Basic questions about PV Solar Panel System

Sunshine7878

- No Zappi and No Battery, just Eddi for hot water. My hot water cylinder is upstairs in the hotpress. The inverter will be in the attic above that. The Sink/Bath switch for the Immersion is downstairs in the kitchen.

1. Where should my Eddi be installed?

2.What does Eddi connect to? - the inverter/the cylinder/or both and how?

jkforde

I turned off the radiator in our hot press and the Eddi is happy in there.

see this MyEnergi installation pdf

https://www.myenergi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/eddi-2.1-Installation-Manual-Rev-2.0.3-September-2022.pdf

Grid Harvi + CT works well as long as there's consistent clear connection between them.

Sunshine7878

jkforde thanks. I'm still trying to figure out how Eddi works. I'm wondering what and how Eddi is connected to?

1. Is there a cable going from Eddi up to attic to connect to the inverter?
2. Is there also a cable going from Eddi directly to the immersion where it enters the water cylinder (at top of cylinder in my case)?
3. Where was the Sink/Bath switch before you got Eddi?

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120946667#Comment_120946667

Generally the Eddi replaces the immersion controller switch, so it'll use the existing output from the switch to the immersion heater

The Eddi needs a CT clamp around the electricity grid connection into the house. Generally people put it in the meter box or fuse board

It can be wired directly to the Eddi, or if there isn't convenient wiring you can use a device called a Harvi to wirelessly connect the sensor to the Eddi. In that case the CT clamp connects to the Harvi and you'll need to pair it with the Eddi

The CT clamp senses the flow of current into or out of the house. When it senses negative current, it means your house has excess solar power and the Eddi will switch on the immersion heater to use up the excess. It can sense how much power is being exported so will match that with the immersion heater to stop you using power from the grid

You can also wire a CT clamp to the inverter output so the Eddi can measure how much power is being generated. I don't think it's strictly needed but it does make the app a bit more useful.

I think you need Hub to connect the Eddi to the internet for the app to work. I don't think there's an Eddi with built in WiFi like the Zappi yet but others can confirm

If you only have the CT clamp on the grid connection, then if the house is consuming 1kW and it's being met with solar then the Eddi will show 0W consumption (because you aren't importing or exporting anything)

If you have the second CT on the inverter output then the app will show the 1kW coming from the PV system

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120947131#Comment_120947131

New eddis have wifi built in. (It's actually an esp32!)

But yes only the grid is needed, having one in the inverter will give a better overview of the whole system but not necessary.

Sunshine7878

Thank you both. That was a great explanation of how and where Eddi connects to the system. Really appreciate that.

Sunshine7878

Wifi Question please.

What speed wifi is required for the inverter, which will be in my attic and a long way from the router?

My Eddi and Harvi will be ok, hopefully, as they will be downstairs and closer to the router.

graememk

Just needs a stable connection, amount of data is trivial

Sunshine7878

Thank you

ColemanY2K

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120947234#Comment_120947234

is it possible to joint a CT cable or buy a long lead CT cable? my inverter will be in the shed with harvi in the utility about 10-15m away. while its not necessary i would like that better overview.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120965985#Comment_120965985

Yep they can just be extended, a lot of people use cat6 to extend.

But if your using a harvi you could just have it at the consumer unit and connect all the CTs there

ColemanY2K

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966049#Comment_120966049

Nice one. Only issue I have is the inverter will be tied into the consumer unit in the garage. A long cable is the only way around it as far as I can see.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966816#Comment_120966816

Ah, standard inverter or hybrid? If hybrid it would need a CT back to the main consumer unit.

(Put 2 cat 6 cables out to the garage at least, one to use now and one just in case) and possibly one for internet too 😆

Better looking at it than for it.

ColemanY2K

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966854#Comment_120966854

Cheers bud. It's a 5kW hybrid inverter.

Funnily enough I asked for advice on boards regarding running cables to the garage when I started the house last winter and as a result of that advice I ran a 110mm duct under the floor of the utility and out through the wall at deadwork level. All electrical services leaving the house go through it. There's plenty of space left to fish through one or more cat 6 cables should I need to.

My only mistake was not running cat 6 to the utility. it's in the bedrooms and living room but not utility....might have to employ the use of a WiFi booster or something like that and connect a cat 6 or two going out to the currently non-existent garage 😅

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120967734#Comment_120967734

I use these https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07J652QRY and find they work very well if any use to you.

ColemanY2K

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120970008#Comment_120970008

Yeah I had been looking at TP-Link AC2600. It seems to have great range. Will need the booster to reach the Ring bell on the gate so I'd imagine the same booster if positioned correctly should easily cover the shed at the back and driveway gates 15-20m to the front. That's of course if their claim to range is in any way accurate.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120967734#Comment_120967734

No way of getting a cable to the utility? Hardwire is always be better.

Although the main reason for the CT isn't for network, it's to carry CT signals (using 1 twisted pair)