Axpert questions

[Tacet]

I'm considering going the solar route. I dont' intend to go totally independent from Eskom, but to put up as much capacity as my roof can carry (about 3 kW, living in a duplex) and enough storage to cover a part of the night.

My proposed setup is:

• Axpert MKS-5K
• 1 x Narada 48 V 50 Ah lithium battery
• 12 x 330 W Artsolar panels (they're out of stock, hopefully they get/make some soon!)

I know that 2.5 kWh isn't much storage, but it should suffice for most of my needs.  What's left can come from Eskom - it shouldn't be much.

So questions:

• From browing these forums I know that there's debate regarding whether its internal transfer switch complies with SANS 60947-6-1.  What is the standard solution to this: putting up an external transfer switch, or using the internal switch, hoping that we'll get clarity regarding its compliance soon (and that it does indeed comply!)?
• In perfect conditions I'll have more solar power than the inverter is specced for.  Will it limit the incoming current, thus only using as much as it was specced for, or is the fact that I'll have 3.6 kW worth of panels on an inverter specced for 3 kW worth of panels a problem?
• Geewiz sells the MKS-5K.  However, the pictures on their website looks pretty different from others places.  Has anyone bought Axperts from them before?  Do they provide the real deal, or a cheap rip-off?

Thanks!

[Chris Louw]

1 hour ago, Tacet said:

 

• In perfect conditions I'll have more solar power than the inverter is specced for.  Will it limit the incoming current, thus only using as much as it was specced for, or is the fact that I'll have 3.6 kW worth of panels on an inverter specced for 3 kW worth of panels a problem?
• Geewiz sells the MKS-5K.  However, the pictures on their website looks pretty different from others places.  Has anyone bought Axperts from them before?  Do they provide the real deal, or a cheap rip-off?

Thanks!

The inverter on the website 5000 watt has mppt rated to 4000 watt . The 12x330 watt panels will be fine . This inverter is supplied without the parallel kit . If you do want to upgrade later you will have to installed a parallel kit that will cost you about R600 .

I would buy from a dealer that can supply you with panels , battery and Mecer  branded Axpert . There is some good dealers . Then you get what you pay for . When buying solar after sales sevice and support is very important . Someone forum can direct you to a good supplier in your area .

[Coulomb]

On 2019/02/14 at 10:42 PM, Tacet said:

Geewiz sells the MKS-5K.  However, the pictures on their website looks pretty different from others places.  Has anyone bought Axperts from them before?  Do they provide the real deal, or a cheap rip-off?

The customised logo on the front is no problem (though see below). The rounded cable cover is a concern, but it might be a new model I'm not familiar with. 

However, the complete lack of a sticker on the right hand side is worrying. Every genuine Voltronic Power inverter-charger that I've ever seen has a sticker there, though now that I go looking at photos from the Voltronic Power and MPP Solar websites, it seems that the "demo models" may not have stickers.

Finally, the model "PV1800" and item code PV18-5K sound like clone models I've seen elsewhere, e.g. see this page. Must are the first known clone maker, e.g. see Must Power: illegal duplicate of inverter design, where the model shown (with different colours, but that's easy to change) is in fact called a PV1800. It's possible that Must have been shown the error of their ways, and are now a genuine reseller, and MPP Solar forgot to take down the warning page, but that seems pretty unlikely.

[ Edit: from what I've learned lately, the linked inverter is definitely a Must clone. ]

So I'd be very cautious; if that one is a clone, then you have no idea what you'd be getting.

Edited May 14, 2019 by Coulomb
Added "though see below"; forgetting to take down warning page

[Tacet]

Thanks, gents.  I'll be careful of clones and rip-offs, then. 

[Tacet]

Bump on this one.  I've been taking it slow, reading up more, looking at various inverter types and options.  The cheapest for me will still the Axpert, but I want to make sure that I won't have issues getting a CoC once I have the system in.

Connecting the AC directly to the Axpert would be ideal, but seems to open the whole debate of whether the internal bypass switch is acceptable under 10142-1.  So currently I'm thinking of simply connecting both the output of the Axpert and the municipal supply to a transfer switch, and manually switching once the solar/batteries are down.  That should avoid any compliance issues, as the municipal supply will be totally separated from the solar supply.  However, I'd lose the ability of seemless switching, and I won't be able to charge the batteries from the municipal supply if I know loadshedding is coming and the SoC of the batteries are low.

Any thoughts, comments?

[Krokkedil]

Good morning Tacet.

As was pointed out make sure you get the genuine MECER/Axpert later on move blue and by a victron

below is a wiring diagram that i used in my house, i pulled this diagram from the forum.- this works 100% for me, i will use this until the SANS compliance is sorted. 

If you are in cape town follow their rules. where I am nobody has a clear direction yet. 

I have a 3kVA inverter when we need to draw more than what the inverter can deliver i take the load off switch the changeover switch to eskom and then connect the load back. I have been warned that the Mecer/Axpert inverter burns if they are overloaded and shed the load. 

[Tacet]

Thanks @Krokkedil.  That is basically the same concept as my blue pic, except that I don't plan to separate having any switched connection to Eskom in the DB.  My peak load for general use is 6 kW.  With a geyser timer and a bit of awareness I'll easily be able to manage my peak to remain within a 5 kW Axpert's limits.  I'm the only one in the house which makes load management much easier. 

I'm assume that you're using VRLA batteries?  I'll opt for LiFePO4, which is a bit easier to to handle in terms of fault current.  

Did you get a CoC for yours?  I want to get a CoC after the installation, so as to keep the paperwork with the insurance up to date.

As an aside - I'm also in PTA.