Solar PV Hints, Tips & Troubleshooting

SD_DRACULA · 24-06-2021 7:51pm

Did you go to Advanced Settings --> Storage Energy Set --> Storage Mode Select and pick Self Use?
If you have this menu.

BopperSnr · 24-06-2021 8:55pm

SD_DRACULA wrote: »

Did you go to Advanced Settings --> Storage Energy Set --> Storage Mode Select and pick Self Use?
If you have this menu.

Don’t have that mode.

Bobeagleburger · 24-06-2021 9:23pm

Get your installer. They should sort it immediately.

SD_DRACULA · 25-06-2021 9:05am

6 wrote: »

Get your installer. They should sort it immediately.

Yeah for sure, tell them to update the firmware on the inverter while they're at it.

jkforde · 25-06-2021 2:45pm

Solis inverter & DC-coupled Pylontech battery
MyEnergi Eddi

I believe that there's a way to set thresholds so that the Eddi gets first dibs of the first solar surplus in the mornings. Anyone know how to do this?

championc · 25-06-2021 4:08pm

jkforde wrote: »

Solis inverter & DC-coupled Pylontech battery
MyEnergi Eddi

I believe that there's a way to set thresholds so that the Eddi gets first dibs of the first solar surplus in the mornings. Anyone know how to do this?

It's impossible with DC Coupled (Hybrid) Inverters. You need separate Solar and Storage (Sofar ME3000 or a Powerwall) to achieve this

garo · 25-06-2021 11:46pm

As others said your installer should come in and fix it.

Deagol · 26-06-2021 7:58am

jkforde wrote: »

Solis inverter & DC-coupled Pylontech battery
MyEnergi Eddi

I believe that there's a way to set thresholds so that the Eddi gets first dibs of the first solar surplus in the mornings. Anyone know how to do this?

All you could do is set a timer on the Eddi with a limit on the output but I think that would be inefficient. Surely your hot tank keeps water hot from the night before? If not - think about upgrading your tank insulation.

graememk · 26-06-2021 1:42pm

Deagol wrote: »

All you could do is set a timer on the Eddi with a limit on the output but I think that would be inefficient. Surely your hot tank keeps water hot from the night before? If not - think about upgrading your tank insulation.

Yeah there won't be any solar surplus until the battery is finished charging/charging at max rate

SouthWesterly · 21-07-2021 9:24am

Guys, I don't have an eddi. Is there a device that I can clamp to the system to tell me how much is going to the grid.

It's the solar as a service set up with a 3.24kw system.

irishchris · 21-07-2021 9:51am

You can get some devices like the owl system on Amazon that will tell you usage and grid consumption/export. Or any of those types of devices that will come with a CT clamp

graememk · 21-07-2021 11:07am

completely wireless ones cannot tell direction though and get inaccurate below 200W

To tell direction it needs to be plugged in (somewhere) to get an AC voltage reference and phase. so the bog standard energy meters wont work you need one that would support solar.

SouthWesterly · 21-07-2021 3:20pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117640702#Comment_117640702

Any suggestions?

Have the efergy hub but only gives consumption and as you say, unreliable at low usage. Its showing 0.2kw while the meter hasn't moved all day

SD_DRACULA · 21-07-2021 3:45pm

I use a shelly em (https://shelly.cloud/products/shelly-em-smart-home-automation-device/)

You plug it into the board and clamp the main live, then you can get data via wifi directly or send it to the likes of Home Assistant if you wish.

It can use two clamps so I have the second clamped to the EV live to see exactly how much that's using.

SouthWesterly · 21-07-2021 6:11pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117642467#Comment_117642467

Interesting system but Looks like wiring it in is required. Beyond my capabilities I think. Plug and play would be more my thinking 🙂

graememk · 21-07-2021 7:07pm

https://www.theowl.com/index.php/energy-monitors/solar-pv-monitoring/intuition-pv/

That should work, but you'll have to put cts in the consumer unit, one on the solar feed and one on the main feed.

irishchris · 21-07-2021 8:06pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117643398#Comment_117643398

Yep that's the one I was referring to early but have feeling there is a monitoring few with that one. Worth checking out as it's a while since I looked at that when I was trying to sort monitoring but went for eddi for hot water in end which provides the monitoring for me now

SouthWesterly · 21-07-2021 11:58pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117643398#Comment_117643398

What's cts?

It looks like it's wired as opposed to WiFi.

My inverter is in the attic and meter outside. Modem is in a different room.

graememk · 22-07-2021 7:41am

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117644636#Comment_117644636

A ct is a current transformer, it clips around a live wire and can measure current.

If you look at the installation pdf, it has a wireless transmitter but the receiver needs to be plugged in. & Plugged into the router I think. (Yours will be the second option for install)

Another option is the emonpi but that needs a socket beside the consumer unit, but connects over wifi.

There is bound to be others but all work on the same principle.

SouthWesterly · 22-07-2021 8:16am

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117644986#Comment_117644986

Thanks. My understanding was it had to be wired in. Will take another look.

DrPhilG · 24-07-2021 4:13pm

I know washing your solar panels isn't generally thought to be needed, but I just glanced up at mine and they seem really thick with dust.

We haven't had a lick of rain in about a week and it's another day of high 20s for heat.

Just wondered if there would be any harm in giving them a wee lick with the hose. Maybe not now, they must be absolutely boiling in the sun and knowing my luck they'd shatter with thermal shock.

But later tonight when it's dark and cooler.

SouthWesterly · 24-07-2021 4:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117656199#Comment_117656199

Rain will be here in a day or 2 and cooler temperatures

irishchris · 24-07-2021 4:38pm

Think it's worth giving them a clean as noticed even with the heavy rain we get here they appear clean of bord droppings but are still there as they start to brown and harden on glass making them less noticeable unless up close and not wash off with rain. The problem is this creates hotspots which are detrimental to the panels