Solar PV Hints, Tips & Troubleshooting

I'd say a lot more than that in reality, the solis import value is way off

Seems to always use a tiny bit when the cooker/oven are on (even though usage is under 5kwh) quite annoying actually.

Solis reports 0kwh import for most days this month but that is fake news in reality 😥

And when I signed up with EI in Jan on their EV plan, I got a €300 credit. So added to the €200, I have only used about €180 in total since Jan. I could easily see myself getting all the way to October on credits !!!

I hope its okay to post a series of questions here. As I've got a deposit down on a fit happening in three weeks time, there are a few little things I'm just wanting to confirm and as I've clearly bored the pants off the installer, I thought I'd ask here.

1 - I have a Solis Inverter being installed. The installer said it's likely to be mounted in the loft. My loft gets incredibly hot; in excess of 37 degrees one day last week. I know the Solis has a maximum of 60 degrees ambient temperature but how hot do these things get? I ask as if the product itself adds to the current ambient heat, we could be getting close to maximum. Or am I overthinking this?

2 - I'm having an Eddi fitted. Can the Eddi work without a CT clamp? I ask as the immersion is dual element and to use the two outputs from the Eddi, the device needs to be mounted in the Hot Press which is away from the Consumer Unit. If the answer is 'no', can I safely assume I will need a Harvi?

3 - Is access needed to the (outside) meter cupboard for any connections? Mine is inaccessible from inside the house and the Consumer Unit is remote to the meter box. Again, I ask as any connections needed will have to be surface run, not something I am enormously happy about!

Thanks in advance for any answers, or remove if not allowed for any reason (new to this forum)

No plans at the moment to install a Zappi as I don't have an EV and it will be several years before we do.

I think the best option is a Harvi.

Thanks!

Just got a zappi. Have been using granny cable last few weeks which has been great as it only uses 2.2 kW meant during middle of day I could be charging car and still charging battery (just much slower!). Is there a setting on Zappi i can do something similar? ie set it to charge the car at minimum of 1.4kW while the house batteries are still also charging but if batteries hit 100% the zappi will then use the 1.4 or higher?

Slight correction - the solar / grid / battery will be used when solar drops below 1.4kW, to bring charging up to 1.4kW

But when solar excess exceeds 1.4kW, only solar is used.

So ECO can drain your battery if you don't have some automation controlling it (or keep an eye on it)

Yes, PM me

I understand where you're coming from!

In less than three weeks I too have the installers in to fit a solar PV system. The lack of communication is worrying me too.

I've thought the system through with the help from people on here and already purchased a Harvi and an extra CT clamp as there is no easy route through from the Hot Press where the immersion and Eddi will be, and the Consumer Unit. Even if the installer knows of a way, it has to be easier for him to use a Harvi to send the signal....and the extra CT clamp will add the import figure onto the Eddi display.

I've never known installers of anything to tidy up after themselves! When I finished this house (I bought it at first fix) the electrician, plumber, plasterers and carpet fitters all left a mess behind. The plumber pulled up my block paving outside to run an oil pipe and didn't re-lay it. I was 4 years on the sites in the UK and I left anywhere I went at least as tidy as I found it, seems things have changed.

Sorry I couldn't be more help, but you are not alone in your panic, for what its worth.

That's exactly my thinking. I reckoned it was better to have two than to have none 👍️

I wouldn't have been worrying about the 50cm, since you'll no longer be needing to worry about the grant. And sure it's low down and around the back too