Solar PV Meter Security.

stoozey

What is stopping a householder from turning off the electric / shutting down the solar pv. Putting a joint in the cable to the Generation meter with a switch which when flipped would put 240v through the meter indefinitely.

Totally not condoning it but are there any checks on the meter or cable ? even a small amount (think switch on a timer running a couple hours every day)would result in a large return ?

This is the ethical board so what do people think ?

HappyMJ

I don't understand if you "shut down" the solar panels off then you won't be generating anything.

stoozey

im suggesting that the meter will be clocking up credit 24x7 as it is being fed with mains.

grahamc2003

They could small a rat if you appear to generate more electricity than is physically possible, or even if you generate 30% more than expectations.

The usual disincentive of doing these things is the risk of getting a criminal record and/or spending a few months in prison.

zeupater

grahamc2003 wrote: »

They could small a rat if you appear to generate more electricity than is physically possible, or even if you generate 30% more than expectations.

The usual disincentive of doing these things is the risk of getting a criminal record and/or spending a few months in prison.

As well as having your FiTs cancelled .... I doubt that a court in the land would impose a fine which would be anywhere as expensive as doing this. Just imagine, a system which you've paid good money for which would have no possibility of ever breaking even with the component parts having relatively little value on the second hand market and a cost to remove them too !!

"I'm here to read your meter sir ... and when was this little gadget last calibration tested .... are you sure that this extra wiring complies to the relevant specifications ?? ... perhaps you could confirm that to my friends in blue, they'll be here in a moment ... "


Z

free_juice?

If you disconnect the inverter and send 240v mains to the input side of the generation meter instead, the output side is going to be connected to the meter and the incoming grid suply. How is any current going to flow and if none flows what will be measured?

I don't think the system can be quite as simple as some of us think.

thenudeone

free_juice? wrote: »

If you disconnect the inverter and send 240v mains to the input side of the generation meter instead, the output side is going to be connected to the meter and the incoming grid suply. How is any current going to flow and if none flows what will be measured?.

Quite. You would have to rewire both sides so that current flowed through the meter into the house. But then there would be no free leccy and you would have to constantly check that the readings to make sure they didn't appear too high. Even if you never got caught it would give at best marginal benefits over just letting the panels do their job.

Jon_Tiffany

While technically possible to do this, you would have to be crazy to do so. There is nothing to gain and everything to lose!

So you pay out thousands of pounds for a PV system only to disconnect it? When you register for FITs you have to submit the MCS cert, on which is an estimate of the annual production. Go too much over that and alarms bells will be ringing!

It would be a very clear case of fraud and/or theft and would most certainly result in a criminal prosecution.