Solar Usage doesn’t add up

mgbond

Hi,

I’m probably missing something here but can anyone help.
My system was fitted 11th March. My inverter is a Ginlong and I have an app to see generation. To date it says I have generated 548kwh and my export meter is showing 540kwh. This suggests that I’ve only used 8kwh of energy within the month. However my I boost has pretty much been putting 3-4kwh into the immersion every day. So something doesn’t add up. Can only assume the total generated is wrong?

And it looks like I’ve used about 80 less kWh of imported electric

1961Nick

mgbond wrote: »

Hi,

I’m probably missing something here but can anyone help.
My system was fitted 11th March. My inverter is a Ginlong and I have an app to see generation. To date it says I have generated 548kwh and my export meter is showing 540kwh. This suggests that I’ve only used 8kwh of energy within the month. However my I boost has pretty much been putting 3-4kwh into the immersion every day. So something doesn’t add up. Can only assume the total generated is wrong?

And it looks like I’ve used about 80 less kWh of imported electric

Your generation looks about right for a 6kWp system.

The first thing to check is that the clamp that picks up the export isn't attached to the generation cable.

Zarch

My SolarEdge inverter stats never match my generation meter. The SolarEdge is always higher, usually by about 3-4% over the course of a month.

I ignore the inverter stats now as the emonPi is within 1% of generation meter every month. It wasn't always that way out of the box, but you can tweak the settings in the app to scale the figures appropriately.

To my mind, the generation meter is king and the value that actually matters..... so I have tried to ensure that my solar gen figures match the gen meter.

I will do the same with the import figures and the recently added smart meter.

For me, this is the beauty of the configurable emonPi. I can tweak settings so that generation and import match the respect meters (where the relevant costs are calculated).

I might cost me a few bit of an O each day by not using the inverter stats, but i'm happier that its accurate as per the gen meter.

PS. Yep, the Gen meter could well be inaccurate, but that is the thing they pay me against, so happy to use that as a known true.

mgbond

1961Nick wrote: »

Your generation looks about right for a 6kWp system.

The first thing to check is that the clamp that picks up the export isn't attached to the generation cable.

The only clamp I have is the IBoost clamp and that is correct as when exporting it directs energy to the immersion. So when that happens the export meter shouldn’t be exporting unless the tank is hot?

mgbond

Update.

Since early this morning my export meter is now showing 542kwh so an increase of 2kwh. My IBoost is telling me it has saved 2kwh in Emersion. So I now think my export meter is wired incorrectly?

The IBoost must be set up correctly as we get hot water as I’ve turned Gas water heating off.

mre15

I think you may be getting confused with what you call the export meter. The physical meter connected to your inverter output is actually a generation meter and shows all of the generation not just export.
Your export is deemed to be 50% of what you generate for FiT payment purpose.
Your generation meter is showing a reading of just 8 kWh less than the Ginlong software which is normal. You would need another form of monitoring to get an understanding of household usage.
I have the Solis hybrid inverter and this uses an external current meter to monitor household demand and therefore my Ginlong software can see all consumption and export as separate items.
I am not sure if this can be added to the non hybrid inverters.

mgbond

mre15 wrote: »

I think you may be getting confused with what you call the export meter. The physical meter connected to your inverter output is actually a generation meter and shows all of the generation not just export.
Your export is deemed to be 50% of what you generate for FiT payment purpose.
Your generation meter is showing a reading of just 8 kWh less than the Ginlong software which is normal. You would need another form of monitoring to get an understanding of household usage.
I have the Solis hybrid inverter and this uses an external current meter to monitor household demand and therefore my Ginlong software can see all consumption and export as separate items.
I am not sure if this can be added to the non hybrid inverters.

Now that would make sense. But every now and then I supposed to give a reading so I suspect I’m giving them a generation reading rather than export. I did ask this before and no I can’t add anything to the inverter. So I suspect I need the IBoost buddy as I believe this will show me total exported energy.

mgbond

IBoost Buddy only gives live export data and doesn’t record it. What is a basic export meter I can purchase

mre15

The reading you supply for your FiT is the generation reading from the meter. The energy company will pay you for generation and export calculated from that number.