13 hours ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

Plonkster and the Dominee must decided on a tradition and stick to it, come hell or blue water. 

I have libertarian tendencies. I think even bad ideas (not all, but some) deserve airtime, if for no other reason than to serve as a pointer to the good ideas. Also, some ideas just don't go well together, and even the good idea is spoiled by the bad one. It is for this reason I don't think shoving in a blue controller everywhere necessarily helps. Where it really shines is when it integrates with the larger system, and it is simply not going to do that here.

47 minutes ago, plonkster said:

.... it is simply not going to do that here.

Did not say it would, but with throwing any rock into any bush, anything can come at you.

Like Voltronic InfiniSolar 4kW certification expires 2018/12/31 as per "The List". 

So to buy something today knowing about "The List", even if you are outside of CoCT, does that not make an idea that seems unworkable, workable?

14 minutes ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

Like Voltronic InfiniSolar 4kW certification expires 2018/12/31 as per "The List". 

It does not expire retroactively. Anything approved before that date remains legal as long as you don't mess with it. The rules that apply once you do mess with it, that I do not know. I know in some places (I think I've read about some areas in Australia though I may be wrong)  you can't even extend your solar array without getting into trouble here.

But you do make a good point, a point around future proofing. It may well be that if you're going to buy stop-gap components now, they probably should be of the type you may use in future with other equipment. But seriously TTT, I know you like shaking the tree to see what comes out, and I personally have a vested interest in pushing the product... but sometimes we really should leave people alone to do their thing :-)

40 minutes ago, plonkster said:

.. we really should leave people alone to do their thing ...

My personal frustration is when someone has an idea, and boy on this forum there are a lot of good ideas never voiced, and does not share it because the person is a introvert, out of fear someone will think it is a bad idea or that someone will take them on because someone else things it is a bad one ... add more here ... 

So shaking that tree you mention, I have learnt it can create a whole new train of thought, even if there is not even a hint of any XXX product involved in the end as it was just an idea, good or bad.

And sometimes the shacking helps a watcher / introvert fall out who in turn becomes a contributor, for they saw no lash backs, it is safe to enter the fray.

I decide on a side and stick to it, today that is Blue. I know the MPPT's a little bit, so unfortunately for all, I use them as an base line. Sorry ... not. :-)

If my side turns out to be wrong, no problem, that is life, I admit it to myself, explain my change of heart where applicable, and promptly support the next product, till they drop the ball.

 

40 minutes ago, plonkster said:

But you do make a good point, a point around future proofing.

Ditto. It should be on all threads, but that is pushing it.

The industry is changing, that does mean Victron is the holy grail, there are others as good or better, I just support them today. 

 

Edited July 31, 20187 yr by Guest

Update: Busy trying to commission this system but to no avail. 

The Modbus server appears to have been correctly setup. I have confirmed communication between the smart energy meter, inverter 1, 2 and 3. I have set up the Modbus cards in "Server" mode and assigned appropriate addresses/ID's via the dip switches so that each inverter knows which phase it is on (Red, white, blue). I have programmed the inverters for Grid-Tie with Backup(II) and disabled "Allow feed-in to Grid". Alas, the inverters will not allow solar power to be generated and directed down the bi-directional grid-tie connection onto "standard" circuits (Circuits not wired directly onto the output of one of the inverters, e.g. geysers and stoves).

I have done a sanity check to confirm that there is a load on the said standard circuits which should allow the inverters to produce solar power onto the appropriate phases, but all 3 inverters refuse to connect the PV array onto the utility line and supply solar power. 

The system produces power when I change the programming of each inverter to enable "Allow feed-in to grid". 

 

Does anybody have any experience with this type of setup and/or advice?