Mako

Thanks Stefan and Kevin. I was one click away from completing a big order. They emailed to ask why I hadn't completed and I questioned the EFT only option and asked what secure payment on the site meant. They replied that they have accounts at all major banks...........whatever that may mean. It's mind boggling that they can have such flashy websites out in the open and there is no regulatory protection.

Where in CPT are you for viewing?

Has anyone bought from zenvosolar.com ? I was completing a purchase and it was EFT only so I declined. Website states secure payment but that option isn't available.

Very strange behavior on an OG10/FL 5.2 system. Two FL 5.2 are connected in parallel to a single OG 10. When battery type is set to Kodak the reported consumption overnight with minimal load is three or four times higher than expected via Watchpower. When set to User and battery parameters entered the overnight consumption on Watchpower shows 90% which is more or less expected but the battery level lights show 40%-60%. Is there later firmware that allows FL 5.2 selection in the battery menu maybe? Is anyone running an OG 10 and FL 5.2 batteries sucessfully?

An installation I'm helping get properly completed was done by a master electrician that will issue the COC. He cut all of the MC4 connectors off the 16 panels and used ferrules and insulation tape. Cable and joints are lying in unistrut which fill with water when it rains, no conduit. Earthing is only on four points on the unistrut of the four strings. No panels have earth connected to them directly. Flat concrete roof. A PrEng contracted them and will sign off but hasn't bothered to climb onto the roof to inspect. The homeowner is unable to climb onto the the roof and they know this.

Has anyone mounted the FL 5.2 on a wall? I know the bracket supplied is for floor/shelf mount but it looks like it can be used with a suitable spacer at the base of the battery to keep the battery parallel to the wall.

It's an over the counter network cable. Watch this

Where are you located? The cable appears to be a normal over the counter cable 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 6-6 7-7 8-8

What would you say then to someone that has an existing system that goes to sleep before midday and has the potential to export up to 15 units/day? I'm looking after such a system that was over paneled to mitigate winter / cloudy performance.

I have had a reply from Saldanha. Thanks for the input everyone. Attached to the forms we will require the following: ID of owner Drawing of SSEG COC Inverter certificate and it must be on proof list as Cape Town. Municipal account. Commissioning report. The systems must be sign of by an ECSA registered Pr Eng or Pr Tech Eng. If owner wants to export, a ECSA registered Pr Eng Pr Tech Eng must sign off on the job, for non-export of power a PV Green Card P4 Installer may also sign off. Because of the increase of SSEG applications, SBM made the decision that random inspections on existing and new SSEG installations will be conducted. SBM requires that the installer take two photos of all installed SSEG systems, new and existing. In terms of the agreement based on the Green-Cape and AMEU documentation, the allowable installation capacity is limited to 25 % of the connection capacity. To be connected to the grid, the consumer will also need to be a net user of energy. A domestic customer with a 60 Ampere single Phase connection (60A x 230V = 13,8KW) therefore may only install a 3.45KW system if the consumer want to feedback into network. The consumer will pay the normal Service and Connection Capacity Charge and the normal Energy rates for all the energy that is import. For the energy that is export into the grid, the consumer will be refunded for the energy at the Infeed Tariff. We make use of a double meter system where the Import and Export energy is recorded separately. If the consumer wants to feedback to the grid he will pay for new meter. Short explanation: Hybrid inverters operating in islanded (off-grid) mode Inverters which can be operated in grid-tied or islanded (off-grid) mode, but where physical wiring connections with the grid exist (e.g. via the distribution board), are considered grid-tied SSEG systems and require municipal permission as described in this document. This applies even if they are being operated in off-grid (islanded) mode. Only where there is no physical wiring connection to the grid, direct or indirect, is it not considered an SSEG Regards

I have emailed them and live in hope as the install deadline looms. Installer is being coy.

Saldanha / Langebaan. Is registration of a solar system required? Helping someone and need to pressure the installer to comply if so. I'm familiar with COCT and if it's similar that would be all I need to know.

Easiest for me is with a broom while it's raining.

At night the Victron system draws from the battery on the non essential side so that graph is as if it was on the essentials. Only when the grid is off will there be no draw from the battery on the non essential side. It's a Victron thing.

The battery is running the single 3 kilowatt element on the primary geyser without problems at night (see dips in the graph) so the heat pump should be fine especially when timed properly. Battery is always full by midday come rain or shine. The home situation there is not easy to describe as it changes with friends that help so random stuff gets switched on and they all talk at the same time 😉 I'm just refining the system for them.

@Bobster. Thanks, I imagine I will be moving it to essentials then. It also runs a circulation pump 24/7 that keeps the hot water circulating to all of the taps so there are losses there too. No shortage of battery or panels 7200 watts in panels and 14.3 kWh battery. It can be done. The Tannie must just hold back a bit with the tumble dryer in the evenings.

Kwikot HP-007 Heat Pump installed in a new built home and they can't use it because it loses it's mind after one or two LS events. The plumber says the battery for the memory fails during long outages and it's on/off schedules get later and later with each LS until is shuts down and needs to be set up again. They have been using heater elements instead in the two series 150L cylinders. The plumber wants me to move the Heat Pump onto the essentials to fix this problem but I'd prefer it to stay on the non essentials as due to all that is already on the essentials side. Victron Multi and a ET113 for feeding non essentials. Has anyone else had a similar problem?

I was given installer access and have sorted it out myself. I also went up and installed a CG meter and the system is running as it should.

https://luxpowertek.com/support Start here. They will tell you who has stock.

I'm going to do the meter install myself. I've been given full access by the installer. Been reading the manuals and can see why Victron have such a loyal following. I also found "Bay Solar" in Langebaan are Victron installers but they are "Baie besig" 🙃

Might be that your supply to the LED's is lying alongside a long stretch of live wire going elsewhere and voltage is induced into the LED line. Not uncommon.

I think less hardware is all there is to it. Smaller panels might fit the jigsaw pattern on an odd shaped roof or space better. If you're working alone, 660 watt panels may be too heavy. Let's see what others have to say.

Carlo Gavazzi ET112 Energy Meter and cable still available?

Thanks for that. I've already got them to set the DOD to 20% this morning (it was 70%) so some progress. I need to get the non essential side done now but need to understand it to make sure they get on with it.

Trying to prepare before I help someone that has been let down by the installer (Large company with lots of electrical degrees behind all of their names). Currently we don't have control access just monitoring access. 16 x 450W panels and 14.3kWh Solar MD battery. The system works as a basic UPS on non essentials. Base loads are between 300W - 450W and spikes to 1700W for kettle/micro etc. No aircons of inverter heater/aircon/ stove etc. connected. System switched on 8 months ago and no faults until the last month when the Multi has tripped at random times with loads < 700W, last one appears to have been this morning when load shedding started and was reset by pushing the reset button. It then runs flawlessly until.... System is poorly set up and starts charging the battery using Eskom at 04h00 despite the SOC being well above 60%. Panels kick in early and SOC is 100% by 10h00 regardless of weather. Home is single phase with the essentials on a sub board from AC1 out. AC2 out is not connected. A Victron Energy meter has been ordered. I don't want to void the installers warranty so will go slowly but I need to push them from here on or do it myself. PF Member Dieter sent me a manual which I will go through but I have some questions regarding AC2 out. Would that be connected to the main DB downstream of the Victron meter (at the main breaker) but before the non essential loads in order to utilize solar that has gone idle when the battery is full? Or can AC2 simply be connected to AC in at the Multiplus with the meter at the main DB breaker? I understand how the Chinese Hybrids work and have done full installs but Victron is something I never paid any attention to as they are above my pay grade 🙃