I live in Cape Town, thinking of installing an inverter/ lithium battery under a carport, due to space constraints or long wiring , any pitfalls to that idea

It depends what inverter. If the enclosure of the unit is rated IP65 (eg most PV-inverters) then there is no problem, it can in theory be mounted wherever you want to (though personally I would put it in the shade somewhere, the African sun eventually burns through everything).

I would not however install a Victron inverter (for example) under a car port. It has an IP21 rating, which means that even though they are installed on boats... it wants to be INSIDE the boat 🙂

You could also install a cabinet for it, as long as it is water tight. It would be expensive, but then it is protected against the elements. Again, keep it out of the sun.

Apologies, it is a Kodak Axpert and a Pylontech battery

6 minutes ago, Tariq said:

Apologies, it is a Kodak Axpert and a Pylontech battery

I believe the Axpert is IP20 (ie even less protection against water ingress), and I would not under any circumstances put an expensive battery outside. Theft risk.

Edited April 8, 20205 yr by plonkster

Yes, theft was my other worry, thieves can get around security systems, when they are determined, looks like best is to mount the inverter/battery inside the house, the wire run for the ac input and ac output wire is about 6 meters, guess, best is to use 10 mm flat twin instead of  the recommended 6 mm, any thoughts on that, thanks 

9 minutes ago, Tariq said:

6 meters, guess, best is to use 10 mm flat twin instead of  the recommended 6 mm, any thoughts on that

6 meters is nothing...

What power level are we talking about. 6mm^2 is good for 35A or 8kW. Over 6 meters (12 meters total, two conductors), at 3.1Ω per km, then 0.012*3.1 = 0.038Ω, times 35A is a 1.3V drop at full power, that is half a percent and acceptable.

It is a vm iii 5 KVa , and yes, I have three phase supply with 35 amp circuit breakers for each phase on the main distribution board, so max load would be the 35 amps , I plan to use a dedicated phase for the inverter ( with a changeover switch ), ok, will use 6 mm flat twin.save some money also !!!

p.s.  I am assuming, since I am using a phase dedicated to the inverter, I don’t need to use another circuit breaker in series or go with maybe go with a 30 amp breaker, to allow for the 1.25 tripping current