___ Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 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. Ironman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.g00 Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 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. Ironman and ___ 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.g00 Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 Oh, and I use lock washers to bite through the aluminium oxide on the panel frame. Ironman and ___ 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaco De Jongh Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 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. Ironman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuenkli Posted September 21, 2019 Share Posted September 21, 2019 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.g00 Posted September 21, 2019 Share Posted September 21, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman Posted September 25, 2019 Author Share Posted September 25, 2019 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. ___ and Jaco De Jongh 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman Posted September 25, 2019 Author Share Posted September 25, 2019 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. ___ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman Posted September 25, 2019 Author Share Posted September 25, 2019 Today's power use per minute, as logged by ET112 -> Venus GX -> Victron VRM: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerlach Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerlach Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman Posted September 26, 2019 Author Share Posted September 26, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman Posted September 26, 2019 Author Share Posted September 26, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman Posted September 26, 2019 Author Share Posted September 26, 2019 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... Jaco De Jongh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman Posted September 27, 2019 Author Share Posted September 27, 2019 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: Jaco De Jongh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaco De Jongh Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 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. Ironman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman Posted September 30, 2019 Author Share Posted September 30, 2019 (edited) 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, 2019 by Ironman ___ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share Posted October 3, 2019 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. Jaco De Jongh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaco De Jongh Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerlach Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 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. Ironman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman Posted October 4, 2019 Author Share Posted October 4, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman Posted October 4, 2019 Author Share Posted October 4, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 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! Ironman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.g00 Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 I once thought I made a mistake, but I was wrong. Ironman and GVC 2 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.