Solar PV Hints, Tips & Troubleshooting

THE ALM · 10-04-2022 01:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118905895#Comment_118905895

Think the jump in standing charges we are seeing already is in anticipation of this.

samdeluxjones · 10-04-2022 02:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118905895#Comment_118905895

My panels are up a year now soon and I've approx. 1.5MW gone back into the grid for free that the ESB are getting paid in full for, is that not a form of theft?

graememk · 10-04-2022 04:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118906729#Comment_118906729

Theft is them taking it without your permission, You're giving it away. So charity?

SD_DRACULA · 10-04-2022 04:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118906729#Comment_118906729

Robbed since May 2021 but not for long once I get my batteries up and going.

samdeluxjones · 10-04-2022 04:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118906937#Comment_118906937

Yea if I give it away for free they shouldn't be allowed charge for it then, so all my neighbours should be reimbursed..

samdeluxjones · 10-04-2022 05:31PM

mun1 · 10-04-2022 06:03PM

If you want to give it to your neighbors for free, off you go. No one is stopping you .

You will have to rig up cables between the houses etc as you cant use ESB’s cables and network to give it away.

Scottie99 · 12-04-2022 01:00PM

I've been looking for quotes for a PV System. Unfortunately because the shape of my roof, I'm only looking at 6/7 panels. Ideally I'd like a larger wattage panels allowing me for a bigger system.

Has anyone have advice or ideas which company a could contact?

bullit_dodger · 12-04-2022 01:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118915766#Comment_118915766

You might be able to grab a decent picture of your house via google maps.

Google Maps

Post a piccie of it here (orientate north at the top so that we know which way the roofs face) people here can give you some advice hopefully.

Scottie99 · 12-04-2022 03:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118915912#Comment_118915912

SD_DRACULA · 12-04-2022 03:45PM

That is an overly complicated roof for sure. Don't see much going to south face but E/W looks like it can take a few panels alright.

These guys do triangular panels https://www.trienergia.com/en/ if you want to fill every inch you can but I'd say they're not cheap.

bullit_dodger · 12-04-2022 03:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118916843#Comment_118916843

You have a lot of roof area, but it's all over the place.

You'll be looking at an east/west split. Hard to say without measurements, but probably 4-5 panels on that triangular east one , and then 7-8 on the west facing one. You'll need optimizers on those west panels too due to the chimney.

By the way, the 400watt (and larger watt panels) aren't necessarily more efficient. Yes, they produce more, but they are also bigger. So it might (for example) be the case that you can only fit 5x400 watt panels (2.0Kwp), but you could fit in 6 smaller 370 panels. (2.2Kwp). The point here is that bigger panels aren't always the solution.

The devils · 12-04-2022 10:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118916925#Comment_118916925

Yep agreed think the smaller panels are

1.6m x 1.0

And the bigger ones are

2.0 x 1.0

DennisZ · 13-04-2022 02:22PM

Trying to find a matching micro inverter for 375w qcell g9 panels (I have 2).

TSUN 600w from solartricity seems to be a fit based on individual params/ranges, but not for overall (max) power.

Any alternatives (pref available in Ireland) ?

I am playing around with idea of Sun tracker, so expecting max performance from the panels.

Thanks

DennisZ · 13-04-2022 02:34PM

I am hoping the inverter will just clip the excess without any magic smoke coming out.

Scottie99 · 13-04-2022 08:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118916925#Comment_118916925

Just an update. Had a local company come over, they're suggesting quite a few more. They've been the only company who've actually looked at the roof in person.

championc · 13-04-2022 09:39PM

Interested to know how they plan to link the sth ones in. You may get away with them being part of the west string.. but once they get shaded in any way, the rest of the string will die too

graememk · 13-04-2022 09:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118923437#Comment_118923437

Id say micro inverters. Seems to be the easiest choice rather than optimiser everything

stratowide · 16-04-2022 01:16PM

So I'm in the early stages of getting solar PV.

Just a few questions about heating water.

Currently have an electric shower(heated element).

Have an oil burner which heats radiators and hot water in the tank.This hot water is rarely used.

So I'm thinking..

If I put a mixer shower alongside the existing shower would the PV be capable of heating an immersion during summer months..?

The oil burner should be good enough to keep a well insulated cylinder hot during winter when heating is on.

On a day like today when there's no sun and not cold enough for central heating I could use the original electric shower.

Shower will be used 3-4 times a day.

Just to add I'll be getting a battery also..Don't know what size yet.

Would this plan work..?

yankinlk · 16-04-2022 02:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118929657#Comment_118929657

What size battery did you go with

SD_DRACULA · 16-04-2022 02:39PM

4 x 5.12kwh dyness batteries, it's storing so much I find myself charging my car from them as well. Yeah yeah not efficient etc but it's either that or give back for free so...

One thing that is p***ing me off is that the Solis reaction times are woeful and it still ends up sucking little from the grid, could end up with up 1kwh per day when it should be 0.

If anyone has any tips on how to reduce that (probably not possible) do share 😀

championc · 16-04-2022 03:27PM

There could / should be a CT calibration option / offset setting. I have it on the Sofar ME3000 and I was doing the same until I tweaked it in the opposite direction.

Like you, I was importing maybe only a constant 25w, but it added up over the whole day and then the week and month

Jonathan · 16-04-2022 04:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118935092#Comment_118935092

Contact Solis and get the latest firmware version. I find 3A0029 much moreresponsive. Seems to keep inverter/battery in discharge mode 'ready to go' to match house loads.

SD_DRACULA · 16-04-2022 05:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118935670#Comment_118935670

Yeah Solis support are very bad at replying, asked them to do this I don't know how many times.

Effects · 17-04-2022 03:27PM

I've finished a small system install. The meter is an oldish Siemens, installed in 2002. When it's feeding back to the grid, the meter's disc is running backwards, and the overall numbered reading is also reversing. Is this normal with their meters? I had assumed they had a ratchet, so the numbers wouldn't reverse. Obviously this is a benefit, as it's offering the best feed in tariff 😂 But is there anything to be worried about? I know if the reading is lower than a previous reading, that could be an issue with supplier, but I don't expect that to happen on a small system such as this.

championc · 17-04-2022 03:37PM

Working as expected. Keep as quiet as possible and defer appointments to switch the meter, although they will catch up with you eventually. But yep, once the meter reading is increasing, things won't seem out of the ordinary.

But the lodging of the NC6 could well trigger the meter replacement.

yankinlk · 17-04-2022 06:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118939080#Comment_118939080

Its a bit of a gamble. Stay with the old meter and they might add u to the upgrade list quicker - and that will be a smart meter which is gonna be bad for u (good for them tho).

Or proactively swap out the old meter for a Day/Night meter and it might keep the smart meter away longer.

Effects · 17-04-2022 08:53PM

It’s not my own house, so will leave it as is I guess.

My own house is only 4 years old, so has a new meter. So getting zero for anything that feeds in. And got a letter the other week to say they are upgrading me to a smart meter in a few weeks.

championc · 17-04-2022 10:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118939734#Comment_118939734

Apply for a day / night when the letter arrives looking to install a smart meter

17-04-2022 10:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118940348#Comment_118940348

Just fyi, you can defer the smart meter install. No issues doing so.

Solar PV Hints, Tips & Troubleshooting

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