Generator or Inverter for residential use?

[Neuk_]

63A, which is the size of my main breaker, and the cabling into and out of the inverter supports this amperage.

I would have thought that ours would be set to 50A as that is the max pass through but it must be set lower for some reason, when Colin is here next week I will chat to him about it.

 

[wingnut771]

So busbar then recommended? I only have 2 pylontech us 3000 3.5kw batteries.

But will add some after PV panels, hopefully next year.

yes, and 2 sets of battery cables, then thick custom 50mm and 240A fuse to inverter. as you get more batteries, just add them to the busbar.

 

[AchmatK]

Going to have a lot more posts with questions over the next week until @adielk completes his setup.

Hopefully mine and his posts will help others that end up getting the sunsynk inverter or with a similar setup.

 

[TheChamp]

Has anyone seen the OP @saflyfish lately?

 

[cfvh600]

Has anyone seen the OP @saflyfish lately?

Status shows last seen 23 Apr.

 

[AchmatK]

So I think I might have a wiring issue that's causing the aux load output to disconnect.

Just turned on the geyser which is connected to the aux load and everything is being recorded a going through the main load.

When I switch off the non essential load off manually, the geyser goes off and the usage on the inverter also drops so it's definitely split.

3kw should be going out via aux out to the geyser
429w to the UPS load
2kw to charging the battery

 

[AchmatK]

Or it's only meant to record excess solar sent to the aux load and not when the grid or battery is sending power to the aux load.

 

[AchmatK]

The only way I could get it to send power to the aux load was to make the solar power under the aux load settings to zero.

It does not automatically relay grid power to the aux load.

 

[wingnut771]

So I think I might have a wiring issue that's causing the aux load output to disconnect.

Just turned on the geyser which is connected to the aux load and everything is being recorded a going through the main load.

When I switch off the non essential load off manually, the geyser goes off and the usage on the inverter also drops so it's definitely split.

3kw should be going out via aux out to the geyser
429w to the UPS load
2kw to charging the battery
View attachment 883260

i saw it mentioned earlier in the thread about it having to be bonded.

 

[AchmatK]

i saw it mentioned earlier in the thread about it having to be bonded.

Also thinking it could be that. Electrician says he's coming tomorrow so will ask him to connect the earth bond.

 

[cfvh600]

Also thinking it could be that. Electrician says he's coming tomorrow so will ask him to connect the earth bond.

Hope it's an easy fix. Rest of the panels up yet?

 

[AchmatK]

Hope it's an easy fix. Rest of the panels up yet?

Going up tomorrow. Then installing the 2 combiner boxes with fuses and surge arrestors and connecting it all up.

 

[Saba'a]

Going up tomorrow. Then installing the 2 combiner boxes with fuses and surge arrestors and connecting it all up.

Do I need a combiner box seeing as no PV panels yet? Or doesn't hurt to connect as yet?

Cost me R2k already paid?

 

[AchmatK]

Do I need a combiner box seeing as no PV panels yet? Or doesn't hurt to connect as yet?

Cost me R2k already paid?

No point in getting until you ready to connect the panels.

 

[Steamy Tom]

Do I need a combiner box seeing as no PV panels yet? Or doesn't hurt to connect as yet?

Cost me R2k already paid?

How many strings? R2k seems rather cheap

 

[AchmatK]

Got me two of these combiner box.

Has fuses, surge arrestors and disconnect switches.

It combines 2 pv strings into one output to the invert. It reduces cabling so now I just need to run 4 cables from the panels to the inverter instead of 8 cables. Combiner boxes will be mounted outside. It also has the MC4 quick connectors for the cable from the panels.

You can make them yourself but I went for a ready made solution.

 

[Saba'a]

How many strings? R2k seems rather cheap

Nothing yet but think Sunsynk takes 2+2.

Problem is my electrician knows about Kodak inverters only so maybe quoted for 1 or 2 strings only?

 

[Saba'a]

Got me two of these combiner box.

Has fuses, surge arrestors and disconnect switches.

It combines 2 pv strings into one output to the invert. It reduces cabling so now I just need to run 4 cables from the panels to the inverter instead of 8 cables. Combiner boxes will be mounted outside. It also has the MC4 quick connectors for the cable from the panels.

You can make them yourself but I went for a ready made solution. View attachment 883306 View attachment 883308 View attachment 883312

Ready made is expensive!

Made up should be about R2 500? So R2 000 not too out of ballpark?

 

[Saba'a]

Got me two of these combiner box.

Has fuses, surge arrestors and disconnect switches.

It combines 2 pv strings into one output to the invert. It reduces cabling so now I just need to run 4 cables from the panels to the inverter instead of 8 cables. Combiner boxes will be mounted outside. It also has the MC4 quick connectors for the cable from the panels.

You can make them yourself but I went for a ready made solution. View attachment 883306 View attachment 883308 View attachment 883312

Like the look.

 

[AchmatK]

Reading the CoCT docs on solar, my current setup just with the inverter and battery does not need any approval from CoCT at I'm not generating electricity.

Backup systems are not regulated. Only generation systems are regulated under their bylaws.