Roarty

For those who need the information. Got this official link on the Mossel Bay Municipality rules, laws, regulations, etc. on going solar. GOING SOLAR in MOSSEL BAY: What you need to know - https://www.mosselbay.gov.za/news-display/a0a75a88-5a41-4ad7-9c25-d95940900104 List of Approved Inverters 27 January 2023 - https://www.mosselbay.gov.za/storage/documents/c295e84707181106b5edbd537a484202.pdf What I figured out on the local council's info is that the best way forward is a new inverter. End of story!

Good day guys, I just want to know a few things. I am trying to help an elderly couple who bought a SunSynk but they installed a HOSELECT. Everything was "fly-by-night" type of work. Included is a drawing of the sytem that I am thinking doint to rectify the previous installer's.... There is currently no PV or Battery disconnect. The only thing concerning safety, is the installed changeover switch in the DB. Just a few questions; Is the HOSELECT HS-5500 5.5kW inverter legal/approved in Mossel Bay? It's not in the City of Cape Town's Approved Photovoltaic (PV) Inverter List. Is there anyway that I can connect the inveter, if it's legal and approved for the local council, to an app or computer? Is it ok to connect Array 1 & 2 in serie as per drawing. HOUSE DE BIL - SOLAR POWER GENERATION LAYOUT.pdf

I have not gone that way yet...battling with the monitoring of the current system.

To all that assisted me...just an update... I am totally off the grid by means of a manual transfer switch. Still battling with the CT monitor clamp. I think it is not functioning the way it should or it is to close; how far away from the main earth leakage should it be? It does not show the grid flow in or out. But I will get someone out to check it and/or explaining to me how it should work when I am back in SA in December. Thank you all...

Thanks @Octerain, I totally forgot about the VPN way. I work in Zambia and the wife is not so technically inclined, or so she say, to help me over the phone. I have a "Asus RT-AC88U AC3100 Dual Band Gigabit WiFi Gaming Router" which is very "open" to configuring...I'll try and set it up over Teamviewer this coming weekend.

My wife has switch on the grid for the geyser...here it shows...I don't know more to say. Everything is connected The electrician from a solar company is coming Friday to check everything for the CoC...

My house is filled with Sonoff switches and it works great. I've ordered a 20A Wifi MCB to do just that what you are talking about. You can even remotely, away from home, switch it on and off. I am gonna get more so that you can control your house when you are away on holiday. I've send you a message with my final layout which I've installed. See if you can see where I've gone wrong...PLEASE.

Yes, and that is how I've done it.

From the grid. I have put in an isolator in to control the grid when I needed it. Switch it on/off as required. It is fed in from the grid side but still consumes when it wants to. I left for Zambia before I could triple check everything. I saw on the Goodwe 5048ES wiring diagram that in Australia it is required to bridge the neutrals off the on-grid and backup lines with each other. I didn't do that. Will it help to draw power via a timer from 11:30 to 14:30 from the PV panels to assist the geyser? The batteries will be charged to 100% at 11:30 and the kids will be back from school at 14:30...on good dsay...sunny day.

@Pietpower Today, starting on a very cloudy day but has opened up so far.

My geyser is seperate from the backup load. I asked my wife to run the tumble dryer, kettle and a few other things she can think of just to see the power usage. I am currently working in Zambia and can only look at the usage on PC and the app. Would've loved to be home to play. I am currently talking to Robin Emley at mk2pvrouter.co.uk about their MK2 Power Router. I want to divert the surplus energy to my geyser. Currently I have a 3.5kW element in a 200L Kwikot. I am exporting 0kW to the grid although I am connected for the darker days for incase. He said that for off-grid systems, a "Frequency Controlled Switch" will be the best to use. http://www.windandsun.co.uk/products/Shop-By-Brand/Amber-Control. Like I've mentioned, I am a newbie with the solar but would like to do a proper job at it. What do you guys think? Can I use the MK2 with the Hybrid Inverter that is grid-tied but isn't exporting anything or must I go with the Frequency control Switch. I'll add Robin Emley's comments in his email in this post for your information to help me making a better decision. "Thanks for your enquiry. Yes, my standard Mk2 PV Router design does indeed rely on being connected to the grid. Surplus power is supplied to one or more on-site dumploads on a fully modultated basis (i.e. fully on or fully off) so a small amount of energy reciprocates to and from the grid. Because the energy state of the premises is held to a relatively constant level (to within a couple of hundred Joules), most types of electricity meter will ingore that activity. By "ignore", I mean that the user will not be charged or otherwise penalised. I have also supplied a few controllers for off-grid systems. For this purpose, the frequency is monitored rather than energy flow. As the frequency rises, power is gradually increased to one or more dumploads using phase-angle control. This prevents the inverters reducing their output as the batteries become full. This type of diverter is acting as a bank of Amber switches, each controlling just a small part of the available load: http://www.windandsun.co.uk/products/Shop-By-Brand/Amber-Control The BTA41 triac in my standard output stage is rated at 40 Amps so can drive loads of up to 10kW at 230V. However, the standard small heatsink that I use is only recommended for 4kW max. With a larger heatsink or forced cooling, larger loads could be driven. Solid State Relays can also be used but they will also require some cooling. Because of the rate at which the ouput needs to be switched on/off, a mechanical relay is not suitable for this application. I've supplied several 1-phase "Mk2" diverters to SA, and possibly one for a 3-phase system, but these have all been grid-connected."

Sunny Winter Day ... 4577 W 6600W Sun panels at 24 ° ... 56 ° is a better angle for the winter sun in the Cape ... from the horizontal ... The normal ... home use ... washing machine ... tumble dryer ... boiler ... kids on their playstations ... mom on her soapies ... I love the power and grace of our great boss ... ... Can't wait for Christmas ... not for gifts ... but ... God's warmth through His sun rays ... more power ... Bye bye Eskom ... Thanks to @Fuenkli @plonkster @The Terrible Triplett and those I can't remember... It's not 100% to my liking, but I am out of the country at work for two months...will play and talk to you guys again and ask for help... 100% Self-install...got the ok from an electrician friend that everything is OK...just waiting for the electrician to do the CoC inspection...

Hi @PaulinNorthcliff, I am battling to get any BMS Status from my GOODWE GW5048D-ES and BYD 5.0. There is no way to change anything in the PV Master app! Any suggestions? What is the Basic & Advance Settings that require an installer password? I have a GOODWE GW5048D-ES with 2 x 2.5 BYD LiOn batteries and 2 x 10 - 330W JA Solar panels. I have connected it all correctly and took measurements before and after every connection and everything is as it is supposed to be...just the communication between the inverter and the batteries is the problem...anybody...PLEASE...I want my own power...

@Fuenkli @The Terrible Triplett @plonkster Quick question and a check for me please? I bought a system and mounting kit from SolarAdvice, but according to the minimum layout I can do, it is not enough. They've send me less, critical items and more non-critical items. HOUSE ROARTY SOLAR ARRAY MOUNTING LAYOUT REV 01.pdf

No problem, it is better to ask the questions before end up buying stuff that doesn't work the way it's supposed to, as well, it doesn't hurt to have someone like you on the forum that knows what to do...and you can gain some extra business...win-win for us newbie's as well. Thank you again for all the info!!! I pm you my email address...