RobertM Posted January 28, 2022 Share Posted January 28, 2022 Apparently, Growatt makes two variations of a 240V inverter, with the same model number. One is meant for the European market, and the other for North America. Unscrupulous EBay resellers are shipping the European model to North America, and people have wired it incorrectly, believing it is the North American version. When it's wired wrong, the case can become energized with 110V. https://youtu.be/Bj5odgJp9fM 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheButcher Posted January 28, 2022 Share Posted January 28, 2022 Yep, I made a post about this in another thread this morning (my time). It's a bit scary when you consider there are a lot of 'monkey see, monkey do' types out there that would see something being done with an 5000ES and assume they can do it too, but cheaper. I don't know the Growatt 5000ES at all really but the fact that the 'european' version has neutral/earth tied internally raises some questions. I wonder if there is an N/E bond relay in their or if it's hard wired. I'm in Australia and attaching one of these to the mains would be a safety issue as it would establish a N/E connection down stream of the premises N/E bond potentially causing problems with the operations of RCDs. This has potential to be a problem in mobile installations, 'RV's, caravans etc, too. Even standalone off grid I would prefer the inverter does not join N/E itself leaving it to be joined at the meter/fuse box / panel. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickson Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 When it's wired wrong, the case can become energized with 110V. https://youtu.be/Bj5odgJp9fM The danger is Gowatt 5000ES need an autotransformer to make split phase 120vac . Neural bonded to ground by the green screw will make more than one path for the return 120vac to the inverter . It happen to me when using an autotransformer with it overloaded and the neutral was lost and disconnected and now the return is on all ground points and I will be kill if I touch the inverter case but the PJ shut down after 6 seconds . People on youtube say the Gowatt do not shut down and the the case will be 120vac . I do not use a autotransformer without a kill a watt meter for safety . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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