When it rains prepaid meter is tripping

[Defender93]

Hello everybody,

I have a Sunsynk Hybrid Inverter installed and a Conlog Prepaid Meter. When PV production is good the non-essentials are additionally supplied with solar power.

When it rains, the prepaid meter (and all non-essential appliances) trips. The prepaid meter shows an overload - although consumption is very low. It happens during day or night, batteries on 50 or 80 % and recently randomly in the morning around 8.30am when clear sky. The prepaid meter trips for about 20 sec up to 5 min and will then come back on. This goes on and on until I change the setting in the inverter to LIMIT TO LOAD ONLY.

As soon as I switch the inverter to LIMIT TO LOAD ONLY the prepaid meter stops tripping, all running smoothly again. 

I hope anyone might have an idea of what could cause the problem.

Thank you.

 

 

[Bobster.]

I wonder if it is the rain or only the rain? Is your system perhaps sending power back to the grid? Some pre-paid meters don't like that. That the problem goes away when you change a setting also suggests that there is a problem with power being fed back into the grid. There may also be a problem with dodgy wiring that is aggravated by wet weather, but I'd leave the inverter set to "Limit to load only" and see if the problem goes away for good. That will cost you nothing.

If the problem persists when there is rain, then get your installer or an electrician to look at it. Regard it as dangerous.

Edited August 22 by Bobster.

[Defender93]

10 minutes ago, Bobster. said:

I wonder if it is the rain or only the rain? Is your system perhaps sending power back to the grid? Some pre-paid meters don't like that. That the problem goes away when you change a setting also suggests that there is a problem with power being fed back into the grid. There may also be a problem with dodgy wiring that is aggravated by wet weather, but I'd leave the inverter set to "Limit to load only" and see if the problem goes away for good. That will cost you nothing.

If the problem persists when there is rain, then get your installer or an electrician to look at it. Regard it as dangerous.

Thank you, Bobster. The installer came out already to check and is suggesting to get a new bidirectional meter. Maybe the Conlog meter is too sensitive, when inverter sends small amounts of load back into the grid, although the grid trickle feed is on 50. Bidirectional meter and installation by Municipality doesn't come cheap and since it is an "maybe" option I'm trying to source for alternativ explainations. I set the grid trickle feed to 100 now, hoping to prevent the system from sending load into the grid. 

Dodgy wiring, we also thought, could maybe cause the problem. But lately it also happens when sun is out - sometimes even midday. 

[HendrikBigChief]

3 hours ago, Defender93 said:

Thank you, Bobster. The installer came out already to check and is suggesting to get a new bidirectional meter. Maybe the Conlog meter is too sensitive, when inverter sends small amounts of load back into the grid, although the grid trickle feed is on 50. Bidirectional meter and installation by Municipality doesn't come cheap and since it is an "maybe" option I'm trying to source for alternativ explainations. I set the grid trickle feed to 100 now, hoping to prevent the system from sending load into the grid. 

Dodgy wiring, we also thought, could maybe cause the problem. But lately it also happens when sun is out - sometimes even midday. 

I would suggest a process of elimination.

1. switch off solar panels, does it still happen, if yes

2. Switch off other circuits in your house one by one and see if it still happens. (Start with circuits that have possible exposure to water, for example start with the geyser, then outside pool pump, then outside lights, outside security cameras, etc.)

Edited August 22 by HendrikBigChief

[Scorp007]

4 hours ago, Defender93 said:

Hello everybody,

I have a Sunsynk Hybrid Inverter installed and a Conlog Prepaid Meter. When PV production is good the non-essentials are additionally supplied with solar power.

When it rains, the prepaid meter (and all non-essential appliances) trips. The prepaid meter shows an overload - although consumption is very low. It happens during day or night, batteries on 50 or 80 % and recently randomly in the morning around 8.30am when clear sky. The prepaid meter trips for about 20 sec up to 5 min and will then come back on. This goes on and on until I change the setting in the inverter to LIMIT TO LOAD ONLY.

As soon as I switch the inverter to LIMIT TO LOAD ONLY the prepaid meter stops tripping, all running smoothly again. 

I hope anyone might have an idea of what could cause the problem.

Thank you.

 

 

A stupid question. Is the CT installed and correct direction? 

If it is then alter the grid trickle feed to a much higher like 300W level and check if it still happens. 

 

[Bobster.]

10 hours ago, Defender93 said:

Thank you, Bobster. The installer came out already to check and is suggesting to get a new bidirectional meter. Maybe the Conlog meter is too sensitive, when inverter sends small amounts of load back into the grid, although the grid trickle feed is on 50. Bidirectional meter and installation by Municipality doesn't come cheap and since it is an "maybe" option I'm trying to source for alternativ explainations. I set the grid trickle feed to 100 now, hoping to prevent the system from sending load into the grid. 

Why not just leave that setting in place? 

If you go for the bidirectional meter then

1) it'll cost you

2) the municipality is likely going to put you on a resellers tariff. 

I don't know where you live, but it's usually hard to make financial sense out of selling back from a domestic installation. 

My system is registered with the municipality. I have zero interest in selling back. Because there's a requirement that I be a net consumer, IE I can't sell back more than I buy. Since I buy about 2 units a day on average (less right now, when the weather is nice & clear) that's what I can sell back,at the NERSA tariff (less than half of what I pay), it'll be hard to even make back the cost of the meter. And I'd have to change away from prepaid. 

You'll already be saving a good whack. If you want to resell, check the tariffs and all the costs involved. Do some sums and see if you can make it pay. I can't. 

I've set my system not to export, and once the battery is charged it doesn't work so hard.