Moved from house with solar panels, advice please

Reed_Richards

70sbudgie said:

Reed_Richards said:

... and I was never convinced that a diverter would distinguish between excess solar and temporary battery discharge (e.g. when that kettle boils and turns off).    

It should do. The current clamp (CT) should be fitted to the circuit between the consumer unit and the meter, so only export power flow triggers the immersion. And even if the battery doesn't react quick enough to stop discharging after your kettle turns off, the duration of power flowing to your consumer unit will be very low and probably mopped up by other appliances before it triggers the immersion. I would imagine that the battery has a response time in seconds if not quicker.

I don't know what really happens, only what my inverter reports. But this frequently reports export from the battery after a high power device like a kettle has switched off so it seems to last 10 seconds or more.  And unless I switch something on the instant the kettle goes off there aren't other appliances to mop-up the power flow.  AFAIK there is a well-known issue with solar power diverters and batteries. 

mickyduck55

Reed_Richards said:

70sbudgie said:

Reed_Richards said:

... and I was never convinced that a diverter would distinguish between excess solar and temporary battery discharge (e.g. when that kettle boils and turns off).    

It should do. The current clamp (CT) should be fitted to the circuit between the consumer unit and the meter, so only export power flow triggers the immersion. And even if the battery doesn't react quick enough to stop discharging after your kettle turns off, the duration of power flowing to your consumer unit will be very low and probably mopped up by other appliances before it triggers the immersion. I would imagine that the battery has a response time in seconds if not quicker.

I don't know what really happens, only what my inverter reports. But this frequently reports export from the battery after a high power device like a kettle has switched off so it seems to last 10 seconds or more.  And unless I switch something on the instant the kettle goes off there aren't other appliances to mop-up the power flow.  AFAIK there is a well-known issue with solar power diverters and batteries. 

As I have stated in some of my posts this is an issue with the Solic which does not have a threshold setting so it does on occasion heat the water using battery power.  I did at one point switch it off but I now don't bother as I say it does it on occasion and if the occasion is in summer no issue as usually excess solar to recharge.. I only noticed it in winter when I did not have enough solar.

jimjames

mickyduck55 said:

Reed_Richards said:

70sbudgie said:

Reed_Richards said:

... and I was never convinced that a diverter would distinguish between excess solar and temporary battery discharge (e.g. when that kettle boils and turns off).    

It should do. The current clamp (CT) should be fitted to the circuit between the consumer unit and the meter, so only export power flow triggers the immersion. And even if the battery doesn't react quick enough to stop discharging after your kettle turns off, the duration of power flowing to your consumer unit will be very low and probably mopped up by other appliances before it triggers the immersion. I would imagine that the battery has a response time in seconds if not quicker.

I don't know what really happens, only what my inverter reports. But this frequently reports export from the battery after a high power device like a kettle has switched off so it seems to last 10 seconds or more.  And unless I switch something on the instant the kettle goes off there aren't other appliances to mop-up the power flow.  AFAIK there is a well-known issue with solar power diverters and batteries. 

As I have stated in some of my posts this is an issue with the Solic which does not have a threshold setting so it does on occasion heat the water using battery power.  

I'm looking at the Solic, does this issue also apply if no battery is installed and the power would come from grid instead?

mickyduck55

jimjames said:

mickyduck55 said:

Reed_Richards said:

70sbudgie said:

Reed_Richards said:

... and I was never convinced that a diverter would distinguish between excess solar and temporary battery discharge (e.g. when that kettle boils and turns off).    

It should do. The current clamp (CT) should be fitted to the circuit between the consumer unit and the meter, so only export power flow triggers the immersion. And even if the battery doesn't react quick enough to stop discharging after your kettle turns off, the duration of power flowing to your consumer unit will be very low and probably mopped up by other appliances before it triggers the immersion. I would imagine that the battery has a response time in seconds if not quicker.

I don't know what really happens, only what my inverter reports. But this frequently reports export from the battery after a high power device like a kettle has switched off so it seems to last 10 seconds or more.  And unless I switch something on the instant the kettle goes off there aren't other appliances to mop-up the power flow.  AFAIK there is a well-known issue with solar power diverters and batteries. 

As I have stated in some of my posts this is an issue with the Solic which does not have a threshold setting so it does on occasion heat the water using battery power.  

I'm looking at the Solic, does this issue also apply if no battery is installed and the power would come from grid instead?

I had the Solic long before the batteries no there is not an issue with it being fooled and importing from the grid as there is only the solic CT clamp on the mains power line

70sbudgie

mickyduck55 said:

jimjames said:

mickyduck55 said:

Reed_Richards said:

70sbudgie said:

Reed_Richards said:

... and I was never convinced that a diverter would distinguish between excess solar and temporary battery discharge (e.g. when that kettle boils and turns off).    

It should do. The current clamp (CT) should be fitted to the circuit between the consumer unit and the meter, so only export power flow triggers the immersion. And even if the battery doesn't react quick enough to stop discharging after your kettle turns off, the duration of power flowing to your consumer unit will be very low and probably mopped up by other appliances before it triggers the immersion. I would imagine that the battery has a response time in seconds if not quicker.

I don't know what really happens, only what my inverter reports. But this frequently reports export from the battery after a high power device like a kettle has switched off so it seems to last 10 seconds or more.  And unless I switch something on the instant the kettle goes off there aren't other appliances to mop-up the power flow.  AFAIK there is a well-known issue with solar power diverters and batteries. 

As I have stated in some of my posts this is an issue with the Solic which does not have a threshold setting so it does on occasion heat the water using battery power.  

I'm looking at the Solic, does this issue also apply if no battery is installed and the power would come from grid instead?

I had the Solic long before the batteries no there is not an issue with it being fooled and importing from the grid as there is only the solic CT clamp on the mains power line

That is interesting that it is only with the batteries. When I was researching the Solic, I read that it has no threshold, so every amp is diverted. It was one of their selling points that it has no wastage.

It still sounds like a response time to me, but perhaps it is a relative one and the batteries are faster? Presumably if it is a known fault, you've had various discussions with Earthwise or others.

Reed_Richards

A diverter like the Solic should not.accidentally draw power from the grid.  But if a temporary discharge from the battery to the grid is mistaken for excess solar power then it might drain the battery.  In my DC-coupled system only the inverter knows whether the electricity it is supplying to the house/grid has come from the solar panels or the battery.  Discharging the battery to power the immersion heater is a waste because I can heat my water more cheaply that using full price electricity. The only foolproof solution would be to have a diverter that works in conjunction with the inverter.