HSG

Hi all, I'm busy designing a combiner/fuse box for my future PV setup. Will be four parallel strings of three panels feeding into a Victron MPPT. My question is, is there any reason why fuses are more commonly used instead of DC breakers? I know DC breakers can get pricey, but then you also have the advantage of isolating individual strings at lower risk.

Nice sized system you've installed, I hope my wiring trays work out as neatly as yours. I'm lucky in that my loads are relatively modest, but I'm definitely looking forward to the solar powered future!

Hi everyone, after a year of research, saving, and reading a lot of forum posts I think I'm ready to start my journey to solar, beginning with a grid-tied inverter and batteries setup to deal with that anoying thing affecting most of us right now. My high level setup as planned is shown in the diagram below: I've monitored my home power consumption over the last few months and the Multiplus-II 3000-GX will definitely cover all my essential loads as well as 90% of my upstream loads while Eskom power is available. That said, I do have a few questions to pose to the forum: The CoCT regulations have always been a bit vague to me with regards to these kind of backup systems pre-solar, is there anything I need to do aside from getting a CoC after setting this all up? Assuming I just need CoC for above, once I decide to add solar (plan is for a SmartSolar MPPT 250/100 and 3 parellel series strings of 9 460W panels), I can just follow the standard CoCT process? Everything outside the red box (excluding of course the garage sub DB) will be contained within a single large DB, are there any issues with this or must I have the switchover and essential loads on a second DB? Is there any other major protective equipment (on the AC side) required other than what I've indicated here? i.e. perhaps additional disconnectors before and after the Multiplus-II? Is there any problem with having the 40A breaker after the multiplus? From my reading of the manual the unit can supply 32A passthrough + 13A load assist for a total of 45A draw from the unit while Eskom supply is active. As I understand it, earth neutral linkage is already handled in the multiplus, so I don't need to do anything special there. Finally, any general comments and advice on inverter and battery selection. I know Victron equipment is expensive, but I like the well documented APIs and architecture for all my tinkering needs. Though, I am debating whether or not to immediately go for an EasySolar and make life a little easier down the line. In terms of batteries, I know there were some quality grumbles around the PylonTech batteries, but it seems to me those issues have been resolved? Of course, any recommendations for friendly installers for the solar stage in Strand would be appreciated, otherwise I'm hoping to do as much as possible myself right now having grown up in a house of electricians. Once I get started I hope to document the installation as closely as possible for other forum members to follow and potentially emulate.

Thanks @Tariq I look forward to hearing from you! @Erastus if you don't mind sending me a message that would be great and I can compare it with what I've already got. When I redid all my electrical last year I had CoCT install a new supply with split pre-payment and a box on the street, I specifically asked them to do everything they need to to ensure I can do a drop-in AMI install when the time comes. Thanks for the tip on the earth spike, I did have a new one driven in to complement the original one, but more can never hurt.

I've been reasonably lucky dealing with CoCT, seems I've got a way with them that surprises a lot of my contractors... Hi @Tariq, is there any limitation on how long the documentation is valid for? I'm probably only going to get panels installed in two years or so. I guess I want to know if I can get away with doing the UPS part now without waiting x-months for a full system approval. I know I could hook it up like that, but the way my DB is setup it would be easier for me to put in an ET112 and leave it otherwise unchanged, my only concern is if that is sufficient for anti-islanding in the eyes of the regulations.

Hi Everyone, after more than two years of lurking and my current UPS needing a small fortune in new lead acid batteries I've decided to take the plunge and setup a whole home UPS with the option to expand to solar in the future. My biggest concern is in terms of documentation I need to prepare for the city of Cape Town, when I can do what, and some details around the installation where I'm finding conflicting info on the forum. I've done a few off-grid installs for friends and family in the Karoo, but this will be my first attempt at designing a system for the city. I'm planning on getting a Multiplus-II 5000 with some Pylontech batteries (though a few people have been pushing me to take a look at the Hubbles). I've already got my essential loads on a second DB and I plan to connect that to the AC out of the Multiplus. On the input side I want to have non-essential loads running if there is excess inverter capacity during an outage. Now, what I'm not sure about is if I can just put an ET112 on the input side and leave it at that or do I require an additional anti-islanding device like a Ziehl with some contactors? At this point I am also unclear on any documentation or application processes that have to be performed with the city, as it is initially only going to be used as a UPS, is it sufficient to just have a CoC as defined by Appendix 4 the Requirements for Small-Scale Embedded Generation? In future when I plan to add some panels and MPPTs I can follow the normal design and permission process then?