What is Hybrid Solar PCU/Hybrid Solar Inverter/UPS
Solar Hybrid PCU is called Solar Power Conditioning Unit that works on Grid power & Solar power along with the battery to store the Energy from the grid power & the solar power, gives backup power in case of a power failure, uses Solar Energy to run the load on the Grid, Solar, Battery and create a balance of power.
Su-vastika Solar Hybrid PCU 5500 MPPT has a feature where the battery charging is done through Solar Energy, and once the battery is charged, it shifts the emphasis from Grid to Solar energy and saves the power bills. It comes with Inbuilt Solar Charge Controller based on MPPT technology. So in layperson’s terms, Solar Hybrid PCU is a Solar System which provides power to the house and office in case of a power failure, and it saves the power bill by running the loads on the Solar power even when the grid power is available.
Solar Hybrid PCU is required in areas with a Grid, but power cuts or outages also occur. Solar Grid feed system does not have storage, so this Solar PCU provides power in case of Power failures or power cuts. These are called Stand Alone Inverters also.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_inverter
Solar Hybrid PCU with a Brain
What is a MPPT Solar Charge Controller?
The Solar charge controller is the device that helps charge the battery through the solar panels. This device is important for charging the battery through Solar panels and is called a solar charger or solar charge controller.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_charger
The MPPT or Maximum Power Point Tracking Charge controller has complex circuitry, which increases the Current coming from the solar panels and increases the efficiency of the solar panel, which is lost in the PWM charge controller. Maximum power point tracking – Wikipedia
The MPPT tracks the voltage and Current from the solar panel to determine when the maximum power occurs to extract full control. The MPPT then adjusts the voltage to the battery to optimize the charging. This results in a maximum power transfer from the solar module to the battery. The MPPT charge controllers are 30% more efficient than the PWM-based ones.
How Hybrid Solar PCU/Hybrid Solar Inverter/UPS works?
Su-vastika Solar PCU 5500 MPPT has three parts (1) MPPT Solar charge controller, (2) An Inverter/UPS having the grid charger, (3) Battery to store the Energy from the grid and Solar Panels.
When Solar power is available, the solar panels charge the battery. Once the battery is fully charged, the power shifts to the Solar PCU; it cuts the Grid power and supplies it through the Solar Panels and battery to save electricity or power bills. So these Standalone Inverters can save power bills and provide backup power through Solar and battery energy.
Su-vastika Solar Hybrid PCU 5500 MPPT/Solar Hybrid Off-grid UPS has a 48V battery System, which mean it works on two nos of 12 Volt Tubular batteries.
Working of Su-vastika Solar PCU is explained in different scenarios as under:-
SCENARIO 1- When Grid power is not available and only Solar power is available.
Under scenario, when grid power fails and only solar energy is available, the solar energy will charge the battery and power the home/ office, and there will be two conditions.
- If the Load of the house is more than the Solar power available, then the house load will be run by Solar power and battery power.
- If the house load is less than the solar power, solar energy will run the Load and charge the battery.
SCENARIO 2- When only Grid power is available and no solar Power is available
Under scenario when only Grid power is available and no solar power is available, this can be the case at night or on rainy days when no sun is available. Then this is called night mode, where the battery will be charged as is done in a normal Inverter and UPS, and grid power will be passed to run the load, and in case of power failure, the battery will be used to run the load.
SCENARIO 3- When Grid and Solar Both are available.
Under scenario when Solar power and Grid power are available, the battery will be charged through the Solar panels only if enough solar energy is available.
For example, if the Tubular Lead Acid battery is of 150 Ah capacity and we need to charge it with the 15Amp Charging current and if that power is available from the Solar power, then the grid will not charge the battery. But if the Solar energy is less than that power, then grid power will also share the Charging with the solar energy. So let us assume that solar energy is only 10 Amps available. The Solar PCU will sense that and Grid Power will be 5 Amps which will share with the Solar energy to charge the battery with proper charging current so that the battery is charged in time. This feature is called the Charge Sharing feature in the Solar PCU.
This is a very important feature where Solar power is the priority to charge the battery, and only in case solar power is not enough or not available is only the battery charged through the grid power. Read more https://suvastika.com/what-is-hybrid-solar-pcu-solar-hybrid-off-grid-system/#:~:text=A%20hybrid%20solar%20PCU%20system,panels%20and%20the%20grid%20power.
Under scenario, when the battery is fully charged, and Both Solar and grid power are available, our Solar PCU cuts the Grid Power, runs the load on the battery & solar energy to save the power bill and utilize the solar power to its maximum potential.
This feature is very tricky as few of the PCU keep charging the battery and don’t shift to solar and battery power wherein the customer’s power bill increases even after installing the Solar PCU or Solar Hybrid Offgrid System as the solar PCU will stop after charging the battery and solar energy is being wasted.
Su-vastika Solar PCU will run the load till the battery reaches a certain settable threshold limit so that in case of power failure there is enough battery energy available. So this threshold battery voltage is settable and can be set by the user according to his needs, as the battery will be discharged beyond that threshold level. The Solar PCU will shift to the grid power and start charging the battery. This feature is very important to understand by the user as different settings are available in our solar PCU, which can be understood in our Bluetooth or Wi-Fi range of solar PCU and can be set through the mobile application.
Under this scenario also, there will be two conditions:
- If the house load is less than the solar power available, then the solar will charge the battery and run the house load, which will run the load for a longer time.
- If the load is more than the Solar power available, than the load will be run on the Solar as well battery power which will work for a lesser period and after a certain battery voltage again will switch to the grid power automatically.
SCENARIO 4- When Battery is fully charged and Grid is cut off
SCENARIO 5- When the battery is fully charged and Both Grid & Solar power are available.
Under scenario, when the battery is fully charged, and Both Solar and grid power are available, our Solar PCU cuts the Grid Power, runs the load on the battery & solar energy to save the power bill and utilize the solar power to its maximum potential.
This feature is very tricky as few of the PCU keep charging the battery and don’t shift to solar and battery power wherein the customer’s power bill increases even after installing the Solar PCU or Solar Hybrid Offgrid System as the solar PCU will stop after charging the battery and solar energy is being wasted.
Su-vastika Solar PCU will run the load till the battery reaches a certain settable threshold limit so that in case of power failure there is enough battery energy available. So this threshold battery voltage is settable and can be set by the user according to his needs, as the battery will be discharged beyond that threshold level. The Solar PCU will shift to the grid power and start charging the battery. This feature is very important to understand by the user as different settings are available in our solar PCU, which can be understood in our Bluetooth or Wi-Fi range of solar PCU and can be set through the mobile application.
Under this scenario also, there will be two conditions:
- If the house load is less than the solar power available, then the solar will charge the battery and run the house load, which will run the load for a longer time.
- If the load is more than the Solar power available, than the load will be run on the Solar as well battery power which will work for a lesser period and after a certain battery voltage again will switch to the grid power automatically.
SOLAR PANEL SIZING SELECTION
This is a diagram of solar panel installation. Read more for solar panel selection as per battery voltage.https://suvastika.com/how-to-match-the-solar-panel-voltages-and-battery-voltage-in-solar-hybrid-pcu/
MODES OF WORKING OF SOLAR HYBRID PCU 5500 MPPT
Intelligent Solar Charge Controller
The Inbuilt MPPT Solar Charge Controller manages the solar power to charge the battery. Once the battery is charged, it gives the power to the Inverter/UPS to run the household/office loads with the help of the battery.
Hence, the charge controller charges the battery and grid power runs the Load. Once the battery is fully charged and the grid power is available, the charge controller uses this solar energy to run the Load of the house. Solar PCU cuts the Grid power and feeds the Load through the Solar and battery power.https://suvastika.com/whats-pwm-solar-charge-controller/
Smart AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulation)
Frequent voltage and frequency fluctuations in households are common occurrences. The moment voltage supply goes down below a certain level, we observe the speed of fans going slow, the blub light dimming, or the tube light blinking frequently. This is called a Low Voltage supply. Also, there are occasions when the voltage jumps high. We all may have observed that as we switch the bulb on, it goes off and gets fused as it cannot withstand a High Voltage spike.
With Smart Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) feature in Su-vastika Solar Hybrid PCU when your mains supply voltage fluctuates (rises or drops beyond the Safe Voltage range), Solar Hybrid PCU seamlessly switches to the battery power, ensuring a safe power supply to all your appliances.
Intelligently changing between mains and backup.
Traditional inverters have higher switching time. This means your appliances will reset during changeover between mains to backup.
Su-vastika Solar Hybrod PCU is blazingly fast. It automatically detects a power-cut or voltage fluctuation and switches to its backup mode in milliseconds. So you and your appliances won’t even get to know there was a power-cut. This means your computer, Wi-Fi, and other critical equipment can run uninterrupted without resetting.
Because who likes to stop?
Fast Switching
Pure Sine Wave Technology
Our Solar Hybrid PCU is based on Pure Sinewave technology when it switches to the Inverter or battery mode.
Soft Start Feature
FEATURES OF SOLAR HYBRID PCU 5500 MPPT
Ability to control wirelessly (Optional)
Su-vastika has developed Bluetooth and WiFi app for all its Inverters/UPS/Home UPS/ Solar Hybrid PCU/ERD/ESS that helps to monitor and control UPS through Mobile app or direct PC and loaded with the patented software.
This feature offers many advantages over regular Inverters/UPS.
- Ease of installation
- Remote monitoring
- Real-time data
- Digital Warranty
- Voltage and frequency
- Shows charging percentage of the battery
Compatible with Lifepo4 Battery
One can buy a Lithium Ion Phosphate LifePO4 battery and install it with our Solar hybrid PCU without making any changes. We have changed the charging software along with the limits of Low battery and boost voltage according to the lithium battery. In our Bluetooth-based Solar Hybrid PCU, the user can select the switch on the mobile application and make the changes very easily. In the mobile application, there is a provision for seeing which battery you have selected so the user doesn’t change the settings by mistake. Otherwise, there may be a problem with the charging profile.
Su-vastika Solar Hybrid PCU has Built-in Isolation Transformer also called galvanic isolation, implies that no direct path exists for the current to flow from the source to the load. An isolation transformer provides isolation between the electrical devices and the source powering these devices. In other words, the output power circuit is electrically and physically isolated from the input power circuit with an isolation transformer. As a result, the isolation transformer provides safety to the users and the appliances. This feature protects our Solar PCU in case of High and Low voltages and spikes and surges in the areas where the power is fluctuating or where the power is not very stable. Most areas have a weak neutral, and the High frequency based Solar PCUs can’t withstand this condition. In our Solar PCU, the ruggedness in the dusty environment, power variations, etc., can be handled because of this well-designed Isolation transformer.
Isolation Transformer
Bi-Directional Technology
Su-vastika’s Solar Hybrid PCU works on Revolutionary Bi-directional technology. A Bi-directional technology is a technology that allows for two-way charging due to its ability of two-way conversion—from AC to DC and from DC to AC. A Bi-directional technology uses the same MPPT based MOSFET (metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor) circuit to charge and discharge the battery.
Safe voltage range (Brain with a Muscle)
When there is a sudden high voltage spike, home’s MCB might not be able to protect the appliances, but Su-vastika Solar Hybrid PCU will.
It will rapidly switch from the mains to the battery. In fact, Solar Hybrid PCU can take up to 2.5x its load capacity, supporting your entire load during that high voltage spike. It then intelligently reminds you to turn off the extra appliances, so that the load can be reduced.
Advanced Protection
Short circuits are very common in homes. Therefore every household is equipped with an MCB or Main fuse. However, these can be slow and inefficient at protecting your appliances from damage.
We know how much you love your appliances. Therefore, we have designed Solar Hybrid PCU to add a smart layer of protection to them. It has an inbuilt Special MCB, which trips and protects all your appliances even before the traditional MCB can respond.
Charging Selection
There are multiple types of Batteries available in the market, which have advantages and disadvantages, and accordingly, we charge them based on their characteristics.
For example, if we have to charge a Tubular Lead Acid battery, we have to take a minimum of 10 hours before we completely charge it. If we try to charge faster, these Batteries will be short-lived and need frequent water topping will be required. If we have to charge the Valve Regulated Lead Acid Batteries (VRLA), which are called sealed Maintenance Free batteries, they need to be charged in 6 to 8 hours, and if we try to charge them faster than that, their life is also reduced. In the case of Lithium Batteries, we can charge them in 2 to 4 hours, and they have a life cycle nearly 5 times that of Lead Acid Batteries. It’s very important how the charger of a UPS is designed to take care of the battery as the life of the battery will majorly dependent on the charger technology. Our Solar PCU has a charging capacity of 15 Amp, which can charge the 150 Ah battery in 10 hours. So the charger size is very important to check before buying any UPS.
The next parameter is how the charging is done. Is it flat charging, or it’s done in stages? In Lead Acid battery, charging must be fast until 80 per cent of the charge. Still, the rest, 20 per cent, needs little slow charging because the water is hot inside the battery when we are charging it, so we need to follow a pattern by which we reduce the heating when we are charging it so that water doesn’t evaporate and the more we control the heating inside the battery life of the battery is increased.
Adaptive Performance using ATC
Su-vastika Solar Hybrid PCU is designed for rough weather conditions. It has an ambient sensor and antenna placed. With advanced Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC) built right into the microprocessor, Su-vastika Solar Hybrid PCU senses the temperature around it and then makes intelligent adjustments.
For example, in summers or hotter regions, the temperature is high, and hence the battery is charged to a lower voltage for the same power back-up performance. This saves you some extra bucks while also making sure the battery doesn’t overheat, loose water, or get damaged. Similarly, in winters or colder places, the temperature is lower and hence the battery is charged to a higher boost voltage to make sure you get the required or expected amount of power back-up. This makes Su-vastika Solar Hybrid PCU a perfect choice for any climate, from the extremes of Northern America and Europe to the beating heat in Middle-East and South-East Asia, we are ready for a rough world.
Low Voltage charging
In Low voltage areas, user uses a Voltage stabiliser and PCU to charge the battery properly. In our Solar Hybrid PCU, we also have the charging at low voltages, so there is no need for a stabiliser.
Automatic Bypass
What if your UPS has a technical error and is unable to switch your load back to the main supply? And imagine this happens in the middle of a summer night, and an electrician can only come the next morning. Intolerable, right?
This is common with almost every UPS or Inverter but not in Su-vastika Solar Hybrid PCU models because it has a feature of ‘Automatic bypass system’ which bypasses the Mains supply even when the UPS is faulty.
Read more https://suvastika.com/new/wp-admin/post.php?post=7261&action=edit&classic-editor=1
Battery Selection Switch
Every battery is built to accept a certain maximum allowed charging speed. A Tubular Lead-Acid battery needs a minimum of 10 hours, a Sealed Maintenance Free (SMF) battery requires 6-8 hours, while a Lithium-Ion battery requires 2-4 hours to get fully charged healthily.
Charging the batteries faster than these healthy limits reduces the battery’s life and increases maintenance costs and hassles. That’s why Solar Hybrid PCU is built with the Right Charger that charges batteries at optimum speed.
Battery Selection Switch is an innovative feature of Solar Hybrid PCU that enables you to select the battery type you have installed so that it can control and optimize the charging speed to keep your battery healthy. This makes Solar Hybrid PCU compatible with Tubular, SMF and Lithium LifePO4 batteries.
in our Bluetooth and WiFi based Solar PCU one can select the battery type from the setting on mobile application.
Battery Sizing selection Switch
Su-vastika Solar Hybrid PCU has a feature to select the size of the battery through Bluetooth and Wi-fi application
With prolonged usage, a battery’s life gets reduced. This is what happens to every battery after multiple charge-discharge cycles, even inverter batteries. Nerds call it battery fatigue.
Su-vastika Solar Hybrid PCU knows how to beat this problem too. When the battery is being used to power your appliances and is about to get empty (but not fully empty), Solar Hybrid PCU places a reserve. This means it doesn’t let the battery get fully or deeply discharged, hence extending the life of the battery by leaps and bounds.
This is similar to the reserve tank we have in our cars and scooters. It makes sure that even after you run out of battery power, you are still left with the reserved capacity to get done with emergency situations, by simply pressing a button.
Battery Reserve Mode setting % and battery low cut voltage:-
At 0% the battery low cut voltage will be 10.5V
At 3% the battery low cut voltage will be 10.8V
At 5% the battery low cut voltage with be 11V
At 8% the battery low cut voltage will be 11.2V
At 10% the battery low cut voltage will be 11.4V
Battery reserve Feature or settable LCV for battery
Generator compatible
Su-vastika Solar Hybrid PCU is compatible with local and standard generators available. We are making it perfect to pair up with Domestic Generators because our Solar PCU has a frequency bypass range of 42Hz – 55Hz.
LCD Display Message
Overload & Short circuit Feature
In Su-vastika Solar Hybrid PCU, We have given a special overload feature in which when the hybrid Solar PCU once get overloaded will retry eight times before it shuts down. This feature is very important for the user as when the extra load is run, which the Solar PCU cannot support, it switches off immediately and keeps warning. Then the user has to reduce the load and go to the ups and reset the front switch, which is very uncomfortable for the customer because, at times, the whole house gets into darkness, and for the user to switch off the load and reaches the ups is tough as it laying in one corner of home or office. So we have given a special feature in our ups; in case of overload, our ups give you eight times switching on and offload; in that time user can reduce the load, and there is no sudden darkness in the house/office.
Just like overload retries, our Solar PCU also has a feature of short circuit retries. With this feature, our Solar PCU will shut down automatically and start again whenever there is a short circuit. In this process, our Solar PCU will check whether the short circuit’s condition has been eliminated. If the short circuit has been eliminated, the UPS will start working normally. If the short circuit’s condition continues, our Solar PCU will retry 4 times before permanently shutting down. To make it operational again, reset the front switch of UPS.
So, Now you know why we say Su-vastika Solar Hybrid PCU is the smartest thing we’ve ever made. Well, it’s just because when we set out to make a product, we don’t aim for beating our competition, we instead aim to push humanity forward.
