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Hi newbie myself, thought I'd add my 10 penneth. Firstly i initially bought 4 x 12v 50ah Lifepo4 batteries as they were on offer and have internal bms. My system was 48v so seriesed them all up, set inverter limits 58v upper, 44v lower, charge max 30a discharge max 30a, worked ok but have had to...

Afternoon Guys, your info is indeed valuable. I have spoken to Octopus directly, told them I've been with them a long while and very happy with their service, in fact just signed up for a new fixed tarriff with them. But needed to know the criteria to be accepted on the export trial. She...

Firstly theres no such thing as basic American. Whilst not wanting to upset anyone but The language is called English and the reason its called English is because we the English collonised all of the provinces and provided our language for all to use. Yes America has their own slant on it now...

Morning Guys as per usual offer not available in UK i checked, you guys in US get all the best deals!. I bought a single 48v 50ah DC house battery via ebay, never heard of them before but reviews suggested decent quality, seems to work flawlessly least for past 3 months with no issues. At that...

Thats a fair point!, i was assuming there all similar, V and I but diff wattage, but may well not be, so yes def more info on panels needed, Think going back to my original post. I'd just use the 1 new one buy 2 others same and scrap or sell the other 2 that way you know there all the same and...

Time of year, mine do exactly the same, show voltage but little or no amps. Unfortunately you need both amps and the voltage together to get your generation.

Morning Guys, i read this thread with interest. And its raised a few questions perhaps someone can enlighten me. 1. This is a DIY forum so assume anyone on it has installed a DIY system themselves, like myself. How are some users getting paid to export at higher rates, as to my knowledge only...

Good evening Guys, Well good news of a sort, fitted the loaned CT clamp, a genuine Solax 33.33ma unit supplied new with a series 4 inverter. The CT has a very short lead terminating in a RJ45 plug using same connection pins 1 and 8. You also get a RJ45 to RJ45 extender box too. So downpowered...

Hi, First off i've just installed a similar set up to your proposal and also am resident in the UK and also with Northern Powergrid. Fortunately im a retired approved Electrician and my Stepson has his own electrical company which is part p and NICEIC registered, so electrical work no problem...

Depends what your wanting to achieve. Ie if you connect them in series you will maintain the current rating of the panels but increase the voltage. So red on 1 panel to black on next etc to make a string make sure you dont exceed max pv input rating. If you parallel them then you will increase...

Hi yes you can, but make sure its the Positive + from string 1 and Negative -from string 2 joined together, then the remaining go pair to the inverter, check with voltmeter to ensure you have the correct voltage. 2 things: Are the panels on same elevation and roof side? Make sure your inverter...

Yes thats very apparent, doesnt help with the language barrier too ie brocken english. To be honest im not sure where their tech support is based you'd expect each country would have their own, but suspect its a global unit multi national.probably in China hence why it takes 24hrs to get a...

Good info Thanks, will have to get one of the ballancers. That said fully charged all 4 12v batts to 14.4v, then discharged 2 using same wattage bulb ie 12v 65w +55w ie both filaments left on for 2 hours which at 14v 125w = 8.98a so thats approx 18a maybe slightly more with volt drop. Checked...

Thank you for reply, i would totally agree the batteries are the weak link, hadnt realised that when i bought the system. The guy i bought off upgraded his system and sold me the old equip, minus batteries which he used on his new setup. Ironically his were also 12v but 100ah again no external...

Hi thank you for your reply, the low and high voltage settings were given to me by the 12v batteries manufacturer before i added the 48v battery. However i can alter them.if needed, what would you recommend? Yes unfortunately ive bought batteries as funds would allow and if an offer presented...

Hi thanks for reply, but think youve misunderstood what i said, not that i don't trust people on the forum i do, its the sellers misrepresenting their products i dont necessarily trust ie calling a battery one thing but could actually be a cheaper version of it, which could cause an explosion...

In my opinion it sounds like the internal BMS has opened circuit the battery to prevent damage but refuses to re enable, if youve disconnected the battery and re connected it and its still the same i suspect its now Duff, unless you can get to the internal BMS perhaps one of the Mosfets has neen...

Thanks for reply and that may well be what i have to do. To be fair i incorrectly assumed you could pay to have MCS retrospectively once the install was complete. (should have done more research) Why did i think that? Because theres suppliers on ebay etc advertising DIY solar kits and you get an...

Hi yes i looked at that type first as a lot cheaper and have the CT option, however Solax tech support would neither confirm nor deny if it would actually work, nor give any info into how to set it up. Its honestly like trying to get blood from a stone. Suppose youd have to buy one and try it...

Hi Seagal, firstly Solax early version inverters which mine is doesnt have any settings for CT or meter it simply has a RJ45 socket, whereby pins 1 and 8 are CT and pins 4 and 5 are meter modbus. But not both. The later version do indeed have settings to change. So back to the CT issue, i have...

Hi Guys, hopefully this is ok but best thought to run it by you for comments first. So at moment i have 4 x 12v 50ah lifepo4 batteries in series, so 48v nominal, i have then parralleled a further 48v 50ah lifepo4 battery so now have 48v 100ah in total and currently working fine using their own...

Thanks for reply, guy i bought inverter from had it installed in his own home and upgraded to a larger inverter, he was using it with 4 eco- worthy lithium batteries but 12v 100ah, mine are only 12v 50ah but his didnt have direct connection to inverter either. He said i should use same settings...

Afternoon Guys, well good news, as stated in previous reply new CT arrived and fitted, but made very little difference or so i thought. Then at 10pm inverter goes into sleep mode and everything shuts down, assume thats normal. Has done this all the time ive had it. Anyway woke up this morning to...

Perhaps my misasumption as seen videos on utube from Solax Tech support with English personel, they also show a Uk training room for uk installers of course that may well be fake. Bottom line i dont mind where tech support is as long as they sort out the issues and give the information in a...

Morning Guys, well spoke to soon, new CT has been working several days perfectly, going in to idle mode then waking up as normal, assume doing its CT check then powering up, supplying home, batteries and reducing yield to minimise export to grid exactly as it should work. Not this morning awoke...

Morning Guys, question for all you battery experts. My 48v 100ah (5.1kw) powerwall arrived, brand new fully boxed in perfect condition, Great!, First off its very heavy, a lot more then i expected. However it does come with rawl bolts to secure to wall. Getting it into loft will be an issue...

Thanks again for reply, think the whole Solar scene is an awful lot more technical then i thought thats for sure and im electrically biased so heaven help total novices, guess they make even more errors! Going back to batteries 500w is daytime use, nightime a little more up to 10.30pm then drops...

Morning Guys, Needing some help please. Well first off new 33.3ma CT clamp is 100% better then the old one, it reads within 40w of the smart meter display. Whilst this is accurate enough from a data point of view, it prevents the inverter from sticking to the 0w export ive set. What i wanted was...

Hi Guys, so i bought 4 x 12v 50ah Moseworth Lifepo4 Batteries from an Ebay seller. They arrived in 2 large packs complete with documentation for each battery and its own 240v charger too. The Batteries themselves were each very light in weight compared to normal lead acid batteries, so light i...

Hi, Yes the spelling at times is not great, but thats down to typing on smart phone whereby keyboard takes up 65% of screen so only get to see a few lines before it dissapears. Its only when you click post reply you get to see all errors on full post. Being new i've been unable to edit to...

Thanks for reply, yes they do all have internal BMS but no external connection, screen or bluetooth etc so cannot check individual cell condition. The BMS simply monitors for overcharge voltage, min discharge etc and cuts battery output if threshold exceeded. Hence why i purchased 4 x 12v...

Morning Guys, read this post with interest as have a similar issue which perhaps you can comment on. I did reason whether to start a new post as my inverter is Solax SK-SU3700E 3.7kw rather then a Solis but works same way. Like original poster i have battery storage in my case 100ah made up of 4...

Sorry I only ask as I'd rather know then not, being an Electrician be it retired now, gives me an insight, but this Solar generation is a whole new ball game to learn, so, I'm the type that likes to research to ensure I'm up to speed, course i did it the wrong way around as bought and fitted...

Morning Guys, so at present i have 2 strings of 8 (total 16) 250w panels. These are located on same roof side and same elevation next to each other. The panels generate nominal 30.1v and 8.18a. Each string of 8 is connected to my inverter input MPT which has 2 so both used. Question am i better...

Thanks for reply, yes batteries recognised by Solax inverter at exactly same voltage as my fluke multimeter reads. Also inverter shows either a + in A for charge, or a - in A for discharge in charger settings in my case as soon as connected went into Discharge, despite my homes demand 300w...

Hi Guys, well that really is interesting. From Belgrano's info my system already has everything needed to be accepted by Octopus, but they seem to be dragging their heals to state the requirements themselves. Yesterday i sent a 2nd email requesting this info. Its very annoying, not sure who...

So if im understanding it correctly the meter which reads ok means its got the 120 ohm resistor, but when i connect to inverter it drops the voltage so the inverter hasnt got the 120 ohm resistor fitted? Can i just add one myself? What i cant understand is this meter supposedly works on all...

Sorry hadnt realised, thats an awful lot of info to digest. Thanks

Hi Guys read your thread with interest. Firstly I'm new to the forum, however whilst a novice in that respect i am a Jib qualified approved electrician (retired now) i did a lot of research into Solar before attempting it. I also have a stepson who is a qualified electrician who has part p...

Ah ok, but how easy is it to get Flexi orb retrospectively? If its anything like MCS nigh on impossible and not financially viable either? What companies will take on none MCS? May be worth approaching them. Personally, if the system uses quality equipment, is electricalky sound and certified...

Hi Kommando, wasnt aware of that, i assumed data would be constant flow rather then polled, however i know on the app the data only updates every 5 mins so your always viewing info in arrears. Which isnt great. To fit the meter is not easy either as it has the Pos+ in and out at the top, but...

I was similarly advised, to open battery case and check individual cells, if its the metal cased type that may be feasable but mine are sealed plastic cases, im reluctant to start cutting into it for fear of damage or even explosion. I bought 4 Moseworth Lifepo4 12v batts, 1 of them.has very...

Thank you for replies,, I'm wondering how he mamaged to sweet talk Octopus as the guy i spoke to was very unhelpful, basically saying no MCS certificate you only get 4p end of! Oh and if we dont think its up to scratch then you only get £100 of the £250 paid back and no redress if you disagree...

Good evening guys, seeking some advice please. Firstly i have a Solax SK-SU3700E hybrid inverter which uses a 48v battery system. Initially i bought 4 x 12v 50AH Moseworth Lifepo4 batteries which stated they were suitable for both series and parrallel connection, they had internal BMS built in...

Hi Guys, right well first off new CT clamp arrived correct type and current rating for Solax X1 Sk Su3700E series 2 inverter ie 100a 33.3mv, fitted this today, its hard to tell how its behaving as apparently the old Solax app im using only refreshes every 5 mins or so, your always viewing events...

Thanks for replies Guys, checked out the inverter manual, it seems a lot newer model then mine. Went through all settings with Solex Tech on my inverter as he thought the same should be a setting for CT/meter but def Not. End result Solax say only their own Solex stamped SDM230 meter will work...

Thanks for replies Guys, that good to know. Chloe- Yes thats correct, as mentioned, theres an arrow on the CT clamp check which direction its currently facing, then open clamp up and reverse it so the arrow faces the opposite way to it was before, then see if that makes a difference by turning...

Thank you for reply, yes i understand the load maybe very small, my distance is only 20m as inverter in loft, CT in external mains box, but only has 5m of cable so theres a joint under kitchen kickboard where the CT cable ends and cat 5 begins. It is solid core low smoke cat 5 no shield but ran...

Hi Belgrano and thanks for reply, thats very interesting info. I have raised a complaint with Octopus regarding the trial acceptance criteria and they sent me a half hearted reply stating its their trial and everything must meet their requirements to be accepted. I responded thats fine but whats...

Thanks for reply. To my knowledge dont think there is any other means?, the idea of the meter was to be more accurate then the CT it replaces as its directly connected across the load rather then sampling it. Thats why i need it. You probably missed the part i have bought a brand new Solax X1...