Hi All, 

I have been "roof kyk'ing" for a while, registered but only got activated today. 

I must say information overload.. but one thing is clear I want to go Blue.

I've been following the "Victron Grid tied setup from scratch" and also the CoCT threads regarding all the hassles and confusion of compliance.

This obviously makes me wonder about sizing and future legislation that Tshwane will also start enforcing. I’ve had a look at the approved inverter list CoCT is using as a starting point for my decision, where I noted some of the 3VA blue models are on the approved list.

So what does this mean for the 5VA blue models? Is it because of certification or is because of max NMD of 25% on a 60A LV connection, meaning we would probably never be allowed to grid-tie anything greater than 3500W on a normal 60A residential connection, just on the face value of the stated output capacity of the inverter?

 

 

 

 

13 minutes ago, PaBz0r said:

This obviously makes me wonder about sizing and future legislation that Tshwane will also start enforcing.

Vote EFF then you won't have to worry about such things!😂

2 minutes ago, DeepBass9 said:

Vote EFF then you won't have to worry about such things!😂

LOL. eish. Trying to be a good citizen is hard.

Hi @PaBz0r,

just for your information - I live in Europe and there's a regulation in place that you cannot use more than 3.7 kW inverter connected to the grid, if it's a single-phase device. With one exception: if that device has an option to limit feed-in to the grid to 3.7kW, then it's set, sealed and approved.

For the 3-Phase Inverters, there's basically no limit. You just need to go thru some  ( no swearing ) paperworks and you're set.
 

Based on that, I would be really amazed if your state would allow a connection for example 10kW single-phase inverters to the grid in a near future. One thing is the legislation, other is the stability of the grid. If you aim to dozens of kilowatts of solar power connected to the grid, then I would say that a 3-phase system is a way to go.

 

Edited March 14, 20196 yr by Energy

28 minutes ago, Youda said:

just for your information - I live in Europe and there's a regulation in place that you cannot use more than 3.7 kW inverter connected to the grid, if it's a single-phase device. With one exception: if that device has an option to limit feed-in to the grid to 3.7kW, then it's set, sealed and approved.

Hi Youda,

Thanks, in the case of you losing PV all of a sudden (clouds moving in quickly) and having a load greater than 3.7kW, would this limit then also apply that you can't draw that from the grid? (Sorry if it is a silly question, it feels like this goes both ways)

Edited March 14, 20196 yr by PaBz0r

No, the 3.7kW limit applies only to the size of 1-phase inverter and feed-in to the grid.
You can pull from the grid as much as you want (till the main breaker trips off).

BTW: Personally, I'm not feeding to the grid at all. I run from the batteries whether it's rain, cloudy or night. Once the sun is up, they are being charged again, automatically.

I don't think many people in SA want to feed back due to tariffs and requirements either. 

17 minutes ago, PaBz0r said:

I don't think many people in SA want to feed back due to tariffs and requirements either. 

Nope, not unless they make it easy for us, like my suggestion to them:
They provide the bi-directional meter - if you feed back Xkwh per annum back for free.
Keep on charging us the current connection fees, not a daily (no swearing) fee.
Give us the option to use the grid as storage OR be paid what the Munic pays Eskom per kwh, ex VAT.

Hi there.

Personally i will not feed back to the grid, 

I am using to grid to charge my batteries- if they consider that grid tied then I will take my inverter off the grid and connect an external charger. 

Pretoria had 2 power stations 1 in Pretoria west and one in Rooiwal that was switched off when some person decided it will be better to go with EKSDOM. These 2 power stations needed a bit of upgrade but if this was done Pretoria would probably have less power cuts than what happens now, They also provided work for a lot of people at those 2 power stations.

Well (no swearing) as a matter of principle i will be selfish, i will not pay them daily charges or monthly fees, I will go offgrid in the near( distant) future.

 

26 minutes ago, Krokkedil said:

Hi there.

Personally i will not feed back to the grid, 

I am using to grid to charge my batteries- if they consider that grid tied then I will take my inverter off the grid and connect an external charger. 

Pretoria had 2 power stations 1 in Pretoria west and one in Rooiwal that was switched off when some person decided it will be better to go with EKSDOM. These 2 power stations needed a bit of upgrade but if this was done Pretoria would probably have less power cuts than what happens now, They also provided work for a lot of people at those 2 power stations.

Well (no swearing) as a matter of principle i will be selfish, i will not pay them daily charges or monthly fees, I will go offgrid in the near( distant) future.

 

#metoo