Solar PV Hints, Tips & Troubleshooting

RCBOs are quite sensitive for sure (that's the point) so maybe try a standard breaker?

Or make sure the RCBO has the correct amperage

I had tried it before just out of interest but was not using solcast. It is doable but since I do not have night rate I have dropped it. My logic was quite simple. Pull the raw data at midnight, estimate the total cloud coverage during the day and come up with the value that I need to charge to. Send this value using mqtt to HA where node-red would pick it up and send modbus command to inverter to started timed charging and monitor. Once the value is achieved it would disable timed charging. Now there were multiple challenges as it needed to take into account when it is sunny. If it is dull day or cloudy morning with sunny afternoon then it is ok but the things shift it is sunny morning but cloudy afternoon. Also the calculation that I have not tackled is to calculate best charge rate and time for the battery, as you would want to finish charging as close to the end of night rate. Anyway as it is was not applicable to me I dropped it. Maybe I'll look at it again if I get good night/smart rate.

I think you need to charge the battery on night rate meter from 12.00 midnight to 8am so you need to change those settings. Though I found I was blowing a trip switch when the car, battery and tumble dryer were ruinning all at 12.00 causing about 15kw of power being drained from grid so I changed the battery charge to 4am-8am and it stopped tripping the main board. My Installer said it should not be tripping as the zappi should see the elec use and should shuttle down though I have it timed boost on the zappi so that maybe issue. resolved now anyways! Your Discharge time can be left 0 or from 8am-12 midnight.

I've anyway since starting charging the battery now during night rate as when the clocks changed, the production dropped right off!!

I have it set to charge from 11pm - 8am, and I notice it charges fairly fast, and also it starts discharging (from 100%) at around 7:30am.. I might just change it to start charging at 5am and see if it makes a difference.

Finding it great though, battery drains a little in the mornings as the house wakes up, then over the course of the day the PV tops it back up to full by the time it gets dark, then it usually lasts up until 11pm. when it gets to 20% the discharge slows to a trickle, and then the grid feeds the house. Been checking the meter the last few days and only using 1kWh of daytime units per day. Right now it's cloudy & gloomy, but I'm still generating 760watts and 300 of them are going into the battery!!

Cant wait for next spring/summer!!!

I had similar situation, the 63A DC breaker started tripping about 1.5 after installation. I did noticed that it was tripping during long sunny periods. I stuck a probe on it to monitor temperature. It was heating upto almost 80C and as it is thermal breaker it was tripping because of that. I have replaced it with same rating but from Schneider(the original one was some unknown Chinese) and it is working fine so far. The one I had removed, had some plastic parts deformed because of heat so definitely was not good enough for the job.

Once the sun came up it powered back on. Unfortunately I'm away for the weekend so it'll be next week before I get to check how everything works.

Good point I never thought to look. Thanks

So i got my install finshed yesterday and im like a kid with a new toy...dont think the wife gets my excitement! So first question i have is in relation to night time charging! I set it up last night to charge my 4.8kw battery from 6am to 8am hoping to get to about 80%. It actually charged very quickly and slowed down for last 10 percent. In the end it was at 99%. Of course then usage was low in the morn once kids out to school and the sun came out in between the clouds so i was going right get the washing machine on quick! Im not sending power back to the grid! So a few pages back i saw discussions on lowering the charging amp to slow it down? Question is why would you do that? 2nd question is if you slow down its capability to charge in the setting does that then limit its abilty to accept charge from the panels eg if solar was producing 3kw, house was using 500w, there would be 2500w available to go to solar. I assume if the battery cant accept it then it goes to the grid. I left my settings at 50amp charge and discharge and allowed me to charge and discharge at rates of up to 2.5kw that i noticed today.

Yes exactly what i was thinking to aim for 80% charge at night finishing just before night rate ends. I would have thought the fact i left the charge/ discharge setting at what it came as it would be best and within manufactures recommendations? If o do change the setting to slow it down will it also limit the charge from solar...have you noticed that and ended up sending excess solar to grid as battery was limiting the charge?

I meant to answer that as well. My settings in post #1815 only effect night time charge rate, and have zero effect on the daytime rate. If the sun is beaming during daytime the panels are on full tilt.

Im NOT sure if i tried to set the "charge" setting during the day would it alter that rate - but why would i want to charge then?

Cheers! No i didnt get the diverter. I have a heat pump so figured id put the money into the panels and optimisers.

Morning all,

Not sure where to post this so I'm trying it in here. I'm looking at getting the solar panels and water diverter installed at the house to cut down on bills. Looking for some advice. Have a quote as below:

And for the larger 6kWp PV system with 4.8kWh battery storage and MyEnergi EDDI water diverter, here are the facts around these costs and benefits.

Cost including VAT is approx. €11693

Grant applied from SEAI €3000

Final Cost €8693

This system will reduce your annual electricity bill by between €1250 and €1500pa.

As well as powering your house, this system could fill the batteries and provide a tank full of hot water using the excess energy for 10 to 11 months a year,through your immersion element using the MYEnergi EDDI water diverter, which is the best product in this area.

So my avg use per day is 10kwh. Am I thinking this is the best option? I can't see me ever having enough to hear the water over the winter month so is there anyway I can control where the panels send the power? As in can I tell the system to heat the water for an hour a day1st then feed the rest of the house?

All help appreciated!

Have the timber framed house, built in 2008 not sure what extras I'd need to insulate maybe triple grazed windows. OK will have a look at the price thread. Thx for the info 👍

@paddyirish23 it looks a good quote. We have a guide of €1k per 1kWp of panels and €1k per 2.5kW of battery storage.

But as for "This system will reduce your annual electricity bill by between €1250 and €1500pa", if you look at your annual cost of electricity EXCLUDING Standing charges and levies etc, I'd say your annual running cost is way off this - so you cannot save what you don't even use.

There is no doubt that 6kW system will cover your base load, even on cloudy days, but for 6 months of the year, you are likely to generate considerable amounts of surplus, unless you use large amounts of hot water.

So are you considering an EV ? But even to charge an EV from solar, it would need to be at home during the day.