digzy wrote: » Hi lads Looking for a bit of free info please I live in an old house. I've new windows and attic insulated. I've the air to water system installed. My electricity bills have been seriously steep (6k over last 9 months). hence I'm looking into other sources of electricity. I was given the following quote1. 26 x 310 Mono JA Panels 2. 1 x Solax Inverter 3 Phase 3. 1 x 9kw Solax Battery 4. Ground works for cable to be done by client as per agreed and discount allowance included. Caldor will process all grant paperwork & will claim the grant on your behalf. BER included as standard. Total price would be €18,500 inc. Vat (after grant) I was told by the rep/engineer that I'd be shaving 60% off the bills which I'd be happy with. However, I'm hearing that these panels may not have that kind of payback. Do the sums add up? thanks in advance
digzy wrote: » Looking for a bit of free info please I live in an old house. I've new windows and attic insulated. I've the air to water system installed. My electricity bills have been seriously steep (6k over last 9 months). hence I'm looking into other sources of electricity.
digzy wrote: » I was told by the rep/engineer that I'd be shaving 60% off the bills which I'd be happy with. However, I'm hearing that these panels may not have that kind of payback. Do the sums add up?
air wrote: » He's obviously on 3 phase
unkel wrote: » Obviously? How many old private houses in Ireland are on 3 phase? Wouldn't be too many I'd have thought. Or maybe the quote included getting connected to 3-phase
unkel wrote: » You're a bit vague. Was the A2W system already in the house when you bought it?
digzy wrote: » No. House was oil fired when I bought it. So went a2w before we moved in
Northumberland wrote: » Hi anyone out there using Pylontech batteries with a Solis inverter? The manual for the Pylontech states max charge voltage 54 v and charge current 25A (up to a max of 50 amp) - but that is surely for just one battery? I have two connected of course in parallel. I had assumed that the batteries own BMS would know it was connected to a second battey, and the Solis as well would control the show, all connected up as it is with monitoring cables, but now not so sure. 53 volts at 25 amps is 1.3 kW. When the sun is shining, I see that just 1.25 kW is going to charge my batteries, but often an additional 1 to 2kW is being given away free to the grid. Am I right in thinking that with two batteries in parallel I could charge them together with 2.5kW, or 50 amps?
Northumberland wrote: » If I want to ensure that I have at least 50% charge in my batteries when a storm is expected, is the easiest way to do this to just turn both batteries 'off' using the rocker switch on each when a storm is expected (and when the batteries have at least 50% charge)?, and then to turn batteries back ON if the power cut actually happens (will the inverter be able to 'power up' from the batteries?)
quentingargan wrote: » Max inverter is 6kw. You can typically put 6kw panels onto a 5kw hybrid inverter and put another 1.2kw onto a 1kw inverter on the same site. So max panels is 7.2kw. If you want to go beyond that, it'll cost you more than its worth to have G10 relays and approvals.
AidenL wrote: » That’s great, thanks for the clarity. My house is mostly south facing, I thought it might be useful to have maybe 2 panels facing both east and west for morning and evening maximum benefit, so 1.2kw would suit nicely.
quentingargan wrote: » Yes, but those four panels will need optimisers to ensure that the darker ones don't affect the brigher ones. Not a big issue - optimisers are cheap enough.
quentingargan wrote: » You can set this in the advanced settings. Are you familiar with these? PM me if you want the password. The exact menu options changed depending on whether you have HMI version above 20. You go to advanced settings - storage energy set - battery select. Press enter to leave it on pylon. You get an option for over discharge SOC. You can temporarily set this to 50%. Normally it is between 12% and 20%. You then get an option for force charge SOC. This can be set to 48% to prevent the inverter discharging the batteries during long dull spells. See section 38/39 of manual. If you don't have the inverter manual, PM me. Glad you got the other issue resolved.
unkel wrote: » Optimisers are about €50-€60 per panel. Up to you to make your mind up. Alternatively you could go for a dual or triple string MPPT inverter, then you won't need optimisers for your E or W strings
reklamos wrote: » Before going with optimizers, check your inverter. Solis RHI ones are Dual MPPT so you can connect those panels to second MPPT without optimizers
AidenL wrote: » Could I install twenty 615 watt panels, with a 5kw ? It would put me a little over the ESB allowance, but is that within margin of error, or is it a total nono? Finally, a big question for me - one installer has said no issues fitting in the attic, no heat or fire issues. Another installer has said he would much prefer to install in my steeltech shed, citing more space, less heat issues and better for the inverter. Hes quoting around 1000 euros more, but he would have trenching, armoured cable and so on included. Its around 2m from the side gable of my house. He taken for fireproof board as a backing wall for the equipment and so on. Any opinions on this, safety, worth the additional cost, etc? Attic is insulated, but it still gets cold in winter and hot in summer though. To be fair, so does the shed, same , or approximately the same temp extremes in all honesty, the shed not heated, so would run to freezing and below in winter, which I believe has an effect on batteries not charging and not discharging. Id appreciate thoughts on pros and cons on the tow locations please?
