Help me understand my setup.

Hemps

Hemps

Honorary Master
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
11,661
Reaction score
1,631
Location
Slummies
I had solar installed many years back, installer guided me through everything but have since forgotten and want to print out something to stick to wall letting family members know whats happening.
I have only 4 panels

My wife who buys electricity also saying we are using a lot more lately and its not even winter yet, also have solar geyser?

Inverter:
1774779360651.png

1774779383660.png

1774779398349.png

Should this be on Eskom or Inverter?
Inverter supply out and in - what are they?

1774779431607.png

Inverter Supply Out?

1774779456193.png

Inverter Supply In?

1774779488887.png

I assume this is the incoming panels so everything must be UP, what happens if Battery is Down (no charge from solar)
 
I turned Main off and power stayed on so all working, bottom right is that the solar coming in to charge batteries?

Also what app can I use, I had app on my previous phone, how would i go about registering it with my system?

1774781799588.png
 
Hemps said:
I had solar installed many years back, installer guided me through everything but have since forgotten and want to print out something to stick to wall letting family members know whats happening.
I have only 4 panels

My wife who buys electricity also saying we are using a lot more lately and its not even winter yet, also have solar geyser?

Inverter:
View attachment 1897081

View attachment 1897083

View attachment 1897084

Should this be on Eskom or Inverter?
Inverter supply out and in - what are they?
Click to expand...
On the inverter, if there's something wrong with the inverter you flip it over to Eskom, it's a switch that allows you to choose which source you want.
Hemps said:
View attachment 1897085

Inverter Supply Out?
Click to expand...
It's the Eskom feed that supplies the inverter.
Hemps said:
View attachment 1897086

Inverter Supply In?
Click to expand...
It's the inverter power that supply essential circuits.
Hemps said:
View attachment 1897087

I assume this is the incoming panels so everything must be UP, what happens if Battery is Down (no charge from solar)
Click to expand...
Yes, that's the solar and battery panel, if there is no charge from the sun, the battery will use whatever energy it has stored until it runs out then your essential circuits will go off until you switch the changeover switch to use Eskom.
 
I forgot my talkthrough as well

The battery label, I think its the disconnect.


I have two massive fuses and I think disconnects:
IMG_20260329_152725_330.jpg

MY pics:
IMG_20260329_152743_883.jpg

surge protection and earth bond.

Grid to inverter supply switch. Off: Mmeans its stops supply the inverter from Eskom

Change over switch 1 is eskom 2 is inverter. This supplies the house.

Inverter load, no idea, cannot recall.

IMG_20260329_152737_356.jpg

This just disconnects my panels to my inverter.

So if i want to stop supply to my inverter
I switch off the grid to inverter and pv strings to my inverter.

I think the inverter load switch is where I switch of power from inverter to the house.
 
rh1 said:
I forgot my talkthrough as well

The battery label, I think its the disconnect.


I have two massive fuses and I think disconnects:
View attachment 1897132

MY pics:
View attachment 1897133

surge protection and earth bond.

Grid to inverter supply switch. Off: Mmeans its stops supply the inverter from Eskom

Change over switch 1 is eskom 2 is inverter. This supplies the house.

Inverter load, no idea, cannot recall.

View attachment 1897134

This just disconnects my panels to my inverter.

So if i want to stop supply to my inverter
I switch off the grid to inverter and pv strings to my inverter.

I think the inverter load switch is where I switch of power from inverter to the house.
Click to expand...
Inverter load is all the circuits connected to the inverter, if you want to isolate those you just trip that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rh1
You would think a handover document detailing how a system is to be used would be supplied by the installer.
 
denmendez65 said:
You would think a handover document detailing how a system is to be used would be supplied by the installer.
Click to expand...
That would be nice but I would admit compiling a manual is an extra chore, but you can always price it into the cost.

Nothing stops the client from compiling their own manual though as the installer will take you through the whole thing after the installation.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: rh1
The only manual you need is correct shut down and start up procedure. I leave that to the axperts on this forum.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: rh1
The idea is to run your battery at night when the sun doesn't shine and especially to cover peak hours with battery if you are on a TOU electricity package. Then in the daytime hours, use pv to charge battery and try to do your heavy lifting, ie. geyser, ironing, washing machine, pool pump etc. So your battery should be at its lowest point in a cycle and ready to accept charge from the sun. Depending on the size of your your solar array and inverter, you may need to stagger usage throughout the day where possible. You want to avoid having to charge your battery from the grid as this just means wasted cycles that cost you money.

What you want to minimise is having your solar idling during daylight hours and simply matching your house baseload. You want it working for you as much as possible in the day time. If you cover your power needs and fill your battery early in the day, it's a good indication that your system can handle more storage. If you struggle to charge battery on a sunny day and cover your overheads, it's a good indication that you need more panels.

Seasonal changes require tweaking to get the most out of your setup due to daylight hours and wet season for your location.
 
TheChamp said:
That would be nice but I woukd admit compiling a manual is an extra chore, but you can always price it into the cost.

Nothing stops the client from compiling their own manual though as the installer will take you through the whole thing after the installation.
Click to expand...
I can only speak from an industry perspective but no installation is handed over to a client without documentation to explain everything and operating procedure.

Heck a car, phone etc comes with a manual. Solar installers on my opinion are doing the good old “call me when you need help” and they can potentially charge. Verbal doesn’t work in my opinion.
 
wingnut771 said:
The only manual you need is correct shut down and start up procedure. I leave that to the axperts on this forum.
Click to expand...
if he had a bit more than shut down and startup he wouldn’t be struggling with this. A bit of information on how to do things like what he wants would go a long way.

Not everyone goes on YouTube to become an “expert” on their install.
 
Flanders said:
The idea is to run your battery at night when the sun doesn't shine and especially to cover peak hours with battery if you are on a TOU electricity package. Then in the daytime hours, use pv to charge battery and try to do your heavy lifting, ie. geyser, ironing, washing machine, pool pump etc. So your battery should be at its lowest point in a cycle and ready to accept charge from the sun. Depending on the size of your your solar array and inverter, you may need to stagger usage throughout the day where possible. You want to avoid having to charge your battery from the grid as this just means wasted cycles that cost you money.

What you want to minimise is having your solar idling during daylight hours and simply matching your house baseload. You want it working for you as much as possible in the day time. If you cover your power needs and fill your battery early in the day, it's a good indication that your system can handle more storage. If you struggle to charge battery on a sunny day and cover your overheads, it's a good indication that you need more panels.

Seasonal changes require tweaking to get the most out of your setup due to daylight hours and wet season for your location.
Click to expand...
It’s all nice theoretically by OP wants to know how to do all this with the breakers etc he has. That’s is where the installer should have left some sort of documentation for him.
 
denmendez65 said:
It’s all nice theoretically by OP wants to know how to do all this with the breakers etc he has. That’s is where the installer should have left some sort of documentation for him.
Click to expand...
He doesn't need to do anything with his breakers unless there is a problem.
 
Iirc:
Turn off inverter out then pv then battery then inverter in then switch to Eskom.

Then in reverse when starting up?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X