Sunology Solar Station - will this work?

chris_n

Qyburn said:

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. 

That still allows you to connect it to any DB as long as it is on a dedicated circuit, any power used would then still have to go through the supply side of the relevant circuits overcurrent protection.
The problems that this is meant to prevent is a 2.5mm ring with a 32A breaker being supplied in the middle with a 16A PV system potentially putting 48A into a ring that may not be complete. Same can happen with a Radial with a 20A breaker where you may be running 36A in a 2.5mm cable.
All energy sources are notifiable to DNO, under 16A you can notify after fitting. Anything larger need prior approval.
Haven't personally looked at any regs books since I did 17th Edition years ago mind, not much point when I'm not there.

Qyburn

chris_n said:

Qyburn said:

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. 

That still allows you to connect it to any DB as long as it is on a dedicated circuit, any power used would then still have to go through the supply side of the relevant circuits overcurrent protection.

I'm sure you're right. When I posted earlier I was thinking not a sub DB because it would be on the load side of the feed to the sub DB. But still on the supply side of the final circuits, I see that now. I suppose their reference to "main electrical panel" is in fact meaningless.

gazapc

While popular in parts of Europe it is not currently legal to plug these in to a wall socket in the UK. A system would have to be G98 approved and the DNO notified.

The talk of derogations below 800 Watts output is misleading since the derogation only applies to specific aspects of G98, not all of it.

nxdmsandkaskdjaqd

When plug in, how does the house know to use electric from the panel verse grid?

CSI_Yorkshire

nxdmsandkaskdjaqd said:

When plug in, how does the house know to use electric from the panel verse grid?

It doesn't know.

That's just how electricity works.

It's like saying if you fill a bucket with a tap and a hose at the same time, how does the bucket know where to get the water from.

Ectophile

Can I just point out that BS7671 (the Wiring Regs) only applies to fixed wiring in the home.

So if you prop the solar panel up outside and plug it into a wall socket, then BS7671 doesn't apply.

CSI_Yorkshire

Ectophile said:

Can I just point out that BS7671 (the Wiring Regs) only applies to fixed wiring in the home.

So if you prop the solar panel up outside and plug it into a wall socket, then BS7671 doesn't apply.

I'll just point out that you're entirely wrong about the scope of BS7671.

markin

In sunny Manchester it will make around 1.4kwh a day for the best 5 months, and around 1090 377kwh a year. you can't sell it, but its perfect if you work from home and have a nice constant load to use it, computers, A/C, use the dishwasher every day between 11-3pm.

https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/



But you could build your own version for around 600 Euros The important part is the Hoymiles HM-400 Micro Inverter , It's the only one that is Plug and play, All other Micro Inverter brands need an installer account to turn on.  And you must get a panel that is over 22V to start the inverter, Or 2 panels wired in series to make over 22 Volts and under 11 Amps

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0BMQ55CY7/

https://www.hoymiles.com/wp-content/uploads/downloadupload/User Manual_HM-300-350-400_Global_EN_V202206.pdf

https://www.evergreenelectrical.com.au/blog/solar-panels-series-parallel#:~:text=Solar panels can be wired,connected in series or parallel.

chris_n

markin said:

In sunny Manchester it will make around 1.4kwh a day for the best 5 months, and around 1090 kwh a year. you can't sell it, but its perfect if you work from home and have a nice constant load to use it, computers, A/C, use the dishwasher every day between 11-3pm.

https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/



But you could build your own version for around 600 Euros The important part is the Hoymiles HM-400 Micro Inverter , It's the only one that is Plug and play, All other Micro Inverter brands need an installer account to turn on.  And you must get a panel that is over 22V to start the inverter, Or 2 panels wired in series to make over 22 Volts and under 11 Amps

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0BMQ55CY7/

https://www.hoymiles.com/wp-content/uploads/downloadupload/User Manual_HM-300-350-400_Global_EN_V202206.pdf

https://www.evergreenelectrical.com.au/blog/solar-panels-series-parallel#:~:text=Solar panels can be wired,connected in series or parallel.

Nothing is Plug and Play in UK, they must be on a dedicated circuit and the DNO must be notified. It may be possible to make these work but they certainly aren't the only ones available and it doesn't make them legal.

QrizB

markin said:

In sunny Manchester it will make around 1.4kwh a day for the best 5 months, and around 1090 kwh a year.

1090kWh a year sounds a trifle optimistic for a 400W panel, even in sunny Manchester. 1.4kWh a day for 12 months is only 511kWh for the year!
I've run PVGIS and it suggests about 360kWh per year for a 400W panel in Manchester. (1090 could be the "yearly in-plane irradiation" in kWh/m2?)

markin said:

The important part is the Hoymiles HM-400 Micro Inverter , It's the only one that is Plug and play, All other Micro Inverter brands need an installer account to turn on

I doubt that the other budget Chinese microinverters need an installer account either. Example:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DEWIN-Solar-Inverter-Conversion-Waterproof/dp/B0BFB2PYNV

(I have my suspicions that this inverter might not meet UK standards, please don't think this is a recommendation.)

Alternatively there are non-micro inverters in the right sort of capacity range (and with proper electrical safety certificates) that definitely don't need an installer account.

Example for £215:

https://www.bimblesolar.com/ongrid/gridinverters/Growatt750TL-X

chris_n said:

Nothing is Plug and Play in UK, they must be on a dedicated circuit and the DNO must be notified. It may be possible to make these work but they certainly aren't the only ones available and it doesn't make them legal.

My opinion also. You can have it installed by a competent person in accordance with the relevant regulations and register it with the necessary organisations, and be legal. Or you can choose not to, and won't be.