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Hi all I currently have 2x Pylontech UP5000 batteries connected to my Sunsynk 8kW hybrid inverter, with 8x 540w solar panels. One of the UP5000's was recently replaced under warranty with a new Up5000. The other one is about 4 years old with SOH 97% I want to add a 3rd UP5000 - my question is, do sell the 2x current UP5000's and replace with one 16kW battery, like Hina 16 KW PowerGem Plus Battery, or do i just buy a 3rd UP5000? What could i potentially get for the 2x UP5000's? Is there any advantage in just having one 16kW battery (besides the new 10yr warranty)? I will probably also and a 3rd string of 4x more panels

@LawnDolar yes please, that will be a great help.

Yes, I have a valid CoC for the property from when I bought it in 2010. He did ask to see it. Im not sure how long they are valid for though. Probably best to get a new one done.

As far as i could see, there were no such tests done. I asked him before he left, "dont you need to do testing for the CoC". He replied that he had already done the test and recorded the readings. I tried to watch their every move throughout the day and never saw any test instrumentation other than a Multi-meter. You can see the test results attached. It says he did an insulation resistance test, and as far as i know you would need to unplug all sensitive equipment to run such a test, which he never did. In fact he never even opened my main DB board at all. The only time he opened it was when I called them back a few days later, as he hadnt installed the Sunsynk CT coil. He told me it wasn't necessary if i wasnt exporting to the grid. I tried to explain to him that it is the most important part of the installation, even if you are not exporting to the grid. He reluctantly agreed to come and fit it, but wanted to install it inside the inverter. I told him that this is the wrong place to install it, it needs to go just after the main switch in my DB board and I insisted that he put it there. This was the only time he opened my main DB board.

Thanks, this is a really helpful and informative article. I think I will give the installer the opportunity to rectify the problem by sending out a qualified to IE or MIE to inspect and test and issue a new CoC, before I take matters further. The lesson learnt is to ask upfront to see their credentials before commencing work and not be so trusting.

My guess is that the sub contractor is only a Single Phase tester, supposedly working under the "general control" of the MIE, otherwise he could have easily issued the CoC himself. I've asked them to send me his credentials, but so far no reply.

Hi all, I recently had an installer upgrade my inverter and ensure everything was brought up to current regulations and fully compliant. However, I later discovered that the company I hired outsourced the work to a third-party installer. The installation was completed (though not to the standard I expected), and a few days later I requested the Certificate of Compliance (CoC). They told me it had be sent to a Master Electrician for sign-off. The next day, I was emailed a copy of the CoC, and told the original would be couriered to me – which I still haven’t received. My main concern is this: Is it legal for an Installation Electrician or Master Installation Electrician to sign off a CoC when they weren’t involved in the actual installation or testing of the system? It feels questionable that someone who didn’t do (or directly supervise) the work can legally certify it as compliant. Would appreciate any clarity on this Thanks

Dean, what inverter would you recommend? I currently have a Kodak OG-PLUS5.48rm which gives me endless hassles and Segans after sales service is poor and slow. I was going to change to Sunsynk but hear they are even worse as far as support is concerned.

Thanks for your detailed suggestions. The unit is less than a year old and still under warranty, so I guess back it goes to Segen Solar. Trouble is they are so inundated with inverter repairs that the waiting period for repairs is over 2 weeks, and in the midst of heavy load shedding another 2 weeks without the inverter will be torture.

Here is a sound clip of the crackle I recorded with my cellphone. I goes on like this until I reboot the machine. Now that I hear it on the recording, it definitely sounds more like a relay switching on and off, but what would cause this? Sometimes it switches on and off really fast, sometime slower... inverter click_mixdown.mp3

I've had issues with this inverter from day one. From time to time i hear this crackling sound coming from the inverter, almost sounds like bacon sizzling on a hot pan. The installer says it could be a relay switching on and off really fast, but every time he comes to check we cant replicate the problem as it only happens every few weeks. The only way I can stop the sound when it happens, is to turn everything off and back on again. I suspect this issue might be related to the PV randomly dropping out. The installer said he mentioned this to Segen when they did the fuse replacement, but I guess they couldnt replicate the fault or forgot to check it.

My OG-PLUS5.48-RM has been doing exactly the same thing lately, even with a 20% load on it, the Pv drops out randomly. I bought it in July last year and it never did this once until recently. About 3 weeks ago the AC input fuse blew and Sengen replaced the fuse under warranty. Ever since I got the unit back from them, it's been doing this.

What does SANS say about connecting 2 or more Earth leakage devices in parallel on the output of an inverter? I have an issue where the EL on the out put of the inverter randomly trips. I have 2x sub-DB's that have their own RCD's which are connected after the main RCD from the inverter in series to the main RCD. Can I connect the sub-DB's in parallel with the main output from the inverter instead or can you only have one Rcd on the output of an inverter? Inverter = Kodak OG-PLUS 5.48rm

Thanks, I'll get someone to come and check the whole installation and perhaps do a new COC for the whole house. Last one was done in 2010 so probably overdue.

I'm having pretty much the same issue. As soon as the grid power returns my RCD trips (not always, but most of the time) I can sometimes replicate this by turning the main switch off and back on again. My inverter, Kodak OG-PLUS5.48-RM has a relay on the ac input side that delays connection to mains by around 5 seconds, but the RCD is tripping the instant the grid comes back on, before the relay kicks in. I've measured the earth leakage on each circuit with an earth leakage clamp meter attached to the mains neutral and live tails and I'm getting around 20 to 25mA of cumulative earth leakage across all the loads, which is right up there on the threshold with not much headroom. I have considered splitting the load on the output of the inverter across two RCD's, but I'm not sure if this is SANS compliant? I have a "Type A" Rcd and I read somewhere that the minimum for an inverters with a single-phase power supply (without PFC circuit), a type F or higher RCD is recommended and inverters with a three-phase or single-phase power supply (with PFC circuit), a type B or higher RCD is recommended. I wonder if this has any baring on the problem we are having. Here are my readings with not much load. I still need to run the same test with everything unplugged Individual cumulative Main grid power only, all MCB's off 0.90mA 0.90mA Non-essential load Stove 0.20mA 1.10mA Geyser 0.20mA 1.30mA Essential load turn on AC to inverter 6.90mA 8.20mA Plug 1 3.40mA 11.60mA Plug 2 0.40mA 12.00mA Plug 3 0.20mA 12.20mA Plug 4 1.70mA 13.90mA Plug 5 0.50mA 14.40mA Sub DB 2 2.60mA 17.00mA Sub DB 3 2.90mA 19.90mA Lights 0.40mA 20.30mA Lights 0.40mA 20.70mA