Welcome to our Help section, where we provide general answers to the most frequently asked questions.

This page has been created to help you quickly find the information that you need. Explore below questions finding adequate responses and do not hesitate to contact us if you can’t find the information you need.

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Frequently asked questions

Which ECOSUN Innovations product best suits my needs?

The ECOSUN Innovations range of solar generators covers the electrification of isolated sites, consumption and mobility needs of many applications. The product that best suits your site's power supply must meet its consumption and mobility needs.

The site's load profile is essential when making your choice. It's a question of choosing equipment with a sufficient power rating to supply the site in all possible situations. The power ratings of products in the ECOSUN Innovations range are shown on each product data sheet.

 If the installation of batteries is desired, the load profile also helps to assess the amount of energy required by the site, in order to choose a suitable storage capacity. The storage capacities of products in the ECOSUN Innovations range are shown on the technical data sheet for each battery-equipped product.

The degree of mobility required will also be crucial. Some sites are in almost constant motion, and require hyper-mobility. In such cases, systems such as the Trailer-Watt 12S or 15S are best suited, as they enable a solar array of 4.8 kWp and 5.6 kWp respectively to be commissioned in no time at all.

For systems intended to be installed for longer periods, the Mobil-Grid® allows the deployment of a solar array of up to 72 kWp in half a day. The fact that they are containerized and plug & play means that the Solar Hybrid Box® and Solar Inverter Box® can be rapidly commissioned on site. Mounted on a shipping container or a site bungalow, the Frame-Watt® allows a solar field to be set up at the same time as the equipment.

Finally, for stationary installations, the Fix-Watt® solution is ideal, enabling the installation of 11.7 kWp to 156 kWp in ground- or roof-mounted ballast tanks.

What's the difference between on-grid and off-grid?

The terms "on-grid" (connected to the grid) and "off-grid" (disconnected from the grid) are generally used in the energy context, in particular to describe power supply systems.

An on-grid system is connected to the public electricity grid, using electricity from the grid to power electrical appliances. In the event of excess electricity production (e.g. with a photovoltaic system), this electricity can be fed back into the grid, possibly generating electricity credits or remuneration, depending on the local policy

An off-grid system is autonomous and not connected to the public power grid. It generally relies on independent energy sources, such as solar panels, batteries, diesel generators, etc. Off-grid systems are commonly used in remote areas where access to the power grid is limited or non-existent.

Which products in the ECOSUN Innovations range can be interfaced with a diesel generator set?

The following products grant an interface and control over diesel genset: Solar Hybrid Box®, Trailer-Watt® 12S, Trailer-Watt® 15S. These products start the genset when certain conditions are reached (low battery level, low battery voltage, etc.).

This guarantees continuity of service even on days with little solar radiation or when the system is used at night.

I already have a diesel generator. Can I interface it with a system from the ECOSUN Innovations range?

This will depend on the generator. The generator must meet the following requirements:

  • It must be able to be started and stopped by a dry contact (usually an "ATS" or "AUTO" socket).
  • This must be a 230/400 Vac - 50Hz generator. To interface a genset with other specifications, please contact ECOSUN Innovations.
  • The power rating of the generator must match the equipment installed in the ECOSUN Innovations product.

I already have a solar array. Can I interface it with a system from the ECOSUN Innovations range?

Yes, the Solar Hybrid Box® and Solar Inverter Box® range are designed to interface with an existing solar array. Please refer to the product data sheet for the technical specifications required for the solar arrays.

Is it possible to combine different products from the ECOSUN Innovations range?

Yes, some products in the ECOSUN Innovations range are designed to be coupled together:

  • Frame-Watt® and Solar Hybrid Box® converter and storage cabinets.
  • The Mobil-Grid® and the Solar Hybrid Box® conversion and storage cabinets.
  • The Fix-Watt® and Solar Hybrid Box® conversion and storage cabinets.

For questions about coupling other products together, please contact ECOSUN Innovations.

What is a load profile?

A load profile refers to the way in which the electricity demand of an electrical system evolves over time. In other words, it's a graphical representation or description of the energy consumption of an appliance, building, city or power grid over a given period. It is essential for dimensioning a photovoltaic system with batteries.

How long does the ECOSUN Innovations range last?

The products in the ECOSUN Innovations range generally include four types of equipment:

  • Lithium-Ion batteries
  • Photovoltaic panels
  • Hybrid inverters
  • Photovoltaic inverters

Each piece of equipment has a different lifespan, which will vary depending on the model, how it is used and the conditions of use (temperature, humidity, etc.).

What are the advantages of lithium batteries over lead-acid batteries?

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries offer several advantages over lead-acid batteries:

  • Higher energy density: they can store more energy in a smaller volume and with less weight.
  • Longer service life: they can withstand a greater number of charge-discharge cycles, making them more durable over the long term.
  • No memory effect: they don't need to be fully discharged before recharging, making them easy to use and maintain.
  • Lower self-discharge rate: they retain their charge better when not in use for extended periods.
  • Constant performance: they have a more constant output voltage during discharge, offering more stable performance than lead-acid batteries.
  • Faster recharging: they can recharge faster than lead-acid batteries.
  • Less environmental impact: they are generally considered to be more environmentally friendly.

What is the neutral system or earth connection diagram for products in the ECOSUN Innovations range?

TT according to IEC 60364. 

What is the inclination of the photovoltaic modules in the ECOSUN Innovations range?

Products in the ECOSUN Innovations range incorporating photovoltaic modules have the following inclinations:

  • Trailer-Watt 12S : 20°, single inclination (SOUTH or NORTH, depending on the location).
  • Trailer-Watt 15S : 12° , single inclination (SOUTH or NORTH, depending on the location).
  • Mobil-Grid : 10°, two opposite inclinations (EAST/WEST).
  • Frame-Watt : 0°, single inclination.
  • Fix-Watt : from 7° à to 40°, various possible inclinations.

What is the warranty policy for ECOSUN Innovations products?

ECOSUN Innovations products come with a two-year warranty for the entire system from the date of shipment from the factory.

After these two years, additional warranties for certain components (photovoltaic panels, etc.) are also transferred directly from the component supplier to the end customer, under operating and maintenance conditions to be defined at the time the order is placed.

System

Batteries

Specifications Li-ion Li-FePO4 OPzV OPzS
Batteries Lithium NMC prismatic LiFePO4 Gelified electrolyte lead Lead-acid
% DOD 80 to 100% 80% 50 to 80% 50 to 80%
Temperature range -10 to 50°C -10 to 50°C -20 to 60°C -20 to 60°C
Max recommended T 28°C 25°C 30°C 30°C
Nb of cycles at 100% DOD 6000 4000 N/A N/A
Nb of cycles at 60% DOD N/A N/A 2000 2000
Life cycle (1 cycle/day) in years 16 11 5 5
Max unloading speed 1h 2h 5h 5h
Weight (kgs/kWh) 7.5 12 35 29
Bulk Low Low Significant Significant
kWh price €600 to €650 €350 to €450 €190 to €210 €150 to €180
Maintenance NO NO NO YES (water filling)
Release of hydrogen NO NO Low YES
Risk of explosion YES YES NO NO
Environmental impact Filière recyclage en cours Filière recyclage en cours Recyclable Recyclable