Inverter temperatures & location

EcoScruples

I'm interested in all sorts of data and one thing I wanted to know was how having my inverter in my loft would effect temperatures.
I used an IR thermometer today and the casing of my Huawei Sun2000 was 53 degrees C.
Heat sink at the rear was 60 degrees C.

I've been assured by the company who installed it that this is totally normal but I think I'll get a couple of vent tiles put above it in the roof to help get rid of some of the heat.

It's located on my gable end wall.

QrizB

Interesting!

EcoScruples said:

I'm interested in all sorts of data and one thing I wanted to know was how having my inverter in my loft would effect temperatures.
...
It's located on my gable end wall.

Did you measure the ambient temperature in your loft? I've not been into mine today but I imagine it's quite torrid up there.

EcoScruples

That's the one thing I can't do as I don't have thermometer. It feels stuffy and I'd say at a guess it's about 30 degrees C but until I get a gadget I won't know for sure.

The battery is in my airing cupboard and that's fine, no real temp from that when in use.

Reed_Richards

Lofts often get too hot in summer.  I have often thought that what is needed is something like the automatic louvre vent you get on greenhouses.

EcoScruples

This is what I have on my lower roof, I'd have thought they would be enough just to let some hot air out when needed.

paul991

my loft is  red hot in 7 years has never had a problem with the samil inverter which  has a heatsink and no fan .  

EcoScruples

paul991 said:

my loft is  red hot in 7 years has never had a problem with the samil inverter which  has a heatsink and no fan .  

How much power do you put through it at its peak?
I mean they're basically transformers so are designed to run hot so I'm not really concerned.
I just like to know.

markin

The panels shade the roof, As long as its under 60°C it can radiate heat away.

Operating temperature range   -25 ~ +60°C

Relative operating humidity   0%RH ～ 100%RH

No posts from this forum came up in my google search...

"(16 PV panels mounted about 100mm from the tiles) my average loft temp has dropped to a comfy 22-25 deg C on a hot day. Basically the panels are limiting the solar heat transfer to the tiles, hence a now much cooler attic space......."

EcoScruples

Unfortunately my panels aren't on the same roof.
I'm going to get a remote thermometer to see what happens in the roof space during July/August.
If it's too hot then I'll install a couple of roof vents.

Magnitio

FusionSolar does provide reporting on inverter internal temperatures. This is the graph for mine today, which is located in our garage:

The tech spec for the inverter states:

Operating temperature range -25 ~ +60 °C (Derating above 45°C @ Rated output power)

So you may have some performance issues at higher temperatures.

EcoScruples

I assume those stats are in the installer login using a web browser?
Very useful indeed and will save me using a separate thermometer.