Solar PV Hints, Tips & Troubleshooting

MAULBROOK · 21-10-2021 07:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118054175#Comment_118054175

Been there done that.

Jonathan · 21-10-2021 07:21PM

@AndyBoBandy How did your system perform on its first sunny day? Still like a kid on Christmas morning? 😂

AndyBoBandy · 21-10-2021 07:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118054670#Comment_118054670

Yeah, it’s fcuking epic……..

ran the house, filled the battery and put about 3kWh into the car!!!!!

generated 8.5kWh in total today…. For late October I guess I’ll take that all day long.

last night the battery kept going til 4am (car starts charging at 3am), so helped with the dishwashing beforehand too.. (the 4 spikes), and the last of it went into the car.

MAULBROOK · 21-10-2021 07:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118054753#Comment_118054753

You will be going into rehab for the app addiction. Enjoy it, its a fantastic feeling. Im nearly 3 years in and still think its the best thing, running your gaff and car in sun power. Cool

DrPhilG · 21-10-2021 07:58PM

Yeah it's utterly addictive. My wife has gotten a bit slack though, she's been caught a few times running the washing machine during the day when there's no sun.

Tut tut.

Another fine day today. Other than when I fixed my BMS and had some battery downtime, I haven't bought any day rate juice this month, and only exported 1.7kWh.

21-10-2021 08:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118053988#Comment_118053988

I'd say it's the distance between router and the dongle.

AndyBoBandy · 21-10-2021 08:14PM

The gas thing is I’m actually in the power generation industry! Having installed around 5,000MW of capacity in the form of gas & steam turbines around the world…… yet my little 5.78kW system on my roof is my proudest install!!!

slave1 · 21-10-2021 08:18PM

Andy, you should time your battery to stop discharging when you are charging the EV, very inefficient use of power

MAULBROOK · 21-10-2021 08:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118054881#Comment_118054881

🤣 Oh the irony, thats fuxking hilarious.

AndyBoBandy · 21-10-2021 08:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118054902#Comment_118054902

Is that easy enough to do? The car starts charging at 3am, and would usually be finished at around 6-7am...

Could I time the battery to stop discharging at 3am, and then start again at 9am when the day rate kicks back in?

Jonathan · 21-10-2021 08:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118054753#Comment_118054753

Ah great stuff. Yeah it's totally addictive.

Fantastic day here in Dublin - 19.1kWh generated.

Still haven't gotten my battery yet (due next week), and wasn't expecting such a good day today, so put too much into the car earlier in the week. 🙄

Managed to limit export to 1.7kWh through plug in heaters and smart plugs. Have a Raspberry Pi near the Eddi, so going to invest in relay board to automate the smart plugs as dump loads.

graememk · 21-10-2021 10:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118054959#Comment_118054959

Yeah I think you can set the inverter to charge at 0 w to prevent discharge.

Also this time of the year, don't let it discharge on night rate, sunny days are rare enough

AndyBoBandy · 22-10-2021 03:17PM

Sorry folks I'm after messing up something with the data logger!!

I want to re-configure it to a better wi-fi network, so deleted it from the Solis Home app, and I'm trying to re-install it while connected to the other wi-fi network... and I now can't get past about 15% of it going through the configuration!!!

Any ideas?

Jonathan · 22-10-2021 03:35PM

From memory the datalogger is very picky in the SSIDs that it can connect to. No symbols in SSID or WPS key I think.

AndyBoBandy · 22-10-2021 03:38PM

I had it all connected fine yesterday, and have just deleted it and the inverter from the app and trying to just add them back again!!!

yankinlk · 22-10-2021 06:48PM

I had issues trying to connect from my phone. There is a much better method from a PC connecting directly to the device.... I googled it and followed the steps. It worked even though I had issues with the SSID having a dash... and this method worked fine.

Solis WiFi Stick Installation Instructions.pdf (solacity.com)

jkforde · 22-10-2021 07:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118058408#Comment_118058408

yep, SSID using just letters, no dashes even, works fine then

Jonathan · 24-10-2021 04:15PM

PSA for any MyEnergi users.

There is a firmware bug which has triggered the end of DST a weekend early for Eddi and Zappi devices. Just incase anyone has any boost scheduled designed around disabling discharge on the inverter.

jkforde · 24-10-2021 04:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118066624#Comment_118066624

workaround is to turn OFF cloud update in Time settings in both Zappi and Eddi as applicable

jkforde · 25-10-2021 09:28AM

https://myenergi.info/known-issue-daylight-saving-time-t4450.html

ME hope to have a fix by today

AnswerIs42 · 25-10-2021 10:10AM

Does anyone know how do you calculate the max system size an inverter can support?

I have a 4.5 kW system with a 5kW Solis Hybrid inverter. I'm thinking of adding more panels to bring it up to a 6.3 kW system. Would i need to upgrade the inverter too?

DrPhilG · 25-10-2021 10:24AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118069885#Comment_118069885

I have a 5kw Solis hybrid an 6.2kW of panels, possibly increasing to 8kW next year.

The smarter folk than me will be along shortly to explain the limits and calculations.

25-10-2021 11:12AM

Anyone got good tip for insulating Pylontech battery in the attic?

Fine so far but during the winter months it'll be cool enough up there.

graememk · 25-10-2021 11:15AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118069885#Comment_118069885

You are limited by the PV max voltage of the inverter, and this is per string and I think the max voltage is the same for the 6kw as is the 5kw.

Worst scenario at -20 degrees is 40.8(open circuit voltage) x 12 panel x 1.1215 temp coeff x 1.03 tolerance = 565.55V

13 panels would have pushed the possible voltage too high.

AnswerIs42 · 25-10-2021 11:31AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118070045#Comment_118070045

Ah great.

The inverter data sheet says the MPPT operating voltage range is 90-520.

The panel data sheet says the OCV is 49.7

So 49.7 * 14 panels * 1.1215 *1.03 = 804V so it looks like this won't work at -20.

How do you calculate the temp coefficient?

graememk · 25-10-2021 11:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118070106#Comment_118070106

Its not the max operating it's just max input which is 600v.

What panels do you have?

I didn't calculate the temp coefficient it was given to me by someone who knows what he's chatting about.

AnswerIs42 · 25-10-2021 11:50AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118070151#Comment_118070151

I have JA solar 450w panels.

I just re-read you message and noticed you said per string.

So 49.7 * 7 panels * 1.1215 * 1.03 = 402V so it should be fine....i think 🤔

MAULBROOK · 25-10-2021 12:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118069920#Comment_118069920

I think you might need a 6kw Inverter. Hopefully i will have a 5kw solis inverter for sale before the end of the year.

With the amount of work you have given the Enniskillen lads they should be giving it to you for free. You have made them a bloody fortune tbf.

AndyBoBandy · 25-10-2021 01:00PM

Im not even a week in and I’m thinking i already need to start thinking about a 2nd battery…

Question: if I get a 2nd battery will my rate of discharge to the house increase? As in max discharge rate of my current battery plus the max discharge rate of a potential 2nd battery? (My Inverted is a Solis Hybrid 6kW)

Granted it’s a sunny day (and I’m not home this week), but my battery is already almost full and it’s only 1pm!!!

Jonathan · 25-10-2021 01:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118070439#Comment_118070439

Stop heating your water cylinder with the boiler and let the Eddi soak up some of the surplus?

Solar PV Hints, Tips & Troubleshooting

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