Sunology Solar Station - will this work?

chris_n

These small systems with up to 800W (600 in Germany currently) are often marketed as Balcony systems in Europe. They seem very popular at the moment and are available from the likes of Hofer (Aldi) and the local B&Q equivalent here in Austria for about €700. I live in a very small village and know of a number of these systems that have gone up in the last year or so. They are popular because they are allowed without onerous permissions and paperwork, they do cut the supply if there is no grid available and are perfectly safe if installed correctly so should be on a dedicated circuit in UK. 

Qyburn

QrizB said:

No it will not comply with UK wiring regs (unless you install a dedicated circuit as described in the previous post).

Can you clarify or expand that? The previous post just said it needs RCD protection and some comment about "main electrical panel" which I don't think is a term defined in the regs. To give an example on the latter, where the tails are split to serve more than one DB, which is considered "main"?

CSI_Yorkshire

I can't think of any clause in 7671 that this system itself would be breaking.

mmmmikey

Aside from wiring regs is any sort of DNO notification and/or approval needed?

CSI_Yorkshire

mmmmikey said:

Aside from wiring regs is any sort of DNO notification and/or approval needed?

Approval - no, it's under the size requirement.

Notification - maybe, I don't think there's precedent and the notification process is designed for permanent installations.

QrizB

CSI_Yorkshire said:

I can't think of any clause in 7671 that this system itself would be breaking.

I don't have a copy to hand but according to page 11 of this pdf guide it's Regulation 712.411.3.2.1.1

https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/media/1202/best-practice-guide-3.pdf

CSI_Yorkshire

QrizB said:

CSI_Yorkshire said:

I can't think of any clause in 7671 that this system itself would be breaking.

I don't have a copy to hand but according to page 11 of this pdf guide it's Regulation 712.411.3.2.1.1

https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/media/1202/best-practice-guide-3.pdf

I'll have to look up the wording of that tomorrow in the office - seems like you say it's something to do with not having it's own circuit..

[Deleted User]

Realistically, I just wonder how much a 800kWp array would generate in practical terms? Yes, on a bright summer’s day the output would cover the house baseload with the rest going to the Grid unless some appliance was in use. On a Winter’s day when even my 6.35kWp can produce very little at any given time with daily outputs as low as 300Wh, then this type of array is arguably of very little use. 

The FAQs say that the system is compatible with Linky smart meters which suggests that export to the Grid is recorded. This should be the same for SMETS2 meters but I wonder how suppliers will treat these devices for SEG purposes?

If I decided that I would benefit from getting this type of solar generator I might look at this as an alternative offering:

https://uk.jackery.com/?gad=1

CSI_Yorkshire

QrizB said:

CSI_Yorkshire said:

I can't think of any clause in 7671 that this system itself would be breaking.

I don't have a copy to hand but according to page 11 of this pdf guide it's Regulation 712.411.3.2.1.1

https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/media/1202/best-practice-guide-3.pdf

Having now looked it up - there is no part 411 in section 712 any more.

There was in the original 18th edition, and it said:

"On the AC side, the PV supply cable shall be connected to the supply side of the overcurrent protective device for automatic disconnection of circuits supplying current-using equipment"

The entire section on automatic disconnection has been removed by the latest edition.

Qyburn

CSI_Yorkshire said:

Having now looked it up - there is no part 411 in section 712 any more.

There was in the original 18th edition, and it said:

"On the AC side, the PV supply cable shall be connected to the supply side of the overcurrent protective device for automatic disconnection of circuits supplying current-using equipment"

The entire section on automatic disconnection has been removed by the latest edition.

That makes some sense. If the PV system was on the load side, it could create an overcurrent that does not trip the breaker. So could still be on a separate DB as I described, but not a sub-DB.