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Solar for Beginners [ask your questions here]

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    #2702
    Markus Antonius
    Site Banned Posts: 2,997 ✭✭✭Markus Antonius


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121676428#Comment_121676428

    I'm no expert but that sounds like it could be a hysterisis built into the system to prevent a repetitious charge/discharge of the battery



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    #2703
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 18,985 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121676428#Comment_121676428

    Normal, the BMS is not allowing the battery to take a charge gain until it dropped to 95%-96% to protect the battery, you don't want it constantly at a high state of charge, best to let it drop down a bit then recharge.

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    #2704
    tommythecat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,085 ✭✭✭tommythecat


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121676523#Comment_121676523

    Gotcha! Similar to letting my EV sit at 100% is not a good idea. Great. Thanks! Good to know all is working as expected.

    4kwp South East facing PV System. 5.3kwh Weco battery. South Dublin City.



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    #2705
    Markus Antonius
    Site Banned Posts: 2,997 ✭✭✭Markus Antonius


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121676300#Comment_121676300

    Bumping my own question here relating to single phase vs three phase. From my own research it looks like this should be no problem in a residential setting so long as the electrician knows what they are doing.

    Just wanted to hear if anyone has any experience or knows of any issues as it seems less common.



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    #2706
    10-10-20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 10,144 ✭✭✭✭10-10-20


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121676948#Comment_121676948

    Sorry if this sounds like a rhetorical question, but I presume you already have three-phase at the meter box?

    If you do have a 3P supply to the house then you pretty much would have to go with a 3P inverter, otherwise you'll be limited to installing the inverter on a single phase and loose the benefit of being able to supply energy into all 3P in the first place. With 3P you're also supposed to try to balance the load across all three phases, so normally circuits are connected to alternating phases so that L1 might do the downstairs sockets, L2 do upstairs and then L3 and L1 do sections of the kitchen, if you get what I mean.



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    #2707
    Markus Antonius
    Site Banned Posts: 2,997 ✭✭✭Markus Antonius


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121677127#Comment_121677127

    Ah ok. It may only be single phase we have. We have those heavy duty plugs in the shed for the more power hungry tools. I wrongfully thought these were three-phase but they only just have the three prongs. This answers my question then that I likely don't have the facilities for three phase.



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    #2708
    graememk
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 7,757 Mod ✭✭✭✭graememk


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121677299#Comment_121677299

    For future reference 3 phase plugs are red, and 5 pins



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    #2709
    10-10-20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 10,144 ✭✭✭✭10-10-20


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121677299#Comment_121677299

    Right, glad I asked! :)

    Three phase is commonly available where larger heat-pumps and machinery is in use.



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    #2710
    paddym88
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6 ✭paddym88


    Thinking of getting solar panels but don't know what size I would need or if would need battery at the moment or not. Current annual usage is around 3/3500 kwh. Wife works from home and can't see that changing anytime soon. Don't have an electric car at the moment but who is to say that won't go down that route in a few years time. Have an immersion that heats hot water in the summer. Any help would be great. Live in the country if that makes any difference



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    #2711
    micks_address
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,041 ✭✭✭✭micks_address


    The electric car and water heating don't make much difference. It's best to charge both at night rates and export everything else as you can get rates at less than 10 cents at night and export at 25 cents. Trick is move as much of your usage as possible to your night tarrif. A battery can be worth it, charge it at night and avoid any peak usage. You can easily do the maths based on usage. December and January are bleak months solar wise so the battery really helps avoid peak use

    Post edited by micks_address on


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    #2712
    TaurenDruid
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 4,512 ✭✭✭TaurenDruid


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121685437#Comment_121685437

    Energia's Smart EV rate is currently 8 cents between 2am and 6am. It's a no-brainer to get the battery for all the usual benefits with that as an extra incentive. @paddym88, the panels are the cheapest part, so I would get as many as you can fit. If cost is an issue, I'd still go with as many panels as possible now, and a hybrid inverter where you can add a battery later.

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    #2713
    micks_address
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,041 ✭✭✭✭micks_address


    Edited my post... Can get night rates less than ten cents meant to say



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    #2714
    paddym88
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6 ✭paddym88


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121685437#Comment_121685437

    Cheers for the info. Only after getting smart meter so may get onto a day/night tariff when I get panels. So ya just charge the battery using the night rate and then use the battery during the day when there is someone at the house?



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    #2715
    micks_address
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,041 ✭✭✭✭micks_address


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121686079#Comment_121686079

    Well yeah that's the general idea. You'll likely have 200 watts minimum house load regardless running a fridge and freezer



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    #2716
    unkel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61,125 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121686079#Comment_121686079

    That's what I do. I only ever use night rate (5c / kWh), charge up cars and battery and hot water. Then all solar PV I export and get 25c / kWh. My utility company pays me a couple grand per year 😂

    "Make no mistake. The days of the internal combustion engine are definitely numbered" - Quentin Willson, 1997



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    #2717
    paddym88
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6 ✭paddym88


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121685587#Comment_121685587

    What would be the typical number of panels/ size for my usage. Only 3 of us in the house at the moment but hopefully more in the future. Hybrid inverter is the only one that works with batteries is it.



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    #2718
    con747
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 10,919 ✭✭✭✭con747


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121686199#Comment_121686199

    Get as many as you can fit and the inverter can handle, in the good months you can just sell the excess generated back to the utility company you are with if you don't use it, and in the winter it will save having to use as much from the grid.

    Don't expect anything from life, just be grateful to be alive.

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    #2719
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 2,768 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121686184#Comment_121686184

    How does this fit in with the need to stop burning stuff?



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    #2720
    unkel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61,125 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121686388#Comment_121686388

    Two EVs, heating most of my water from solar thermal tubes and electricity, electric oven, partial electric heating

    But most of my home heating is still from gas. Would like to switch to heat pump, but my electricity grid connection at 12kVA is too small. And I refuse to pay over €2,000 for the ESB to flick a switch to upgrade me.

    "Make no mistake. The days of the internal combustion engine are definitely numbered" - Quentin Willson, 1997



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    #2721
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 2,768 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121686463#Comment_121686463

    It's a saucy price for the upgrade.

    What I meant was, would it not be better to consume what you produce rather than charging the batteries at night in the summer?

    Maybe I’m thinking about this all wrong, I suppose it doesn't matter who uses the power you produce as it means for every kwh you export it's one kwh less that needs to produced using non renewable sources.



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    #2722
    unkel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61,125 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121686526#Comment_121686526

    Exactly and what I am doing is stabilising the grid by removing consumption from peak times to low demand times. And in summer it makes more financial sense to just export my PV to the grid rather than self use it

    The next phase of course is far more radical, where you can opt in for real time tariffs. Meaning sometimes a single unit costs €1-2 but at other times you get paid for taking electricity. Already available in more modern countries like the UK, the Netherlands and the USA. Hopefully coming to Ireland too in the next year or two

    "Make no mistake. The days of the internal combustion engine are definitely numbered" - Quentin Willson, 1997



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    #2723
    ColemanY2K
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 901 ✭✭✭ColemanY2K


    my anemometer says its gusting up to 50km/h outside. the ground mount is rock solid but the panels are vibrating wickedly. the wind is blowing a hooly and hitting the panels from behind (array facing south, wind coming from north / north east).

    i'm going to have to put up a 6 foot fence behind them ASAP. i fear the panels could smash with the wind...is this possible, is it known to happen? they look to be under serious pressure as is.

    🌞 7.79kWp PV System. Comprised of 4.92kWp Tilting Ground Mount + 2.87kWp @ 27°, azimuth 180°, West Waterford 🌞



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    #2724
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 2,768 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688803#Comment_121688803

    Definitely possible, I've seen a video of it happening.



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    #2725
    TaurenDruid
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 4,512 ✭✭✭TaurenDruid


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121686199#Comment_121686199

    What con747 said. It depends on your roof size, aspect, usage pattern, etc., how much you'll generate but as the cost of panels is the smallest part of it, I'd be getting as many as you can fit on the roof. Worst case, you'll have a slightly longer payback period; best case, you reduce your electricity bill by a large amount and actually get money back from the grid. Yes, you need a hybrid inverter if you want a battery.

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    #2726
    unkel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61,125 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688803#Comment_121688803

    Panels are very sturdy but that doesn't sound too good. And gusts of 50km/h is nothing really, even here in Dublin we had gusts of 100km/h last week. In some parts of the country it was 140km/h

    "Make no mistake. The days of the internal combustion engine are definitely numbered" - Quentin Willson, 1997



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    #2727
    The devils
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 562 ✭✭✭The devils


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688803#Comment_121688803

    Get anything up behind them asap - pallets will help diffuse the wind if you had any for a temporary solution ?

    image.png




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    #2728
    10-10-20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 10,144 ✭✭✭✭10-10-20


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688803#Comment_121688803

    Sounds like resonance. That will split the welds or compression joints on the panels in quick-time.

    Try deflect the wind or put weights on the panels to slow the speed of vibration. Even hanging a weight from on end of the panel might help.



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    #2729
    ColemanY2K
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 901 ✭✭✭ColemanY2K


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121689098#Comment_121689098

    i'm 180m above sea level in a very windswept spot. there's very little behind the panels to break the gusts.

    🌞 7.79kWp PV System. Comprised of 4.92kWp Tilting Ground Mount + 2.87kWp @ 27°, azimuth 180°, West Waterford 🌞



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    #2730
    ColemanY2K
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 901 ✭✭✭ColemanY2K


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121689737#Comment_121689737


    good idea and i have loads of them up the back but the wind is hitting the top row of panels which are 6 to 8 feet off the ground. there's forecasted to be another 2 hours of this wind left before it dies down. the rest of the week looks calm. looks like i'll need to put up an 8 foot fence to break the wind.

    🌞 7.79kWp PV System. Comprised of 4.92kWp Tilting Ground Mount + 2.87kWp @ 27°, azimuth 180°, West Waterford 🌞



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    #2731
    10-10-20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 10,144 ✭✭✭✭10-10-20


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121689921#Comment_121689921

    Even the cheapest hit & miss panels should be enough to break any laminar flow and create tuburlance.



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