I have been wondering: Seeing that CoCT quotes the SANS and NRS regulations with each and every response to any and all question they are asked ...
Who draws up the regulations? CoCT or the Government?
Why has NERSA, a Gov Department, only pushing CoCT to enforce these regulations so stringently ignoring Dbn, Jhb, Pta, PE and each and every other Munic that are bankrupt / corrupt / failed?

So I sit and wonder: What are the chances that CoCT is playing a very long play here, using NERSA  / SANS / NRS?

What if they are setting the foundations by:
1) getting stats on what the actual and potential uptake is of solar in Cape Town by forcing us to register, because NERSA says so?
2) being the only Munic in the country who strictly enforces the NERSA SANS and NRS regulations, thereby ensuring the local Munic grid stability, because NERSA says so?
NERSA, a Gov department that although they "seem" to be on "our" side, is actually causing (knowingly or by sheer incompetence), more long-term damage to SA, therefor CoCT, by limiting Eskoms increases year on year?

If Eskom fails, CoCT fails ... same as the rest.

What if CoCT is setting the foundations down for the sole purpose of going to the Con-Court to challenge the law that says they can only buy from Eskom, by proving to the judges that:
1) Eskom has failed, so CoCT is at risk - constitutionally,
2) that they can provide the locals with reliable electricity (see point 1 above) , 
3) that they can buy local electricity cheaper than Eskom can sell it at,
4) that they have and can ensure local Munic grid stability (see point 2 above), better than Eskom can,
In order to fulfill their mandate of growth by i.e. attracting more foreign investment / growing the tourism industry, both of which CoCT relies quite heavily on, both being on risk if there is no stable / reliable supply of electricity?

What If that is the long play, and we are being led down that path, for our own good, long term?
For as I started off by asking: Who is behind it all? Who draws up the SANS and NRS the regulations? Why is only CoCT enforcing it and no-one and nowhere else?

 

Any case, all I know is that all my papers have been updated after today's revelation, all updated papers have been sent in. So I'm done - just waiting for the final "Stamp of Approval" from CoCT.

SANS 10142 compliance is required by law as it has been prescribed by the OHS Act and falls under the Department of Labour:

 

I will reserve my personal view on the COCT requirements ....

 

So TTT what have you done about the isolation switch?

NRS is not a standard its a SPECIFICATION

 

 

That was prepared mainly by ESKOM members. In the past the NRS spefications could be obtained from SANS but last year they took it away and now you have to pay ESKOM to get a copy.

 

Why NRS 097-2-1 was issued:

2 minutes ago, Mistral said:

So TTT what have you done about the isolation switch?

I can give you my answer, which is the same as TTT's I think... I've always had that changeover switch installed, from the very very beginning. It's not expensive and it's such a good idea in any case that you'd be nuts to try and skip it. It's essentially the same as a bypass for the inverter (move your essential loads back to the grid side, usually for inverter maintenance).

The surprise, at least to me, is to find out that this thing we were concerned about and shouting about turns out to be a dumb changeover on the output. It almost seems too good to be true.

Edited April 12, 20197 yr by plonkster

Thanks but someone was quote R8 000 for this switch on his Goodwe install?

3 minutes ago, Mistral said:

Thanks but someone was quote R8 000 for this switch on his Goodwe install?

Maybe you are thinking about the automatic changeover that was suggested as a retrofit to Axpert inverters to make them properly off-grid?

This switch is a manual changeover. Like a Hager SF263 for example. Less than R500.

So it seems like this is roughly the story:

1. If it has NRS097-2-1 papers, you can connect the AC-in to the grid.

2. You must have an interlocking changeover on the output (to ensure that the OUTPUT can't be accidentally connected to the grid).

3. The reason cited for this was the SANS regulation that says you can't connect battery backup before you've islanded the grid.

4. However, a hybrid inverter has its battery permanently connected to the grid via the INPUT

5. Hence I thought the interlocking isolator that was required would have to go on the input side

6. But it seems now this is not needed, as long as the OUTPUT can't accidentally connect to the grid AND the input has anti-islanding support, you're all good.

Also on Cape Town's regulations on breakers - 80A if one goes above  3.4KW

 

I was told by someone  (Not CapeTown) that it is fine to to use  60A  with a 4.6KW inverter - Is this safe - Advice please!

Edited April 12, 20197 yr by Mistral

plonkster Thanks for the info.

Just now, Mistral said:

I was told by someone  (Not CapeTown) that it is fine to to use  60A  with a 4.6KW inverter - Is this safe - Advice please!

If my info is correct, that inverter has a peak capability of 4.6kw but nominal is 3680W which puts it about 5% over the 3.5kw limit.

Is it safe? Yes. Will it be accepted? So far the answer seems no. Cape Town is really sticking to the numbers.

In NRS097 there is something about a software limit being acceptable. So if you can set this inverter to cap the power at 3.5kw it should technically be allowed. Again, not sure how Cape Town sees it.

Thank You - This is outside of Cape Town. 

On 2019/04/12 at 8:39 AM, Mistral said:

So TTT what have you done about the isolation switch?

I don't have a isolation switch, only have a double pole breaker to switch the inverter off.

As per Plonkster, yes I can install the changeover in case inverter has to go off, but I have chosen to not a this stage.

If I need to disconnect the inverter, I will simply add a plug onto the lead from the separate DB, and plug it into a wall socket. 🙂 

On 2019/04/12 at 8:53 AM, Mistral said:

I was told by someone  (Not CapeTown) that it is fine to to use  60A  with a 4.6KW inverter - Is this safe - Advice please!

Cape Town is not, at the moment, budging on the breaker / max inverter watts.

Remember, SANS and NRS regulations are national, not CoCT specific. 

On 2019/04/12 at 8:53 AM, plonkster said:

Maybe you are thinking about the automatic changeover that was suggested as a retrofit to Axpert inverters to make them properly off-grid?

This switch is a manual changeover. Like a Hager SF263 for example. Less than R500.

So it seems like this is roughly the story:

1. If it has NRS097-2-1 papers, you can connect the AC-in to the grid.

2. You must have an interlocking changeover on the output (to ensure that the OUTPUT can't be accidentally connected to the grid).

3. The reason cited for this was the SANS regulation that says you can't connect battery backup before you've islanded the grid.

4. However, a hybrid inverter has its battery permanently connected to the grid via the INPUT

5. Hence I thought the interlocking isolator that was required would have to go on the input side

6. But it seems now this is not needed, as long as the OUTPUT can't accidentally connect to the grid AND the input has anti-islanding support, you're all good.

Can you, or someone in Cape Town confirm on this?

This is only applicable to normal or hybrid inverters. Hybrid Grid-Tie inverters only has one cable connecting to the grid, and then another connecting to the backup load. So would it then be fine to put a changeover on the backup load circuit, in order to change back to Eskom in case of inverter / battery maintenance? My logic says that should be fine, but will they accept it?

 

 

On 2019/04/12 at 9:00 AM, plonkster said:

If my info is correct, that inverter has a peak capability of 4.6kw but nominal is 3680W which puts it about 5% over the 3.5kw limit.

Is it safe? Yes. Will it be accepted? So far the answer seems no. Cape Town is really sticking to the numbers.

In NRS097 there is something about a software limit being acceptable. So if you can set this inverter to cap the power at 3.5kw it should technically be allowed. Again, not sure how Cape Town sees it.

On the Goodwe the end user can change this. So will CoCT still accept the 4.6Kw inverters, with the exception that the installer limit the grid output to 3.5Kw?

2 minutes ago, SilverNodashi said:

Can you, or someone in Cape Town confirm on this?

I cannot confirm or deny anything. I'm just going with this... sorry...

Just now, SilverNodashi said:

On the Goodwe the end user can change this. So will CoCT still accept the 4.6Kw inverters, with the exception that the installer limit the grid output to 3.5Kw?

If they aren't completely rearwardly-retentive, one would assume they would accept it. But somehow I doubt it :-)

2 minutes ago, SilverNodashi said:

On the Goodwe the end user can change this. So will CoCT still accept the 4.6Kw inverters, with the exception that the installer limit the grid output to 3.5Kw?

I am going through the > 3.5 kW (on a 60A single phase supply) SSEG registration process problem at the moment. So far the CoCT has refused to accept my application although I have applied for the zero export option. If they refuse I will try to have my supply increased to 80A. 

Someone in Cape Town has just had a quote for increasing his supply to 80A - R7 200 if I recall.

44 minutes ago, Fuenkli said:

I am going through the > 3.5 kW (on a 60A single phase supply) SSEG registration process problem at the moment. So far the CoCT has refused to accept my application although I have applied for the zero export option. If they refuse I will try to have my supply increased to 80A. 

On what basis are they refusing it? Which inverter do you have?

34 minutes ago, Mistral said:

Someone in Cape Town has just had a quote for increasing his supply to 80A - R7 200 if I recall.

Mike did it for cheaper.

53 minutes ago, plonkster said:

I cannot confirm or deny anything. I'm just going with this... sorry...

Fair enough. I don't want to you vouch for it all. Just thought maybe you've been through this as well, as you live in that area.

5 minutes ago, SilverNodashi said:

On what basis are they refusing it? Which inverter do you have?

their argument is that the inverter has a theoretical maximum power rating > 3.5Kw. II have a Goodwe ES 4.6kW inverter.

They look at the max power rating.

On 2019/04/11 at 11:44 AM, plonkster said:

That's for damn sure... 😛

That's for damn sure too.

Sometimes legitimately so too. We're human. We have good and bad days. Goes both ways too.

I've had a case of the installer telling me that the reseller is useless and they got zero support, then I spoke to the reseller and apparently the customer was traveling and would not let things be debugged in his absence, that is to say: The real issue was that the customer expected the supplier to stick rigidly to his own time frames and had no flexibility that would have allowed himself to be helped... true story.

This is often one of the main problems with most installations. Clients want X, prepared to pay for Y and then expect 3X