N/A N/A 05 bLU: Battery; Then Load
LbU: Load; Then Battery
User preference
Battery type 05 BAK: Rentech LFP 05 USE: User defined 14 USE: User defined
AGn: AGM (default) AGn: AGM (default) AGn: AGM (default).
FLd: Flooded FLd: Flooded FLd: Flooded
Voltage point back to 12 48 12 48 20 48
uitility when in battery
discharge mode
Voltage point back to 13 55 13 55 21 55
battery when on utility
charge
Charger source priority 16 SbL: Solar for Battery first 16 CSO: Solar; Then Utility 10 CSO: Solar; Then Utility
- UCB: Allow Utility to charge SNU: Solar and Utility SNU: Solar and Utility
battery OSO: Only Solar OSO: Only Solar
SbL: Solar for Battery first CUE: Utility; Then Solar
- UdC: Disallow Utility to charge
battery
SLb: Solar energy for load first
- UCb: Allow Utility to charge
battery
SLb: Solar energy for load first
- UdC: Disallow utility to charge
battery
Bulk charge volt 26 55,2 26 55,2 17 55,2
Float charge 27 55,2 27 55,2 18 55,2
Low DC cut-off 29 46; Min. 45 with light loads 29 46; Min. 45 with light loads 19 46; Min. 45 with light loads
Battery equalization 30 Disable, default 30 Disable, default 30 Disable, default
Solar or battery energy N/A N/A N/A N/A 09 Gfd: Disable
feed to grid GfE: Enable
NB: Not fully NRS097 compliant
SETTINGS FOR 24V
DESCRIPTION PRGM Axpert VM3000-24 PRGM Jaguar 2.4K-24 PWM
Output source priority: 01 SbU: Solar; Then Battery; Then Utility 01 SbU: Solar; Then Battery; Then Utility
How is the load powered? Utl: Utility; Then Solar and Battery Utl: Utility; Then Solar and Battery
SOL: Solar; Then Battery; Then Utility SOL: Solar; Then Battery; Then Utility
NB: No destinction between Solar and Battery. You can’t NB: No destinction between Solar and Battery. You can’t
save Battery for load shedding like a UPS mode. In SbU save Battery for load shedding like a UPS mode. In SbU
and SOL modes the battery WILL discharge to the value and SOL modes the battery WILL discharge to the value
set in program 12 even when Utility is available set in program 12 even when Utility is available

Solar supply priority N/A N/A N/A N/A

Battery type 05 USE: User defined 05 USE: User defined
AGn: AGM (default) AGn: AGM (default)
FLd: Flooded FLd: Flooded
Voltage point back to 12 24 12 24
uitility when in battery
discharge mode
Voltage point back to 13 27 13 27
battery when on utility
charge
Charger source priority 16 CSO: Solar; Then Utility 16 CSO: Solar; Then Utility
SNU: Solar and Utility SNU: Solar and Utility
OSO: Only Solar OSO: Only Solar
CUt: Utility; Then Solar CUt: Utility; Then Solar
Bulk charge volt 26 27,6 26 27,6
Float charge 27 27,6 27 27,6
Low DC cut-off 29 23 29 23
Battery equalization 30 Disable, default 30 Disable, default
Solar or battery energy N/A N/A N/A N/A
feed to grid

NOTES ON BATTERY ENERGY USAGE AND OPERATING VOLTAGE RANGE

The Oryx, InfiniSolar and King inverters has a “SUb” mode in program 01 which distinguishes between Solar energy and Battery energy. This
works like a “UPS”: Only uses Battery energy when Utility is not available.
Advantage: This saves all available battery energy for Utility failures or load shedding.
Disadvantage: Once Battery is fully charged, excess Solar energy (more than load) is not used and you don’t use your PVA array optimally.
(Unless you can export into the grid.)

All the other inverters do not distinguish between Solar energy and Battery energy and will discharge the Battery to the end of discharge (EOD
or LVD) voltage set in program 12.
Advantage: All Solar energy goes into load or Battery; Optimal use of PV array.
Disadvantages: You might hit load shedding with a partially charged battery and be stuck without power if Solar and Battery energy is
insufficient. You always cycle your Batteries and therfore reduce the life span in terms of years.
Effect of values in programs 12 and 13:
“Normal” operating voltage range: SbU and SOL modes
100% SOC Even with Utility power available, the Battery energy will be used to supplement Solar energy when
Day Night Day
Float voltage 55.2V necessary. With no Solar energy available, the Battery will discharge until the “Back to Utility” setting. If
Back to battery 55V
one looks at athe total discharge periods in the graph, it’s ~ 2.2 full battery capacity cycles.
Charge
Charge from solar
from solar
Charge
For a LFP battery, this equates to ~2.2 cycles of its life time and the partial state of charge (PSOC)
from utility during cycles is tolerable.
Battery energy
Back to utility 46V
BMS EOD/LVD 44V Safety margin
However, for a Lead-acid battery, every cycle regardles of depth counts as a cycle:
~80% SOC 6 cycles; And PSOC further reduces battery life.
Time

Reducing battery DOD while utility power is available “to save battery capacity in case of load shedding”
You might be tempted to set the “Back to Utility” voltage high in order to save battery capacity in case
100% SOC load shedding strikes. E.g. to ~52V which is approximately 20% DOD down to 80% SOC. Although in
Day Night Day
Float voltage 55.2V principal okay for LFP batteries, this is bad for lead-acid batteries.
Back to battery 55V

The total battery energy throughput is the same as in the first graph above, but note how many more
Back to utility 52V
small cycles there are. For a LFP battery, this still equates to ~2.2 cycles of its life time and the many
~77% SOC
(20% DOD to 80% SOC is partial state of charge (PSOC) during cycles is less tolerable and might affect battery life at these
normal for standby applications for
lead-acid batteries)
operating voltages(***).
BMS EOD/LVD 44V
~80% SOC However, for a Lead-acid battery, every cycle regardless of depth counts as a cycle: 13 cycles; And
PSOC further severely reduces battery life. Depending on you installed battery capacity vs. battery
Time
energy required to service loads, rather stick to 50% to 60% DOD for cyclic use of lead-acid batteries. It
is unfortunately not possible to avoid PSOC operation with solar panels unless the inverter has a “SUb”
(***)Note regarding PSOC usage of LFP batteries program option for “UPS” type mode.

55.2V Day Night Day

Float voltage 53V ~84% SOC

Back to battery 52.5V

If your installed LFP battery capacity is larger than your battery energy needs, you can consider using it
Charge
Charge from solar more like an electric vehicle battery which operates mostly in PSOC mode but with an operating voltage
from solar
Charge range well within the maximum and minimum battery votage levels. This ought to extend battery life
from utility
Back to utility 49.5V Battery energy significantly.
~40% SOC

BMS EOD/LVD 44V

Time

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Tel: +27 11 776 4300
140 North Reef Road, Elandsfontein 1429