Intaka

I have found answers to all my questions reading Marcodp post re COC in the General Discussion section.

Maybe this above was a stupid question. Let me rather ask it this way: Is there any official regulation in South Africa stating no DC cables, (positive, negative and earth) not allowed in a single condute from the array to combiner box? And if so can you please reference the applicable regulation?

Thank you but will also discuss this with the installer next week. I also understand the pv positive and negative cables have to be in separate condute and the earth cable also have to run in the positive condute. Now since this roof will be having 2 sets of 9 panels mppt1 and mppt2 can I run the cables in 2 x 40mm pvc pipes which will be underground en-route? So both mppt,s positive and earth cables will run together in 1pvc pipe. Is this allowed?

Thank you everyone for your input on this. Would it be safe to rather use 6mm cable instead of 4mm.

My solar setup is 2 x 8kw Sunsynk Hybrid inverters in parralel with 36 Canadian 550w panels. So basically it will be 9 panels per string/mppt. My concern is that the on set of panels (18) is quite a distance from the inverters. I have not keasured yet but think in the region of 30to35mts. Can confirm exact distance tomorrow after measuring cable routing distances. The other set of panels is much closer to the inverters. Both roofs are north facing although one get a lot of shade winter time. I will try up load pic. Pic was taken today at 16h30. Most of the panels will be on the shade from 15h00 winter time. What is the max distance panels can be from the inverters and in my case would it be a proble.? Any advise/suggestions/recommendations more than welcome.

My solar setup is 2 x 8kw Sunsynk Hybrid inverters in parralel with 36 Canadian 550w panels. So basically it will be 9 panels per string/mppt. My concern is that the on set of panels (18) is quite a distance from the inverters. I have not keasured yet but think in the region of 30to35mts. Can confirm exact distance tomorrow after measuring cable routing distances. The other set of panels is much closer to the inverters. Both roofs are north facing although one get a lot of shade winter time. I will try up load pic. Pic was taken today at 16h30. Most of the panels will be on the shade from 15h00 winter time. What is the max distance panels can be from the inverters and in my case would it be a proble.? Any advise/suggestions/recommendations more than welcome.

Can someone please help me here. I heard about a solar roof mounting system called Volta end and mid clamps, Volta Eco Mounting Rails, Nylon mounting IBR and Corrugated brackets. I tried a google search with no luck. I would like to view this before making a decision. Anyone maybe have a link i can folliw?

@abd7 Agree, even a bigger issue is rooms share a bd. Theoretically each room should have its own db. What are the alrenatives?

@Scorp007 thank you for the suggestion. It make sense to do that. A daunting task but not impossible.

@Bobster. I want a grid-tied system but would like to get as much as I possibly can from a 16kw system without overstepping boundaries. Even though aircons in every room is a dream of the future this will have to be pushed out much further in the future. So, I am not going to waste time thinking bout that now. The main focus now is to install a 16kw system and where demand exceed what the system can handle to draw this from the grid. Yes I know the question, But what if you fully book? Or wjay if its a blackout etc, etc. Till now we have come by albeit with lots of frustrations and we will just have to deal with it as it arise. Our current electricity bill is not that high average 900kWh quiete times and 1500kWh fully book times. But with all the gas geyesers and stove we have a reasonable high gas usage mothly. Estimate R1750 monthly.

Thank you everyone for your valuable input. Some of the comments made me realise that this is a much complicated issue. So many things to consider. The biggest concern is the whole premises was wired not with a guesthouse in mind. Keep in mind we have 5 guest rooms in the main house with a reception, lounge kitchen and dining hall. Two stand alone 2-bedroom houses seperate from each other each one with their own sub DB's. Then another stand alone building with its own sub db (fed from another sub db) consisting of 2 guest rooms, a laundry and a double garage. Then there is a rondawel with its own sub db. There is also a stand alone outside guest room with its own sub db. There is another standalone double garage with its own sub db. And lastly there is the workshop section with its own sub db. This makes it impossible to have dedicated circuit breakers for TV and charging essentials/non-essentials set up from the sub db's. What makes matters worse is different rooms share same circuit breakers for plus or lights. Imagine you have sub DB2 fed from sub DB1 feb from main DB. My thinking is the whole premises should be rewired which we cannot afford. What are the alternatives?? Any advise suggestions?

@abd7 I agree but the municipal costs quoted I can just as well put on another 16kw system. Crazy what they charge and I most defenitely dont want to be dependant on the local municipal supply. 5 years forward it will be 100times worse than now.

@GreenFields Few things I forgot to mention in my first post. Future plan is to fit inverter aircons to all rooms and dining hall. Currently only 2 rooms fitted with ac. I have a workshop on site and do welding, grinding, painting etc from there. This might be a problem when on solar. Not sure how I am going to handle this one. Suggestions please guys.

@abd7 We are on single phase.

@GreenFieldsWe have single phase. The genie has been replaced with a 8kw and it seems to handle load better. Only problem during loadshedding is guests ignore requests not to use microwaves, electric kettles (non-selfcatering rooms still have electric kettles) and also not to use irons. The 8kw genie supply all lights inside/outside, all tv's, decoders, fridges. The main kitchen do use a microwave during loadshedding. Funny enough our load profile day vs night very much the same 50/50 winter time and 60/40 summer time. From memory highest peak was bout 80kwh/day but this mainly winter time or when fully booked. I do not have any instantaneous peak info. But it is highly unlikely that everything will be switched on at the same time. If that would happen, surely it will trip at municipal supply pole. In fact the pole did trip once before in winter when we were fully booked and all rooms were fitted with small elecric heaters. At 5:30 in the morning when staff started breakfast the load was just too much. End of story, no more heaters in rooms and now all beds fitted with electric under blanket warmers. Problem solved. We will be grid-tied, but honestly, the less i can use municipal electricity and not to worry about loadshedding wil make me extremely happy.