Colin Little

Experienced electrician here, taking steps into the renewables... I have an existing PV solar installation with decent FIT payments. I originally looked at changing the inverter to add battery back up, but with the weight of the battery.. i changed the plan to leave the existing inverter working, and simply add the new inverter elsewhere, in parallel with the existing. Its all connected up as required, but the internal settings are getting more confusing the more i look at them. Basically... anything that mentions "Solar" is ignored, as i dont have the PV solar plugged into the Sunsynk "Grid" includes the house load, the grid AND the existing solar "UPS load" will have a fridge, some lights etc connected to it once ive got it running good. "Gen" hasn't got anything connected to it. The system pages are set on the timer, so the batteries charge during the day... (assuming the sun is shining)... and discharge at night... either to house load, or into the grid. There is also a "zero export" check box that should disallow anything from the new invertor into the grid...as controlled by the CT coil on the meter tails... (but the existing inverter will still export surplus) I was recomended by the wholesaler to add an Eastron meter and a second CT onto the line coming from the old invertor into the consumer unit, which should let the new invertor know how much solar is being generated.... simulating the data that it would pick up itself if i was to use the DC solar input ports. I'm not sure if this is working... or if i have the settings correct. My underlying purpose here is to not spend so much on electricity bills. The big consumption is electric oven, hot tub, and general appliances. My heating and hot water is gas, hob is gas.... but if i can use more roof produced electricity, i may change some of these gas appliances to electric. If i can get my own set up working well, i can then offer to install them for my customers.