I busy negotiating the purchase of a house with an existing grid tied alternative energy system installed comprising of an Imeon 9.12 inverter, solar panels and gel batteries. The seller has offered to sell the house with the system and provide the necessary compliance/registration certificates . If I do not wish to take it over, he will remove the system and reinstate the DB Board and power and get a compliance certificate from an electrician. I am not very technically orientated and know very little about alternative energy products. The owner has shown me the original vouchers for the system which is about 2 years old and still has a guarantee period. I would like to find out if any forum members are familiar with this inverter and if it is worth taking it over? 

I think @The Terrible Triplett, is best placed to say what the

48 minutes ago, Grid Tied said:

necessary compliance/registration certificates

entails. This must be well-defined and in writing.

Presumably, the seller wants extra $ to leave the system in place.

50 minutes ago, Grid Tied said:

comprising of an Imeon 9.12 inverter, solar panels and gel batteries.

A signed off system of a 9kW size is worth a pretty penny, it also could be costly to get it registered.

I don't think any ZA  house seller can guarantee to deliver a registered grid-tied domestic system in the time frame though. 

These things are negotiations, so maybe partial payment and something held back until sign-off by "X" date, otherwise forfeit.

 

 

 

Thank you Phil.g00 for the prompt response and advice. The registration seems to be a complex process and and important consideration in the takeover of any existing system.

It would be interesting to find out how many members are using this  Imeon inverter and what their experience is with it, especially with regard to reliability, any problems encountered and service backup.

 

Necessary compliance/registration certificates ... are you Cape Town based @Grid Tied ?

The system is registered in the owners name, if the house is sold, the paperwork must be transferred as per CoCT forms. So that could complicate matters depending on who's name appears on the paperwork.

If the system is grid tied, you need a CoC and a engineers report if the Imeon is on the CoCT list - the list is a summary of all the NRS approved inverters.

Imeon, if I recall correctly, has had some lack of support issues. Just search Imeon on the forum.

Here is one: https://powerforum.co.za/topic/1425-pics-of-imeon-36-failure/?tab=comments#comment-26423

6 hours ago, phil.g00 said:

Presumably, the seller wants extra $ to leave the system in place.

As Phil asked, what is the price asked?

The Imeon is approved until the end of the year. I think it is safe to say that after that it wont be approved.

That sets "X" date quite clearly, however it is a hybrid inverter, so it will be able to service an off-grid load island. So it wont be worthless without a grid-tie.

The type/age and previous treatment of the batteries might also mean they are due for replacement, so I wouldn't attribute then with a lot of value.

Although they may have cost a fortune, but chances are they're close to done.

But even so, it is a system that cost the previous owner a lot.

Thanks for the further advice and guidance. Do I understand you correctly that although Imeon is currently on the CIty of Cape Town equipment approval list, it will likely lapse at the end of the year? What happens then, must all Imeon  current users then replace their inverters? That seems  a pretty draconic rule if the COC can decide what they like and dislike.to the detriiment of many people spent a lot of money on installations before the new regulations were implemented. I want to do some more research on the Imeon brand and their service and spares support in South Africa. My plan is also to contract a technician/installer in the Western Cape familiar with the Imeon 9.12 inverters to check the installation during the due diligence period. Perhaps a forum member can make some recommendation?

3 hours ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

Necessary compliance/registration certificates ... are you Cape Town based @Grid Tied ?

The system is registered in the owners name, if the house is sold, the paperwork must be transferred as per CoCT forms. So that could complicate matters depending on who's name appears on the paperwork.

If the system is grid tied, you need a CoC and a engineers report if the Imeon is on the CoCT list - the list is a summary of all the NRS approved inverters.

Imeon, if I recall correctly, has had some lack of support issues. Just search Imeon on the forum.

Here is one: https://powerforum.co.za/topic/1425-pics-of-imeon-36-failure/?tab=comments#comment-26423

As Phil asked, what is the price asked?

Thank you for the compliance and registration info and the links to the Imeon forum. Yes, the property falls within the City of Cape Town boundaries and electricity accounts are issued by them.  It seems like a lot of paperwork and reports are required. My plan is first to establish whether it is worth taking over the equipment. We have not discussed any price yet, but I am sure that the seller will offer a competitive price as it will be costly to remove and re-install the equipment elsewhere. So I now have to find a technician/installer who knows this inverter and can do an inspection an report for me.  

6 minutes ago, Grid Tied said:

What happens then, must all Imeon  current users then replace their inverters?

No. All that happens is that no NEW installations can be done with that inverter. Old installations remain legal as long as you don't modify them. At least, this is how it usually works in other countries. What constitutes a modification is also something I don't know. It could be something as innocuous as extending the PV array.

I can understand that regulations are required for safety, but it seems that the authorities are now implementing so many new regulations to deter individuals from providing their own electricity. It does not make sense in a country where the authorities cannot provide sufficient electricity.

It seems to me that before you consider what alternative energy installation you require to meet your electricity requirements, you have to first check on the regulations to establish whether your proposed equipment is on the list approved by the authorities. Surely it must be the responsibility of the SABS/regulating authority to dictate what equipment is allowed into the country?

7 hours ago, Grid Tied said:

SABS/regulating authority

SABS no longer does this. Truth be told I'm not sure what they do nowadays. Anyway, this has been discussed to death elsewhere. If the system is entirely off-grid, then as long as it is safe you can do whatever you want. The moment you connect it to the national grid, then you have to comply with the regulations. It's like driving a car on a race-track vs on a national road.

There is presently a massive re-certification effort going on in Europe, and the same thing applies there: Past a certain point the old stuff can no longer be use. Price you pay for being a first-world nation, or trying to be! 🙂

Edited April 18, 20197 yr by plonkster