Derek3

Oh dearie me i feel so embarrassed 😳😣 you are correct @TaliaBit is the mppt model as stipulated on the label. Very sorry @GreenFieldsgiving you incorrect information and wasting your time i suppose this changes matters concerning the solar panels connection configuration.

Good morning forum, I just have a question for the installers or people familiar with solar array design. As jou can see from previous post i have an Fivestar 3kva inverter paired with 25.6v 170ah Fivestar lfp battery. My question is, i have 2 x 460w mono solar panels do i connect the panels in series of parallel? The inverter has an pwm charge controller with maximum dc input voltage of 105v Voc. I am in Upington as i know that the panels will be derated during high temperatures. Below panel specifications. Advice would be highly appreciated.

Thanks @TaliaB The inverter is working great mains charging at 30 amps ,28.4v and float at 27.2v. Now for getting the 2 x panels and connecting up.

Good evening @TaliaB The inverter and battery is mounted and connected but i have a few questions regarding the setting and the size and amount of solar panels that could be connected to the Fivestar inverter. The label on the side of the inverter states PWM charge controller. Parameter #04 i left on 100% #05 100% Please help with parameters #06 - #10. Thanks in advance for the help. Ps the Sunsynk you installed are performing above my expectations still going strong.

BThank you very much this is very helpful i will do the setting and let you know if i get stuck i will inform you.

Good day all forum members. I have acquired (not bought ) a Fivestar 3kva inverter with a 25.6v 170ah Fivestar lifepo4 battery. This unit will serve a very light load( 400w peak) for lights in my packing station. I though while i have it might put it to good use. This inverter setting is totally diffrent to my Sunsynk. I don't have a manual for the inverter so difficult to figure out how to get to the setup menu. I need some assistance in setting up this unit. Is there a way to set up remote monitoring on this inverter. Any assistance will be highly appreciated.

Hi Andre is the battery still available?

All good and well but why do you want to derate a geyser element? For the effort and cost of modifying an existing geyser element why not just replace the element with a lower wattage element or a ac ptc ceramic element. I respect the efford in the name of creativity but to me i would just replace with suitable wattage element and be done with it

I fully agree with @BritishRacingGreenand @JustinSchoeman regarding the use of triac for phase angle control.Triac is a rugged device but best used as a switch like a in a relay or in place of a relay. Phase angle controlled voltage voltage regulating devices like in a fan regulator or a light dimmer throws a large amount of harmonics into the mains. It is a headache to the wiring and power distribution system, and the neighboring loads. Using such device increases the neutral current and increases phase - neutral voltage. Using the mini fan regulators (Triac based) heats up the fan motor excessively and reduces its life. My advice to all use either a capacitor or inductor based fan speed regulator. Even a resistor based regulator is preferable than a triac based one. Use triac only as a switch and not as a voltage regulator except for experimentation or in a localised circuit where the noise is not thrown back into the mains. Be very aware of its shortcoming while using it.

I use the 3ph on the packing station consumption very nice and works great.

Very nice install @TaliaB i see you run the battery cables in seperate trunking. What is the maximum current the Freedom Won Lite 5/4 can deliver?

50mm²will be fine.

Thanks very much @Sc00bs must say so far i am impressed especially with the Freedom Won batteries they seem to perform very well even the Sunsynk inverters but it is early days.

Good afternoon everyone. Since my last post a lot have changed concerning my installation. I did have the 20x 505wp panels installed but then we had quite a few unscheduled outages from Eskom besides the LS schedule. I decided to go off grid and be rid of Eskom once and for all. So here is the new upgraded installation, commisioned and running very well. Initially 10kwp solar array. 16 kwp solar array added. 4x 12kw 3ph Sunsynk inverters. 3x Freedom Won Lite 40kwh lfp batteries in parallel. The new packing station in the background also done and just in time as harvesting is done. All have a good Sunday evening. Edit: Thanks to @TaliaB that sorted the mains supply db panel and assisted with the commissioning.

@TaliaBVery good explanation of RCD fault detection and remedial. We should do a complete write up that could be pasted as a sticky note for forum members experiencing RCD trips. IR could also be a culprit of RCD fault detection. If IR is <1MΩ it should be investigated. RCD with AC classification is normally the culprit when inverters are used that injects DC onto the AC side due to high frequency switching. RCD's with A or F classification( type) should be used.

Good evening all forum members been n busy week solar panels are up just busy digging 3 earth pits to get them properly grounded. The installers was not at least pleased when they saw the earth pits construction details. Lightning can be severe from time to time with direct hits. Often overlooked are the dangers of indirect strikes. Two of the most common indirect strike dangers include ground current,step potential and side flashes. So rather be safe than sorry hence the reason for proper grounding. Picture of panel ground installation almost done. Still need to dig the trench for the 3 core Swa(armoured cable) running 30 meters to the farm house.

@Sc00bsGood evening and thank you very much as this was my thinking initially, but after deliberation with the installer i am going with 20 x 505W panels all facing North the extra panels will assist having output earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon. I will post pictures as soon as the panels are mounted. Sorry for the late response been busy it is now harvesting season for Pecan nuts. Have a good evening.

Thank you very much @Kelvin very informative graphs and yes definitely no space constraint so makes sense to orientate all 16 panels North. Much appreciated.

That is the reason i ask these questions on this forum as there is a lot of installers with experience especially on solar orientation. Remember i was a active electrical engineer in HV distribution and substation design 8 years ago until i started farming. I am really not clued up on solar system design so thank you for pointing this out what configuration would you suggest? Should i face all 16 panels North connected in series 8/Mppt. Below a link to solar radiation in Upington. https://www-tutiempo-net.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.tutiempo.net/amp-en/solar-radiation/upington.html?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From %1%24s&aoh=16804452476358&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com

Sorry @JustinSchoemani think the way i wrote it is not clear 4 panels east in series with 4 panels facing North and 4 panels North in series with 4 panels West.

Good evening to all. Had a busy few days with work and getting quotes from installers. I decided to go with Valsa as my sole solar installer. The branch of Valsa situated in Montague Gardens CT. Total change of setup as previously anticipated. 1) 8kw Deye inverter. 2) 16 x LONGI-575-B solar panels. 3) Ground Mount system 4 panels east facing ,8 North facing 4 West facing, 1 string of 8 panels in series/ Mppt < 400v/ string 4) 2 x FW 10/8 Lfp battery Thanks to all will keep you updated. Have a good evening.

You are here to fix my mess🤣 sorry just had to, so ok there is method in my madness i am in the process of building a packing station next to the farm house and i will need good lighting inside 10 x High Bay led's @ 200w/ lights so extra 2kw during daytime. For future expansion it makes sense then to have capacity during daytime( work hours) so i will stick to 7.2 kw solar and use battery capacity for night consumption. @JustinSchoeman right i hear you will then do configuration of 6S at 34.9v/ panel 209.4v/ Mppt

The plan is 2 x 3 panels in series then the 2 strings in parallel per Mppt that was the suggestion from both installers @Scorp007 do you feel it is the best configuration look i am not clued up on solar installations hence the reason i need professional advice😅

Afternoon all you good people out there on the best forum ever. Just throw a eye and see if you agree with my thinking. I need to get this right spending my farm profits here working out to a pretty penny. 😬After inputs from 2 installers in my area and done some calculations myself i came up with the following specs. I have decided seeing that i am going with the Sunsynk 8kw inverter i will increase my solar output to 7200w 12 x 600w 3S2P config/ Mppt Controller. Due to the constant higher temps in Upington area the derating factor will approx be 0.38% per degree C above 25 degrees hence the reason the extra 2 panels. The new planned installation: 1) 8kw Sunsynk inverter. 2) 1 x 10/8 Freedom Won Lfp battery. 3) 12 x Canadian Super high Power Mono Perc Hiku7 Evo2 Solar Panel - 600W. Thanks in advance. Derek

Will do thanks @Bobster. tell me what model Goodwe do i look at obviously the 8kw as discussed. Googled this model but i see on the spec sheet only 50amp charge/ discharge surely this model inverter won't be adequate for charging/discharging the FW 10/8 battery. Maybe i have the incorrect inverter model. Goodwe EHB Single Phase Hybrid inverter 8600/10000kva