Fuenkli

I agree. This would be the sensible thing to do (referring to the Ziehl in combination with a one disconnect relay inverter problem). To me it is just not acceptable to prevent all the existing perfectly safe installations from successfully registering.

If possible could you raise the following points: 1. How can the problem of existing GTI installations with a generating capacity of > 3.5kW on a single phase connection be solved? 2. Is a changeover switch from inverter back-up to grid for essential loads acceptable? ( @The Terrible Triplettpoint from above) isn't this an issue which should be discussed?

I will take a video the next time I drive past the open cycle gas turbines outside Atlantis. The reports must be accurate because they are always running.

this is what I think will realistically happen in the future. There will probably always be a few functioning (privately owned) power producers. There will however never be enough money, skills and political discipline to sustain a first world electricity supply.

agree, but we should NEVER stop challenging the authorities. The moment you give up and just find an easy way around the bad politicians/laws you are doomed in the long term. I think the "have's" in SA do not do nearly enough to steer the country into a better future.

send you PM

I have a Goodwe 4.6kW ES inverter. There is really no need to ever disconnect it from the grid (except for repairs). It is a hybrid grid tie inverter and very much just plug and forget. All you have to do is set the minimum battery SOC. I hope I did not misunderstand your question.

there is no response yet (except yours) from the Cape Town PF members regarding our proposal to take the SSEG registration problems up with the CoCT in a meeting. I will wait with the post until I see a need for it.

I agree but is the primary function of the CB/Fuse not to protect the wires?

maybe the short current panel amps did not exceed the tripping threshold of the CB. This could be a very serious quality problem of the CB. Can you please advice what make of CB you tested?

but as mentioned earlier on in the thread I would convert the geyser to solar. The ROI is so short it is a no brainer.

did not find anything yet to automatically divert the surplus power. The next best thing is to put a timer on the geyser and hope that there will be enough solar to power it. If you do this it is recommended to reduce the power consumption of the geyser by replacing the element with a 1kW type. Another option is to control the geyser with a relay from the Victron bmv based on SOC.

I am not an expert on surge protection so I can not really answer your questions. But I think the fuses will react to slow to stop a high voltage spike.

as I mentioned in another post they unfortunately do not work if you are not feeding into the grid. This is why most of us in SA can not use them.

I was looking at this idea as well. There is a lot of reasonably priced power diverters on the market in Australia and the UK. Unfortunately none of them works if the inverter is set for zero export 🙁.

I don't think you need additional fuses in the PV DB board. The Noark CB's will take care of that. Just choose the correct rating for your cables. I use the 10A version. Also make sure you have CB's between inverter and Grid and inverter and back-up loads.

No. If our efforts to convince the CoCT to find some compromise for the already installed Inverters fails I will then as a last resort apply for an 80A supply.

according to the Australian battery test center the BYD will probably last longer than the Pylontech. http://batterytestcentre.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Battery-Testing-Report-September-2018.pdf

it should be. Maybe you can have a look at the Ah consumed as measured by the bmv. This should give you an idea what is going on. Maybe your consumption has increased. Another possibility is, that the batteries were not fully charged.

that is great news. That is how problems are solved. I propose we wait for your return. In the meantime we have to define our agenda points and nominate the participants in the meeting. Shall we start a separate thread for this activity? Can I please ask all CT installers and home owners experiencing SSEG registration problems to let us know what you think about the proposed approach.

did you manage to find out why the CoCT wants to install a split prepayment meter and what the shared network charge is? There is a lot of us in the same situation like you and we have to find a solution to the >3.5kW inverter problem together. What I do not understand from an engineering point of view is how the upgrade to 80A can mitigate a potential imbalance of the phases (or whatever the reason for the regs is). For me the best win win approach to deal with the existing generator connections would be is to look at each specific LV feeder and quantify the risk of potential damage to the feeder. What do you think @Rautenk? Should we try to set up a meeting with the CoCT? I (and i am sure all other affected homeowners) would be prepared to carry the cost of this investigation.

another limiting factor is that the power has to be able to go somewhere. This is without grid feed in almost impossible to achieve.

based on my experience your calculation is right. It requires however a cloudless day. On a overcast day you will get maybe 10 to 20 % of that.

I don't think so. Your concerns are very valid. Even without snow (that was a joke I just could not resist of making) the stress on the panels and brackets over decades will be to high I think.

just imagine what 1 meter of snow load will do to the panels 🤣. I am from northern Europe and will probably never be able to get rid of the anxiety what snow and ice can do to your structures. Although it is totally irrelevant here in Sunny SA.