New Install

ggmf

Hello,

Next week we will be (hopefully) having our solar system installed, after many years of deliberation, after which I hope to be able to contribute to the : Renewables: "talking 'bout my generation" thread.

Based in Sunny/misty/foggy/Soggy Sussex (take your pick!)

Our install will consist of:

11 x JASolar 380w panels (7 (2.66kWp) south facing, 4 (1.52kWp) east facing)

11 x Tigo optimizers & cloud – We have some shading so this will enable us to see each panels generation and to identify any panel/inverter issues.

1 x Growatt SPH3600 Hybrid Inverter, inc. WiFi monitoring portal

1 x Growatt 6.5kWh Hybrid battery

Bird netting – we are infested with fly rats, 4 neighbours have had solar panels on their roofs for years, each installation has had nesting underneath.  2 of the neighbours have taken remedial action this year, with nests removed and netting installed. It is not uncommon for there to be 50+ feral pigeons on ours and our neighbours roofs or gardens, I need to get an air rifle!

PVGIS approximates these should generate around 4654.3kWh PA, we'll see...

Our annual consumption for 2020 was 4240 kWh, reviewing figures,  2021 consumption is going to be the same'ish.

Our daytime use is low, I have recently retired with OH going part-time in February 2022, we will reschedule our heavy consumption items (washing machine, dishwasher etc.) to take advantage of generation, on low use days the battery can charge and support us after sunset, anything left will go to the grid , unless we fit an Immersion Controller (lets see how much goes to the grid and then calculate).

Having just retired and with OH  going part-time, I've found it difficult to work out our payback timescale, as we will be rescheduling usage, but I'll be monitoring and calculating so should have a estimate after a year.

From the downs we have a view of Rampion windfarm, if only I could just plug into that

Any thoughts, comments welcome.

mickyduck55

Be careful with the air rifle... don't want to be putting holes in the panels

Solarchaser

My only comment would be to see if you can get the growatt inverter changed for a different brand.
I had that one, it was garbage, I sent it back.

Lux do a 3600 hybrid I believe.

ggmf

Solarchaser said:

My only comment would be to see if you can get the growatt inverter changed for a different brand.
I had that one, it was garbage, I sent it back.

Lux do a 3600 hybrid I believe.

Thanks, garbage in what way?

Solarchaser

In regards to the hybrid part was very slow to respond, and at times would completely ignore its own current clamp and so simply empty its battery exporting to the grid instead of running the house.

In comparison to 3 other types of battery inverters I've had, which typically start responding within a few seconds of import/export changes, the growatt was minutes, and I don't mean 1 or 2.

It would also charge the battery from solar.... while the house imported from the grid, and export excess energy instead of charging the batteries.

In short, garbage.

saveallmymoney

I have a growatt AC inverter that was doing this on install.

After some head scratching by the installer removing some of the plastic sheath around the live wire where the current clamp was attached allowed it to clip without tension and its been working perfectly for a year now.

Solarchaser

I'm glad yours is working, however that definitely was not the problem with mine, as the current clamps for the other inverters all went round the same positive tail, with no impediments, only the growatt had issues.
And the shinelink would happily report that it could see everything correctly,  it just did what it wanted.

However my main complaint was its very very slow reaction time.

ggmf

Solarchaser Thank you for your response.

I guess what is missing is: how long ago was your experience? what model are you referencing? what was the version of the firmware installed? Could the CT problem have been linked to be a faulty non-sensitive sensor?

Solarchaser

It was the model you have quoted , that's why I commented.
I was sent 3 different remote  ct clamps
It was 2 years ago, I bought it brand new, and after 6 months of lies and broken promises, including waiting 3 months for an engineer to turn up and break it even more, then them trying to suggest it was the way it was installed (even though their engineer said all was grand) I eventually threatened them with court on safety grounds (it was outputting over 5.8kw on a 3.6kw inverter)


I did finally get a refund. 

Horrible company to deal with too.

I really would strongly advise to avoid

ggmf

Solarchaser  Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback. I found your post from 2019 and comments in another forumite's posts in February this year. Scaffolding is now up and awaiting install tomorrow. A near neighbour has the same inverter from the same installers, we are sharing info between us, the installers are doing works my neighbours installation after they complete our install as it looks as if he has a faulty panel or 2. Unlike us, he did not request the Tigo cloud so cannot see what his individual panels are doing, he is now thinking about the Cloud option also. I like your QRG (Quick Reference Guide) that you attached to the front of your inverter until you got used to the menu options. I know nothing about Raspberry Pi's or the "Home Assistant" so that's something I'm going to look into after installation, I know @Spies uses it. We will be keeping a close on on the inverters performance.