How to add batteries & more PV

[Joeboy]

Pudding, have a swatch at this. Just to increase knowledge, not to steer you. It's the one I run and it's been good.

My original system pv can be outputting say 4kW and the hybrid will add to that up to about 3.9kW voltage depending from the batteries. In darkness I am limited to the hybrid inverter output before it pulls from the grid.

https://www.wagner-renewables.com/produ ... e-3600sbp/

[marshman]

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[nowty]

Interestingly on the ENA compliant database, the devices we are talking about are either classed as a "Generating Unit" or an "Energy Storage Device".

https://www.ena-eng.org/gen-ttr/

And I cannot find any hybrid types of devices under the class of "Energy Storage Device".

Actually there are some hybrid ones on the "Energy Storage Device" list so they might be OK after all under the G99 Fast Track process.

Sofar and Lux ones are on there as compliant.

[pudding]

Most hybrid inverters use a CT attached to the meter tails to measure current-flow in/out of the house. So if the main array is producing 2kW, the new array 1kW, and the house was using 500W then without any storage there'd be 1500W outflowing to the grid. However the hybrid inverter would target zero flowing out to the grid and would charge the batteries by 1500W irrelevant of which array is actually generating the power.

That is exactly how my Solis RHI hybrid inverter works. It has 5.7kW of PV connected to it as well as the battery stack. Export is kept to 0 until the batteries are fully charged, it uses power from the directly connected PV as well as any excess from my old FiTs system. It has a range of "usage" options, so you can choose "self use", charge from grid on a TOU tariff if you want, set allowable export power to what ever you want from 0 upwards. It works very well and the export control responds quickly and doesn't seem to "leak" much as only 1kWh has managed to escape from the grid into the house in the last month.

The Solis inverter is on the ENA type test register and is fully G100 compliant, the DNO has no problem with it.

If you have this inverter (this specific model, obviously larger though for your 5.7kW?) and basically will be the same setup as I will have, and as you say, its on the ENA register, can set the export to zero so that the 3.68kW isn't exceeded to keep the DNO happy, then it seems like a no brainer to go with it. Saves a few quid with just the one inverter/controller.

[Joeboy]

Found this one on a quick Google. How does one go about setting the export limit to qualify with dno if need be and then how does dno know that you have left it as is? Always been a grey area in my knowledge. Would be great if you could hook up a unit that could export a low set power to work alongside a primary FIT system yet be able to discharge batteries to home at say 6kW?

Sorry to muddy the waters op!

https://www.ginlong.com/rhi_inverter1/34629.html

Ahem...

[pudding]

Yeah I think we have a winner unless something else crops up.

[Joeboy]

Yeah I think we have a winner unless something else crops up.

For panels, my last set were JA Solar, had a look on ITS Tech the other day and they compare well on price.

I would also steer you towards pylontech batteries for their reliability and modular aspect. You'll be spending a few quid so good to know you can stage it along a decent timeline.

You will also have the benefit of a dc-dc upgrade via a charge controller down the road if you want to add even more panels later.. looks like a !

[pudding]

I've literally 1min ago transferred the money for 4 x US3000C batteries, to arrive on Wednesday

[Joeboy]

I've literally 1min ago transferred the money for 4 x US3000C batteries, to arrive on Wednesday

BOOM! . Congrats man!

[pudding]

One benefit of catching Covid and testing positive this morning! Very productive in other ways without having to go to work