Balcony solar PV

[Tay]

I have been granted an installers account
Got mine up and running this morning.

Tay, if you want to send me some details I will try and see if I can set an account for you.

Nice one, although I'm having a bad feeling about mine. Still no sign of it, yesterday morning it looked like there had finally been some movement as it was being sent to depot for posting locally....then...last night and today ^^

[Joeboy]

Hardwired back to mains. Soon there shall be 30W output!



A touch more shading work to be done.



Edit- today, it makes no difference to me that I have 4kW coming in from the main PV systems. The satisfying stuff is the 50W incoming from the Enphase Powerhouse. Trees felled, 3rd hand swag bought and flung together and we are off to the races!



Nothing quite like growing yer own.

[AE-NMidlands]

What is that "solar off/on" switch actually doing? (What is behind the plate?)
How much DC does the cable from the panels handle - don't you have to have a DC-capable circuit breaker?
A

[Joeboy]

What is that "solar off/on" switch actually doing? (What is behind the plate?)
How much DC does the cable from the panels handle - don't you have to have a DC-capable circuit breaker?
A

Switches grid power single leg which knocks off the Enphase micro's. The other leg is wired through on a choc block.

There is no DC beyond the DC cables feeding the Enphase units themselves. It's 230v AC outputting. So yes if I want to isolate the panels I would disconnect whichever one I wanted to work on at the MC4. Essentially it's 3 single panel standalone systems with onboard switching. Clever stuff from the designers.

This is my 'classic car' solar array. Third hand, unknown mileage yet excellent lines.

[AE-NMidlands]

What is that "solar off/on" switch actually doing? (What is behind the plate?)
How much DC does the cable from the panels handle - don't you have to have a DC-capable circuit breaker?
A

Switches grid power single leg which knocks off the Enphase micro's. The other leg is wired through on a choc block.

There is no DC beyond the DC cables feeding the Enphase units themselves. It's 230v AC outputting. So yes if I want to isolate the panels I would disconnect whichever one I wanted to work on at the MC4. Essentially it's 3 single panel standalone systems with onboard switching. Clever stuff from the designers.

This is my 'classic car' solar array. Third hand, unknown mileage yet excellent lines.

Thanks for explaining it.
A

[Joeboy]

What is that "solar off/on" switch actually doing? (What is behind the plate?)
How much DC does the cable from the panels handle - don't you have to have a DC-capable circuit breaker?
A

Switches grid power single leg which knocks off the Enphase micro's. The other leg is wired through on a choc block.

There is no DC beyond the DC cables feeding the Enphase units themselves. It's 230v AC outputting. So yes if I want to isolate the panels I would disconnect whichever one I wanted to work on at the MC4. Essentially it's 3 single panel standalone systems with onboard switching. Clever stuff from the designers.

This is my 'classic car' solar array. Third hand, unknown mileage yet excellent lines.

Thanks for explaining it.
A

No worries AE, I spent an inordinate amount of time searching the electric old bits box although it all came together in the end at no cost and good to see that electrical essentially detritus now working.

I am rather taken by the retro look of the panels. Hoping they'll produce about a 1/4MWh pa once I've finished with the shading improvements. Although being honest I just like looking at them down there! I'd like to be able to ID a production year so we can see how far they've degraded in their lifespan. Can't see how though.

Right not though I'll happily take a 1/5th of a kWh as it is all being used here, zero export. Maybe next May we'll see a 2kWh day?

Reborn on the 6th Oct 23.

[nowty]

Do you know if the meter keeps its data if it loses mains power ?

Looks quite a handy gadget.

[Joeboy]

Do you know if the meter keeps its data if it loses mains power ?

Looks quite a handy gadget.

Hi Nowty, power cycled it twice this morning when hard wiring in. Kept its hard-won count from yesterday.

It's a cheery bright wee thing, just need 2" of din rail. Have you got?

[ecogeorge]

[/quote]
It's a cheery bright wee thing, just need 2" of din rail. Have you got?
[/quote]
pm me your address -can send offcut of Dinrail
George

[nowty]

Do you know if the meter keeps its data if it loses mains power ?

Looks quite a handy gadget.

Hi Nowty, power cycled it twice this morning when hard wiring in. Kept its hard-won count from yesterday.

It's a cheery bright wee thing, just need 2" of din rail. Have you got?

Might have a bit spare from yesteryear of craziness.