JAvandermerwe

Thanks, I think you’ve confirmed what I was hoping to hear 🙂

Thanks for the feedback. The 5kw Sunsynk comes with those MC4 connectors - see the manual screenshot below. They then have those thin wires inside the inverter connecting to a white “box” in the inverter. Not sure that box is, but will take a better picture of the part when I get home. I realise 10mm2 is oversized, but it doesn’t bother me. It’s only the short run between the combined box and the inverter that’s 10mm2 as I had them available at the time. The cabling from panels to combiner is 4mm2.

Today I noticed one of the PV cables going into my 5kw Sunsynk was a bit loose. Seems the MC4 connector cracked where it attached to the inverter casing, and have asked my installed to remedy. However… while looking at it, I was a bit surprised to see how thin and whispy the cable on the inverter’s side of the connector was. My own cable from the PV joiner box is a solid 10mm2 PV cable. But the one inside the inverter is way smaller. This is how they come set up by Sunsynk, so presumably should be fine. Just a bit concerning as it looks a bit weak & undersized to me. Or am I being overly concerned? 🧐 See pics below… @Backbone Energy

@JustinSchoeman @Martinvbiljon the Sunsynk manual specifically says the arrow on the CT has to point towards the inverter. I went and checked and official videos posted by Keith from Sunsynk on their website also says to point towards the inverter. Are you sure yours is pointing toward the grid?

@Freakazoidthanks for this, but doesn’t this contradict what @Brickmansaid under point (2) of his post above? He said it would pull first from grid, not battery? I must say, I can see some room for improvement in the manuals!

Thanks all, very helpful. Just to clarify one thing about the “On grid always on” tickbox: @Brickman you said “4) On grid always on will always supply power to the Smart load output, when the box is ticked and grid available.” Does this mean that, when ticked, if there is grid available it will not use PV at all? Ie power the Aux load only with grid? Like @ShainI would like to keep the Aux load on at night using the grid (when available). And during the day, when there is PV available, I’d like to use that as much as possible. I’m worried that if I tick “on grid always on” it will power the Aux load from grid during the day even when there is PV available.

Thanks @Jacques Ester much appreciated 👍 I don’t have prepaid and fortunately I have full title over the property, so wouldn’t need estate permission.

@Backbone Energy I have a medium-size unit in an estate where the supply is still 3-phase from when it was a big, older JHB property long ago. I had an old 5kw Axpert for my essentials fed by Phase 1, with the other circuits (geysers, AC, underfloor heaters, oven, erc) feeding of a mixture of Phases 1 to 3. Now I am replacing the Axpert with a 5kw Sunsynk, and would like to supplement my non essential load on the grid side with my excess PV. But given I have 3 phase supply and some of the non essential heavy draw items are on other phases, does this mean I can only supplement non essentials that are on Phase 1 which feeds my inverter? Also, does that mean the CT coil should be place of the Phase 1 grid feed to my DB, with no CTs on Phase 2 and 3? Ideally it would have been nice to be able to supplement all my non essentials, but if I understand correctly, that means I’d have to move everything onto Phase 1. Not sure if that would be possible/ advisable, considering things like load balancing, and the rating of my Phases? (see pics) I typically have an essential load of between 500w - 3000w, depending on what I switch on. Non essentials not on the inverter load include things like 2x4000w geysers, 3000w water pump, 2x4000w underfloor heating, 2500w oven, 3x1000w AC units. Obviously not normally on all at the same time, but theoretically possible. Could I consider moving everything onto 1 phase only?

Just an update on my experience with this... the issue has not yet reoccurred for me, but the temperatures have been fairly moderate of late with a fair bit of rain & cool weather. And the inverter does not seem to have been working as hard. It could well be a temperature thing as @Coulomb suggests - seems most likely to me. I am, however, probably going to ditch my "Axpert" (I reckon it's a clone, grrr...) in favour of a Sunsynk fairly soon, so not sure I will be able to contribute experience on this point for too much longer. Incidentally, it seems to me that the Axpert's MPPT range of 60-115dv (145vdc max) is a bit limiting, and ends up being a bit restrictive in terms of PV array arrangement & wiring. Feels like the inverters with higher MPPT voltages going up to around 450-500vdc are just much more convenient, flexible. Fewer strings, lower current & thinner cables, etc. And in some cases dual MPPTs, like on the Sunsynk.

If you use the ICC software, you can monitor the inverter temperature. See below

I agree with this, provided they are 60-cell panels.

@Barryv, @Jay-Dee awesome, thanks for taking the time guys. What you are saying makes sense to me, and accords with what I've managed to informally work out from the various forums. I will take a pic of the key parts of the setup, and post them here later to show you what it looks like.

I would be keen to hear if anybody has feedback on your point 1 above. I also trying to figure out what the regs and requirements in COJ are

Good day all I recently had 3660w of solar panels installed (12 panels in 3s4p). But I recently developed some doubts about whether the installation is fully up to standards and requirements. Can anybody shed some light (provide extracts preferably 🙂) on what SANS requires from residential PV installations? In particular, what does it say about: - earthing the PV array - is it required by law? - earthing to home DB earth vs separate earth spikes - surge arrestors on the PV Cables (I've only got fuses on each string positive and a single 2pole breaker across it all) - PV cable thickness (over +|- 15m) - The need to get a COC on the PV installation (I got a COC on the original battery & inverter installation, but the panels were only added a year later) I had tried to google for this info, but it seems SANS regs can only be purchased for over R1000? Curious why that would be. Anyway, I am just trying to assess if my current installation needs remedial action, and I've seen quite a few varied and sometimes opposing opinions on some of the points above (eg on spike vs home DB earthing) across various forums. The regulatory requirements would be a good starting point for a conversation with my installer. Any help would be much appreciated! JAVA

True that. At least it helps to have informed forums like this to help steer clear of suppliers who do engage in this practice. Pity the wider public/layman typically does not have that kind of input or advice at the point of sale. Perhaps it would benefit everybody to maintain a list of "dodgy" parties! I've since been in contact with both supplier and installer and despite me being very courteous and cooperative in my approach, they have started doing the opposite, and I sense a reluctance to provide me with any more information. Supplier is now refusing to answer my questions about the model of hardware I have and insists that I work through the installer. They say they have assisted me as far as they can "information-wise", despite still not telling what model inverter I have. Mmm... Installer suggests issues with the inverter behaviour (the premature float bug) are because the PV panels were not installed correctly (I added panels 9 months after these guys set up my inverter and batteries, but used another installer for that as they offered a better quote). Exact same hardware spec (12 canadian solars), but installed by somebody else. They added that my "...warranty is now null and void due to a second party involvement...". Hard to believe somebody could come up with such an irrational/non-sensical response. I'm going to get rid of this clone, and make sure I do not deal with either of these parties again. My blood pressure cannot stand much more of this...