Good day guys,
I just want to know a few things. I am trying to help an elderly couple who bought a SunSynk but they installed a HOSELECT. Everything was "fly-by-night" type of work.
Included is a drawing of the sytem that I am thinking doint to rectify the previous installer's....
There is currently no PV or Battery disconnect. The only thing concerning safety, is the installed changeover switch in the DB.
Just a few questions;

• Is the HOSELECT HS-5500 5.5kW inverter legal/approved in Mossel Bay? It's not in the City of Cape Town's Approved Photovoltaic (PV) Inverter List.
• Is there anyway that I can connect the inveter, if it's legal and approved for the local council, to an app or computer?
• Is it ok to connect Array 1 & 2 in serie as per drawing.

HOUSE DE BIL - SOLAR POWER GENERATION LAYOUT.pdf

For those who need the information.

Got this official link on the Mossel Bay Municipality rules, laws, regulations, etc. on going solar.

• GOING SOLAR in MOSSEL BAY: What you need to know - https://www.mosselbay.gov.za/news-display/a0a75a88-5a41-4ad7-9c25-d95940900104
• List of Approved Inverters 27 January 2023 - https://www.mosselbay.gov.za/storage/documents/c295e84707181106b5edbd537a484202.pdf

What I figured out on the local council's info is that the best way forward is a new inverter. End of story!

On 2023/08/02 at 9:54 AM, Roarty said:

For those who need the information.

Got this official link on the Mossel Bay Municipality rules, laws, regulations, etc. on going solar.

• GOING SOLAR in MOSSEL BAY: What you need to know - https://www.mosselbay.gov.za/news-display/a0a75a88-5a41-4ad7-9c25-d95940900104
• List of Approved Inverters 27 January 2023 - https://www.mosselbay.gov.za/storage/documents/c295e84707181106b5edbd537a484202.pdf

What I figured out on the local council's info is that the best way forward is a new inverter. End of story!

May the Karma Gods slap those weazels through the teeth. That's just not right for an installer or seller to take advantage of elderly people.😠😤

The Sunsynk inverter is approved because it's the inverter. The battery afaik is not required to be an approved product as it's just a power source. 

Such installers are found in every industry. Bandits exist everywhere...

Is that inverter feeding the whole DB? Not very friendly by the installer if so. Usually we split the DB into essential and non-essential loads. The inverter backs up the essentials, the rest are lost when the grid goes down. 

Now the downside to this arrangement is that you lose stuff when the grid goes down. The up side is that you don't have (for EG) the geyser drawing off the battery and taking a lot out of it. And because you match the essential loads to the rating of the inverter, you reduce the chances of an overload occurring on the inverter when the grid is down.

You were right to put in the battery disconnect.

Down in the WC the registration process should be well understood by installers. So your friends have been left exposed to potential disconnection. They have been badly served by an installer they paid good money to. A case of an installer either being ignorant himself, or taking advantage of a lack of knowledge on the part of the customer.

Good Day Roarty

I walked a long journey to understand how the solar registration works. The moratorium for unapproved off-grid inverters ended October last year. I have an unapproved Axpert off grid inverter, that was approved, because I submitted my documents before this deadline.

The Solar installer I dealt with had no clue about doing paperwork, so I did a lot of leg work and reading, to get my drawings done and paperwork submitted. Unless you find an honest Installer that does not want to just take your money and know how to complete the forms the result is what will happen in this case. The Customer, gets lied to and taken in for a quick buck and by no means was this buy cheap!

Unfortunately, for this couple, the process has now changed. I'm documenting my process here:

1. an approved Inverter, from the COCT list

https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c notices%2c tariffs and lists/Approved Photovoltaic (PV) Inverter List.pdf

-best advice here is get a reliable brand with smart control, like app control from your phone.

2. a COC (Certificate of Compliance) for the Inverter and battery install by a qualified Electrician. This is all the COCT cares about, as they are paranoid about residents feeding back into the grid without control. Obviously, this is important as illegal installs can cause fires etc!

3. a Diagram of how your Solar Panels and Battery are connected via the main supply. This is a huge grey area, as the COCT wants an Engineer to draw this up, but anyone with technical knowledge can do this. The COCT Principal Engineer signs the work off, not necessarily the installer. Don't kill me here, this is what I have experienced.

4. Complete and submit your application to your local electricity department via email or deliver it to the office.

5. It took a few weeks and they asked for extra information in the form of the COC, which, I resubmitted.

6. COCT sent out a notice, that a Split prepaid meter, to keep your off-grid inverter from feeding back. The COCT contractor installed this meter.

7. I was informed, that my SSEG was approved, and that I should change nothing, as they will shut me down.

NB: The process is now done online or you can still submit your pdf documents to the COCT. The bottom line here is that if the Inverter is not on the approved COCT list, they will not approve your install. All Inverters are classified as grid tied, even if you are using an off-grid Inverter.

For further information check this:

https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family and home/greener-living/saving-electricity-at-home/going-solar

Sorry for the long post, but I needed to explain how the process works or is supposed to work.