Solar options for home in 2022

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#3310564 19-Nov-2024 10:04

EgorNZ:

HarmLessSolutions:

In our case the inverter came 'preloaded' with a relatively unforgiving grid voltage acceptance. Following inverter shut downs our installer widened those parameters to +/-5% which solved the problem, until Powerco installed new infrastructure in our area which has increased the voltage again.

I suggest you ask your installer to check that your settings are as wide as they can be under current regulations (i.e. +/-5%) and bear in mind that the upcoming changes to AS/NZS 4777.1:2024 which I'm advised will allow setting to be +/-10% are likely to arrive in NZ early next year.

Interesting, thanks!

Does your Fronius throw errors about the grid voltage? I was just looking at the docs and saw there are codes for this. But the only errors my system produces are about grid frequency.

As I mentioned above our 8.2 Primo regularly shows "Notice: State 567" in a dark band on the bottom of its display. I've even watched the display over time during what should have been maximum generation conditions and the output hovers around 7.5kW but when it rises to 7.9+kW the error displays and the output reverts back to ~7.5kW again. This was while we had the Evnex drawing >7kW so this wasn't an export limiting measure on the inverter's part, other than as a result of grid over voltage.

Also the above behaviour occurs too briefly for it to register in the logging of its data.

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

Jase2985

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#3310617 19-Nov-2024 14:06

I get "The grid frequency has exceeded a limit value when reconnecting" but it's usually first thing in the morning when the inverter is switching on.

HarmLessSolutions

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#3310630 19-Nov-2024 14:21

Jase2985:

I get "The grid frequency has exceeded a limit value when reconnecting" but it's usually first thing in the morning when the inverter is switching on.

From what I'm seeing in the Fronius data log the voltage doesn't become problematic until later in the morning. I'm no gridologist but it seems to be that the transformers/voltage regulators may be overcompensating as the demand increases. If the Powerco guy ever calls back I've got a few things to discuss with him along those lines.

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

chimera

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#3310665 19-Nov-2024 15:23

dantheperson:

chimera:

Also added this to Spa pool https://store.jonathangiles.net/product/espa-mini/ (it's open source if you can be bothered making your own, I couldn't, although designed and 3D printed a case for it) The Shelly EM I have will be repurposed (as get all power data from deye dongle now) for monitoring spa pool wattage (as I have v1 of controller which doesn't support supplying watts) so can control when that turn on too

Thanks for that, i was just about to splash out on the official wifi controller for the spa. Although that has MQTT support for home automation, this opensource project looks much more interesting, and much cheaper hardware.

Do you know how much power your spa draws when it's just maintaining on the heat and filtration cycle? Getting the spa wired in on Friday so i don't have any data yet. Mines got a 5kw heater, but i'm guessing/hoping if it's just maintaining the heat it wont run at the full 5kw. It will be pulling from the grid for most of the year if it's only on/off at the full 5kw. It's got the variable heater, so it will tun down the heater when the jets are running to keep the draw under 32A while still having a bit of heating, so although it has the ability, it's about how it behaves when the jets aren't running.

Unsure yet, awaiting sparky to come back to shift a few RCDs between house and backup load, had a look myself but wires too tight to get clamp on and not a registered sparky so not keen on playing around in the switchboard too much!

Added this little icon to my Magic Mirror too, will show when HWC is on or off. Will probably do same for Spa :-)

neb

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#3310745 19-Nov-2024 18:54

Just heard the following about getting solar panels in the US:

In each case though, they were fabricated after you signed the contract. This was apparently done so any given fab company didn't have a huge inventory in a warehouse, since solar panels begin to lose efficacy after fab. If you buy panels sitting in a warehouse for a few years, you just lost a few years of their viability basically. That is how it was pitched to me, and it didn't matter which company you picked, same story.

This just doesn't sound plausible. Sure, you get degradation with intense UV exposure, but not sitting in the dark in storage. Also, panels are in and out in a matter of weeks if not days - ours were scheduled as "shipment arrived Friday, your install date is Monday".

Is this actually the case?

Jase2985

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#3310753 19-Nov-2024 19:48

Given the rapid uptake of solar, i would doubt there would be much stock sitting there for months at a time, let alone years.

neb

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#3310754 19-Nov-2024 19:51

Yeah that was my reaction as well. So either the market in the US works unlike any other market (you submit an order, they custom-build the number of panels you want, then they ship them to you and they get installed) or he was being fed a line... from every company he contacted.

Jase2985

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#3310775 19-Nov-2024 20:38

or the story isn't the complete story, or they didn't understand what they were being told.

i doubt they are custom-building them, they are probably churning them off the production line as fast as they can make them. There might be a delay from the supplier of their chosen panels and its got a delay on shipment?

neb

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#3310791 19-Nov-2024 23:18

Yeah, the whole story sounded fishy to me as well, but I went back to double-check and they insist this is the case. I suspect miscommunication.

fastbike

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#3311916 22-Nov-2024 17:10

I collected the Solid inverter from the supplier yesterday - yay! It's a big heavy bugger so will make sure I use decent anchors to fasten it to the wall (this weekend's job).

Installer comes on Tuesday to do the final wiring, hookup, configuration. And then the inspection. And then the meter reconfig for export. So close and so much wasted sunshine !

Otautahi Christchurch

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#3311950 22-Nov-2024 20:11

Any Black Friday installation deals??

dantheperson

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#3312003 22-Nov-2024 21:00

fastbike:

So close and so much wasted sunshine !

What's the inverter you've gone for?

Got the new spa wired up today. Was a good day to do have my highest production since solar was installed. Unfortunatly got it filled and on a bit late in the day to take full advantage of the solar.

fastbike

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#3312074 22-Nov-2024 22:55

dantheperson:

What's the inverter you've gone for?

Got the new spa wired up today. Was a good day to do have my highest production since solar was installed. Unfortunatly got it filled and on a bit late in the day to take full advantage of the solar.

We have a complicated roof, mono pitch almost facing north (good) but curved (crikey) so needed an inverter that could handle 3 MPPT inputs.

The Solis S6-eh3p10k-h is perfect as it has 4 independent inputs and also handles a HV battery (low amps).

Otautahi Christchurch

neb

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#3312076 22-Nov-2024 23:16

For someone with a lot of space near Auckland and a truck to move things, this 60-panel solar setup is for sale.

fastbike

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#3312249 23-Nov-2024 19:25

fastbike:

The Solis S6-eh3p10k-h is perfect as it has 4 independent inputs and also handles a HV battery (low amps).

Physically installed on the wall today. 4x 52 mm holes core drilled through 140mm concrete block wall into the recess where the main switchboard is on the other side of the wall so we can mount the DC switchgear in one box, the AC in another and route all the wire on the other side of the wall for a very clean looking installation.

Sparky comes on Tuesday to do his bits ...

Otautahi Christchurch

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