40 minutes ago, Ironman said:

What hardware is available for that? What size cable should I use?

You get clips that attach to each module. Then you run a bare copper wire (this can be a single solid conductor) the entire length from clip to clip. This copper wire gets a lug, and is tied to the frame itself, and in the same spot you connect your earth cable (green and yellow, 6mm^2) and that goes down to the earth point.

In my case I have a huge aluminium tilted frame under the modules and I just earthed that. I was told that is good enough.

42 minutes ago, plonkster said:

I was told that is good enough.

I think I have read on the WWW, (I am by no means sure), that the earthing of individual panels is a legal requirement (in some countries?) with transformer-less PV inverters.

(This is out of concern for the the lack of galvanic separation and typically higher DC voltages involved).

Anyway, I only individually earth my PV inverter strings and do the same as @plonkster for strings that use conventional DC- coupled MPPT's.

There are earthing holes midway up on both long sides of the panels. I make a pre-lugged tail of about 30cm  and tighten in to one side of the panel while on the ground.

Then it is just a matter of attaching its neighbor as I put each panel up.

I think it could get very awkward trying to do it on the roof, without those special clamps.

Oh, and I use lock washers to bite through the aluminium oxide on the panel frame.

4 hours ago, Ironman said:

I need to apply earthing to the solar panel frames. 

What hardware is available for that? What size cable should I use?

This is what I do. So far with good results 

I use the following . 

Connected like this.

16 hours ago, phil.g00 said:

Oh, and I use lock washers to bite through the aluminium oxide on the panel frame

i agree it is absolutely essential to use them. But even with those special washers i was sometimes unable to achieve a good low resistance connection. I eventually ended up using self tapping screws. For interest sake does the law stipulate the maximum permissible resistance between earth and the panels?  

3 hours ago, Fuenkli said:

For interest sake does the law stipulate the maximum permissible resistance between earth and the panels?  

Quite frankly I have no idea.

First components received.

 

Progress report: Evening 1.

- Marked out the Multiplus II on the wall.  Level!

- Marked out where the trunking will be on the wall

- Marked out where the MPPT will be

- Drilled holes - had to stop at 20:30 when long-haired bipeds started complaining.

- Hanged the MPPT

- Prepared trunking by drilling holes for the flex pipe end pieces.  Will get the %#^&* sticky labels removed tomorrow with spirits.

 

 

The installation looks like it is outside but it is completely under roof.  I am planning to build a wooden enclosure around it when done.

Tomorrow: fix all the trunking, and the 160A battery fuse holder. Plan the cable lengths. Also figure out all the cables and location for the VenusGX.  It is lying loose in my ceiling currently, just measuring the ET112 energy meter.

 

The AC and DC trunking are separate, but you cannot really get to the DC trunking without passing through the AC trunking.  So this is my plan:

The thin black and purple cables are control cables, and thin power supply for the Venus GX.

 

Today's power use per minute, as logged by ET112 -> Venus GX -> Victron VRM:

Is this area cover where you putting the MPPT and inverter up? They guys can correct me but I will not put this units up in the outside elements.  

11 hours ago, Ironman said:

The installation looks like it is outside but it is completely under roof

OOOOO wait, sorry, missed that part. my bad. 

2 hours ago, DaveSA said:

Does the the AC trunking have to extend past and into the AC - could it not just stop after the AC entries?

There is nothing wrong with letting the DC pass through it like in his photo. Especially not if the AC stops short as it does here.

53 minutes ago, DaveSA said:

Sorry,  meant  -  Does the the AC trunking have to extend past and into the DC - could it not just stop after the AC entries? Ie Shorten the AC trunking not to impede

yes. You can stop the trunking but I find that it looks a lot neater if all the trunking runs all the way.  There will be several sections of empty trunking when I am done.

This morning I finished marking all the trunking and drilled all the holes.  Then took everything down again - the wall needs a fresh coat of white paint after all the drilling.

Update: evening 2...

 

 

Problems mounting the MP II 5000.  The four main mounting holes just don't want to work properly.

I tried using 12mm wall plug with large self-tapping bolts.  Works for everything else.  The mounting washers in the MP II are just too small.

Then I tried 12mm rawl bolts. Same problem.  The bolts just does not go through the washer in the MPII.

I will have to go and buy 8mm self tapping screws tomorrow to use with the 12mm wallplugs.  

I do not have the 35mm cables or ring-lugs or crimp tool ready - patience.  That's what the teams that do this on a daily basis know - every little item needed...

Update: Day 3. 

Sparky started on the Clean power DB, and the main AC feed and return lines.  

 

 

Here you can see the roof overhang:

 

We also installed the two parallel 6mm DC cable from the PV combiner box (about 20 meter run) to the MPPT:

 

And I connected the DC cables to the MPPT and the AC feed and return:

 

 

 

On 2019/09/26 at 8:37 PM, Ironman said:

Problems mounting the MP II 5000.  The four main mounting holes just don't want to work properly.

What I found works best. Use the bracket at the back, hang the unit,  then mark the two bottom holes, drill the holes and then use 2 x 6x75mm Trufix through the bottom mounting rubbers.  

 

Day 6 - some photo updates:

I started working with the 35mm DC cable between the inverter, MPPT and fuse holder.  This cable is hard to bend into the small thin plastic conduit:

 

The connections on the fuse holder:

 

 

All the cables in their trunking - I must still complete the earth cable.

 

All closed up:

 

 

 

Edited September 30, 20196 yr by Ironman

So I received the solar panels today, from SA manufacturer ArtSolar.  Received 19 panels.  I bought and paid for 20.

The box containing the panels were sealed when it arrived.  Several witnesses were involved in opening the box, in the truck.  My wife signed the delivery note without checking the quantity. Afterwards the box was destroyed to make space in the truck.  

Artsolar has sent two replies to my query, in both cases wanting to build a case against the courier.  However, the box was sealed.  19 panels arrived.  That is not the courier's fault.

I will update this thread on the outcome of this query.

26 minutes ago, Ironman said:

19 panels arrived.  That is not the courier's fault.

Sorry to hear that Ironman. 

Looks like nice panels though.  

Ai!!!!  not n lekker one, know your feeling. I had some bad experience with couriers. One year with The Courier Guy where they damage a R45 000 audio amp of mine that was send to me. Had a massive fallout with the CEO. 

And the other day I order panels from IBC, I ask if I can come pick it up because i don't trust the couriers. Nope, they will send it with Triton Express. Guess what happens, it ends up at a wrong address , luckily I kept eye on the tracking. Eventually got hold of Triton and request my courier money back and went to collect it. You don't want to see how that box look like. 

Hope you get it sorted with them.  

Update: I just got a call from Artsolar - they will be sending me one more panel.  The panels look really great - planning to install tomorrow.

I must be honest - the Artsolar guys came through and handled the issue very well.  New panel has been shipped and should arrive by Monday.

3 hours ago, Ironman said:

I must be honest - the Artsolar guys came through and handled the issue very well.  New panel has been shipped and should arrive by Monday.

Mistakes happen. I will never hold it against anyone. Lord knows I make enough of my own! 🙂

I once thought I made a mistake, but I was wrong.