Balcony solar PV

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Joeboy
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Re: Balcony solar PV

#261

Post by Joeboy »

Train from Firenze to Bologna. Topped out at 177mph. :twisted: :shock: Ears popped at least four times. :D

If only all public transport was so good. It said 38 minute journey time but we got to Bologna 10 minutes before predicted arrival time. Really quick ticket service at station. 33 Euro each and that included paying for the personal fast ticket service (no Q, concierge style).

Literally walked Into station, saw concierge dude then onto train and offski. 8-)

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Last edited by Joeboy on Wed Sep 13, 2023 1:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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chris_n
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Re: Balcony solar PV

#262

Post by chris_n »

Joeboy wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 12:32 pm Train from Firenze to Bologna. Topped out at 177mph. :twisted: :shock: Ears popped at least four times. :D
Just 12mph quicker than I was doing on the Autobahn last time I travelled from UK :twisted:
Living the dream in Austria.
Uk property 3.75kW PV linked to 3kW inverter.
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Joeboy
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Re: Balcony solar PV

#263

Post by Joeboy »

chris_n wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 1:16 pm
Joeboy wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 12:32 pm Train from Firenze to Bologna. Topped out at 177mph. :twisted: :shock: Ears popped at least four times. :D
Just 12mph quicker than I was doing on the Autobahn last time I travelled from UK :twisted:
Sitting backwards? :D
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chris_n
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Re: Balcony solar PV

#264

Post by chris_n »

Joeboy wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 2:09 pm
chris_n wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 1:16 pm
Joeboy wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 12:32 pm Train from Firenze to Bologna. Topped out at 177mph. :twisted: :shock: Ears popped at least four times. :D
Just 12mph quicker than I was doing on the Autobahn last time I travelled from UK :twisted:
Sitting backwards? :D
Fortunately not!
Living the dream in Austria.
Uk property 3.75kW PV linked to 3kW inverter.
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Joeboy
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Re: Balcony solar PV

#265

Post by Joeboy »

165mph is nipping on. 911 turbo territory?
19.7kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN & DW
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
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chris_n
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Re: Balcony solar PV

#266

Post by chris_n »

Joeboy wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 3:02 pm 165mph is nipping on. 911 turbo territory?
Audi TT
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Tay
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Re: Balcony solar PV

#267

Post by Tay »

On the limited time spent on the Autobahn with my RS6 Audi or Kawasaki ZZR1400, I always found the biggest issue is fuel use, on my ZZR I could actually see the gauge going down at at anything over 140, 180+ you had to serious think about running out of fuel, it had such a small tank.

Things are a lot more sedate with the GTR1400 and Audi A6 Allroad.

So, managed to get some testing done today despite the lack of much usable sunshine down my way, my portable panels just werent kicking out enough
to fire the Wireless Series-R3 Micro Inverter up.

Notes:
1. Some of the MC4 Connectors are terrible, I thought at one point I might have to get a pair of pliars on it
2. Given this is a chinese device, the lack of power switch is somewhat disconcerting
3. It did generate power after I chucked my 295w panels on to it though.
4. Software is a bit clumsy, nNot sure what I expected but felt it should be more than this.
5. It didnt come with a UK mains lead only a M25 to M25 connector to link multiple inverters together (I butchered it and chucked it in to an inline distribution box to downsize to a 13amp wire/UK plug combo, this seemed to work ok, next time I'll perhaps buy one with a switch ^^


You can can see from my monitoring kit that there was indeed a reduction in power usage from the grid.

Pic 1
1. My baseline with the Fridge and Freeze idling.
2. Fridge and/or Freezer motors kicking in
3. 295w panel kicking in, it spent quite a while perhaps 1-2 mins synching before I could see any discernable difference in power usage
4. This was the best it got, my house excluding my office which is now offgrid during the day - Saw roughly a 60-70w reduction of grid power, my metering is taken of the mains before the Smart Meter.
5. Wife buggered it all up turning the TV on !!!

Pic 2
The unit doing its funky groove thing, still can't believe I didnt know this was possible before. I might have skipped my battery solution entirely. Although, its a different requirement.

Pic 3
I guess I saw maybe 60-80w's top but as I said bad solar day today and getting on in the afternoon, but the unit wasnt getting in the slightest bit warm, this is supposed to be a 1200w unit so really wasnt working too hard though :) - this was the warmest I could find, it was for the most part still cool to the touch.

Pic 4
The software...I took the screenshot from my Mac running the app in IOS emulation mode, as I was hoping to grab some decent data out of it. But if you want some sort of consolidated stats then this is a tad basic.
Even though the unit is supposed powered on by the mains, no lights are flashing and it appears the bluetooth/wifi (Hard to say what the app is actually using) doesnt report the app working if there is no PV input.


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Joeboy
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Re: Balcony solar PV

#268

Post by Joeboy »

Tay wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 3:59 pm On the limited time spent on the Autobahn with my RS6 Audi or Kawasaki ZZR1400, I always found the biggest issue is fuel use, on my ZZR I could actually see the gauge going down at at anything over 140, 180+ you had to serious think about running out of fuel, it had such a small tank.

Things are a lot more sedate with the GTR1400 and Audi A6 Allroad.

So, managed to get some testing done today despite the lack of much usable sunshine down my way, my portable panels just werent kicking out enough
to fire the Wireless Series-R3 Micro Inverter up.

Notes:
1. Some of the MC4 Connectors are terrible, I thought at one point I might have to get a pair of pliars on it
2. Given this is a chinese device, the lack of power switch is somewhat disconcerting
3. It did generate power after I chucked my 295w panels on to it though.
4. Software is a bit clumsy, nNot sure what I expected but felt it should be more than this.
5. It didnt come with a UK mains lead only a M25 to M25 connector to link multiple inverters together (I butchered it and chucked it in to an inline distribution box to downsize to a 13amp wire/UK plug combo, this seemed to work ok, next time I'll perhaps buy one with a switch ^^


You can can see from my monitoring kit that there was indeed a reduction in power usage from the grid.

Pic 1
1. My baseline with the Fridge and Freeze idling.
2. Fridge and/or Freezer motors kicking in
3. 295w panel kicking in, it spent quite a while perhaps 1-2 mins synching before I could see any discernable difference in power usage
4. This was the best it got, my house excluding my office which is now offgrid during the day - Saw roughly a 60-70w reduction of grid power, my metering is taken of the mains before the Smart Meter.
5. Wife buggered it all up turning the TV on !!!

Pic 2
The unit doing its funky groove thing, still can't believe I didnt know this was possible before. I might have skipped my battery solution entirely. Although, its a different requirement.

Pic 3
I guess I saw maybe 60-80w's top but as I said bad solar day today and getting on in the afternoon, but the unit wasnt getting in the slightest bit warm, this is supposed to be a 1200w unit so really wasnt working too hard though :) - this was the warmest I could find, it was for the most part still cool to the touch.

Pic 4
The software...I took the screenshot from my Mac running the app in IOS emulation mode, as I was hoping to grab some decent data out of it. But if you want some sort of consolidated stats then this is a tad basic.
Even though the unit is supposed powered on by the mains, no lights are flashing and it appears the bluetooth/wifi (Hard to say what the app is actually using) doesnt report the app working if there is no PV input.


Image

Image

Image

Image
Glad to read that you are getting it done,great result! There is a software on/off.button rather than physical one.. congrats!
19.7kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN & DW
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
Stig
Posts: 170
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2021 9:08 am

Re: Balcony solar PV

#269

Post by Stig »

Tay wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 3:59 pm Pic 1
1. My baseline with the Fridge and Freeze idling.
2. Fridge and/or Freezer motors kicking in
3. 295w panel kicking in, it spent quite a while perhaps 1-2 mins synching before I could see any discernable difference in power usage
4. This was the best it got, my house excluding my office which is now offgrid during the day - Saw roughly a 60-70w reduction of grid power, my metering is taken of the mains before the Smart Meter.
5. Wife buggered it all up turning the TV on !!!
Your TV takes 100W?!!
Plasma, CRT..?
My (not particularly new LED) TV takes about 20W.
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Joeboy
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Re: Balcony solar PV

#270

Post by Joeboy »

In Bologna last night. Inputted the serial no for the unit (WiFi version) into the app box requesting a dtu number (dtu being the older type unit designated as HM not HMS in retail. To my surprise the number was accepted and the app appears to be live.

I'll know for sure when I get home as I'll need to log into the unit in close proximity and password it.

Hopefully, there will be no more GPS checks and we'll be good to go. Fingers 🤞!

I'll be getting in touch with Hoymiles direct in China later as this four country region lock seems weird.

Tay, bear in mind that there are four separate channels in the microinverter. At 1200W you are looking at 300W per channel, so 150W panels would be running it at 50%
19.7kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN & DW
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
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