Hybrid MEP-831A - Thoughts/Opinions

[kwartk]

Fellow Steelers,
Greetings; and as usual let me start by saying thank you for any advice , suggestions or comments... I have the chance of getting hold of a "Hybrid" MEP-831A.. its has connectors for hooking up to a Lithium Iron battery backup unit and according to the literature I could find on the manufactures site (ZeroBase Energy) the THG hybrid system/unit can extend capacity of MEP-831A to an additional 3.5KW and the battery(THG) component can be charged with solar panels??...

Has anyone used or come across this configuration?, if so any thoughts/opinions?

Thanks!..

 

[Jeepadict]

If it works, I dig it!

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

 

[fb40dash5]

according to the literature I could find on the manufactures site (ZeroBase Energy) the THG hybrid system/unit can extend capacity of MEP-831A to an additional 3.5KW and the battery(THG) component can be charged with solar panels??...

That first part is intriguing... does it have its own inverter, then? Not sure I'd call it an "additional" 3.5kw, assuming you're talking the mention of 6.8kw "surge" capacity... but owning both an 831 & a well pump, I'm interested by any surge capacity.

If it does have its own inverter (that sounds like it'd be more capable than the 831's) and is basically just using the 831 as a charger, that could be more intriguing. Something something piles of 831s with dead/no inverters...

 

[kwartk]

That first part is intriguing... does it have its own inverter, then? Not sure I'd call it an "additional" 3.5kw, assuming you're talking the mention of 6.8kw "surge" capacity... but owning both an 831 & a well pump, I'm interested by any surge capacity.

If it does have its own inverter (that sounds like it'd be more capable than the 831's) and is basically just using the 831 as a charger, that could be more intriguing. Something something piles of 831s with dead/no inverters...

Going thru the spec sheet again, I think it may have its own inverter, however I am not familiar with this set-up at all so I will see if I can get any more info..

 

[Light in the Dark]

One or more of these came up recently (within the last 6 months) at auction. The company behind it is no longer in business. If the price is right enough to consider the bottom part a throw away if need be, have fun with it.

I've not seen one before that auction, and admittedly havent seen one since (but I don't watch the auctions weekly any more).

 

[fb40dash5]

Going thru the spec sheet again, I think it may have its own inverter, however I am not familiar with this set-up at all so I will see if I can get any more info..

I'm kinda scratching my head.

If it didn't have a separate inverter, and is relying on the battery to provide power to the factory inverter, then it'd seem to me it would have no real extra surge/startup capacity, because as I understand it, the inverter (or at least the programming of what protects it) cuts output at basically 3.4kw.

If it does have a separate inverter, then either a) that inverter also has no extra surge/startup capacity, and the "surge" they quote should just be limited by battery capacity (which would seem much better than just "surge" capacity for say 5 seconds) or b) it does, and it would seem to me they must have a synchronizing/paralleling system involved, so shouldn't it be more like 3.4kw + whatever startup load their inverter can muster?

Seems like a fun toy either way. Not sure I'd pay extra for it (especially since fuel savings on an 831 seems like a bit of a waste) but cool at least.

 

[Ray70]

Looking at the specs. I'd say it's probably just a battery storage without a separate internal inverter. Seems it's intended use is for low load ( <2300W ) situations to conserve fuel, not really intended to boost the output of the generator. Maybe the battery adds some additional ( extremely brief ) surge capacity through the 831's inverter, but it doesn't show any added output capacity beyond 100% generator output.

 

[Light in the Dark]

Or to extend the life of that particular genset. Its got the worst MTBF figure of any of the smaller sets. So if it can store the unused energy for later release, its effectively making a longer lasting product.

 

[kwartk]

Looking at the specs. I'd say it's probably just a battery storage without a separate internal inverter. Seems it's intended use is for low load ( <2300W ) situations to conserve fuel, not really intended to boost the output of the generator. Maybe the battery adds some additional ( extremely brief ) surge capacity through the 831's inverter, but it doesn't show any added output capacity beyond 100% generator output.

Thanks to all!! much appreciated... I decided not to go ahead with this buy .. The company ZeroBase (or the new incarnation) told me they no longer manufacture or support this setup..It appears this may have been part of one of the numerous DOD Lab experiments with Hybrid Systems, not sure whether this particular one was successful or not, either way it does not appear it is supported anywhere and the price being asked was not justifiable...

 

[kwartk]

Looking at the specs. I'd say it's probably just a battery storage without a separate internal inverter. Seems it's intended use is for low load ( <2300W ) situations to conserve fuel, not really intended to boost the output of the generator. Maybe the battery adds some additional ( extremely brief ) surge capacity through the 831's inverter, but it doesn't show any added output capacity beyond 100% generator output.

Yes I'm beginning to think the same.. In any case, for the money they were asking for, I think i will be better getting a turnkey solar+battery set-up system..

 

[kwartk]

That first part is intriguing... does it have its own inverter, then? Not sure I'd call it an "additional" 3.5kw, assuming you're talking the mention of 6.8kw "surge" capacity... but owning both an 831 & a well pump, I'm interested by any surge capacity.

If it does have its own inverter (that sounds like it'd be more capable than the 831's) and is basically just using the 831 as a charger, that could be more intriguing. Something something piles of 831s with dead/no inverters...

So Curiosity got the better of me and took the plunge. I was intrigued by this unit.. Inside it appears is a separate 2x2kw~ 4KW Inverter, and Battery Charger etc., the batteries had been removed I assume from a safety/storage point, unfortunately the wiring though intact is all over the place..Will see if i can track down a wiring diagram and see how I can reconstitute a similar rig...

 

[2Pbfeet]

@kwartk that is one interesting unit and design. So the battery pack was separate? Was it wired as a DC generator or were the batteries charged AC to DC then back to AC, e.g. a 4kW UPS with a generator charger? If the latter, I wonder if it could run in parallel with with the 831 inverter. I doubt it, but it would be fun if it did.

I like the inverter cooling booster fan doubling to keep the relays cool, and the basic, but robust thermal monitoring system. It seems as if some of the 24V power connections are disconnected.

I look forward to more photos and details!

All the best,

2Pbfeet

 

[fb40dash5]

@kwartk that is one interesting unit and design. So the battery pack was separate?

I'd guess that the left in the pic is the inverter, middle is battery compartment, and right is the charger? Maybe? Or I got the charger & inverter backwards...

 

[kwartk]

I'd guess that the left in the pic is the inverter, middle is battery compartment, and right is the charger? Maybe? Or I got the charger & inverter backwards...

Yep! , that's the layout. The inverter is a dual ExelTech XO series inverter. The battery was situated in the mid compartment , underneath the aluminum plate with all wire/lugs , and right is a HDM IXL 115/230 charger..still trying to figure out the possible wiring set-up , and also whether it is feasible to use current LiFePO4 batteries. The original battery pack (2 x 1500W) was proprietary and from what i understand , however those batteries were based on 2012 technology!