Solar Panel Guide Discussion

theonlytazman

Dave_Fowler wrote: »

I think the critical thing here is the inverter. If the Kaco inverter is not a dual MPP tracking inverter and the South and West strings have just been connected in parallel then the panels with the lower output will effectively short out the panels with the greater output. It is essential that if two strings are used on a single MPP inverter that the two strings must be matched - not only in the number of panels but also in the orientation and azimuth.

Check which model of inverter you have got and ensure it is a dual MPP.

Dave F

the inverter i have is the Kaco Powador 4202

Just been on another site & it states its 3500W max'm output 4.2kW
Number of strings / MPP controller 3
Number of MPP controllers 1 [does this mean its single feed?]

The system i have is 4kw (ie 16 panels) but the site states it can do:

Rated output 3.5 kW Max. output 3.5 kW
Again does that mean i will lose 500kw?

For Hse 2 & 3 i think they fitted Sunny Boy SB2100TL's for 9 panels & 7 panels.

theonlytazman

Mart can only reply to 1 PM per hour it seems as i'm a noob if you can go ahead with what you were mentioning that'd be great. And if you could then PM me the details even better so i could try to follow it. thanks again

Martyn1981

theonlytazman wrote: »

Mart can only reply to 1 PM per hour it seems as i'm a noob if you can go ahead with what you were mentioning that'd be great. And if you could then PM me the details even better so i could try to follow it. thanks again

Hopefully get you some help now.

Mart.

Martyn1981

Can I just ask everyone.

As long as you have no personal vested interest, and everything is completely free, is there anything wrong with directing people to specialist sites for help and guidance? Or is that some breach of forum etiquette?

Mart.

theonlytazman

Yes
Same

PM won't allow me to reply for another hour just PM me the info thanks for the quick replies

theonlytazman

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Can I just ask everyone.

As long as you have no personal vested interest, and everything is completely free, is there anything wrong with directing people to specialist sites for help and guidance? Or is that some breach of forum etiquette?

Mart.

Going by the other forums i sometimes visit as long as its not for personal gain then it makes no difference. if its to provide a member with much needed assistance in-fact its viewed very favourably. Thanks again

Martyn1981

theonlytazman wrote: »

the inverter i have is the Kaco Powador 4202

Just been on another site & it states its 3500W max'm output 4.2kW
Number of strings / MPP controller 3
Number of MPP controllers 1 [does this mean its single feed?]

The system i have is 4kw (ie 16 panels) but the site states it can do:

Rated output 3.5 kW Max. output 3.5 kW
Again does that mean i will lose 500kw?

For Hse 2 & 3 i think they fitted Sunny Boy SB2100TL's for 9 panels & 7 panels.

Forwarding some advice:

sorry, they've fitted 2 x Sunnyboy 2100TL?

unless they've certificated them and not altered their website, they don't have G83 settings, and aren't licensed for use in the UK as far as I know. Certainly they don't list a G83 certificate on the SMA website, or G83 in the list of certificates on the datasheet.

Kaco powador 4202 does not have dual MPPT, and categorically is not suitable for use with 2 arrays facing in different directions.

to answer another question, 4kWp of panels split across 2 roofs will pretty much never produce over 3.5kW AC anyway as the sun will never be full on to both arrays at once, plus inverter losses etc, so that's not really an issue worth worrying about.

Mart.

theonlytazman

Thanks Mart, MUCH appreciated for the help you're giving a fellow PV'er

Concerned though that a UK company which gave me an MCS cert based upon an inverter that has no G83 certification. To be honest i had no idea what G83 was so i had to google it!

What would this mean to me or the others though? We filed our FIT forms in before the 11/12/11 does that now mean if the inverter isn't correct or certified we could lose the higher rate of FIT and/or have to replace the inverter with one that is accredited then get it re-tested/re-certified???

Why did I bother getting them fitted in the 1st place???

Martyn1981

theonlytazman wrote: »

Thanks Mart, MUCH appreciated for the help you're giving a fellow PV'er

Concerned though that a UK company which gave me an MCS cert based upon an inverter that has no G83 certification. To be honest i had no idea what G83 was so i had to google it!

What would this mean to me or the others though? We filed our FIT forms in before the 11/12/11 does that now mean if the inverter isn't correct or certified we could lose the higher rate of FIT and/or have to replace the inverter with one that is accredited then get it re-tested/re-certified???

Why did I bother getting them fitted in the 1st place???

Sadly Taz, there is an element of 'how long is a piece of string'.

Let's be positive and hope that a MPPT inverter can quickly be swapped for yours, and that somehow, those 2100's are ok.

Being more realistic, and considering the huge shortage of kit running up to the 11th, I'd assume some corners were cut just to issue a cert. As all parts of the application get checked by the company, OFGEM, and the local DNO, then you could be in trouble.

Don't panic though, errors on the documents and changes to the kit can still be sorted, and I think you've got a temporary lifeline regarding the FITs rate.

Not sure what others think, but given the legal mess that FITs has got itself in so far, I'd assume that when the revised date comes into being (God knows when that'll be, but probably closer to Jan than April) there won't be an element of backdating. Especially considering that installs have dropped right off for now.

I'd try to keep the original notification going, and just get it amended asap when the fixes are put in place. Hopefully the company will be a bit quiet now, and stocks in the wholsalers will have recovered.

Don't be disheartened, you'll be surprised how much leccy you'll save, coz you'll switch off the telly and be watching the inverter readings and energy monitors instead! :rotfl:

Mart.

Blossom2528

glad I decided to start researching this now, didn't realise about all the little bits.

Is there any maintenance or cleaning? Suppose the insurance company will want some extra too?