gooseberry

Also interested in this. I am a big fan of the Solis 4G grid tied inverters.

Just remember that the grid is used at a much lower efficiency than with a grid tied inverter as it's converted to DC and then back to AC.

I don't see what you're describing. There is only a small chunk missing of the ideal bell curve PV output so looks like all available PV is being used. There simply wasn't enough of it to power the loads and charge the batteries to 100%. I'd say that bite out of the curve was either a cloud passing or a shadow on a panel. In the "off grid" example it looks like it drops at exactly the same time and to the same W shortly before the batteries reach 100% and the PV output drops too match the load - so a passing shadow is my best best. Now what you may or may not want is for the battery to carry the load when the grid is present when the sun goes down. You'll be able to set the 'back to grid' SOC somewhere after which it will keep the battery above that at all times if the grid is present. Above that it will only charge higher if there is excess PV power available. You may want to set it lower, as it is currently, to minimise your Eskom bill, or higher to always be ready in case there is a blackout.

Unless someone jippo'd the prepaid meter and connected the essential loads before the meter.

Sure, but many people will meet those. OP's setup fits the first two and many people have sloped roofs that are symmetrical. If you have a flat roof you can use stands to angle them however you wish.

My bad, thought the Growatt had 2 MPPTs. If Imp is 13A it's probably better to go for the 8kW rather than the 5kW Deye. Although E/W on a single MPPT is not unheard of, and if replacing the inverter is not a possibility, may even be the optimum solution. https://www.energymatters.com.au/images/news/2013/east-west-solar-paper.pdf

No need for more panels if you just want to keep your batteries full. Your panels are likely connected 2s2p. They just need to be connected 4s.

The Growatt will still use all 12, it will just clip at 5.5kW in the middle of the day. In the mornings and evenings, if it's overcast, if your panels are not angled optimally or if they're in a E/W configuration the sixth panel will still add to your usable power. Wouldn't get a whole new inverter for that theoretic 1kW extra you maaay get in optimal conditions.

We use the Hoffman H6000 on a Multiplus 24/3000. It works well.

If you can, set it to use cold water only. We have a Bosch front loader washing machine on a 3kVA Multi with 1.8kWP and 5kWh off-grid and it barely makes a dent as long as you don't heat water.

The power curves are flat up to well over 30V per panel so that shouldn't be an issue https://www.victronenergy.com/blog/2020/02/20/pv-panel-output-voltage-shadow-effect/

Perhaps the installer fibbed a bit in the application, or it was an oversight by the reviewer? Either way, it's not strictly compliant.

This forum would be wrong, the documentation is very clear on this.

You can have more PV if they're only connected to an off-grid circuit. But you can't grid tie a larger peak generation capacity than those limits.

https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2C guidelines and regulations/Requiremenst for Samll-Scale Embedded Generation.pdf NRS 097 -2 -1 It's the GENERATION capacity that is limited, not the charge current

Even if you're not exporting, if your main breaker is 60A you're limited to 3.5kW generation capacity on Eskom or several municipalities like CoCT. 4.6kW if you're on a 80A breaker.

5 on either side each on its own MPPT

https://powerforum.co.za/topic/4913-solarcity-rsa-lithium-ion-special-legit/ same same

Haven't installed yet... only bought the panels and inverter.

I have a 4.6kW grid tied Solis inverter and a nominal 3640W of PV. How would I "prove" that for all intents and purposes my system will never exceed 3.5kW? Panels are North facing, on a 40 degree pitched roof.

This was my impression as well. If you want to connect AC in to the Axpert you need to disconnect the PV, or if you want to connect PV you need to disconnect AC in.

You're quite right, there are limits to stop me becoming Eskom. I can't generate more than 1MW and I can't sell to neighbouring properties. I'm not sure how someone can feel exploited. If I didn't have solar they would have paid for electricity too, it makes no difference to them. I might just install my 3kW Axpert as UPS so they're convered for load shedding at least.

With grid tie there is no risk of overloading anything. It looks like a normal prepaid meter and they buy their tokens at Spar or their banking app like they're used to. Only difference is I get paid by the meter company at the end of the month and I pay the Eskom bill. I'd rather not add money to the rent as then the rent 'looks' high. People are used to prepaid electricity.

It is absolutely not illegal. It happens everywhere - in office parks to housing estates. As long as you're below 1MW you're allowed to sell your own electricity. And submetering is common where people rent out additional units on their property. I get the point about there not being large loads during the day, but I plan to put timers on the geysers to heat them with PV at least. Having the upside of backup for power failures would be nice for the tenant and let them feel they get some benefit from the system too. I just don't know how I'd do the metering with a hybrid.

But that way I will only meter grid usage, and not total usage? In case it's not clear, I want to sell the PV I generate to the tenant, same as they would have paid for normal electricity.