diy solar

diy solar

the rapidly changing inverter landscape

wattmatters said:
Most grid-tied hybrid inverters here are higher voltage DC, in the 400 V range. 48 V is uncommon.

You are far more restricted with battery choices as they need communications to operate, so often these systems are set to operate with only one, maybe two battery models. And what happens is those battery modules go out of production making expansion later problematic.

An example of grid-tied HV DC is a Fronius Gen24 Plus inverter + BYD batteries.

Even then you need to decide which type of battery module to go with, and you can't mix and match. It's very solid stuff, premium prices.

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www.fronius.com

Examples of higher voltage battery systems sold here:

BYD
Tesla Powerwall
LG Chem Resu
Sungrow
Goodwe
Huawei
AlphaESS
Enphase
Sungrow
SolarEdge

and about a dozen others.

Here higher voltage DC batteries are the norm and none of it is DIY (not legal here).
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Illegal as in a fine? going to jail?

I'm curious how illegal diy is down under
 
B-Mod said:
Ever since he had like a dozen videos he kept saying he was going to delete everything. I like the video where he thought adding a cheap pf correction capacitor was going to fix everything, lol. And another one where he said he had the wrong size breaker and that is why all his lights are flashing, lol. He makes me laugh.
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Yup
Definitely entertaining.
That's why I watch.
 
I think he's a drama queen. He should just present his shit and then actually not care what everybody thinks instead of saying he doesn't care and get all dramatic... :p

Glad he's happy with what he has. I deal with high voltage DC batteries all the time, and there's nothing wrong with them.

He's all flexy with his big KINGGG KAAAAAWWWWWNNNGGGG! inverter, but a pair of Victron 10kVA running 2X Trophy 304Ah server rack batteries are a pretty good matchup in terms of capabilities @ 48V. Maybe he just doesn't like current... :p
 
1201 said:
from what I understand, the xw software is pretty buggy and theyve had , what, a decade, to fix it?
:oops::p
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hwy17 said:
If people are wanting their inverter do grid mixing management, which most are, then Schneider Conext is looking pretty old and clunky for that.

But it depends on how much you want the XW to do. I just use mine as an inverter now, and I generally only interact with the power button on the front of it. Inverter on, inverter off.

And I used a 10" chop saw on the end of a 150 ft extension cord the other day. Do the 6000XP's and 18kPV's really handle that sort of load now? Maybe, idk.

I am not feeling myself pulled towards the AIO's. I'm curious about the Rosie though. But as long as my XW is working, idk if I'll have a reason to. And given the XW's track record, it could keep going for a decade.
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I'm going to be running these inverters off grid with an AC in from the main panel supplying the Gen in ports on my inverters. This should completely eliminate the possibility of back feeding the grid.
 
sunshine_eggo said:
I think he's a drama queen. He should just present his shit and then actually not care what everybody thinks instead of saying he doesn't care and get all dramatic... :p

Glad he's happy with what he has. I deal with high voltage DC batteries all the time, and there's nothing wrong with them.

He's all flexy with his big KINGGG KAAAAAWWWWWNNNGGGG! inverter, but a pair of Victron 10kVA running 2X Trophy 304Ah server rack batteries are a pretty good matchup in terms of capabilities @ 48V. Maybe he just doesn't like current... :p
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Even with a high voltage battery. It's a relatively small system.
Just my relative opinion. lol
 
timselectric said:
Even with a high voltage battery. It's a relatively small system.
Just my relative opinion. lol
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I laugh how he claims he runs his inverter soooo hard. I have currently 4 5000es's , 20kw, I run it at 18.5kw to 19kw for as many hours as I have sun, starting with 6kw, then ramp up another 6 kw, then another variable large load. He thinks 48v aio's can't do work.
 
underdog5004 said:
Even on ac2 port? If so, I guess I'll go ahead with a chargeverter. That should give me the grid isolation I'm looking for.
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Yes, I don't know sol arcs in detail, but both AC1 and AC2 on just about any inverter are syncing inputs and vulnerable to blips. If 100% stealth to a smart meter is what you want, then separate charger input is necessary.
 
1201 said:
Illegal as in a fine? going to jail?
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In my state:

Penalties​

Substantial penalties apply, including on the spot fines of up to $1000, for each occasion when a Compliance Certificate is not supplied to the consumer (or network provider if relevant).

Under the legislation, substantial penalties also apply (up to $550,000) for failure to carry out electrical installation work in accordance with the technical standards set out in the Regulation.

These standards are the Australia/New Zealand wiring rules and the NSW Service and Installation Rules.
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Electrical compliance requirements

Download a copy of the Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW)
www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

Grid tied anything requires DNSP approval (and said certificate).

Failure to pay any such fines (or successfully dispute them) would then presumably lead to more trouble.

It is technically possible to DIY grid-tied PV/battery provided you get a certificate of compliance from a licensed electrician who has the relevant additional certifications for solar PV and for BESS installations.

But frankly, getting a sparky willing to put their name to someone else's DIY work would not be easy. It's their license and livelihood on the line.
 
wattmatters said:
In my state:

Electrical compliance requirements

Download a copy of the Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW)
www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

Grid tied anything requires DNSP approval (and said certificate).

Failure to pay any such fines (or successfully dispute them) would then presumably lead to more trouble.

It is technically possible to DIY grid-tied PV/battery provided you get a certificate of compliance from a licensed electrician who has the relevant additional certifications for solar PV and for BESS installations.

But frankly, getting a sparky willing to put their name to someone else's DIY work would not be easy. It's their license and livelihood on the line.
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So there no one installing grid tie first and then installing a battery backup system later without permission? That's wild
 
1201 said:
So there no one installing grid tie first and then installing a battery backup system later without permission? That's wild
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It's always easier to ask for forgiveness, then to ask for permission.

That's what I would do in every situation ever in my life, not just solar.

Make it pass inspection, then modify it as I see fit afterwards, because nobody is stepping foot on my property/home/residence etc without a warrant.
 
OffGridForGood said:
The cost and availability of breakers, fuses etc seems to still be an issue, one day this will change I am sure.
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Noark MCCB breakers are rated for 600V DC and lot cheaper then those ABB MCCB breakers. I don't think you are going to be able to use some miniature circuit breakers to try to extinguish arcs from 300V+ DC circuits.
 
1201 said:
So there no one installing grid tie first and then installing a battery backup system later without permission? That's wild
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Many do. They either have a professional installer put in an AC coupled battery system (most commonly a Tesla Powerwall 2) or they add to or replace their system with a DC coupled hybrid.
 
Andrewr05 said:
It's always easier to ask for forgiveness, then to ask for permission.
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Grid-tied anything requires distribution network service provider approval. That requires an application and afterwards, proof of certification.

It will often require a change of meter or a change in metering set up in order for the system to benefit you. With an incorrectly set up meter you might even find you are being billed for your own generation. Now you are between a rock and a hard place.

If the meter is older:
- negative values will instantly trigger a system flag
- it requires a physical presence meter reading by a DNSP/retailer representative
- it will be replaced anyway in the next couple of years as the upgrade to smart metering rollout completes (already done in VIC years ago, others states catching up).

In SA there are even remote dynamic controls required as part of the system (for grid stability). This will gradually be rolled out across the country as the amount of rooftop PV grows. Half of all homes in SA have rooftop PV (and growing). It's about one in three nationwide and growing strongly.
 
wattmatters said:
Grid-tied anything requires distribution network service provider approval. That requires an application and afterwards, proof of certification.

It will often require a change of meter or a change in metering set up in order for the system to benefit you. With an incorrectly set up meter you might even find you are being billed for your own generation. Now you are between a rock and a hard place.

If the meter is older:
- negative values will instantly trigger a system flag
- it requires a physical presence meter reading by a DNSP/retailer representative
- it will be replaced anyway in the next couple of years as the upgrade to smart metering rollout completes (already done in VIC years ago, others states catching up).

In SA there are even remote dynamic controls required as part of the system (for grid stability). This will gradually be rolled out across the country as the amount of rooftop PV grows. Half of all homes in SA have rooftop PV (and growing). It's about one in three nationwide and growing strongly.
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I didn't state anything to the contrary.

But if I want to add or remove a component in my system I'm not going to get on my knees and beg the government for permission.
 
rhino said:
Noark MCCB breakers are rated for 600V DC and lot cheaper then those ABB MCCB breakers. I don't think you are going to be able to use some miniature circuit breakers to try to extinguish arcs from 300V+ DC circuits.
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Is there some technical reason this is not feasible? By "miniature" circuit breaker I'm assuming you mean a common sized breaker found in a standard home panel, or something on a DIN rail box. Breaking a DC arc is not exactly black magic.
 
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