On 2023/03/04 at 2:00 PM, TaliaB said:

Sorry but if you read the orginal post from @Freddievanleeuwenthere is no eskom on this installation off grid or am i confused. It is very diffucult to see what is actually going on with the wires running all over the show due to the unconventional layout of the new ac panel how it should be main switch on the left, earth leakage right next to it then the load breakers then the spd's. It almost looks like the neutral wire at the bottom of the earth leakage is running to the output of the inverter i could be wrong like i said diffucult to see. Freddie hopefully you didn't pay this electrician already as i would make him fix his mess. Also the dc wires should not run through the ac panel he must fix that as well. The way i understand it being off grid system your inverter needs to be bonded right at the output of the inverter it should already have a bonding relay in the inverter like @BritishRacingGreensaid.  The output of the inverter should run to the top of the main breaker the bottom of the main breaker to the top of the earth leakage the bottom of the earth leakage live to the top of the single output breakers and the neutral from the earth leakage to the neutral bar from neutral bar to socket outlet.You have a wiring fault somwhere in that panel. Just tell me the red and black 2.5mm² wire runs to the inverter output? and the 1.5mm²red blue to your plug socket?

Sorry I took so long, but here is the latest picture. The wiring was re-done as you suggested. I have not switched it on as yet.

1 hour ago, Freddievanleeuwen said:

Sorry I took so long, but here is the latest picture. The wiring was re-done as you suggested. I have not switched it on as yet.

Looks correct. I assume the following :

1 inverter AC output is wired to a doublepole circuit breaker, also to 2 surge protectors in both live and neatral. The surge protectors is also connected to earth. 

 

2 the circuit breaker output is wired to input of ELD. 

3 the live output of ELD is distributed to 3 load circuit breakers

4 the ELD output neatral is wired to a load neatral busbar, from where it is distributed to remote load circuits. 

Please confirm. 

 

If correct, then keep the ELD and the 3 load circuit breakers off. 

Switch the inverter on. 

Measure for 220vac between live and neatral. 

Measure for 220vac between live and earth

Measure for 0vac between nrayral and earth. 

Switch the ELD on. 

If no trip activate a load circuit or two. 

 

 

35 minutes ago, BritishRacingGreen said:

Looks correct. I assume the following :

1 inverter AC output is wired to a doublepole circuit breaker, also to 2 surge protectors in both live and neatral. The surge protectors is also connected to earth. 

 

2 the circuit breaker output is wired to input of ELD. 

3 the live output of ELD is distributed to 3 load circuit breakers

4 the ELD output neatral is wired to a load neatral busbar, from where it is distributed to remote load circuits. 

Please confirm. 

 

Yes, 1. - The yellow circle indicates the AC output from the inverter, SP is earthed. 2 - Correct, 3 - Correct, 4 - Yes, the only connection to the neutral bar is from the ELD and the wire from the plugpoint (on the wall).

OK, so After re-wiring and following instructions, I can say that I connected some load on it, and the EL did not trip. I am getting 220v between E and L, and 220v between L and N, but still get around 70 odd volts between E and N (I know it has to 0 or as close as).

36 minutes ago, Freddievanleeuwen said:

OK, so After re-wiring and following instructions, I can say that I connected some load on it, and the EL did not trip. I am getting 220v between E and L, and 220v between L and N, but still get around 70 odd volts between E and N (I know it has to 0 or as close as).

I think the contactor binding was somehow done after the ELD. 

Well done, anyway. 

40 minutes ago, Freddievanleeuwen said:

but still get around 70 odd volts between E and N (I know it has to 0 or as close as).

Have you done the continuity check on the inverter as we requested a while ago? 

5 minutes ago, BritishRacingGreen said:

I think the contactor binding was somehow done after the ELD. 

Well done, anyway. 

I double checked, the N-L is 220v and L-E is 136v and the E-N is 96v. The contactor was placed between the circuit breaker and the ELD and that leveled the readings.

4 minutes ago, BritishRacingGreen said:

Have you done the continuity check on the inverter as we requested a while ago? 

I tried. So I checked from point A (at the point where the earth exists the inverter) to the spike in the ground. I got a 0 resistance reading. Is that how it's supposed to be done? 

3 minutes ago, Freddievanleeuwen said:

I tried. So I checked from point A (at the point where the earth exists the inverter) to the spike in the ground. I got a 0 resistance reading. Is that how it's supposed to be done? 

No, I am referring to this test below:

 

 

 

6 minutes ago, BritishRacingGreen said:

No, I am referring to this test below:

 

 

 

If the test fails then you can merely bond the inverter output neatral hard to earth in the db box (a wire link) 

This is perfectly in order as you dont have an input grid connected to the system. 

Edited March 6, 20233 yr by BritishRacingGreen

1 hour ago, BritishRacingGreen said:

If the test fails then you can merely bond the inverter output neatral hard to earth in the db box (a wire link) 

This is perfectly in order as you dont have an input grid connected to the system. 

I connected the E and N (from bar to bar) just with a wire and all the readings show 100%. Nothing is tripping. Can I leave the wire in permanently or must I replace it with the connector?

2 hours ago, Freddievanleeuwen said:

I connected the E and N (from bar to bar) just with a wire and all the readings show 100%. Nothing is tripping. Can I leave the wire in permanently or must I replace it with the connector?

yes ,  as long as the bond is firm.

I just discovered that the MKS4 does not automatically bond neutral to earth, or at least there is a defect, yet the MKS3 does bond properly. Hence your need for external bonding . I need to take this up with @Coulomb , but as far as you are concerned , your solution is correct , as long as you do not connect Eskom to the grid input of the inverter (which you probably anyway don't have).

So we can step down from this ,  well done , enjoy your system.

EDIT :  you technically need to use a plug tester to simulate an earth leakage , as the test button on your ELD is not enough. However , if you don't have a tester ,  and your bond is firm , and your test button on the ELD trips , then you are OK !

Edited March 6, 20233 yr by BritishRacingGreen

Thanks for the information. What a ride... I have learned so much. Thanks for everyone's input. Much appreciated.