Balcony solar PV

[Tay]

I think I might have got one form them inadvertently whilst comfort buying at the pub . albeit a HMS-800.

I'll check in a mo as I found a few on eBay but prices soooo much higher than the ones I found from German sellers on Amazon, but before that I found 3-4 vendors on Amazon that refused to send to the UK, Amazon's crappy algorithm needs to be tweaked to suggest stuff to people that cant actually get it.

Annoyingly the cash was removed from credit card and now up to 10 days before it goes back in...perhaps its just a crafty ploy ^^

Hopefully the eBay version turns up as I've got the Sub 1Ghz receiver and plug coming.

I presume its just the HMS series that needs the sub 1ghz stuff? did you need it too or is the HM series normal wifi.

Thats answers that then Offgrid it is then

[Joeboy]

My WiFi access worked then it didn't. I do direct contact with module to app. I think I was kicked after 24hrs due to location. Nothing I can do until they show up in UK.

No worries as it's doing its thing and access is like my Victron solar controller, simple.

[Tay]

I'm surprised nobody here (commercially) has taken on the microinvertor market in the UK.

There is always somebody that is a bit niche and brings in good quality kit to differentiate themselves from the big cookie cutter solar folks, but this doesnt seem to have happened and odd that Hoymiles dont have anything set up themselves.
They are clearly aware of the market here as they mention G98 in some of their docs.

I'd like a bespoke system, this, I suspect will be my issue getting somebody to do the work, my next door neighbor got a cookie cutter setup but I'd like the choice for batteries, inverter etc.

I'll have a chat with the guys (Bimble) close to me that I got my panels from and see if they can refer me to a indie contractor that doesn't want to push a single product line that might not have the bigger margin on.

[Moxi]

I saw that Y&H do the style of inverter that you and JB have used, I wasn’t sure if they have WiFi though but the price looked good on Amazon and there stuff has always served me well even after all my abuse and neglect.

If I can find their link I will post it for comparison.

Moxi

Well I’ll be blowed I searched all last night and didn’t get a clear hit for WiFi and tonight the first item was micro inverter with WiFi

Y&H 600W Grid Tie Micro Inverter with WIFI Communication Waterproof MPPT Stackable DC30-60V Solar Input AC110V 220V Auto Pure Sine Wave Output for 30V 36V PV Panel Balcony Power Station https://amzn.eu/d/isOhjrV

Only 600watts but that’s balcony territory isn’t it

Moxi

[Joeboy]

I saw that Y&H do the style of inverter that you and JB have used, I wasn’t sure if they have WiFi though but the price looked good on Amazon and there stuff has always served me well even after all my abuse and neglect.

If I can find their link I will post it for comparison.

Moxi

Well I’ll be blowed I searched all last night and didn’t get a clear hit for WiFi and tonight the first item was micro inverter with WiFi

Y&H 600W Grid Tie Micro Inverter with WIFI Communication Waterproof MPPT Stackable DC30-60V Solar Input AC110V 220V Auto Pure Sine Wave Output for 30V 36V PV Panel Balcony Power Station https://amzn.eu/d/isOhjrV

Only 600watts but that’s balcony territory isn’t it

Moxi

Certainly is balcony territory. The ambiguity in description whether fans or heatsinks is a little odd. Although either is better than the WMC unit with nothing...

Also the derating (throttling back) at various temperatures sounds good but I'd rather have a unit that can dump its own heat and has a higher temperature rating. I.E Hoymiles and Victron solar controller that I've used.

You definitely get what you pay for in these units. It's good to hear that the Y&H are working for you Moxi. That one is a single panel unit that can be daisychained for the AC side?

I've not go round to opening mine up fully yet. Too much fun to be had in the woods.

[Tay]

I saw that Y&H do the style of inverter that you and JB have used, I wasn’t sure if they have WiFi though but the price looked good on Amazon and there stuff has always served me well even after all my abuse and neglect.

If I can find their link I will post it for comparison.

Moxi

Well I’ll be blowed I searched all last night and didn’t get a clear hit for WiFi and tonight the first item was micro inverter with WiFi

Y&H 600W Grid Tie Micro Inverter with WIFI Communication Waterproof MPPT Stackable DC30-60V Solar Input AC110V 220V Auto Pure Sine Wave Output for 30V 36V PV Panel Balcony Power Station https://amzn.eu/d/isOhjrV

Only 600watts but that’s balcony territory isn’t it

Moxi

I think all the design are similar, the Hoymiles (by its adverts and supporting docs) looks better, the software on the previous one I had was truly diabolical, I'm expecting much better from the hoymiles one. But, thats to be seen.

Returns might be slightly harder if I have issues, Amazon to their credit have never messed me around, thus far at least.

I think one thing Ive taken away thus far with the majority of Chinese Microinverters seems to be the poor docs and software. I'll be interested to see what my new one is like.

Be interesting to see what others might find.

[Joeboy]

Well that was pleasantly boring. Went over to No1's, a nice solar gain and over 500W incoming from PV. The 150W panel heater is doing its thing. The airspace inside house is nicely neutral. Not at all cold. Couldn't have asked for a better result really.

The surface of the microinverter is cool to the touch. I'll check later if the sun stays out. Next milestone 40kWh!

[Moxi]

Getting the optimum from small arrays is an absorbing pastime isn't it , I have been out three times this morning moving the 150W panel into better positions to get the best from the bright weather we have here today, all spare electrons currently diverted to EV.

Moxi

[Joeboy]

Getting the optimum from small arrays is an absorbing pastime isn't it , I have been out three times this morning moving the 150W panel into better positions to get the best from the bright weather we have here today, all spare electrons currently diverted to EV.

Moxi

Yes there is! I am training myself to leave it alone, 'no need to check Joe', but it is nice to see the Wattage varying, hear the freezer kick on, the heater outputting and know we did that. I get more of a thrill at his 10% output compared to my place!

The real satisfaction though is that we are beholden to no-one, are collecting on his selfinstalled system from our local star and can even give the grid a few Watts.

[Joeboy]

Opened up the back of the WMC failed microinverter and sure enough, found a blown fuse (F1) for the AC side. Just to wait for the package from China and we'll get it changed out.




The AC mosfets are hidden under cooling pads to wick away heat to the back plate which they are in contact with. I'd much rather have a mounted pc fan and strategic holesaw hole for the fuse. We'll see...