Solar PV Hints, Tips & Troubleshooting

I got a Solis system installed last week. Since Friday, it's been throwing a 'No Grid' alarm but:

a) I haven't had a power cut

b) nothing has tripped

c) turning off battery + ac supply then back on again (as recommended by installer) doesn't help anything

It was running great for 4 days and then this so I've been getting energy only from the grid over the weekend.

Tomorrow I'm expecting to be on the phone half the day to Solis and the installers, but checking in to see if anyone has any pearls of wisdom or advice here.

Thanks for the reply. Sadly not - triple checked everything and all switches are in the fully on position.

Get installer out the change in weather a loose connection or similar

Mine is 6kWp. I've a solis 6kW Hybrid. Actual installed panels are less than 6kW.

It does sound like you may have a Solis 3.6kW inverter. As @Jonathan mentions, check the label on the side of the Solis. When was it installed?

I've also had this No Grid alarm a few times since the install in December. The solar switch in the consumer unit trips each time so it's a quick fix by just flicking it back up. It tends to alarm and trip 2-3 more times within about 24 hours and then it's fine again for another month or so.

Any idea what could be causing this? It's a bit annoying, especially if it happens while away from home as I lose out on charging the battery, heating water and covering the base load.

For anyone with RCBO's tripping, I had same issue with ground mount and tried everything from sealing every joint (every MC4 connector with silicone tape) earthing the frame and eventually swopped out the RCBO from 30MA to 300mA and not a bother since. Apparently it's earth leakage and can happen with some roof mounts too for some reason and tech support said yea you can swop it out but probably won't make much difference.

Mine almost always during heavy rain with wind, sometimes strong gusts with small bit of rain, one time while I was washing them with a hose. Since replacement not a bother since, 4-5 months ago now. Cost €160 but well worth it.

Did you get it sorted and was it earth leakage too?

Yeah sticker on side said 3.6kw, rang installer and he said the lads are coming to swap out tomorrow. Specsavers booked for said lads... :D

Jaysus, that's bread and butter stuff. Either they knew it was wrong and didn't care, or were just careless. Had you not coped it you'd suffer lower output forever more.

Our installer fitted the Zappi and then realised they ordered the wrong one and had to get one for our Leaf - basic logistics stuff that trips them up. But maybe they are making so much on labour that they don't mind the call back to site here and there.

Emailed to ESBN? Didn't think they ever accepted emailed in versions. I thought they wanted and processed only physical originals.

I'd be ringing ESBN 🤔

I'd be giving ESB Networks (non-emergency number) a quick call to check the maximum export capacity for your MPRN. From what I understand the label for the inverter needs to be included also. If there's an error ESBN may not accept the nc6.

I was already following up with esbnetworks this morning to confirm the NC6 was received. mine was submitted on the 20th of April and they have processed as far as the 18th of April at the moment. I'll try them later this week for a confirmation especially with the may 31st cut off coming up. I'll also confirm the maximum export capacity.