Ryan Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 Hi Guys, i am keen on installing the sunny boy 240 micro inverter system onto my roof, i like that it makes the system more modular and if an inverter goes down i can fix at my own pace with out having my system go down, it also offers great data tracking and simple to install! i have also briefly looked at the victron system, which may also work? i would like to know what people think and if they have any advice? i am also looking to put in a battery back up system and build it up to eventually run off grid any advice would be welcome! regards Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 Right, so reading your post I first had to go google to discover that SMA has made a new (to me at least) Micro Inverter. This is more in the league of the Enphase or PowerOne Aurora makes and far away from Victron (which is a central battery inverter). A more direct comparison would be micro inverter vs String inverter (both are grid tied, but with a string inverter you have one inverter downstairs fed by all the solar panels). So it is a bit difficult to say, because you're comparing bicycles with roller blades Whether they can work together, that I don't yet know. It depends if the SMA microinverters support frequency shifting to reduce power. Ryan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenFields Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 Some possibly useful information in the comments section in the link below. https://www.smainverted.com/smas-highly-anticipated-micro-inverter-now-shipping/ If the contents are is true, it seems the SMA micro-inverter is not designed to work in off-grid applications. Also, the max input power to each inverter is 250W, while it might be better value for money to opt for higher wattage panels. Ryan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 23, 2019 Author Share Posted July 23, 2019 thanks guys both good posts and very informative, would you then maybe suggest i go for a Dc optimized setup? the Goal is to keep the system modular, to prevent 1 item falling over and shutting down the whole system, while also making it easy and cost effective to add new panels and batteries ti the system. what would you suggest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 (edited) 22 minutes ago, Ryan said: what would you suggest? The words "Modular" and "Victron" goes well together in the same sentence. EDIT: And grid tied and off grid and batteries also goes very well with "Modular" and "Victron". Edited July 23, 2019 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 24, 2019 Author Share Posted July 24, 2019 Grid tied vs off grid doesn’t matter to me, honestly from what I see on the forum it seems off grid is the way to go so let’s conti on that route Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenFields Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 Could investigate the Enphase micro-inverters if that modularity is your goal, and then ac-couple a Victron Multi to frequency-shift them. Just a thought. Ryan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 24, 2019 Author Share Posted July 24, 2019 So the enphase system puts out 60hz? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 24, 2019 Author Share Posted July 24, 2019 @GreenFields that’s a brilliant idea because then I could get a victron multi and charger combo and run the batteries off that and that should make the system more efficient?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 fwiw, SMA replied to me on a youtube video and said the SMA micro-inverter does not support the frequency shift feature. So for many South Africans (whether Off-grid or not), they are not a very good solution as there is no way to prevent feeding into the grid, which is what many want/have to do. 2 hours ago, GreenFields said: Could investigate the Enphase micro-inverters if that modularity is your goal, and then ac-couple a Victron Multi to frequency-shift them. Just a thought. I can't remember if Enphase supports it. A few years ago when I checked they did not. 2 hours ago, Ryan said: So the enphase system puts out 60hz? Enphase has 60Hz as well as 50Hz models. Trouble is, I don't think it has NRS097-2-1 certification, so not sure about their use on our grid. Still, the Enphase is rather a nice product that's been around for a long time. Can't really fault them otherwise. Ryan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 24, 2019 Author Share Posted July 24, 2019 @plonkster so after all the great feedback, i have decided to shift direction to a enphase micro inverter system, the one @GreenFields suggested with the victron multi doing the frequency shifts for me, what i now need to know is what else the system will need to run a battery back up off grid. also will i need to put the plugs and light i want on solar onto another separated db board, and is my solar array isn't producing enough, can that db board still draw from the grid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 24, 2019 Author Share Posted July 24, 2019 also whats the Hoymiles system like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zialmen Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 @Ryan Hoymiles works brilliantly for your application. It's also NRS -2- 1:2017 certified. We have used it on multiple projects with Victron. Latest was +-25kW. It supports frequency shifting to throttle when the batteries/loads don't require so much PV power. It's also a lot cheaper than Enphase since there are multiple panels connected to one micro - either 2 or 4 panels. https://www.ellies.co.za/product-category/renewable-energy/inverters/micro-inverters/ Ryan and Hannesvw 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 25, 2019 Author Share Posted July 25, 2019 It’s seems to only be grid tied though so if the grid goes down doesn’t it go down too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 10 hours ago, Ryan said: It’s seems to only be grid tied though so if the grid goes down doesn’t it go down too? Both the SMA micro-inverters and the Hoymiles inverter is grid-tied, they go down when the grid goes down. Which is why I said you're comparing a scooter to a skateboard (or something like that)... they both kinda do the same thing... but also not Ryan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 26, 2019 Author Share Posted July 26, 2019 Ok so what’s the best off grid micro option? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 26, 2019 Author Share Posted July 26, 2019 Enphase and APsystems? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 Just now, Ryan said: Ok so what’s the best off grid micro option? Well, that's somewhat of a contradiction in terms. Off grid means batteries. Batteries means significant capacity, and that means heavier hardware. So no real micro option (not nearly to the same extent as a small box behind the PV module!). EnPhase and APSystems are both grid-tied microinverters. Microinverters can sometimes work WITH another battery inverter, so that when the grid goes out they tie with the battery inverter. I think only the Enphase and the Hoymiles can do this. Victron is fairly modular in the sense that you can put inverters in parallel, you can add more solar later (just add an MPPT), and so on, but it really depends on your constraints. One reason people look at microinverters is cost... you can literally expand your generation a panel or two at a time, you simply bolt a micro-inverter to to bottom. Very cool idea... but it not if you have power failures. Again, it depends what you want to do. If failures are infrequent, your backup load is small, and your primary motivation is saving money: Get a smaller UPS for backup, and install the micro inverters you wanted to in the first place. Zialmen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 26, 2019 Author Share Posted July 26, 2019 @plonkster so this is my situation, i run a wood working shop from home, i need not to be at the whim of Eskom when the power goes down. i also have a large roof perfect for solar, and since most of my power consumption is during the day, i want to use that roof to run my shop and charge a battery that can run my light, tv and internet at night, and then at some point get big enough to run off grid all the time when it becomes cheap enough to. i dont like that if i am grid tied and the grid goes down so does my system! i also don't like that if i go grid tied that they charge me more if i use grid electricity. i have about 50K to start my system, and i am going to be doing it DIY, what are your suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 26, 2019 Author Share Posted July 26, 2019 i was hoping the system could work like this, where micro inverters supply the board and if the load exceeds what solar is supplying then it would draw from the grid? even if the grid was down, then a battery back up and solar would kick in and work to supply the need and charge the battery and then at night if there is a power outage then the battery could run a few things in the house? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 56 minutes ago, Ryan said: The above can be done using a Victron Multiplus, but then you must use a grid tied inverter that supports frequency shifting, which will mean either a conventional string inverter (SMA, Fronius, ABB) or the Hoymiles microinverter. I have zero experience with Hoymiles btw. Please see the ESS webinar to find out how it all works. The PV inverter in that presentation will be made up of multiple micro-inverters in your proposed system. Ryan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrVolt Posted September 13, 2019 Share Posted September 13, 2019 On 2019/07/25 at 9:55 PM, Zialmen said: @Ryan Hoymiles works brilliantly for your application. It's also NRS -2- 1:2017 certified. We have used it on multiple projects with Victron. Latest was +-25kW. It supports frequency shifting to throttle when the batteries/loads don't require so much PV power. It's also a lot cheaper than Enphase since there are multiple panels connected to one micro - either 2 or 4 panels. https://www.ellies.co.za/product-category/renewable-energy/inverters/micro-inverters/ @Zialmen Can you possibly give me info on this victron/hoymiles config. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proteapermaculture Posted November 7, 2019 Share Posted November 7, 2019 Ryan thanks for confirming the Hoymiles microinverter works with the Victron multiplus...supports frequency shifting to prevent feed in to the grid (not profitable for small solar to sell to grid and illegal otherwise). Please can you provide details? I think you also need an monitoring and storage (ESS) with GX monitoring and energy battery and MPTT charger? Would really appreciate more info as this seems a great way to reduce electricity consumption. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.