Hoymiles Microinverters

B-1 said:
Thanks, the price on these are still quite rough.
R5000+ for the DTU
R4000+ for a 1200w inverter etc.
Click to expand...
I was at Ellies yesterday. MI-1200 is R3870 and the DTU is R3500. That's R22850 for 6kw (or R19k for 4.8kw) which is similar to the Sunsynk pricing.
 
Hi All

I have this setup running for the past year (1 x 1200w), then added 1 x 1500w in September last year. I have 4 x 330w panels connected to the 1200w and I have 4 x 450w connected to the 1500w inverter. I also have the latest DTU as I had to upgrade the DTU when I added the 1500w inverter. I still have the other DTU so if you keen I can sell that as I am not using it.

So far it is saving me +_ R600 a month since I have added the 1500w inverter.

I will try and answer questions as best I can.
 
Speedster said:
I was at Ellies yesterday. MI-1200 is R3870 and the DTU is R3500. That's R22850 for 6kw (or R19k for 4.8kw) which is similar to the Sunsynk pricing.
Click to expand...
Why compare it with a super hybrid Sunsynk, which has far more functionality and far more flexible?
The equivalent (in single phase) would be an award winning Solis 4.6kW with dual MPPT, going for under R10k.
Even a 3 phase 5kW Solis would be cheaper at under 15K.
 
Reason I went for it almost 2 years ago was starting costs and the ability to have panels connected in any location as shading only affects the shaded panel. It was the cheapest way I could start in solar. Have another guy on the powerforums who lives in a nearby area to me and he has made 10MW with his Hoymiles system which he says has paid off the panels and inverters in +_ 4 years. I also like the microinverter setup as it was very easy to setup as the inverter goes under the panels, you then run an ac cable from the inverter into the DB board and you are done. No long DC cables etc.

What my aim is in maybe a year or more is to either sell these microinverters and go full Sunsynk 8.8kw with batteries, or use them connected to a 5kw Sunsynk system. It all depends on how well this setup does for me over the next 9 to 12 months.
 
RonSwanson said:
Why compare it with a super hybrid Sunsynk, which has far more functionality and far more flexible?
The equivalent (in single phase) would be an award winning Solis 4.6kW with dual MPPT, going for under R10k.
Even a 3 phase 5kW Solis would be cheaper at under 15K.
Click to expand...
Do you by chance know how the Solis reacts if you exceed the rated capacity? i.e. if I draw 5kW from the 4.6kW will it blend with the grid, or switch over to the grid completely?
 
Speedster said:
The DTU (data transmission unit) manages this
Click to expand...

Does the DTU have the capability to sense loads on the main DB by lights, appliances, etc? So it will supply whatever the load is and no more to avoid back feeding? And it must obviously sense that there is mains supply in order to shut down the micro inverters.
 
Neuk_ said:
Does the DTU have the capability to sense loads on the main DB by lights, appliances, etc? So it will supply whatever the load is and no more to avoid back feeding? And it must obviously sense that there is mains supply in order to shut down the micro inverters.
Click to expand...
Yes, the DTU reads the production from the inverters. You also need a chint meter (from Ellies) installed in your DB. This is connected to your DTU via an rs485 cable (I used a cat6 network cable). This provides the DTU with the "house" loads. So then the DTU can then "match" the load and stop back feeding. There is always a delay in controlling the back feed so you would need to be careful if you have a sensitive meter.
 
Greglsh said:
Yes, the DTU reads the production from the inverters. You also need a chint meter (from Ellies) installed in your DB. This is connected to your DTU via an rs485 cable (I used a cat6 network cable). This provides the DTU with the "house" loads. So then the DTU can then "match" the load and stop back feeding. There is always a delay in controlling the back feed so you would need to be careful if you have a sensitive meter.
Click to expand...
Hmm , i wonder if it won't be cheaper to install 3.6kw sunsync instead
3 x micros , dtu and chint meter could cost more than sunsync
Advantage can install a battery later on
 
I am running 2 x mi-1200
2x355w
2x360w
2x380w
1x310w
1x300w

see attached pannel performance
This DTU is usb powered type can't remember price tho ( don't support grid limit )
1644935710672.png1644935759111.png
 
Greglsh said:
Yes, the DTU reads the production from the inverters. You also need a chint meter (from Ellies) installed in your DB. This is connected to your DTU via an rs485 cable (I used a cat6 network cable). This provides the DTU with the "house" loads. So then the DTU can then "match" the load and stop back feeding. There is always a delay in controlling the back feed so you would need to be careful if you have a sensitive meter.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Similar in idea to a 'normal' inverter, except most 'normal' inverters have grid run through them physically.
 
AlphaJohn said:
How?

Cause Solar inverters get fed from AC so have a gauge what to sync to?
Click to expand...
Grid tie syncs it generator to the grid frequency
they increase the generating voltage a fraction above the grid voltage until current start to flow into the grid

Due to the low impedance of the grid this increase of voltage is micro volts higher than grid voltage
 
Speedster said:
Do you by chance know how the Solis reacts if you exceed the rated capacity? i.e. if I draw 5kW from the 4.6kW will it blend with the grid, or switch over to the grid completely?
Click to expand...
What is generally called grid-tie inverters do not really blend anything. The AC in is also the AC out. They always try to produce their maximum output -> if you do not use it, it goes to the grid (if not allowed/wanted then you need meters/control parts that will tell the inverter to scale back/clip the production when the "local load" is lower than production). If the grid-tie produces 600W and your load is only 200W, then 400W goes to the grid (if not told to throttle). If grid-tie produces 600W and your load is 1000W then you have a 600W parallel source to the grid and only 400W comes from the grid. If the solar production increases during this time then less will come from the grid in proportion to the increased solar production. The solis should operate in this manner.
 
one poster said:
What is generally called grid-tie inverters do not really blend anything. The AC in is also the AC out. They always try to produce their maximum output -> if you do not use it, it goes to the grid (if not allowed/wanted then you need meters/control parts that will tell the inverter to scale back/clip the production when the "local load" is lower than production). If the grid-tie produces 600W and your load is only 200W, then 400W goes to the grid (if not told to throttle). If grid-tie produces 600W and your load is 1000W then you have a 600W parallel source to the grid and only 400W comes from the grid. If the solar production increases during this time then less will come from the grid in proportion to the increased solar production. The solis should operate in this manner.
Click to expand...
I think I'm looking for confirmation that it does what we all think it should. I know some of the earlier axpert-type inverters just switched over completely to the grid when one exceeded the threshold.
 
Problem with grid tie + limiting
You need some way to store excess power
Lets asume 3x 1200 units with max power output of 3600w

Mid day sun grid ties potential output 3600w , house load 600w .
Limited will tell grid ties to reduce production to 600w and 3000w is un utilized

You decided to activate geyser @ 2000w
House load is 2600w and 1000w wasted

Grid tie is a pain if you can't feed back into the grid.
 
Speedster said:
I think I'm looking for confirmation that it does what we all think it should. I know some of the earlier axpert-type inverters just switched over completely to the grid when one exceeded the threshold.
Click to expand...
I will have someone kick me in the gonads if a solis ends up acting like an axpert (but realise it might not help you much).

Unless solis operates different from any other traditional concept of grid-tie (i.e. the ability to sync and export to the incoming AC mains which is what the whole COCT approved inverter list is about - where you will find the solis inverters as well) - it is not trying to power anything, it is trying to produce as much electrcity as it can for what ever is going to use it.
 
one poster said:
What is generally called grid-tie inverters do not really blend anything. The AC in is also the AC out. They always try to produce their maximum output -> if you do not use it, it goes to the grid (if not allowed/wanted then you need meters/control parts that will tell the inverter to scale back/clip the production when the "local load" is lower than production). If the grid-tie produces 600W and your load is only 200W, then 400W goes to the grid (if not told to throttle). If grid-tie produces 600W and your load is 1000W then you have a 600W parallel source to the grid and only 400W comes from the grid. If the solar production increases during this time then less will come from the grid in proportion to the increased solar production. The solis should operate in this manner.
Click to expand...
It also allows the inverter to feed into the grid (as you have stated), or limits it to CT.
 
thehuman said:
Problem with grid tie + limiting
You need some way to store excess power
Lets asume 3x 1200 units with max power output of 3600w

Mid day sun grid ties potential output 3600w , house load 600w .
Limited will tell grid ties to reduce production to 600w and 3000w is un utilized

You decided to activate geyser @ 2000w
House load is 2600w and 1000w wasted

Grid tie is a pain if you can't feed back into the grid.
Click to expand...
Load profile is obviously very important. If someone's base load is generally 300W during the day and they have a 6kW grid-tie system but every night bake cake for the local tuisnywerheid it was likely money not well spent.

One use case where I think traditional grid-tie can be useful on a tight budget is when running a pool pump during the day - size the system to a bit bigger than the pool pump and have the pump run 09:00-17:00 kind of time thereby getting as close as possible to wipe out a fairly big constant power user but without needing expensive single purpose kit like DC pumps or VFD's etc.). But local electricity rates, actual installed cost of system, and budget limitations will be the final determining factor.
 
Speedster said:
Yeah, if you're looking to include batteries microinverters aren't the answer
Click to expand...
But surely batteries a key consideration given:
1. Loadshedding
2. Night use of excess power generated
3. Poor solar conditions?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X