Solar for Beginners [ask your questions here]

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123015900#Comment_123015900

That's the issue. The BMS is doing it's job and not letting the battery charge when it is below a set temp. You guys have a few options here.

The minimum charging temp could be set to something like 10C which would be rather cautious. Check if you can drop that a few degrees.

Also you could insulate your battery pack somewhat

Busman Paddy Lasty

Are folks measuring battery temp or just charge time? Mine is 10 minutes slower but over a 4 hour charge time. Inverter temp not dropping below 15° but I'm using it and battery in the evening which is warming it up.

mossie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123019133#Comment_123019133

I have some insulation but obviously need more. I only have them installed for 6 weeks so haven't gotten around to that yet

mjatkey

Guys, last night was first night where the battery only charged at 20A I assume because of the low temperature.

Would a couple of these one stuck underneath each of the WECO batteries (wall hung) be enough to keep them at a temperature high enough to charge at the normal 90-100amp?

I'm going to put up a smart temperature sensor and connect the pads to smart switch so I can have some sort of control based on temperature.

Just looking to know is 7w would be enough or do I need a bit more?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CLJ589H2/ref%3Dox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2WSSX5YFMIMA4&th=1

JohnySwan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123014978#Comment_123014978

See below.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123033880#Comment_123033880

I stand corrected then.

Microinverters seemingly comply with these requirements then as they self isolate at the rear of the solar panel on loss of the AC.

graememk

That brings up another thought.

If the PV doesn't enter a building does it need one?

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123033988#Comment_123033988

How do you define 'PV'? It says "whether this circuit is AC or DC" so I would have thought that any PV source (even the inverted AC) would then need a method of isolation. Or are you completely consuming the power outside of the building?

JohnySwan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123034018#Comment_123034018

My understanding is that is referring to MI vs String inverter. MI still requires isolation.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123033988#Comment_123033988

I don't believe it's needed in that case.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123034018#Comment_123034018

It's sufficiently vague to leave a lot of wiggle room 😂

I suppose the inverters anti islanding would then come into account.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123034139#Comment_123034139

And the micro-generation spec says this:

Anti-islanding functionality on the inverter (or MI) and an AC isolator switch (which in my case is an internally accessable three-prong plug on my MI's) would suffice as two methods, right? 😀

Hurrache

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123013542#Comment_123013542

Identical to yourself, but ours is external and in really cold weather it may only charge to around 50%.

However I noticed this afternoon it didn't top-up at all, I suppose it was the coldest night we've had, and the SOC dropped to 1% this afternoon which had me panicking. I done a force charge for an hour or two to see if it tops up a bit and it has only gone to 5%. The battery is rated at an operating temperature of -10 so I'd hope there's no long term damage, it's just the management system kicking in for low temperatures.

The battery status on the Solis Cloud webapp is displayed as a Warning but can't find what that warning may be, however checking the inverter itself it's listed as a low temperature warning from yesterday evening.

mjatkey

Yeah, I've fired a email over to WECO to see what way their BMS are set regarding low temps.

One thing I do note for Seplos BMS is how low their default charge and dis-charge, -10 Charge and -15 discharge, surely these are far too low, I'll mail them to confirm?

I've ordered a couple of heat mats from Amazon which I was going to tape over the side of the WECO's to lift the battery temps as and when.

eldamo

Hi. I have just received my first quote for a solar installation in Meath.

It's probably a bigger installation than I was expecting, but I suppose, one thing I have heard people say is that they regretted not getting more panels when starting off.

So, I suppose I just want to know if it makes sense and the hardware being suggested is of good quality.

We are a family of 5 in a detached house. Large south facing roof. 5009kwh used a year according to my latest bill. No electric car, would rather put off changing my car for as long as I can.

So, the suggestion is an 8.8kwh setup 20 440w panels (anhui huasun).

Solis 5kw hybrid inverter and 5.3kwh weco battery.

Optional extra eddi/iboost hot water diverter.

Any comments?

Like I say, it is my first quote, I will get more. The setup is quite a bit bigger than I was expecting, I was just planning on aping my neighbour who got a 14 panels installation, and I just wanted to talk about batteries...

That said, the price seems good, not a lot more expensive than I was expecting based off the smaller installation.

Is there an accepted "best panel on the market"? Is 440w per panel at or near the current top of the range? I'm sure the next salesman along will tell me I am being had...

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123039629#Comment_123039629

There's a dedicated thread for quotes below. You might want to put in the price of it and if you qualify for the grant to get better responses. You can input the quote here to give you an idea of the cost.

https://davidhunt.ie/solar/

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058329045/domestic-solar-pv-quotes-2024-no-pm-requests-see-mod-note-post-1

str8y

Hi Folks, beginner here.

If I install a 7kw system do I need a inverter higher than 7kw?

Megastreisand

No it's usually the other way around- The total system kwp is normally higher , up to 50% higher depending on the specs of the inverter, than what the inverter is rated at. Currently the max inverter allowable by ESB Networks is 5kW , up to Summer 2023 it was 6kW.

idc

For NC6 connection to ESB Network single phase is max 25Amp (so approx 5.75kw inverter). 3 phase connection allows a larger inverter. There is also a NC7 connection which allows larger inverters but that has a much higher cost.
You need to consider two sizes one is the panels potential kWp and the inverter size. Current inverters can generally do 200% oversizing - so a 5kW inverter can take 10kWp. (my own inverter is moving to 240% oversizing!)

Grumpypants

With the thaw my battery is back charging up to 100%.

Checked last night's charge rate and it was 2.8kw rather than the 500w in the cold.

If i check today's screenshot against the one I posted last time the Battery Charging Current limit has gone from 10A back up to 50A. This must be tied to the temperature as a safety measure??

I either have to change that and hope it's not dangerous or extend the charge from grid time in the winter so it has enough time to fully charge.

mjatkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123054155#Comment_123054155

You probably won't be able to change the charge current as the BMS controls it to protect the batteries, mine was down to 20A last week.

I've bought a couple of these to stick to the side of the WECO's and control them through a smart switch connected to a smart temperature gauge, hopefully it will keep the batteries at more useable temperature next time it gets really cold.

Reptile Heating Mat, 14W Reptile Heat Pad with Temperature Adjustment Removable Terrarium Heat Mats for Turtle, Tortoise, Snakes, Lizard, Geckos, Spiders, Caterpillars, Aquarium, 11x6 inches : Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

homewardbound11

Hi all. This should probably be in the noob section so apologies if it sounds obvious to some . Trying to get my head around solar for the sake of it ( saving money by selling back to the grid ) and solar for reducing electricity and overall house consumption ( by means of retrofitting to air to water and possibly electric car down the road ). 

I’ve a A2 house but with oil . The house fabric is good . Air tight house and mechanical ventilation. Room sealed tight wood stoves and currently have solar hot water . Oil was chosen back in2008 a planning stage as a back drop ( before low energy house was made normal by the planning laws) My electricity usage isn’t massive for a large house and preference is to keep the solar hot water. Only big demand item is electric stove . if I can only sell back @ 6 kw or so limited to the esb requirements and currently house consumption is currently 1800 euro per year ( family of 4 and will be reducing due to college etc) should I go and change away from oil? and make my electricity demand higher and thus go higher on my solar array. 

I hope this makes sense . I’m trying to figure out what is worth it now selling back and also increasing consumption should selling back not be as good as now . 

A air to water was suggested as a replacement by an experienced provider as my oil burner is now 13 years old and probably will need replacing in the next 3-5 years . Current oil consumption is 500-600 litres per year . Spent mostly drying clothes and boosting in the winter mornings and for showers in the winter time when solar water is not doing anything . 

MacDanger

Other people will be able to give you a more quantitative answer but my personal opinion is that it's not a good idea to pull out a perfectly well-functioning system. I'd wait until it needs replacing and make the change them

DC999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123058933#Comment_123058933

You’ve a lot in this. But it could boil down to ‘Is solar useful in Ireland?’. That’s a hell yeah.

Once you get it, you can decide what other journeys / strategies you want to go on. But you don’t need to know those answers yet. They are separate to the decision to get solar. I say that kindly as someone who can jump down rabbit holes 😊

Some here fill up on a cheap night rate and run the house on that (with a house battery), and export all solar. But step1 is getting solar quotes 😊 And then post it on Domestic Solar PV Quotes 2024 - No PM requests - See Mod note post #1 - Page 22 — boards.ie - Now Ye're Talkin' for a review + sense check.

Grumpypants

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123058933#Comment_123058933

I'd be reluctant to pull out any system that is working and replaced it with a more expensive option. Oil is a very cheap way to heat water. Especially when you've already paid for the boiler. Same for the solar hot water. Leave both in.

If you consider that you'll probably use the most oil in the winter to heat the house and water. And In the winter solar PV struggles, so most likely all you would do is swap out heating water with oil, for heating water with electricity from the grid (not the panels).

When you are getting loads of free solar PV electricity in the summer. Your solar hot water is also working well!! So the amount of water you need to heat up is much smaller.

If it was me I'd leave the oil, leave the solar hot water. And focus on solar PV. Once you know what it's delivering each year you can make a better assessment on the cost of the heat pump.

graememk

Id agree with the rest of the replies, Get the PV and not worry about the rest for now.

If/when oil boiler gets end of life, then you can look into it more.

But for drying clothes, and using heating to dry them, Get a dehumidifier. Works way better than heat, it actually removes the moisture, not just heats the air up so it can hold more.

(heat pump tumble dryers are dehumidifiers in a enclosed box than can tumble the clothes about)

Eleusis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123060682#Comment_123060682

I think he said he has mechanical ventilation. That is AMAZING for drying clothes as long as the room used has extract ducts.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123061202#Comment_123061202

Same physics, different process, dehumidification. Clothes dried in a fraction of the time.

slave1

Modern HP dryers also operate on lower temps so traditional clothes that would shrink etc do not suffer, the downside is the cycle takes longer but uses considerably less electricity which is a positive

sekond

Does anyone have any experience with flat roof mounts? We have a mixed pitched and flat roof on our house. Because of the orientation of the house the solar companies who have done site visits have recommended splitting the panels across both to get a longer day from the solar.

I understand the purpose behind the flat roof mount (I don't particularly want anyone drilling into the flat roof anyway), but I'm a bit concerned about the fact that they are just weighted down and not attached to anything, especially in the case of particularly high winds.

I'm keen to get as many panels as possible put in, but I don't want something that isn't going to stand up to bad weather.

slave1

some ideas here…

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058375253/the-ground-mount-tubs-thread