BTTB

In this case only the inverter output MCB trips, and only intermittently when Eskom drops. That points to load-dependent inrush during islanding, not a neutral fault. At switchover the Sunsynk takes full load instantly, and depending on what’s running, the transient can exceed a 63 A Curve C magnetic trip. Replacing the output breaker with a 63 A Curve D gives higher inrush tolerance while remaining within cable limits.

Your Unit is not installed correctly there is supposed to be proper ventilation around your inverter and it seems too close to the wall on one side.

@Dani



You have 2 x AM-2 and a 5kW SunSynk and 4.8kWp panels
Batt Charge Panel:
The 40A is when charging from gen.
The 50A is when charging from grid.
If you have a N-E bond with an ATS connected, remember to select "Signal ISLAND MODE"
Note that the grid charge is at ~48V DC, so 50A*48V= ~2.4kW
South African Grid is ~230V AC, so 2.4kW is ~10.5A - see @BTTB comment about 25%


Batt Type:
I would use 100A Charge/Discharge
100A * 48V = ~4.8kW
I think the BMS overrides this.
Activate is to revive a dead battery

Shutdown Panel:
I use 5,7,10% - which may be a bit low for some users.
This is also dependent on the settings in System Mode 1 - I use 20%, which means the inverter will will discharge to 20%, then use grid.
If you at 20% and there is load shedding, then continue down to 5% and shutdown.
The 20% -> 5% happens very rearly.

Perhaps try 10,15,20 and 40% in System Mode which means the inverter will will discharge to 40%, then use grid.
If you at 40% and there is load shedding, then continue down to 10% and shutdown.
You need to select values appropriate for your usage.

Thanks for pointing this out. 
I might be wrong but I see the 25% of service supply relating to this but at 230V AC not the battery charge rate which is between 4-5 times higher. If is was 12V then 20 times. 
If battery is charged at say 40A the 230V side would only provide 230/54=4.25 times less current at just over 10-11A allowing for a PF. 
 

What that means is if your house has a 60A supply you can charge your batteries with 15A. So 15A x 230V =3,45Kw that you can charge your batteries with from the grid(legally). 
This is not enforceable IMO . Not sure how they will be able to police it if you want to charge with higher rates ...
I have seen installers set charging to 8kw on larger battery banks.  

100A

Sorry, just spotted that you have the new battery set as Master.

I think the BMS overrides all. 

On my 11KW Inverter with 3 x 5.5 AM2 which is slightly bigger than your system I can run 2 well point pumps at around 0.8KW each and one Booster Pump @ 1.5KW and everything else in the house. Bascially, all excluding the Geyser, Stove, Tumble Dryer and Jacuzzi., Pumps are for the extended garden. 
No solar as yet.

This arrangement can run for 2 hours easily, if it's a 4-hour load shed, then I try not to use any of the pumps, just the house, plugs, kettle, washing machine and lights etc, otherwise it flattens the batteries to 20% and below. 

I've also got an Axpert Inverter, living in CT, wanting to add some solar panels.

COCT sent me 2 documents, the one Dieter linked to and the document attached here.
They added this comment, "For a standby system the installation can be signed off by a qualified electrician and the installation must conform to SANS(specific to the application)"

There was so much confusion around all these "off grid" inverters, which is nothing more than a glorified UPS.
Check the diagram and note where it says the inverters don't have to be on the approved list.
Standby and Off Grid installations.pdf

I've also got an Axpert Inverter, living in CT, wanting to add some solar panels.

COCT sent me 2 documents, the one Dieter linked to and the document attached here.
They added this comment, "For a standby system the installation can be signed off by a qualified electrician and the installation must conform to SANS(specific to the application)"

There was so much confusion around all these "off grid" inverters, which is nothing more than a glorified UPS.
Check the diagram and note where it says the inverters don't have to be on the approved list.
Standby and Off Grid installations.pdf

The line drawing guide/objects/components/glossary is on the City of Cape Town website
https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures, guidelines and regulations/Embedded generation schematic drawings SK5276.pdf
Depending on your layout the line drawing is done using those components
 
Not sure if there is a Microsoft visio plug-in you can import with these objects
I know Victron has a visio plugin that might work, but I did not cross-reference the objects

Hendrik its not grid tie .  no feeding back into the grid . you basically need your COC for the installation , the line diagram and the completed form.    
 
Off-grid / standby systems:
Electrical installation Certificate of Compliance A Commissioning Approval Letter will then be issued within 10 working days
 
Application for the connection of Embedded Generation - Copy.pdf

If you shrunk that vertical axis, it wouldn't look half as scary. 
The range seemd to be just south of 500w to 150ish. I have 2 combos, deep freeze, security system and external lights running at night, plus all the stuff that's on standby, and I'm in the same ball park. So I don't see too much to worry about here. 
But you do well to keep an eye on this data. That's how we learn what's going on and figure out how we can optimise usage of the system. 

The line drawing guide/objects/components/glossary is on the City of Cape Town website
https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures, guidelines and regulations/Embedded generation schematic drawings SK5276.pdf
Depending on your layout the line drawing is done using those components
 
 

Gents very glad that some clarity is finally being made on this matter...Too many misconceptions on what is & not allowed. My personal opinion is that the Off grid inverter offers heaps of value for self consumption purposes. The 8kW Sunsynk is a Boss of a machine but when you see a 7.2kW Kodak at half the money it makes you think which offers the best value. 
By the way the Kodak can blend power sources very effectively with Grid, solar & battery. It actually also uses Grid tied technology, it just does not offer Bi-directional AC input. It was also never invented to do so, so hence not on their list. They not interested in it. 
So guys in Cape town if an installer is selling you the bull dust of it must be on the list tell him to fly a kite 🪁

There are a few application types
GRID-TIED SSEG GRID-TIED HYBRID SSEG STANDBY SSEG OFF-GRID https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Municipal-services/Electricity/apply-for-authorisation-to-install-a-small-scale-embedded-generation-system
The 2 x Grid Tied applications must have one of the City of Cape Town approved inverters
The Standby and Off-Grid applications you cannot use any inverter on the City of Cape Town list (I know , why not, that is the process)
If you still need some power from Grid you will be Standby Segg application
If you totally off-grid and not not need any power from grid then you will be Off-grid application
 
 
 

Grid tied = can feed back and blend power from grid with PV and battery.  These inverters need to be on the COCT's list, and requires a long approval process, engineer's sign-off, possibly 'reverse flow blocking' etc.  Inverters like e.g. Sunsynk fall in this category.
Off-grid = cannot feed back, only consume grid power to charge batteries or drive the load.  e.g. a glorified UPS - it will use either battery and solar to feed the load or grid - but will never "bridge" the loads with the grid input directly, therefore canot feed back.  This inverter does not need to be on COCT's list, and does not need an engineer's sign-off - only a COC from an electrician.  If it is linked to solar panels, it needs to be registered, but not "approved" as such, by submitting a line drawing and COC to the city.  (They claim this is purely so that they don't hassle you if they see you have panels on your roof.)  Typically Axpert type off-grid inverters fall into this category.
I've been through both approval processes with two properties and the off-grid registration was really just a rubber-stamp exercise - as long as your COC is valid and you haven't done something stupid, they will send you an approval letter.

My opinion only,
If you are off-grid (NOT Feeding back to the providers grid) then you do not need approval if you add panels. It's then the same as a ups IMHO.
Also, everything that happens after the meter is your own personal business as long as it is safe (C.o.C, electrical and structural requirements etc especially for insurance purposes)
Your off-grid setup will/should have a Transfer switch which isolates it from your providers supply if your installation was done correctly.
Maybe some of the more legalese inclined minds can better shed some light on this 😇

Thank you. 🙂

When the Solar is done, I'll get the COC from him or if required beforehand, that too. Solar guy has quoted for COC and the COCT Reg. We spoke at length about it being a prerequisite for this install.

I'm also paranoid about the panels been earthed at both the DB and separately into the ground.
We had lightning here last year at the Telkom Tower next to our property, it tripped the board, a surge of electricity flowed down the Telkom lines and fried the ISDN Box, the PABX, two Monitors and even a CCTV Camera. It was a massive strike. A roof with panels would present a nice target for an electric storm, althought the Telkom Tower should theoretically get the brunt of such a strike.
Yep, Cape Town, lighting strikes do happen. 

I watched the Electrician do the work; he doesn't touch anything that isn't right. Had to wait a week for a 60A Changeover as he refused to install a 40A Changeover for the Generator and those 60A Changeovers were in quite short supply about a month ago.

I'm confident my electrician did his work properly.
  
A chap called Morgan called me today from the COCT, sounded like a pretty reasonable chap after I explained to him what I had done, see pics above. Said he would send line drawings, basically they didn't close the door on me is what made me feel a whole lot better.
After spending between about R135 and R150K you seriously don't want to fork out another 50 to 60K for a 12 or 14KW Sunsynk or Dye.
Notwithstanding the cost of 20 x 540W Solar Panels, cabling, labour, COC etc.

The COCT are very reasonable, all they are striving for is safe compliant installations. It's a pain yes. But how important is safety & regulation. Ask a oke who's home has burnt down if it was important. 
There is so many crazy installs & fully fledged corner cutting. I have just returned from a 2 week project trip to Durban. What I saw was harrowing. Non compliance, crazy at times supply chain shortages in some very weird stuff like PVC conduit & Sprague. 
Mix that together with almost a hand full of master electricians I requested for installation compliance inspections that had no concept of why a Neutral Earth relay is required. 
I don't live in Cape Town nor do I like lots of red tape but at least they try to make legit of a very specialised field that needs regulation. 
I think we need to find a balance between red tape & some very good sound education especially amongst the master electricians. 2 weeks course of the P4 AREP course or PV Green card does offer very little. Don't get me wrong it helps & it's a good initiative. However, we need the master electricians on board quickly. 

Well, Snap, here I am typing about all this stuff and the COCT calls me. 
Explained to them the system, said they'll email me with line drawings etc. 
Seems the door is open. 

I'm so confused, plus the COCT don't answer phones or emails.

I've attached a pic for easy reference.
11Kw Off-grid Axpert Inverter
My original flush DB Board with non-critical loads (Stove, Geyser, Jacuzzi, Urn etc)
Secondary DB Board with critical loads, Earth Leakage and Main Switch
Small box is the Generator Input 32A with 60A Changeover.
PB-11 AC Input and Output Distribution Board 
3 x AM2 with 160A fuse

All this installation needs is the PV input and its done. 
But I must chuck out a perfectly good inverter and buy something else, apparently?
 

The main reason for the list of approved inverters is SAFETY. You will notice that the approved list only has Grid Tied and Grid Tied hybrids like the sunsynk. Its because during the testing which can be carried out by specialist labs like Veritas for approval. The main tests that they run are to ascertain that when the Grid power is shed that the inverter will not feed back power into the Grid because Eskom may be carrying out maintenance. The safety of these personel is paramount. 
So in the lab they expose the inverter to different modes of operation to see if the inverter will in fact turn its grid feed export off. 
That is why no Off-Grid inverters appear on that list.

No wonder why I can't get any internet connection from connecting to the inverter "LAN" 😆😆😆

Installed our old inverters at my brothers house along with our 3 'old' lithium batteries.
2 x TheSunPays 4kw Axpert Clones
3 x TheSunPays 4.8kw LiFePO4 batteries

Still need to label everything and install the changeover switch. Electrician will come in to do hook up to DB board, final commissioning and CoC.

4 x 60A isolators on the bottom left are AC IN and AC OUT isolators per inverter so that should we need to service each inverter individually while the other remains in operation, we can do so safely, something I see missing in most installs. Many installs I've see require you to either shut down Grid completely or the entire system if work on 1 inverter is required.

DB box above the 4 x 60A isolators contains 2 x 'Primary' isolators for Grid AC and Inverter AC and a surge protector, changeover switch to be added here.

No Solar installed yet, this will just act as a whole house UPS to cover during loadshedding.