So a while back CoCT saw the light and lifted the restriction on generation capacity.  We have a 60A feed and the limit is now 13.2kW.  My question is how exactly is this limit applied.  For example which of the following would be fine if I installed a 16kW Sunsynk:

1. 8kW panels + 5kW batteries.  Actual generation can't exceed 13kW even though the inverter is rated for 16kW.

2. 12kW panels + 5kW batteries but software limited to maximum 13kW generation (if the Sunsynk can do that).

PS:  I understand feeding back to the grid is limited to 3.5kW but I'm not considering that any time soon.

9 minutes ago, Niel said:

1. 8kW panels + 5kW batteries.  Actual generation can't exceed 13kW even though the inverter is rated for 16kW.

since you will feed power to the non-essential/grid side of the inverter, presumably hot water cylinder etc. and power to the load/UPS side of the inverter and charge your batteries, you could produce 16kW, assuming you have the solar power to do this and all is ok, the 60A feed from the city is not really relevant, I'd say, obviously you'd have to ensure all the cabling can carry the current the loads would consume, but I'd guess that is all ok already and 240V (which is what the voltage should really be) time 60A is more like 14k4W... lets call it 15kW 🙂

As for generation capacity, I can't see that the city should restrict you in any way, other than the possible feed into the grid... how would they restrict a dude with a 20kW generator?

20 minutes ago, Kalahari Meerkat said:

since you will feed power to the non-essential/grid side of the inverter, presumably hot water cylinder etc. and power to the load/UPS side of the inverter and charge your batteries, you could produce 16kW, assuming you have the solar power to do this and all is ok, the 60A feed from the city is not really relevant, I'd say, obviously you'd have to ensure all the cabling can carry the current the loads would consume, but I'd guess that is all ok already and 240V (which is what the voltage should really be) time 60A is more like 14k4W... lets call it 15kW 🙂

As for generation capacity, I can't see that the city should restrict you in any way, other than the possible feed into the grid... how would they restrict a dude with a 20kW generator?

CoCT has strict limits to inverter sizing. I believe the verdict was that the actual inverters rating (what it says on the label) can not be above the a prescribed limit of 13.5Kva. and feed in can also not exceed 3.5Kw. Therefore i do not believe your inverter of choice will be allowed. Coct does not care at all about your battery size or size of your solar array from my understanding. 

 

In more broad terms. The max inverter size can not exceed your breaker rating and maximum allowed feed in can not exceed 25% of your breaker rating.

Edited August 1, 20223 yr by Basil Katakuzinos

3 hours ago, Basil Katakuzinos said:

CoCT has strict limits to inverter sizing.

OK, so 4 parallel 5kW inverters are fine, since they each, do not exceed their prescribed 13.5kVA limit? Some of these rules are total and utter nonsense and the city should explain in detail what the reasoning was, they came up with the rules...

I would love a 16Kw inverter!

7 hours ago, Niel said:

if the Sunsynk can do that

Yes. It can limit both export feed and supply (essentials+non essentials) feed.

Meaning if you buy 16kw you can limit it, to make it do whatever you want it to supply (2kw/3kw,10kw,etc)

Hope it makes sense

Edited August 1, 20223 yr by Quwatush Shams (Suly)

Ok so the inverter can do both (1) and (2).  But I'm looking for a bit of a firmer answer.  Will CoCT allow either (or both) of the configurations?  Or will I have problems irrespective, if I go with a 16kW inverter.

On 2022/08/01 at 9:46 PM, Niel said:

Ok so the inverter can do both (1) and (2).  But I'm looking for a bit of a firmer answer.  Will CoCT allow either (or both) of the configurations?  Or will I have problems irrespective, if I go with a 16kW inverter.

From my understanding you will have problems.

Quote

"I believe the verdict was that the actual inverters rating (what it says on the label) can not be above the a prescribed limit of 13.5Kva. "

 

On 2022/08/01 at 3:15 PM, Kalahari Meerkat said:

OK, so 4 parallel 5kW inverters are fine, since they each, do not exceed their prescribed 13.5kVA limit?

Any opinions / experience with this?
Will it (also 2x 8kW Sunsynk) be acceptable for COCT regulations/requirements? 

18 hours ago, DeonBez said:

Any opinions / experience with this?

No, sorry, I just can't understand their ridiculous arbitrary limit, they should probably explain what their thinking or lack thereof is regarding this...

I see most if not all SunSynk inverters are on COCT approved list as a matter of interest. 

Approved inverter and equipment ito NRS 097-2-1 (2022 07 12).xlsx (capetown.gov.za)

1 hour ago, Kalahari Meerkat said:

No, sorry, I just can't understand their ridiculous arbitrary limit, they should probably explain what their thinking or lack thereof is regarding this...

Just my layman's 2c. Open to alternative views.

I don't think it's ridiculous and arbitrary. The 60A supply at 230V means your house's wiring is capable of delivering 13.8kW of power from Eskom into your home before the breaker trips. If they limit the inverter's capacity to 13.2kW or 13.5kVA, it sort of means they don't want you to install an inverter that is capable of exporting more power than what your house's wiring is capable of handling, with a small margin of safety.

It should not be relevant that the inverter can be set to limit the export, or if you install fewer panels for now. Point is, that can easily change, whether it's you or the next owner when you sell, or your kids who feel like playing with tech stuff without your knowledge and think they know it all.

I don't get why people would be fussed about not being able to install an inverter with higher power capacity than their Eskom feed. If the 60A Eskom limit doesn't bother you in the first place, why would you want or need a bigger inverter?

16 minutes ago, GreenFields said:

I don't get why people would be fussed about not being able to install an inverter with higher power capacity than their Eskom feed. If the 60A Eskom limit doesn't bother you in the first place, why would you want or need a bigger inverter?

Ok, so the circuit breakers that would trip are also not relevant I guess? and that maybe someone may think that running some cryptocurrency miners are a good idea to try and pay for the larger solar power production and inverter is not allowed by the municipality since they'd like to provide that power to you..... intermittently, with 2.5 hour breaks in between, I guess... I still call BS on the limit, sure you'd have to ensure that your wiring etc. is up to snuff, but that is not what the rule is for, else why just not state, that like with all electrical installations the wiring needs to be up to code and sufficient to cater for the power delivered/consumed, whether that power comes from the grid or from your own generation, be that a diesel/petrol/lpg generator, inverter with batteries and or solar panels or your own nuclear power plant in the garden shed...

On 2022/08/19 at 11:00 AM, GreenFields said:

I don't get why people would be fussed about not being able to install an inverter with higher power capacity than their Eskom feed. If the 60A Eskom limit doesn't bother you in the first place, why would you want or need a bigger inverter?

On a side note, much of the generated power may only end up at the DC side to charge the batteries for use during night time or loadshedding. This means that a bigger inverter is required for generation even though only 60A will be uitlised on the AC side... 

CoCT  are a bunch of morons who stick their noses in private peoples business, when they have no right to do so. They are control freaks who enjoy "showing their authority" in all things. Remember the cops beating up people in the park with this COVERT-19 nonsense. This is the same authoritarian  rubbish. I know of an install in the Cape, valued at well over a Million where 6x 5 kW inverters were used to satisfy the CoCT regulations. This was not about safety, as the net inverter capacity is still 30 kW. Thank goodness, there are still provinces with some type of freedoms.  Understand, freedom and choice has nothing to do with a professional install, that is another subject altogether, but never sacrifice your freedom's for control by a third party.   My 2c. 🤔