Do you have solar panels?

[Belli]

Not an major issue but I have noticed the monitoring software for the SolarEdge does not automatically refresh - at least in my case. I had to refresh the browser. Admittedly I don't know much about it as I only looked at it for about 5 minutes on the first full day after installation so it could refresh at other intervals.

The SMS does seem to show current power as it occurs.

 

[SirRumpole]

Trying to improve the efficiency of solar cells.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science...taic-limit-shockley-queisser-physics/10862544

 

[Smurf1976]

I have a technical question. If your load exceeds 5kWs (say 7 kW), does the battery via the inverter supply the full 5 kW with the shortfall 2 kW coming from the grid OR does the full 7 kWs come from the grid because the inverters maximum capacity is exceeded?

The battery has a discharge limit of 5kW (assuming the inverter it is connected to has at least a 5kW rating which in my case it will, otherwise the limit would be lower eg 3kW inverter).

The inverter in my case is 5kW. It didn't have to exactly match the battery but it does.

Now suppose that load is 7kW, there is 2kW being generated from solar because it's cloudy and the battery is charged because load was much lower until I started cooking etc.

What will happen in that situation is the inverter will output 5kW, the limit of its capacity, with 3kW being drawn from the battery to add to the 2kW from solar. The other 2kW needed to supply the 7kW load will be from the grid.

If the load then drops to 1.5W and the sky is now clearer so there's more sun and solar production is 4kW then that will result in the inverter outputting 1.5kW to match the load and the other 2.5kW going into the battery assuming it isn't already fully charged. If the battery were fully charged then the inverter would output the full production of the solar panels with the surplus 2.5kW being fed into the grid.

So output from the solar panels will, in priority order, supply house load, charge the battery, be exported to the grid.

The battery will only ever be charged using surplus solar and will only be discharged to enable the inverter to supply the house load in the absence of sufficient solar to do so. That is, the battery will not be charged from the grid and will not discharge to supply the grid. Technically that could be done but would be uneconomic from my perspective with present retail electricity pricing.

So if the battery is not flat and is not full and load is not more than 5kW then flow through the electricity meter will be zero.

The hot water will remain separately supplied from the grid on controlled load (off-peak) supply unaffected by the solar which won't "see" that completely separate load with its own meter. There's no benefit either economically or technically in messing about with it under my circumstances so I won't.

 

[Belli]

Trying to improve the efficiency of solar cells.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science...taic-limit-shockley-queisser-physics/10862544

We can be innovative at times and it's one of the things we can be good at. Always exploring how to improve stuff. From my very limited understanding, at one stage 250w panels were the bees knees and now it appears to be 365w. To me that seems a pretty good jump.

I believe there are a couple of commercial places which have installed clear glass solar panels at the entrance. Doesn't take much of an imaginative leap to wonder if it can eventually be adapted for home and office windows.

 

[lindsayf]

The battery has a discharge limit of 5kW (assuming the inverter it is connected to has at least a 5kW rating which in my case it will, otherwise the limit would be lower eg 3kW inverter).

The inverter in my case is 5kW. It didn't have to exactly match the battery but it does.

Now suppose that load is 7kW, there is 2kW being generated from solar because it's cloudy and the battery is charged because load was much lower until I started cooking etc.

What will happen in that situation is the inverter will output 5kW, the limit of its capacity, with 3kW being drawn from the battery to add to the 2kW from solar. The other 2kW needed to supply the 7kW load will be from the grid.

If the load then drops to 1.5W and the sky is now clearer so there's more sun and solar production is 4kW then that will result in the inverter outputting 1.5kW to match the load and the other 2.5kW going into the battery assuming it isn't already fully charged. If the battery were fully charged then the inverter would output the full production of the solar panels with the surplus 2.5kW being fed into the grid.

So output from the solar panels will, in priority order, supply house load, charge the battery, be exported to the grid.

The battery will only ever be charged using surplus solar and will only be discharged to enable the inverter to supply the house load in the absence of sufficient solar to do so. That is, the battery will not be charged from the grid and will not discharge to supply the grid. Technically that could be done but would be uneconomic from my perspective with present retail electricity pricing.

So if the battery is not flat and is not full and load is not more than 5kW then flow through the electricity meter will be zero.

The hot water will remain separately supplied from the grid on controlled load (off-peak) supply unaffected by the solar which won't "see" that completely separate load with its own meter. There's no benefit either economically or technically in messing about with it under my circumstances so I won't.

We installed a similar system about 3 months ago.
brand: Solax
6.5kw of panels
5kw inverter
5kw LG battery
Operates just as you have described and has functionality to operate when grid is down.
I was surprised to find that that functionality is not default. I had to request it and there was a small cost increase for it. Out of pocket cost after rebates about $13k.

This is on a property we bought around July last year which is on 24 acres. It already had solar hotwater and a Rayburn stove with water jacket that heats the hotwater (electric as well) and the in slab hydronic heating...all integrated. We are more or less off grid and if we add another 5kw battery (and a back up genny) and a few more panels we probably could go fully off grid. But for now it works very well with minimal grid use.

 

[Belli]

Paid for 60% of the costs today (30% was previously paid as the deposit.) Final 10% will be paid after the ACT Building Planning inspector give the tick it's all been installed properly.

I think the ACT may be the only jurisdiction which does these inspections.

 

[Smurf1976]

I think the ACT may be the only jurisdiction which does these inspections.

It varies yes.

In Tas there's an electrical inspection but no building inspection as such for smaller systems.

Larger systems need engineering certification that they're not going to cause problems with the roof either due to weight or lift during high winds.

In SA I haven't found out how it works yet although I do know that SA Power Networks will kindly be giving the area a planned 6.5 hour blackout a couple of weeks before I get the system installed. Had they planned that for sometime later then I could have used the backup power function but such is life.

 

[Belli]

OK it's a new toy so I couldn't help myself. Data for the first five days.

1 March (kWh)

SMA production: 38.506
SolarEdge production: 40.12
Total: 78.626
Retailer received: 73.817

2 March

SMA production: 31.058
SolarEdge production: 30.479
Total: 61.537
Retailer received: 55.278

3 March

SMA production: 38.207
SolarEdge production: 38.827
Total: 78.034
Retailer received: 71.795

4 March

SMA production: 29.04
SolarEdge production: 31.15
Total: 60.19
Retailer received: 53.943

5 March

SMA production: 17.245
SolarEdge production: 17.04
Total: 34.285
Retailer received: 28.453​

 

[DB008]

Hey Belli,
I use an app called 'Oxley Solar" on Android.

Connects via Bluetooth to my SMA. Easy as pie to set up.

Here is a screenshot l just did - I can drill down to live, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.

 

[qldfrog]

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sunpower-unveils-worlds-first-400-184006097.html
400w per panel, based on article will be available in Australia

 

[Belli]

Thanks for that @DB008. I'll have a play with it more than likely.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sunpower-unveils-worlds-first-400-184006097.html
400w per panel, based on article will be available in Australia

Yep, nothing seems to be static with this industry. Cost per panel may be higher but fewer needed for similar output so overall cost of system should be less expensive.

A neighbour down the road is humming and haring about installing solar and is tossing up whether to do it now or wait for improvements in the equipment. I can understand that but I think it's line ball on getting the benefit of solar now or wait.

 

[Smurf1976]

A neighbour down the road is humming and haring about installing solar and is tossing up whether to do it now or wait for improvements in the equipment. I can understand that but I think it's line ball on getting the benefit of solar now or wait.

Efficiency of the panels matters in one circumstance only and that's if the available sunlight is limited. In practice that means you've got limited space.

In any other circumstance the only downside of lower efficiency is needing to use more physical space but if that's not an actual constraint then no issues.

Panels themselves are so cheap now that further reductions in cost won't make a huge difference to the price of an installed system since the other components of the cost, that is the inverter, wiring, panel mounting system, meter changeover, labour and incidental bits and pieces are where most of the money's going these days.

 

[Value Collector]

Hi Guys,

Is there anyone that has solar panels, and uses Energy Australia?

Can you PM me, I need to compare my Bill with some one else’s, just the part about energy usage.

Because I am pretty sure they aren’t charging me for my imports, but still giving me credit for exports.

 

[Belli]

I'd forgotten this thread existed. Must be getting old which I am.

I haven't checked the production of the PV systems I have but yesterday I wondered about the impact of the smoke haze which hit this and other places. On 5 January 2020, where I live (Canberra was suffocating. Air Quality Index was twice as bad as Delhi and it was yellow (check out these ABC photos)

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-05/nsw-fires-blanket-canberra-in-thick-smoke/11841546

Goodness me did in have an adverse impact as it would on any PV system. On a "normal" Summer's day one PV system would produce about 40 kWh. On that day the production was 7kWh.

Pure serendipity I had 12 months earlier ripped out the windows and frames and replaced them with double glazing. Suffered from cabin fever but was OK with the effect of the smoke. Not as bad of course as those who were and still are living on the various fire grounds.

 

[IFocus]

Just moved into a new place next to the ocean, solar install scheduled for late Feb, wondering if any one needs to clean their panels?

Have been watching the smoke haze must be a nightmare for those with health issues my wife has a condition where she just cannot breath smoke if it happened here in WA for any length of time we would have to move....maybe a month or two in Bali

Possibly too windy here for a long duration.

 

[Smurf1976]

Just moved into a new place next to the ocean, solar install scheduled for late Feb, wondering if any one needs to clean their panels?

That'll depend on tilt angle and rainfall (intensity and frequency of it more than total volume).

If the panels are tilted at least 15 degrees from horizontal and you get periods of proper rain, as distinct from just drizzle etc, then should be no real problem.

Keep watch on them once they're up.....

 

[sptrawler]

Just moved into a new place next to the ocean, solar install scheduled for late Feb, wondering if any one needs to clean their panels?

Have been watching the smoke haze must be a nightmare for those with health issues my wife has a condition where she just cannot breath smoke if it happened here in WA for any length of time we would have to move....maybe a month or two in Bali

Possibly too windy here for a long duration.

The biggest problem you will have ifocus, is the salt spray down there on the ocean front in Falcon.
I have panels in Mandurah cbd, once a year I give them a scrub with a soft broom and wash it off with a battery operated pressure sprayer sucking from a bucket. Found it too awkward managing a hose on the second floor roof.

 

[IFocus]

That'll depend on tilt angle and rainfall (intensity and frequency of it more than total volume).

If the panels are tilted at least 15 degrees from horizontal and you get periods of proper rain, as distinct from just drizzle etc, then should be no real problem.

Keep watch on them once they're up.....

The house is 7 years old tin roof, tek screws already growing / corroding so got up replaced 1000 before the solar goes on (1st time I have ever harnessed up on a roof must be getting old ) so I figure we will get spray on the panels no big deal can hose off once in a while.

Another point was lower end panels wouldn't give warranty that close to the beach.

 

[Belli]

I did bravely climb on the roof (I hate heights!) and hosed all the dust and ash off the panels - all 38 of them plus the two for the solar hot water.

Futile exercise as the bloody stuff came back in the following days. Salt residue is another matter but not an issue I have to contend with luckily.

 

[sptrawler]

The house is 7 years old tin roof, tek screws already growing / corroding so got up replaced 1000 before the solar goes on (1st time I have ever harnessed up on a roof must be getting old ) so I figure we will get spray on the panels no big deal can hose off once in a while.

Another point was lower end panels wouldn't give warranty that close to the beach.

Just had a thought Ifocus, if I was you, I would get in touch with the company installing the system and ask them if they use good quality stainless 316 bolts for the panel to rail clamps. Also I would be getting a tin of never seize, and ask the guys who put the panels on to coat the bolts, if you don't you will have a $hit of a job trying to get them off at a later date to repair or replace them with the corrosion from the surf spray.
If they are using galvanised bolts get the measurements and buy some stainless ones.
Just my opinion.