2.94kW in Cwmbran - finally!

[martin W]

Well folks I finally got around to installing PV at home. The bees didn't seem to mind us being up on roof next to their chimney which had been worrying me a little. we had to shoo a couple out of the way who landed a little low on the roof instead of their chimney pot, other than that all went well.

Navitron folks A1 on turn around of MCS certificate, less than 24hours after submitting installation paperwork I had the MCS cert... well done to all in the office in this manic time.

Just 2 quick photos for now... I'll add some tidy array ones once the scaffolding is down.

I also added another 10x 47mm solar thermal tubes to my 30 tube panel at the same time. With the weather we've had the last 2 years without 3 or 4 days of good sun in a row I wanted more toobs, but 10 extra is the most I can fit. I might stick another 30 tubes on the flat roof if the RHI actually comes into being.

[Richard Owen]

Excellent stuff.

Well done.

[ecogeorge]

Well done , get it on the pdpv database so we can all compare.
http://bdpv.com/index_en.php

rgds George.

[martin W]

got on the database.. can't up load anything... site must be in update or something....

[martin W]

first 9 days production is 23kWh, not bad considering it has been raining cats and dogs for about half of these days!

[martin W]

Here's a pic of most of decembers output - very poor at 43kWh for the month.... I just found out why.... the damn grid voltage is dropping as low as 200V

Does anyone have the service password for the Aurora 3.6 Inverter so I can alter the grid connection from 220v to 207 or lower....

[StBarnabas]

Here's a pic of most of decembers output - very poor at 43kWh for the month.... I just found out why.... the damn grid voltage is dropping as low as 200V

Does anyone have the service password for the Aurora 3.6 Inverter so I can alter the grid connection from 220v to 207 or lower.

Sadly altering the voltage will take it out of G83/1 limits and will be illegal I think. You need to get onto your DNO and complain.
Sean

[martin W]

Sean, Gavin just posted that over on the solar PV thread.

what's with the 220v min grid connection in the inverter, and us having a grid that can go as low as 216.2 or 207volts

[Iain]

Hi Martin
Are you sure your inverter is actually on G83/1 Settings?
Worth checking, your installer could easily change it over.
If the DNO started monitoring the voltage I am sure they might want to check the settings on your inverter before altering any thing on their side..
My inverter is set to 207V min 264V max under G83
I think most of the values are here:-
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=g83%2F1%20settings&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CDgQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sma.de%2Fen%2Fservice%2Fdownloads%2Fdlf%2FRzgzMTFfU0JXQjItM0hGLVpFTjEwNDIxMA%25253D%25253D%2Fdownload.html%3Ftype%3D281%26cHash%3D36464658487fc1e2dad70cec03ddef84&ei=sjQAT87eKcGT8gOs2s2qBQ&usg=AFQjCNFi08c-h_2jIsRYE9M8B6kSYdHgQQ&cad=rja

Iain

[martin W]

Iain, mines definately set at 220v min, not 207volts. I need the service password to access the settings. (I installed the PV via Navitron Easy MCS).

It looks Like I will have to wait on Power One technical, and also whatever my DNO (western power) can come up with to sort out the supply side.

oh well..

Happy New Year Everyone

[DonL]

Hi Martin
I had problems with the supply voltage but at the upper end. I found that, with the exception of brief excursions, the DNO is obliged to keep the supply below 230V + 10% or 253V.
If the limit is the same below (I can't remember if this was the case) it would be 230V - 10% or 207V.
I suspect that with a voltage as low as 200V at the connection point they are obliged to rectify the problem.
Don

[BruceB]

The ESQC regs allow 230V +10% -6%

[GavinA]

The ESQC regs allow 230V +10% -6%

I think I'm right in saying that these are the 10 minute average figures, and the instantaneous figures are significantly wider than this, but your inverter set up under G83 settings should allow for this.

It always struck me as a bit odd that they've actually got the undervoltage cut out for g83 set at the lowest allowable levels for the grid, as the only thing that that an inverter cutting out at that point is going to do is to reduce the local grid voltage even further (admittedly not that much in most circumstances, but still).

[StBarnabas]

The regs are asymmetric because of the European Harmonisation Directive.  Traditionally the Continent was on 220V and the UK at 240V. When 230V was agreed little was done (in the short term at least). The UK largely seems to large run at 240V at least in remote outposts such as Northumberland.