Solar PV Ordered!

SpudSpud

zeupater wrote: »

Hi

Being in the industry you will understand the term DNC (Declared Net Capacity) and know that this relates to the maximum output of a system. If the maximum capacity of a 32A potential system is limited by software, or other device, to 16A is it not true that the DNC is 16A ? ..... is it not also the case that the DNOs require pv systems to be registered according to the DNC ?? ..... also, is it not the case that many inverters are pre-programmed to operate within the 16A/phase requirement and that the inverter software settings are set to conform within particular national requirements and are protected against unauthorized change ???

I'm not a qualified expert in these issues, it would be good to hear your views on this.

Z

Z

The output on the inverters are not limited on the AC side by software at all only dependent on manufacturer.
if you take into account the SMA sunnyboy 4000tl it has a max AC output of 22A and is G83 qualified
G83 is to do with the Under/overvoltage freq, and harmonics of the inverter not the capacity this is the resposibilty of the installer to insure that the capacity is keps below the 16A limit.The power one 3,6 has a max AC out put of 17.2 A.So does the Fronious 4.0TL
the best thing to do is keep the system at 3.7 Kw and that is that.

As for the responsibility being on the installer and wont affect the customer, yes it is but if they tell you to shut it off DO IT!! because if you dont they can remove your right to the FIT and inform the HSE who will have you fined.

AS for sizing a DC isolator the voltage on a PV panel can go way above it's standard rating plus where the isolator will be located will affect it's coeff.

any other questions just ask.

zeupater

SpudSpud wrote: »

Z

The output on the inverters are not limited on the AC side by software at all only dependent on manufacturer.
if you take into account the SMA sunnyboy 4000tl it has a max AC output of 22A and is G83 qualified
G83 is to do with the Under/overvoltage freq, and harmonics of the inverter not the capacity this is the resposibilty of the installer to insure that the capacity is keps below the 16A limit.The power one 3,6 has a max AC out put of 17.2 A.So does the Fronious 4.0TL
the best thing to do is keep the system at 3.7 Kw and that is that.

As for the responsibility being on the installer and wont affect the customer, yes it is but if they tell you to shut it off DO IT!! because if you dont they can remove your right to the FIT and inform the HSE who will have you fined.

AS for sizing a DC isolator the voltage on a PV panel can go way above it's standard rating plus where the isolator will be located will affect it's coeff.

any other questions just ask.

Hi

Reading the above raises some questions .....

It seems that you recognise that some inverters have software limited AC output, and would agree that inverters with potential DC input above their design threshold are programmed to clip their output ..... also, that the original reference to 'other device' relates to a device which would limit the system AC connection performance and that limiting the system with this type of device would ensure that a system operated within it's DNC.

Again, regarding the 16A limit. Is it not the case that the 16A is just a threshold where the DNO cannot reasonably refuse a connection and that pre-notification is not required. Is it not also the case that some individual DNOs allow and register systems up to the 4kWp panel TIC threshold for FiTs and classify this as the notification threshold in their own operational area and that this has been communicated to MCS installers. Is it also not the case that systems with a DNC of greater than 16A can be fitted with prior DNO consent.


Regarding the responsibility being on the installer ..... not my question, but I agree, if the DNO says so it must be shut off.

As for the DC isolator, I think that you are simply answering your own question, as you asked it. For my system I'm quite happy with my DC isolators .... having two strings and running well within the voltage and current operating tolerance band of both the inverter and the isolators. However, you are correct, others may have single strings of particularly high voltage panels and/or a high current setup .... I suppose that the answer really revolves around trust in the tradesman, trade associations, and certification bodies as the only alternative solution would to be to disband the requirement to use MCS installers or trademen at all as they can't be trusted, and let everyone install and certify their own systems.

I've asked ....
Z

BobA

I am new member to the forum and looking for some advice.

I had a 3.96kWp system installed in March with a Diehl Ako 3800s Inverter in my loft. The system has been working well with all this great sunny weather, BUT, I am being woken up nearly every morning by the constant buzz of the inverter which is a few feet directly above my head in the loft.

I have tried to research Inverter noise and there dosnt seem to be much information - and my supplier has said they have installed 20 other installtions without anybody complaining about the Inverter noise.

I came across an Australian web forum (link removed as "Sorry as a new user you are not allowed to post with links.",
but have seen nothing posted on UK sites.

Does anybody on this forum have solar Inverters in their loft and suffer from 'Inverter noise' ?

I have to get it fixed as it is causing me to wake at 5am each morning!

Lilyrhodes

We have decided to invest in solar pv and have had 4 quotes. All the men/women who visited us were highly professional, (no high pressures sales techniques used), informative, thorough and a credit to the industry. The quotes we have received are all for very similar systems, Sharp/Samsung panels, Sunny Boy/Fronius inverters, Hilti mounting, scaffolding etc. The quotes kWhr are; Solarking £4.96, Tesco (Subcontractors Dyson Insulation visited) £4.96, Mark Group £4.61, MEP Electrical £3.44. All are MCS accredited, members of REA, REAL etc.
We have used a number of websites to help us make our decision (I am not allowed to put the links in as I am a newbie to this site), solar panel comparison site at sroeco dot com, compare solar PV installers at swinney dot net, UK solar and wind energy at rensmart dot com, the eci dot ox dot ac dot uk site where we downloaded the research paper from Oxford University on Photovoltaics in the UK, the re dot jrc dot ec dot europa dot eu where we obtained the PVGIS estimates of solar electricity generation for our location, are a few of them.

We have made our decision and contacted our chosen installer today. I’ll let you guess which we have chosen in case you think I am spam!

keith_r59

Lilyrhodes wrote: »

We have decided to invest in solar pv and have had 4 quotes. All the men/women who visited us were highly professional, (no high pressures sales techniques used), informative, thorough and a credit to the industry. The quotes we have received are all for very similar systems, Sharp/Samsung panels, Sunny Boy/Fronius inverters, Hilti mounting, scaffolding etc. The quotes kWhr are; Solarking £4.96, Tesco (Subcontractors Dyson Insulation visited) £4.96, Mark Group £4.61, MEP Electrical £3.44. All are MCS accredited, members of REA, REAL etc.
We have used a number of websites to help us make our decision (I am not allowed to put the links in as I am a newbie to this site), solar panel comparison site at sroeco dot com, compare solar PV installers at swinney dot net, UK solar and wind energy at rensmart dot com, the eci dot ox dot ac dot uk site where we downloaded the research paper from Oxford University on Photovoltaics in the UK, the re dot jrc dot ec dot europa dot eu where we obtained the PVGIS estimates of solar electricity generation for our location, are a few of them.

We have made our decision and contacted our chosen installer today. I’ll let you guess which we have chosen in case you think I am spam!

The cheapest isn't always the best option and some may say you get what you pay for but then you are not the first person to open an account and advertise the company in question.

Unfortunately, it's probably having the opposite effect as to what you are expecting as many would question why you are having to push this company so much.

I'll leave others to decide whether you are a spammer.

Lilyrhodes

It's interesting that I get this response when posters on the Green & Ethical forums have mentioned the following companies but responses to them have not included the words spam or spammer;

PV Solar UK Ltd (have been mentioned many times), Solar Essence, Solar Works, Sun Spirit, Greenday, Elltec, Biggreen Energy Company, Planet Solar, Solar UK, Solar PV UK Ltd, Affordable Solar, RED Renewable etc etc.

Lilyrhodes

Forgot to mention you also will get 25000 Green clubcard points if you have Solar PV with them for a system the size we were quoted for.

keith_r59

Lilyrhodes wrote: »

It's interesting that I get this response when posters on the Green & Ethical forums have mentioned the following companies but responses to them have not included the words spam or spammer;

PV Solar UK Ltd (have been mentioned many times), Solar Essence, Solar Works, Sun Spirit, Greenday, Elltec, Biggreen Energy Company, Planet Solar, Solar UK, Solar PV UK Ltd, Affordable Solar, RED Renewable etc etc.

That maybe so , but I find it very odd that you are extolling the virtues of a particular company before you have even had the system installed.

Cardew

Lilyrhodes wrote: »

Forgot to mention you also will get 25000 Green clubcard points if you have Solar PV with them for a system the size we were quoted for.

Perhaps I have missed something, but who gives 25,000 Green clubcard points?(whatever they are!!!)

Would that be your 'chosen company'?

jackieblack

Cardew wrote: »

Perhaps I have missed something, but who gives 25,000 Green clubcard points?(whatever they are!!!)

Would that be your 'chosen company'?

I'm guessing that'd be Tesco