Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?

Check the Power Graph chart as well, short spikes of usage/export are normal, but if it's doing it for a longer period of time it could be a setting that's causing it.

Have you disabled all of the discharge/export windows and things? set Eco mode on?
 
200sols said:
givenergy.cloud and login.
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HungryHippos said:
Check the Power Graph chart as well, short spikes of usage/export are normal, but if it's doing it for a longer period of time it could be a setting that's causing it.

Have you disabled all of the discharge/export windows and things? set Eco mode on?
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Wow I didnt realise this was a thing.

Im getting grid voltage faults in the notifications, tons of them, and its on eco mode.
 
Grid Voltage issues could be caused by your DNO as I understand it. Think you can contact them and ask them to look at it, there are thresholds where the voltage is acceptable, outside of that can cause issues.

My last 5, so not that common, the odd over voltage here is probably nothing for me to worry about.

If yours is coming in frequently, worth checking into.

Electricity Meter Com Fail2023-11-04 21:08:262023-11-04 21:13:28
Electricity Meter Com Fail2023-10-12 20:52:382023-10-12 20:57:40
BMS Over Voltage2023-07-16 11:58:472023-07-16 12:03:49
BMS Over Voltage2023-04-05 13:27:182023-04-05 13:32:20
BMS Over Voltage2023-02-16 04:08:482023-02-16 04:13:50
 
Grid Voltage Fault2023-11-15 00:35:562023-11-15 08:48:57
Grid Voltage Fault2023-11-13 22:38:232023-11-14 09:07:10
Grid Voltage Fault2023-11-13 22:06:042023-11-13 22:13:09
Grid Voltage Fault2023-11-13 21:48:002023-11-13 21:53:02
Grid Voltage Fault2023-11-13 21:37:572023-11-13 21:42:58
 
BUDFORCE said:
Thats just the first 5 entries of 57 in 4 weeks.
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Grid Voltage​

  • Too High - Ensure that the AC isolator is switched on and the AC connections on the underside of the inverter are tight and sound, if connections are good please contact the local DNO.
  • Too Low - Ensure that the AC isolator is switched on and the AC connections on the underside of the inverter are tight and sound, if connections are good please contact the local DNO.
Probably worth contacting the installer as system isn't functioning correctly.
 
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HungryHippos said:
Grid Voltage issues could be caused by your DNO as I understand it. Think you can contact them and ask them to look at it, there are thresholds where the voltage is acceptable, outside of that can cause issues.

My last 5, so not that common, the odd over voltage here is probably nothing for me to worry about.

If yours is coming in frequently, worth checking into.

Electricity Meter Com Fail2023-11-04 21:08:262023-11-04 21:13:28
Electricity Meter Com Fail2023-10-12 20:52:382023-10-12 20:57:40
BMS Over Voltage2023-07-16 11:58:472023-07-16 12:03:49
BMS Over Voltage2023-04-05 13:27:182023-04-05 13:32:20
BMS Over Voltage2023-02-16 04:08:482023-02-16 04:13:50
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Yours are not grid related though, BMS is the battery management system, the other one means its lost communication with the CT clamp or whatever they are using in your system.
 
BUDFORCE said:
Grid Voltage Fault2023-11-15 00:35:562023-11-15 08:48:57
Grid Voltage Fault2023-11-13 22:38:232023-11-14 09:07:10
Grid Voltage Fault2023-11-13 22:06:042023-11-13 22:13:09
Grid Voltage Fault2023-11-13 21:48:002023-11-13 21:53:02
Grid Voltage Fault2023-11-13 21:37:572023-11-13 21:42:58
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Is there no voltage values? The information is useless unless you know the voltage at the time of the warning.

We occasionally used to get grid over voltage - I used to get emails from my UPS when it occurred, had to get the DNO out a couple of times for the voltage being too high. The usual procedure is that they come and fit a meter to record the voltages for a period of time, and then decide is they need to alter them via the tap point on the transformer.

The required range in the UK is 216 to 253 volts, it can go under when there is a peak draw, and go over usually in the early hours of the morning when there is very little power draw. Also depends a lot on your local grid supply.
 
I see the first of this years saving sessions is tonight, apparently 17:30-18:30 on Octopus and they're paying £2.25 (1800 Octopoints) per unit saved (and theoretically, exported above your normal export amount). I haven't received any sort of notification or e-mail yet though (and I have notifications turned on for the app), only know about it because someone on Facebook mentioned that there was a Givback session tonight so I decided to check the Octopus app and found I was able to opt in to the session. Oddly they said the Givback session was 17:00-18:00 so don't know if different suppliers have different times or whether that was a mistake.

Will be interested to see if export really is included, if not will have to look into switching to Givback for these sessions. Also, has anyone else received a notification?
 
Hi all. Looking for some advice and/or a sanity check.

I was pretty set on the following system:

16 x 435w panels
GivEnergy 13.5kwh All In One
Solis 6kw inverter

However, I've been running some calculations on our consumption and I'm worried that the AIO is too much for us. We used 4474kwh over a 346 day period (12.93kwh/day), which excludes EV charging. We've been on Intelligent Octopus Go since 05 November 2023, and over the last 11 days our peak time (05h30-23h30) usage has been 6.7kWh since we run the dishwasher and dehumidifier for drying clothes in the off peak period. This makes me think we could get away with a 9.5kWh battery instead.

Am I cutting it a bit fine? There's a £2750 saving going with a GivEnergy 5kw hybrid Gen 3 inverter + 1 x GivEnergy 9.5kWh Gen 2 battery over the system above.

I assume that I'll be reducing my potential export by going with the 5kw hybrid inverter over the Solis 6kw string inverter?
 
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You'd be fine, if I am fine with a g1 hybrid and 8.2 kWh battery with higher average usage than you (17.7 kWh per day vs your 12.9).

Fully charged battery should last you between charges no problem almost all the time.

One thing to bear in mind that is that the hybrid is limited I think to 3.6kW charge/discharge rates, where the AIO was closer to 6, and the larger capacity does in theory let you gain some profit from importing additional power and then exporting it later when you don't need it all.

Wven for you, being on Intelligent, it's import at 7.5 and then export at 15, so can profit a little from exporting extra. AIO I think is also meant to be able to run your house off-grid.

Fwiw it seems a lot of people have had some issues with the AIO, buggy release.
 
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HungryHippos said:
You'd be fine, if I am fine with a g1 hybrid and 8.2 kWh battery with higher average usage than you (17.7 kWh per day vs your 12.9).

Fully charged battery should last you between charges no problem almost all the time.

One thing to bear in mind that is that the hybrid is limited I think to 3.6kW charge/discharge rates, where the AIO was closer to 6, and the larger capacity does in theory let you gain some profit from importing additional power and then exporting it later when you don't need it all.

Wven for you, being on Intelligent, it's import at 7.5 and then export at 15, so can profit a little from exporting extra. AIO I think is also meant to be able to run your house off-grid.

Fwiw it seems a lot of people have had some issues with the AIO, buggy release.
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Thanks for the insight :)

I was very keen on the AIO because it's AC-coupled and the higher discharge rate, but I've been monitoring the IHD and it's so rare to hit 3.6kW unless you decide to boil the kettle and cook something at the same time. Even then, the amount of power that's consumed will cost peanuts for that very brief period of time.

Given that your usage is higher than mine, you don't find that your battery runs out of juice in winter?
 
thewanted said:
Thanks for the insight :)

I was very keen on the AIO because it's AC-coupled and the higher discharge rate, but I've been monitoring the IHD and it's so rare to hit 3.6kW unless you decide to boil the kettle and cook something at the same time. Even then, the amount of power that's consumed will cost peanuts for that very brief period of time.

Given that your usage is higher than mine, you don't find that your battery runs out of juice in winter?
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I'm currently on the same tariff as you, the this means you need 18 hours to jump from charge period to charge period as I let the grid power me for those 6 hours at the cheap rate.

100% charge at the start, with a rough baseline usage if I'm not doing anything special of about 400-500W, means that my battery should go for about 16 hours without solar.

If I do stuff like cooking or boiling lots of water it surely drains faster, but don't need tons of incoming solar to just about get over the line, a few kWh is enough, any extra is bonus I can use on whatever like washing machine or extra entertainment with things like TV or playing PC games.

My g1 inverter is more limited with 2.6kW, and with my baseline usage using the oven or the kettle it will always take something from the grid for the time (unless it's sunny), but battery still covers most. With 3.6kW I think I'd need the grid even less. I try and use stuff more sequentially for this reason.

Today isn't anything special only 2kWh generated, but I am on 51% battery still and it's almost 17:00. only 5.5 hours to get to the next charge slot. I expect it'll probably run out or be close to running out quite close to 23:30. Grid usage outside of off-peak today is functionally zero but I've also not used much extra, just working from home, had a few cups of tea, so laptop/monitor on.
 
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Bit of a random question, I appreciate.

Does anyone know what type of cable in on a CT clamp for the sender unit of a solar iboost:

www.marlec.co.uk

Solar iBoost+ Sender & Accessories - Marlec

Get free hot water from your solar PV with Solar iBoost+ find out more here and find out why Solar iBoost+ is the UK's favourite PV acsessory.
www.marlec.co.uk www.marlec.co.uk

Basically I am planning on cutting the cable and running it through a wireless relay.

I am concerned though if its some kind of coaxial cable that could end up being tricky.

Long shot I know.....
 
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