This Infini is actually an Axpert on steroids, so does not have the finesse that a true Infini has with regard to gridtie.

 

3 hours ago, Chris Hobson said:

This Infini is actually an Axpert on steroids, so does not have the finesse that a true Infini has with regard to gridtie.

 

Ouch, the frequency ranges are a bit tight / limited.

I have a look at my gennie and mostly within those limits. Might need to adjust the governor faster as it tend to be on the lower end of the spectrum. 

Issue Solved for now!!!

On 2016/07/26 at 9:41 PM, plonkster said:

It's not really back-EMF in the normal inductive sense. Your inverter is pushing back power to cancel out the 1.5kw (or so) being used by the Microwave. When the microwave turns off, it takes a fraction of a second for the inverter to back off. For that fraction of a second, 1.5kw is pushing backwards into the grid.

The above plus the fact that my current Prepaid meter doesn't tolerate any signs of reverse currents, created some problems for me. I was left with 2 options, live with the constant nuisance trip or replace the prepaid, as there was no way of stopping the unit doing what @plonkster explained above.

When I visited our Municipality the first time, I was told I was going to pay R2200 for them to replace my meter with the newer type, I left it like that to first do my homework to find out if the newer meter will tolerate reverse current and it prove to be the case. On returning today to find out how to go about having it replaced I was referred to a more senior guy,  on explaining the situation to him, he took a New meter from a drawer, gave it one of the Electricians and ask him to go register the meter and replace my meter as soon as the registration is done and I am able to buy power on the card. For Free!! No Cost for replacing.

I thought let me ask the senior guy about the local rules around solar and grid tie.. and his answer made me worry. They will get to Solar Laws as soon as they have formulated and passed the law that will make, having a changeover switch between your generator and grid compulsory. That law was in Place in other parts of Limpopo almost 10 years back.  If they are only working on that now.... when can we expect the Solar  regulations.

Well at least now I don't have to worry about the prepaid tripping, and if one day they decide on how to handle grid tie, I might just be able to export some power..

On 2016/08/01 at 10:52 AM, Chris Hobson said:

This Infini is actually an Axpert on steroids, so does not have the finesse that a true Infini has with regard to gridtie.

@Chris Hobson, you are correct. Voltronic just confirmed that the Settings under "My Power Manager" will not be available on the V series, So the settings in the Manuel is what you've got.

17 minutes ago, Jaco de Jongh said:

Issue Solved for now!!!

 

I thought let me ask the senior guy about the local rules around solar and grid tie.. and his answer made me worry. They will get to Solar Laws as soon as they have formulated and passed the law that will make, having a changeover switch between your generator and grid compulsory. That law was in Place in other parts of Limpopo almost 10 years back.  If they are only working on that now.... when can we expect the Solar  regulations.

Nice. So we can at least still endure cheap and faulty solar installations for another few years!

Have been stalking this grid tie thing for a while now, since 2008 if memory serves.

Have a very clear impression that they are going to:
Charge a connection fee per month to be connected to the grid.
You are not going to make money feeding back.

I further speculate it will be a "troos prys" at best, the monies they will pay, and it is ex VAT obviously, geared to force you to use what you generate, than to earn.

Have a very good idea that there is no ways you, as a home owner, is going to benefit here or retire on this income generating scheme, by putting your entire property under solar panels.

And then what Silver said on top of this.

@SilverNodashi that is exactly why I send you a pm to look at my installation and advise if you see anything wrong. We are not installers like you, we don't have installer like you in this area, so we are  forced to do it ourselves if we want solar.

I went one further and asked you for some help and guidance behind the scenes, and your only reply was that there is somethings you would have done different. No advice, no help nothing. and now openly in the public you want to come out with your opinion about my install. Some balls you've got.

Why don't you do what all of us are doing, trying to help each other. Showcase some of your installs so that us uneducated people can learn!!

I don't think it's fair to expect free advice on an installation.

This is what the forum is all about. Helping each other. So we learn something here and whant to charge people. Wow

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Advice @Manie, is always free. Consultation, that may not be free. 

 

@TTT . Thats not my moto in life. Always help for free where i can .

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2 minutes ago, Manie said:

Always help for free where i can .

Amen brother. Same here.

@TTT very good hart. Impressive

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@TTT very good hart. Impressive

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Just now, TinkerBoy said:

@Jaco de Jongh when I installed my system last year I asked on the Forum who can help with the panels install. Silver sent me a pm and said he can do it. When he saw I did most of the work myself he just disappeared. I am still waiting for a quote from him. So dont hold your breath. 

Contact Johan Booysen from Centurion Solar. He wont charge you for advice or "consultation". 

What you are experiancing is one of the reasons I left the forum. I created a new account as there are people here who do really want to help and who I can help. I feel your pain brother.

 

Nice to have you back on the forum, Jaco! I didn't send you a quote because I saw you did it yourself, i didn't sent you a quote cause I was busy on a farm in Lindleyspoort with an installation and the internet was crap. But I guess your interpretation about it sounds better, so let's go with that

 

Bottom line, we are but a few regular posters keeping this forum active and ticking along quite nicely. We really do not want one of us leaving.

It is inevitable that sometimes we get off balance. Perfectly normal.

Take a break, deep breaths, have a smoke, whiskey, beer and forget this ever happened.

Then come back and delete the posts, as I have done before when I got off balance. Come on, just do it.

Yes, I have the right to say this for I have had my fair share of shots, as many as I have dished out. 

The good side of these situations is that subtle boundaries are drawn and for that we are stronger.

 

 

 

 

@SilverNodashi This is my last post on this forum. I misinterpreted nothing, Ive got a screenshot of your original post, it was still open on my PC when I saw on my phone that you chanced it, so I made  a copy of your original post, even the part where you mentioned the money. I don't want to re-post it. Unless you want to see it. It might refresh your memory. 

Thanks for your pm after all this. Just to clear something, those cheap fuse holders were supplied by current automation in Nelspruit, they have been using them for for all their installs for i dont know how long. It is proper DC fuse holders, I did not even query their quality, because it was supplied by professionals. The earth I used on my panels is an acceptable earth you can find more info on page 6 of the following document.  http://copper-antimicrobial.co.za/downloads/e_1305_Earthcor.pdf. Please note what this document is all about. The so called cheap isolators is about R2000 each. Although you state that it is an AC isolator, it is in fact a AC or DC isolator. What in your opinion will be the cost of a propper DC isolator

Edit: And yes I do have a change over switch installed at my DB.

 

Hi Jaco

Can I ask a huge favour!  As much as the thread has hurt and I am not going to take a side here BUT... reconsider your involvement here.  

Withdrawing may help in the short term but it doesn't help those of us who need your help (and others)!  I have learnt heaps from your engagement and want to have the opportunity to continue to do so.  You don't know me at all but I trust you will review your decision.  

Please don't delete the thread - this has been done in the past by others and I lost posts (and my own) I was referring to and learning from - they are very informative!

Sincerely

Mark

PS:  I would take your installation "voetstoots" ANY day... far neater and more professional than my owner installed setup

Yeah no reason to leave @Jaco de Jongh you are even doing a similar geyser install as I planned a while ago (btw funds should be in for the extra panels end of next month and then it's game on)
Seriously you have even taught us all about this new Voltronic Inverter

16 minutes ago, Jaco de Jongh said:

@SilverNodashi This is my last post on this forum. I misinterpreted nothing, Ive got a screenshot of your original post, it was still open on my PC when I saw on my phone that you chanced it, so I made  a copy of your original post, even the part where you mentioned the money. I don't want to re-post it. Unless you want to see it. It might refresh your memory. 

Thanks for your pm after all this. Just to clear something, those cheap fuse holders were supplied by current automation in Nelspruit, they have been using them for for all their installs for i dont know how long. It is proper DC fuse holders, I did not even query their quality, because it was supplied by professionals. The earth I used on my panels is an acceptable earth you can find more info on page 6 of the following document.  http://copper-antimicrobial.co.za/downloads/e_1305_Earthcor.pdf. Please note what this document is all about. The so called cheap isolators is about R2000 each. Although you state that it is an AC isolator, it is in fact a AC or DC isolator. What in your opinion will be the cost of a propper DC isolator.

You asked me in the PM if you deserved this and my answer is yes. But to clear your precious name, I will delete this thread with all my other content tonight.

 

Edit: And yes I do have a change over switch installed at my DB

 

P.S. The earthing equipment you're using is fine, but don't run the same length earth strap around your two PV combiner boxes. I guess what I said in my PM got misinterpreted again, so let's try again:

 

Here's what I said: 

Quote

2. That earthing will probably fail against current electrical regulations. This has been discussed on the forums, to some extend, but possibly not enough for your COC to pass. Run thick wires from the panels to the ground, directly. Run a separate earth cable from the combiner box to a separate earth rod. The qualified guys who charge a lot todo it properly, charge a LOT cause there's a lot more than just sticking an earth rod in the ground. Did you do earth continuity tests? What was the impedance between the panels, the frame and the earth rod?

Let's re-phrase that:

1. Panels need to a seperate earth rod

2. DB need a seperate earth rod

3. An earth strap, around the PV combiner boxes will very likely "bring the surge too close to the PV combiner box". You don't want that. :: I can't figure out from the photos if it's two separate earth straps. IF it is, then it's FINE as well (maybe?), BUT if it's the SAME earth strap, which is what it looks like to me, DON"T DO IT. 

guy's just help the folk when people ask for help. someone will always offer free help

5 hours ago, SilverNodashi said:

Let's re-phrase that:

1. Panels need to a seperate earth rod

2. DB need a seperate earth rod

3. An earth strap, around the PV combiner boxes will very likely "bring the surge too close to the PV combiner box". You don't want that. :: I can't figure out from the photos if it's two separate earth straps. IF it is, then it's FINE as well (maybe?), BUT if it's the SAME earth strap, which is what it looks like to me, DON"T DO IT. 

@SilverNodashi are you implying separate independent earth electrodes that are not bonded together? 

2 hours ago, Carl said:

@SilverNodashi are you implying separate independent earth electrodes that are not bonded together? 

Yes. Earthing is a topic completely on it's own. Different areas (i.e. towns / provinces / mountainous / city / etc / etc) all have different earthing requirements. Sometimes you need to sink a spike 2m or more before you get good earth. In some areas you'll see an earth rod right around the roof, up the one wall, down the other wall, essentially creating an earth mesh around the house. 

In some cases you need to put a couple spikes in, 2m or 3m apart, in a square or rectangular fashion, and an earth wire joining them together. Together with that you get a Type I, a Type II, Type III and Type I + II surge arrestor. Again, each one is used in a different scenario, depending on where you live, what the lighting is like in the area, is there a lot of metal in the ground, what other taller / lower buildings are close-by, etc, etc. And then there's some calculations and measurements you need to make, to determine how far from the panels / combiner box / DB box the earth spike should go, this is referred to as separation distance, which again will be different from site to site, installation to installation. 

 

The most common question asked: Do you use 4mm or 6mm earth cable? 10m or 20m? It's REALLY simple, create a path with the least amount of resistance from your equipment to the ground.

 

Look here: 

https://www.dehn-international.com/en/roof-mounted-systems-building-without-external-lightning-protection-system

http://www.ee.co.za/article/lightning-surge-protection-rooftop-pv-systems.html

 

I have found over the years that grounding is not as easy and simple as it sounds, as Silver points out.

And I have also found that most electricians I have spoken to, get very vague when questioned about earthing and solar arrays.

I wonder if there is a company that specializes in earthing, that one can contract for a consultation, in Cape Town?

12 hours ago, SilverNodashi said:

It's REALLY simple, create a path with the least amount of resistance from your equipment to the ground.

Fine. I'll use 50mm welding cable!

:-)