Where do ye have installed your solar inverter?

UnhappyCustomer

Attic? Utility? Under the stairs? and did you get to choose when the installer came to the house? Did you have to agree before hand?

I heard, it gets really hot. Did you take advantage of it?

Tell us more :)

the_amazing_raisin

Attic, I thought they'd install it in the utility room to be near the fuse board but they went for attic instead

I probably could have insisted it was elsewhere, but that location suited us and it would have made life a lot more complicated for things like the fireman switch

con747

A wasted space in a hall outside my kitchen beside the consumer unit where I told them I wanted it so I could access it easily. They are way to busy to let people dictate what day suits them, it's a case of when they can fit you into their schedule.

graememk

This is gonna be totally unhelpful.. but in the barn in the Yard. It was beside the consumer unit there. panels are down there too on a shed.

UnhappyCustomer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120596843#Comment_120596843

I heard it gets really hot. Do you notice the heat in the attic? Also, would you have been allowed to put it besides the fuse board? safestywise I mean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120596910#Comment_120596910

Yeah I suppose you don't tell them when to do it but you can tell them they way you want it done.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120596926#Comment_120596926

Do you have the panels on the shed or the barn? Or the barn is the house? It sounds funny you have the consumer unit out in the shed/barn.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120597041#Comment_120597041

I have "A" consumer unit in the barn,

House is the main CU, then goes to the Meal shed wheres theres a second, then it goes to the barn where its the third...

Panels are on a steel roof about 50m (of cable anyway) from the inverter.. Red dot is where the inverter is

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120597041#Comment_120597041

Only had it since February so can't comment on the heat. Attic is outside the insulation so it might get a bit warm on hot days but should cool down quickly enough

Our CU is in the utility room in the middle of the house. There's limits on the distance between the fireman switch and where the cables come into the house (max 2 metres I think) which would have been a hassle if I put it in the utility room

silver_sky

Attic, no other good usable space for it. I thought about the utility but it's just too small.

Big Lar

Inside the back door in the utility, it gets hot when charging/discharging the battery so the room was nice and warm for the winter. I added a fan yesterday as the warmer weather seems to be increasing the temps.

I think the heat would be wasted in the attic.

UnhappyCustomer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120597072#Comment_120597072

Big property alright. You were right, I cannot take it as a reference, but interesting arrange though. Thanks for sharing.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120597438#Comment_120597438

Too small the utility or the inverter?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120597446#Comment_120597446

increasing the temps as in it is warm or more like sauna mode? I think the same, it would be wasted in the attic but still not sure where to place it.

silver_sky

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120597489#Comment_120597489

Utility is too small for it. Maybe if it was a small string inverter it'd be OK but I've a Solis hybrid and 5kWh battery along with it.

It got a bit hot last year and I saw some reduction in generation but nothing huge. Still it's on my list to get a socket up there for a fan to help it during the worst. If only just for longevity of the inverter.

DC999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120597489#Comment_120597489

If it's outdoor rated it can go outside. Installer will tell you. Mine is outside backing onto the fuseboard. Perfect location for us. Small house and no utility.

idc

In box room of typial 3 bed house! The room was already small and attic conversion stairs made it even smaller so is now an office! The sales guy walked around the house taking photos and discussing possible locations to install it to send to the electrician. Box is rated for outdoors and from facebook see many installed outdoors in Australia! but my installer doesn't tend to put them outdoors - can't recall his reason - could of been temperature or the fact irish weather is so wet even with it being rated for outdoor use.

micks_address

ours is in the old 'oil boiler' room thats built into the side of the house with its own door..

ELM327

Office kitchen - room only used for the inverter, batteries and my coffee machines!

Big Lar

@UnhappyCustomer Just grand and warm in the utility so it is.

Busman Paddy Lasty

Attic. It doesn't take up any room in the house, small 3 bed semi with no spare space. Attic is nice and cool since install, I think the panels prevent the roof tiles heating up the attic.

@UnhappyCustomer what house type and size are you in?

Fingleberries

This is an interesting conversation to follow. We're planning our installation at the moment, we're in a small three bed mid-terrace house with very little spare room (attic converted and styra going up to a very small storage space in the remaining attic, with all the space mostly taken up with stuff). Consumer unit is just inside the front door, with a narrow hall.

It would be interesting to follow this thread and learn the possible installation options for the inverter and batteries without losing useful space in the halls or storage space in the attic.

DownByTheGarden

If you are planning on getting batteries to charge overnight dont put it anywhere where anyone sleeping will be. They are loud when they are charging the batteries at night or when there is full sun.

idc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120598919#Comment_120598919

Must depend on the battery, as don't ever hear mine charging at night or during the day, wife works in that room all the time without issue - car/charger i have definitely makes a a noticeable sound, but Inverter and battery is not noticeable

niallers1

Corner of the attic with my batteries - Inverter and batteries are silent

UnhappyCustomer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120598140#Comment_120598140

I think the same, all those IP rates have been designed not thinking of irish weather.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120598671#Comment_120598671

I live in a 6 bedrooms detached house. It is not lack of space but I don't know where to put it, I want to take advantage of the heat without having an electronic device hanging on a wall in a room. Since I want to foam the roof, attic is not an option (also I think the heat would be wasted)

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120598919#Comment_120598919

Good advice

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120599030#Comment_120599030

do notice any heat?

crisco10

Have mine in corner of converted attic. (the corner is a sort of a dead space anyway).

It is defo warm up here (the attic is the office), but opening the velux window cools it fast. Also, clothes dry overnight on a clothes horse with the additional consistent heat.

Cant say I've ever heard the battery or inverter make any noise, and effectively I sit beside them for 8 hours a day Monday to Friday.

idc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120599324#Comment_120599324

You mention about heat, I thought the main issue with Inverter in attic was more over heating of the inverter and it not running as efficiently or shutting down as opposed to inverter generating noticeable heat itself !

I've never noticed my inverter generating any usable heat.

niallers1

No noticeable heat from the inverter, The inverter has a large heatsink attached to it. It gets warm to touch but never hot.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120605823#Comment_120605823

What make of inverter? The Solis inverters get very hot when under high loads, you could barely hold your hand on the sides of them for more than a few seconds. A lot of people here have fans running on automation to keep them cool during summer.

niallers1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120606121#Comment_120606121

I have a solis 5kw inverter - It's never gotten too hot to touch

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120613753#Comment_120613753

Same as mine, the metal at the back and sides can get hot under high loads. Mainly on very sunny days. A lot of people have fans set up to cool them down.

ColemanY2K

This is an interesting thread to stumble across.

I'm doing DIY. I have a 5kW hybrid Solis inverter yet to be installed. My plan before reading this thread was to put it into a yet to be built temporary garden shed (to be dismantled after the garage was built) which was going to be between the array and the back door going into the utility.

However having read this thread, I'm now thinking the utility might be a better location. This would put the inverter about 20m away from the ground mount array.

The house is passive and has MVHR including and extract in the utility. My fear is the inverter overheating in the summer could become an issue in the house even with the MVHR summer bypass activated. Do they give off much heat in the winter as this would be a major bonus in a low energy house?

...and what about batteries. Can they be in the shed which would be 5 to 10 metres from the utility? I worry about the fire risk.

Big Lar

I would think that if you put the battery 5-10m away from the inverter that cable loss and voltage drop would be an issue unless you size the cables correctly.

Perhaps relocate the inverter and batteries to the garage altogether.

ColemanY2K

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120853432#Comment_120853432

Ya i think I'll stick to the original plan in having it in the shed. Plus it'll keep the Mrs onside as she has grand designs for the utility.

Buffman

Regarding placing an inverter outside, something to bare in mind is pretty much every manufactures manual I've read has instructions to only mount it in sheltered areas out of direct sunlight and direct weather.

So that pretty much limits it to a sheltered north-facing wall, or similar, which may not be available on many buildings.

Also, some inverters are specifically indoor only, like the Mastervolt Soladin.

Lewis_Benson

Attic.

The eddi is installed next to the fuse board, I wanted to install it in the hot press / airing cupboard, but the installers didn't want to do that for whatever reason.

Buffman

Here's what my Growatt manual says about locating an inverter:

"This is guidance for installer to choose a suitable installation location, to avoid potential damages to device and operators.

The installation location must be suitable for the inverter's weight and dimensions for a long period time. (Refer to section 3.3)

Do not install the inverter on structures constructed of flammable or thermolabile materials.

Never install the inverter in environment of little or no air flow, nor dust environment. That may derate the efficiency of the cooling fan of the inverter.

The Ingress Protection rate is IP65 which means the inverter can be installed outdoors and indoors.

Do not expose the inverter to direct sunlight, in order to avoid the power and efficiency derating caused by excessive heating.

The humidity of the installation location should be 0~100% without condensation.

The ambient temperature should be below 40℃ to ensure optimal operation.

The installation location must be freely and safely to get at all times.

Vertically installation and make sure the connection of inverter must be downwards. Never install horizontal and avoids forward and sideways.

Do not install the inverter near television antenna or any other antennas and antenna cables.

Do not install the inverter in living area, the noise caused by the machine may affect on daily life.

For security reasons, don’t install the inverter in place where the children can reach.

Don't put any things on the inverter. Do not cover the inverter.

Inverter requires adequate cooling space. Providing better ventilation for the inverter to ensure the heat escape adequately.

Do not expose the inverter to direct sunlight, as this can cause excessive heating and thus power reduction.

Observe the minimum clearances to walls, other inverters or objects as shown in the diagram below in order to guarantee sufficient heat dissipation.

There must be sufficient clearance between the individual inverters to ensure that the cooling air of the adjacent inverter is not taken in.

If necessary, increase the clearance spaces and make sure there is enough fresh air supply to ensure sufficient cooling of the inverters.

The inverter can’t install to solarization,drench,firn location. We suggest that the inverters should be installed at the location with some cover or protection"

Buffman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120867062#Comment_120867062

The hot press is possibly the worst place for it. Inverters can create a good bit of heat and need a bit of air available across the cooling fins on the back to keep themselves cool. So enclosing it in an small already very hot enclosure will likely lead to overheating and damage.

The manual will specify a minimum distance to be kept clear around the inverter also, along the lines of 30cm.

DC999

Ours is on a south facing wall and it's perfect. Windy spot so that cools it naturally. Huawei which is outdoor rated. It's a lower operating temp versus an attic in summer.

Installer said all the solar farms have them outside.

micks_address

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120867062#Comment_120867062

It's easier to install the Eddi beside the fuseboard. It's can't be done in some cases. If any other circuits have been taken from your immersion circuit like lights etc which they shouldn't but can be in some houses..the Eddi would kill the whole circuit