MEAN WELL ISI-501 series: True sine wave inverter with MPPT solar charger - ISI-501-124U

Description

ISI-501-124U — True sine wave inverter with MPPT solar charger

MEAN WELL ISI-501-124U combines a true sine-wave off-grid DC-AC inverter with an MPPT solar charger for a 24 V lead-acid battery system. It provides 500 W rated AC output, with a 110 V factory voltage setting and Type U (universal) receptacle. Battery and solar input limits, output derating and the selected receptacle must match the installation.

Download MEAN WELL ISI-501 Datasheet (PDF)
Download MEAN WELL ISI-501 User Manual (PDF)

Datasheet: PDF pages 1–4, edition 2024-09-04. User manual: operation, protection and installation on PDF pages 3–12.

Output and model selection

Full model and configuration ISI-501-124U; ISI-501 series, 24 V battery version and 110 V AC output version, with Type U receptacle.
Rated AC output 500 W continuous, subject to the temperature and battery-input derating curves.
Temporary output capability Typical maximum output: 550 W for 60 seconds; surge 1000 W for 30 AC cycles. These are time-limited capabilities, not continuous ratings.
AC output voltage 110 V AC factory setting; 100 / 110 / 115 / 120 V AC selectable using the setting button.
Output frequency 60 ±0.1 Hz; 50/60 Hz selectable using the setting button.
Output waveform True sine wave, THD <3%; tested at rated power with a linear load and 26 V DC input.
AC regulation ±3% typical.
AC receptacle Type U, universal; catalog optional receptacle option selected by suffix U. The receptacle table lists no certificate for Type U; its universal shape does not imply suitability for every mains system.
Inverter efficiency 87% typical, measured with a 350 W linear load at 26 V DC input. This is separate from MPPT charger efficiency.

Battery input and solar charging

Battery system 24 V nominal; open and sealed lead-acid batteries.
Battery input range 21–30 V DC. The catalog voltage-value tolerance for this battery-voltage group is ±1 V (Note 3). Observe input derating near the low limit.
DC input current 30 A typical. The catalog test condition is a 500 W linear load at 24 V DC; this test entry does not increase the 500 W continuous output rating.
No-load and off-mode consumption No-load current: 0.63 A typical; off-mode current: ≤1 mA typical.
Solar open-circuit voltage 45–90 V DC open-circuit range.
Solar MPPT voltage 35–90 V DC operating MPPT range.
Solar input capability Solar input current 7 A typical; solar input power 500 W typical. Select the solar array using both its open-circuit and MPPT voltage limits.
Charging current and efficiency Battery charging current 17 A typical; MPPT charger efficiency 98% typical.
Charging stages Stage 1: constant current, dependent on solar input current and the solar panel MPPT voltage. Stage 2: constant voltage at 28.8 V. Stage 3: MPPT charger OFF when charge current is less than 10% of rated charging current AND solar input power is below 50 W.

Protection and control

Battery-low thresholds Battery-low alarm: 22.5 V; battery-low shutdown: 21 V. The specified voltage-value tolerance is ±1 V.
Overload protection 110% load for 60 seconds, typical; AC output shuts down. Re-power on to recover.
Overtemperature and output short circuit AC output shuts down; re-power on to recover. The series also lists overvoltage protection.
Reverse polarity and internal fuse Protection is by opening the internal fuse; catalog fuse configuration: 40 A × 1. The housing explicitly warns that reversed polarity will damage the unit. Verify battery and solar polarity before connection; this is not an automatic recovery function.
Remote ON/OFF JST B-XH or equivalent connector. With the front power switch ON: open contact means normal work; shorted contact means remote OFF.
Battery-low relay output JST B-XH or equivalent connector; relay dry contact rated 1 A at 24 V DC, resistive load. Open contact: battery low; shorted contact: battery OK. The manual identifies an electrically isolated dry contact and a beep on a low-battery alarm.
Status indication Front-panel LEDs indicate fault and operating status, charger status and battery capacity.
Converter design High-frequency, digitally controlled design. Block-diagram frequencies: MPPT charger 50 kHz; DC/DC converter 25 kHz; DC/AC inverter 20 kHz; auxiliary power 100 kHz.

Operating conditions

Temperature derating −20 to +40°C at 100% load; derate above +40°C to 50% load at +60°C according to the catalog curve. Do not extend the operating range beyond the specified curve.
Battery-input derating Horizontal-installation curve: 80% load at 21 V DC, rising to 100% at 23 V DC; full-load region 23–30 V DC. Apply temperature derating as well.
Cooling and altitude Thermostatically controlled cooling fan. Above 2,000 m (6,500 ft), reduce the permitted ambient temperature by 5°C per 1,000 m for this fan-cooled model. Keep the illustrated airflow path unobstructed.
Humidity Operating: 20–90% RH, non-condensing. Storage: 10–95% RH, non-condensing.
Storage temperature −30 to +70°C (−22 to +158°F).
Vibration 10–500 Hz, 3G; 10 minutes per cycle, 60 minutes each along X, Y and Z axes.

Safety, EMC and reliability

Safety standards IEC 62368-1 CB and EAC TP TC 004 approved; meets BS EN/EN 62368-1.
EMC emissions Complies with FCC Part 15 Class B and EAC TP TC 020.
EMC immunity Complies with EAC TP TC 020.
Withstand voltage Battery input to AC output: 3.0 kV AC; AC output to frame ground: 1.5 kV AC.
Isolation resistance Battery input–AC output, battery input–frame ground and AC output–frame ground: 100 MΩ at 500 V DC, 25°C and 70% RH.
MTBF 565.4K hours minimum, Telcordia SR-332 (Bellcore); 57.8K hours minimum, MIL-HDBK-217F at 25°C. These are reliability estimates, not a service-life guarantee.

Mechanical and installation reference

Dimensions 205 × 158 × 67 mm (L × W × H); case No. 805. Mechanical drawing tolerance: ±0.5 mm.
Mounting layout The drawing shows 120 mm longitudinal and 147 mm transverse mounting-slot spacing, with a 42.5 mm offset from the case edge to the first mounting slot. Slots are 7 mm wide and 9 mm deep; these are mounting-slot dimensions, not a screw-length specification.
Terminal drawing dimensions The battery terminals project 18 mm beyond the case end face, with 11 mm centre spacing and a drawing terminal-opening width of 8.9 mm. The solar-input terminals project 13 mm, with 7.62 mm centre spacing and a drawing terminal-opening width of 6.35 mm. Allow installation clearance for these projections.
Terminal assignment 1: battery input NEG (−); 2: battery input POS (+); 3: solar input NEG (−); 4: solar input POS (+); 5: frame ground (FG); 6: battery-low alarm connector; 7: remote ON/OFF connector.
Mass reference 2.35 kg (2,350 g), catalog packing reference per unit; not a measured net weight. Catalog outer-carton reference: 6 units, 15.1 kg and 1.55 CUFT; carton mass is not used to calculate the per-unit reference.
General test conditions Unless otherwise stated, parameters are measured at rated load, 25°C ambient and factory settings. Apply the separate THD, efficiency and DC-current test conditions stated above.

Installation, operation and service

Installation and ventilation Mount on a strong, flat surface using the four case mounting holes; horizontal installation is recommended. Keep more than 15 cm clear at the front and rear ventilation openings, do not obstruct the fan or stack objects on the inverter, and avoid dusty or moist locations, direct sunlight, high heat and ignition sources. Connect FG to the system grounding point.
Battery bank and safe connection Use batteries of the same brand, model and capacity in one bank. Set the front power switch to OFF before connecting or removing batteries. Check battery and PV polarity and the permitted input-voltage ranges: reverse polarity can damage the unit and open an internal fuse. Arrange repair through a qualified technician or MEAN WELL; do not open or repair the inverter yourself.
Cable and battery selection The manual recommends keeping battery leads as short as possible, below 1.5 m in its system example. For this 24 V model it suggests 4 mm² / 10 AWG battery leads and a 24 V lead-acid bank of 60–200 Ah; PV input wiring is suggested as 1.5 mm² / 14 AWG. Size the actual cables for their length, current and applicable safety requirements. These are selection recommendations, not supplied accessories or approval for other battery chemistries.
Changing output settings With the inverter OFF, keep the input battery connected and remove the loads. Use an insulated plastic stick to hold the Setting button while switching the inverter on; release after about 5 seconds when it beeps. Press for about 1 second to step through settings, then hold for 3–5 seconds until the beep to save. The inverter restarts and retains the setting after power removal. Check the manual setting-indicator chart before reconnecting loads. In setup mode, a steady red Status LED indicates 50 Hz and a flashing red Status LED indicates 60 Hz. The Battery LED indicates the selected AC voltage in this setup mode: steady green for 100 V, flashing green for 110 V, steady yellow for 115 V and flashing yellow for 120 V. These setup indications differ from the normal-operation status and battery-capacity indications.
Startup-load selection Check the starting current against the inverter capability. Inductive or motor loads can require 6–10 times their rated current. For capacitive or rectified loads, the manual recommends starting at no load or light load and increasing the load gradually only after the inverter operates steadily.
Fault recovery and service After an overtemperature shutdown, allow at least 30 minutes before attempting a restart and correct the heat or ventilation problem. Resolve a short circuit, overload or input-voltage fault before restarting. These procedures do not make reverse-polarity damage self-recovering.
Battery maintenance and warranty Inspect and maintain batteries regularly; the manual suggests an annual check and professional replacement of aged batteries. The manufacturer specifies a 3-year warranty under normal operating conditions. Unauthorized component replacement, modification or self-repair may void the warranty.
Charging and low-voltage restart The manual describes charger activation or restart around 26 V battery voltage and AC-output recovery after the battery reaches 26 V and a 3-minute delay following low-voltage shutdown. For charge termination, use the current catalog condition: charge current below 10% of rated charge current AND solar input power below 50 W. Reaching the constant-voltage level alone is not the complete OFF condition.
Normal indicators and remote control In normal operation, the Status LED is green for normal operation, orange for remote OFF and red for an error. The Battery LED is green above 70% capacity, orange at 40–70% and red below 40%. These colours have different meanings in the output-setting mode. Remote ON/OFF operates only while the front power switch is ON: an open remote connector enables remote ON and a shorted connector commands remote OFF.

MEAN WELL ISI-501 series: True sine wave inverter with MPPT solar charger - ISI-501-124U

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ISI-501-124U — True sine wave inverter with MPPT solar charger MEAN WELL ISI-501-124U combines a true sine-wave off-grid DC-AC inverter... Read more

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    Description

    ISI-501-124U — True sine wave inverter with MPPT solar charger

    MEAN WELL ISI-501-124U combines a true sine-wave off-grid DC-AC inverter with an MPPT solar charger for a 24 V lead-acid battery system. It provides 500 W rated AC output, with a 110 V factory voltage setting and Type U (universal) receptacle. Battery and solar input limits, output derating and the selected receptacle must match the installation.

    Download MEAN WELL ISI-501 Datasheet (PDF)
    Download MEAN WELL ISI-501 User Manual (PDF)

    Datasheet: PDF pages 1–4, edition 2024-09-04. User manual: operation, protection and installation on PDF pages 3–12.

    Output and model selection

    Full model and configuration ISI-501-124U; ISI-501 series, 24 V battery version and 110 V AC output version, with Type U receptacle.
    Rated AC output 500 W continuous, subject to the temperature and battery-input derating curves.
    Temporary output capability Typical maximum output: 550 W for 60 seconds; surge 1000 W for 30 AC cycles. These are time-limited capabilities, not continuous ratings.
    AC output voltage 110 V AC factory setting; 100 / 110 / 115 / 120 V AC selectable using the setting button.
    Output frequency 60 ±0.1 Hz; 50/60 Hz selectable using the setting button.
    Output waveform True sine wave, THD <3%; tested at rated power with a linear load and 26 V DC input.
    AC regulation ±3% typical.
    AC receptacle Type U, universal; catalog optional receptacle option selected by suffix U. The receptacle table lists no certificate for Type U; its universal shape does not imply suitability for every mains system.
    Inverter efficiency 87% typical, measured with a 350 W linear load at 26 V DC input. This is separate from MPPT charger efficiency.

    Battery input and solar charging

    Battery system 24 V nominal; open and sealed lead-acid batteries.
    Battery input range 21–30 V DC. The catalog voltage-value tolerance for this battery-voltage group is ±1 V (Note 3). Observe input derating near the low limit.
    DC input current 30 A typical. The catalog test condition is a 500 W linear load at 24 V DC; this test entry does not increase the 500 W continuous output rating.
    No-load and off-mode consumption No-load current: 0.63 A typical; off-mode current: ≤1 mA typical.
    Solar open-circuit voltage 45–90 V DC open-circuit range.
    Solar MPPT voltage 35–90 V DC operating MPPT range.
    Solar input capability Solar input current 7 A typical; solar input power 500 W typical. Select the solar array using both its open-circuit and MPPT voltage limits.
    Charging current and efficiency Battery charging current 17 A typical; MPPT charger efficiency 98% typical.
    Charging stages Stage 1: constant current, dependent on solar input current and the solar panel MPPT voltage. Stage 2: constant voltage at 28.8 V. Stage 3: MPPT charger OFF when charge current is less than 10% of rated charging current AND solar input power is below 50 W.

    Protection and control

    Battery-low thresholds Battery-low alarm: 22.5 V; battery-low shutdown: 21 V. The specified voltage-value tolerance is ±1 V.
    Overload protection 110% load for 60 seconds, typical; AC output shuts down. Re-power on to recover.
    Overtemperature and output short circuit AC output shuts down; re-power on to recover. The series also lists overvoltage protection.
    Reverse polarity and internal fuse Protection is by opening the internal fuse; catalog fuse configuration: 40 A × 1. The housing explicitly warns that reversed polarity will damage the unit. Verify battery and solar polarity before connection; this is not an automatic recovery function.
    Remote ON/OFF JST B-XH or equivalent connector. With the front power switch ON: open contact means normal work; shorted contact means remote OFF.
    Battery-low relay output JST B-XH or equivalent connector; relay dry contact rated 1 A at 24 V DC, resistive load. Open contact: battery low; shorted contact: battery OK. The manual identifies an electrically isolated dry contact and a beep on a low-battery alarm.
    Status indication Front-panel LEDs indicate fault and operating status, charger status and battery capacity.
    Converter design High-frequency, digitally controlled design. Block-diagram frequencies: MPPT charger 50 kHz; DC/DC converter 25 kHz; DC/AC inverter 20 kHz; auxiliary power 100 kHz.

    Operating conditions

    Temperature derating −20 to +40°C at 100% load; derate above +40°C to 50% load at +60°C according to the catalog curve. Do not extend the operating range beyond the specified curve.
    Battery-input derating Horizontal-installation curve: 80% load at 21 V DC, rising to 100% at 23 V DC; full-load region 23–30 V DC. Apply temperature derating as well.
    Cooling and altitude Thermostatically controlled cooling fan. Above 2,000 m (6,500 ft), reduce the permitted ambient temperature by 5°C per 1,000 m for this fan-cooled model. Keep the illustrated airflow path unobstructed.
    Humidity Operating: 20–90% RH, non-condensing. Storage: 10–95% RH, non-condensing.
    Storage temperature −30 to +70°C (−22 to +158°F).
    Vibration 10–500 Hz, 3G; 10 minutes per cycle, 60 minutes each along X, Y and Z axes.

    Safety, EMC and reliability

    Safety standards IEC 62368-1 CB and EAC TP TC 004 approved; meets BS EN/EN 62368-1.
    EMC emissions Complies with FCC Part 15 Class B and EAC TP TC 020.
    EMC immunity Complies with EAC TP TC 020.
    Withstand voltage Battery input to AC output: 3.0 kV AC; AC output to frame ground: 1.5 kV AC.
    Isolation resistance Battery input–AC output, battery input–frame ground and AC output–frame ground: 100 MΩ at 500 V DC, 25°C and 70% RH.
    MTBF 565.4K hours minimum, Telcordia SR-332 (Bellcore); 57.8K hours minimum, MIL-HDBK-217F at 25°C. These are reliability estimates, not a service-life guarantee.

    Mechanical and installation reference

    Dimensions 205 × 158 × 67 mm (L × W × H); case No. 805. Mechanical drawing tolerance: ±0.5 mm.
    Mounting layout The drawing shows 120 mm longitudinal and 147 mm transverse mounting-slot spacing, with a 42.5 mm offset from the case edge to the first mounting slot. Slots are 7 mm wide and 9 mm deep; these are mounting-slot dimensions, not a screw-length specification.
    Terminal drawing dimensions The battery terminals project 18 mm beyond the case end face, with 11 mm centre spacing and a drawing terminal-opening width of 8.9 mm. The solar-input terminals project 13 mm, with 7.62 mm centre spacing and a drawing terminal-opening width of 6.35 mm. Allow installation clearance for these projections.
    Terminal assignment 1: battery input NEG (−); 2: battery input POS (+); 3: solar input NEG (−); 4: solar input POS (+); 5: frame ground (FG); 6: battery-low alarm connector; 7: remote ON/OFF connector.
    Mass reference 2.35 kg (2,350 g), catalog packing reference per unit; not a measured net weight. Catalog outer-carton reference: 6 units, 15.1 kg and 1.55 CUFT; carton mass is not used to calculate the per-unit reference.
    General test conditions Unless otherwise stated, parameters are measured at rated load, 25°C ambient and factory settings. Apply the separate THD, efficiency and DC-current test conditions stated above.

    Installation, operation and service

    Installation and ventilation Mount on a strong, flat surface using the four case mounting holes; horizontal installation is recommended. Keep more than 15 cm clear at the front and rear ventilation openings, do not obstruct the fan or stack objects on the inverter, and avoid dusty or moist locations, direct sunlight, high heat and ignition sources. Connect FG to the system grounding point.
    Battery bank and safe connection Use batteries of the same brand, model and capacity in one bank. Set the front power switch to OFF before connecting or removing batteries. Check battery and PV polarity and the permitted input-voltage ranges: reverse polarity can damage the unit and open an internal fuse. Arrange repair through a qualified technician or MEAN WELL; do not open or repair the inverter yourself.
    Cable and battery selection The manual recommends keeping battery leads as short as possible, below 1.5 m in its system example. For this 24 V model it suggests 4 mm² / 10 AWG battery leads and a 24 V lead-acid bank of 60–200 Ah; PV input wiring is suggested as 1.5 mm² / 14 AWG. Size the actual cables for their length, current and applicable safety requirements. These are selection recommendations, not supplied accessories or approval for other battery chemistries.
    Changing output settings With the inverter OFF, keep the input battery connected and remove the loads. Use an insulated plastic stick to hold the Setting button while switching the inverter on; release after about 5 seconds when it beeps. Press for about 1 second to step through settings, then hold for 3–5 seconds until the beep to save. The inverter restarts and retains the setting after power removal. Check the manual setting-indicator chart before reconnecting loads. In setup mode, a steady red Status LED indicates 50 Hz and a flashing red Status LED indicates 60 Hz. The Battery LED indicates the selected AC voltage in this setup mode: steady green for 100 V, flashing green for 110 V, steady yellow for 115 V and flashing yellow for 120 V. These setup indications differ from the normal-operation status and battery-capacity indications.
    Startup-load selection Check the starting current against the inverter capability. Inductive or motor loads can require 6–10 times their rated current. For capacitive or rectified loads, the manual recommends starting at no load or light load and increasing the load gradually only after the inverter operates steadily.
    Fault recovery and service After an overtemperature shutdown, allow at least 30 minutes before attempting a restart and correct the heat or ventilation problem. Resolve a short circuit, overload or input-voltage fault before restarting. These procedures do not make reverse-polarity damage self-recovering.
    Battery maintenance and warranty Inspect and maintain batteries regularly; the manual suggests an annual check and professional replacement of aged batteries. The manufacturer specifies a 3-year warranty under normal operating conditions. Unauthorized component replacement, modification or self-repair may void the warranty.
    Charging and low-voltage restart The manual describes charger activation or restart around 26 V battery voltage and AC-output recovery after the battery reaches 26 V and a 3-minute delay following low-voltage shutdown. For charge termination, use the current catalog condition: charge current below 10% of rated charge current AND solar input power below 50 W. Reaching the constant-voltage level alone is not the complete OFF condition.
    Normal indicators and remote control In normal operation, the Status LED is green for normal operation, orange for remote OFF and red for an error. The Battery LED is green above 70% capacity, orange at 40–70% and red below 40%. These colours have different meanings in the output-setting mode. Remote ON/OFF operates only while the front power switch is ON: an open remote connector enables remote ON and a shorted connector commands remote OFF.

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