Hello, I just joined this forum. I don't have much understanding of electricty wiring, and would like to settle my doubts.
I recently had a 3 KW grid-connected rooftop solar power system installed in my house. It has net-metering so the power generated during the day can be used directly in the house while the excess power is sent to the grid; at night, power is drawn only from the grid, which will be adjusted with the amount I've sent to the grid during the day.
I've attached a diagram of the wiring.
Without the solar connection, the wiring is like - the wires from the power company first enter the three fuses at the bottom, then move on to the power company meter, then to the RCCB, then to three large switches, and then to smaller switches for different sections of the house. The wire from the solar inverter at the top of the house connects to the solar meter installed beside the power company's main meter, and then joins the grid.
Diagram:
Now, from what I understand, the wire from the solar meter should be connected below the RCCB so that it can supply the entire house as well as feed excess power to the grid. Instead, it is connected to the third large switch after the RCCB, and that too, above it. Is this kind of wiring correct? Does this mean that the power from the solar meter is going to only one section of the house, or is it going to the entire house?
I experimented a bit, and switched off the RCCB. I was expecting one of two things to happen: one, that since the wire from the solar meter is connected to the house wiring, even though I've broken the connection to the grid, power will remain on in the entire house, being supplied by the solar connection, or two, power in most of the house will go off, but will remain on in those parts of the house served by the third main switch. Instead, what happened is that when I switched off the RCCB, the power went off in the entire house; also, the solar meter also switched off (like it does at night). The solar connection was not feeding any power to the house at all at this time, and maybe it was not sending any power to the grid as well.
What I'd like to know is:
1: Has the wiring been done correctly, so that during the day the house is running on solar power (unless more power is needed and is taken from the grid)?
2: Is the entire house being served by the solar connection or only a part of it?
3: Was the behaviour displayed on switching off the RCCB correct?
4: Why did the solar meter turn off when the RCCB was switched off?
I'd like it if someone explains this in simple terms.
Thanks a lot.
I recently had a 3 KW grid-connected rooftop solar power system installed in my house. It has net-metering so the power generated during the day can be used directly in the house while the excess power is sent to the grid; at night, power is drawn only from the grid, which will be adjusted with the amount I've sent to the grid during the day.
I've attached a diagram of the wiring.
Without the solar connection, the wiring is like - the wires from the power company first enter the three fuses at the bottom, then move on to the power company meter, then to the RCCB, then to three large switches, and then to smaller switches for different sections of the house. The wire from the solar inverter at the top of the house connects to the solar meter installed beside the power company's main meter, and then joins the grid.
Diagram:
Now, from what I understand, the wire from the solar meter should be connected below the RCCB so that it can supply the entire house as well as feed excess power to the grid. Instead, it is connected to the third large switch after the RCCB, and that too, above it. Is this kind of wiring correct? Does this mean that the power from the solar meter is going to only one section of the house, or is it going to the entire house?
I experimented a bit, and switched off the RCCB. I was expecting one of two things to happen: one, that since the wire from the solar meter is connected to the house wiring, even though I've broken the connection to the grid, power will remain on in the entire house, being supplied by the solar connection, or two, power in most of the house will go off, but will remain on in those parts of the house served by the third main switch. Instead, what happened is that when I switched off the RCCB, the power went off in the entire house; also, the solar meter also switched off (like it does at night). The solar connection was not feeding any power to the house at all at this time, and maybe it was not sending any power to the grid as well.
What I'd like to know is:
1: Has the wiring been done correctly, so that during the day the house is running on solar power (unless more power is needed and is taken from the grid)?
2: Is the entire house being served by the solar connection or only a part of it?
3: Was the behaviour displayed on switching off the RCCB correct?
4: Why did the solar meter turn off when the RCCB was switched off?
I'd like it if someone explains this in simple terms.
Thanks a lot.
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