All things Solar (merged threads)

[sgt_doofey]

Just had a look at the old inverter today. We should clock over 10000kW/h once we start getting a bit more sunshine. Most likely sometime over summer.
That's from our little 1.5kW system over the last 4 years.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[Rs31markie]

Hi, has anyone used these micro invertors? And if so did they give you any trouble, going to get solar, but had several salespeople round, but just get the feeling they're not being entirely truthful. I want a system that in a few years time I can add batteries, as I'm sure the cost of these will come down.

[Sox]

Recently had a 5.2kw system fitted, split over east/west of the shed.
Fronius 3 phase inverter, Trina panels.
$8345, complete with meter changeover.
Haven't had bill yet, but meter reader showed up the other day.

[EgoFG]

Originally Posted by Rs31markie

Hi, has anyone used these micro invertors? And if so did they give you any trouble, going to get solar, but had several salespeople round, but just get the feeling they're not being entirely truthful. I want a system that in a few years time I can add batteries, as I'm sure the cost of these will come down.

I have enphase microinverters - one per panel (310)

They are great - you can see power per panel - meaning that you can compare to your usage and then figure out which way you want any new panels to face.

With single inverter system, it is "one out all out" with microinverters, it is one out one out !! - great if you have shade - but even of value if you do not.

I have a two story home now, and need to optimise my roof space - not possible with a 1 or 2 string system.

[Myluckyday]

Originally Posted by wodahs

yep and they wonder why were interested in solar to help keep our costs down then they rort us on the feed in tariffs

wonder how the battery storage prices are going these days am always thinking getting completely out of the control of the power suppliers

The ABC's Science program Catalyst looked that the issue earlier this year.

Here is the link to the program ... http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4398364.htm

[hackney]

Originally Posted by Myluckyday

The ABC's Science program Catalyst looked that the issue earlier this year.

Here is the link to the program ... http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4398364.htm

That was a great episode on solar & battery technology.

[Mowdit]

Originally Posted by Rs31markie

Hi, has anyone used these micro invertors? And if so did they give you any trouble, going to get solar, but had several salespeople round, but just get the feeling they're not being entirely truthful. I want a system that in a few years time I can add batteries, as I'm sure the cost of these will come down.

Originally Posted by EgoFG

I have enphase microinverters - one per panel (310)

They are great - you can see power per panel - meaning that you can compare to your usage and then figure out which way you want any new panels to face.

With single inverter system, it is "one out all out" with microinverters, it is one out one out !! - great if you have shade - but even of value if you do not.

I have a two story home now, and need to optimise my roof space - not possible with a 1 or 2 string system.

We have a Tindo 5kw Micro Inverter system, paid too much, but it is largely due to having the system installed over 4 different roof area's directions (4 panels face SW) $14,000 in Nov 2013

Am in South Sydney currently, household of 4.5, Solar hot water, pool pump, several big TV's and air cond, in the last 12 months we have exported 15-20% more than we have imported due to night time usage

There are more advantages to the Micro inverter system, BUT "negotiate" any system you choose to buy, get several prices from different companies to compare, ensure you have/supplied a plan/layout for the panels (as the salesman says one thing and the installers DO whatever is easiest for them, beware of additional costs (some do not include the cost of the smart meter).
If the finished job doesn't look professional then question it, if not happy delay the final payment and have it independently checked (mine was completely rewired !)
Saves me approx. $2,400pa

[Rs31markie]

Thanks, had two quotes one for 9.45kw the big lg panels but only a 5kw inverter which doesn't make sense to me, that was $13k, the second quote was again for 9.45kw lg panels again, but this time with micro inverters and this was $20k which is too much. I'm in FNQ. Not really sure what to do next, the advantage of the micro system is I can just add batteries but on the other system I need another inverter.

[deesun]

Originally Posted by Rs31markie

Thanks, had two quotes one for 9.45kw the big lg panels but only a 5kw inverter which doesn't make sense to me, that was $13k, the second quote was again for 9.45kw lg panels again, but this time with micro inverters and this was $20k which is too much. I'm in FNQ. Not really sure what to do next, the advantage of the micro system is I can just add batteries but on the other system I need another inverter.

I will start the ball rolling on this one. I myself have a 6.1 system with a 5kw inverter, a system rarely works at its full capacity. I have never seen mine over about 5.2kw and that has only been in short bursts on optimal days. I have no idea what happens to any extra over the 5kw produced but it is probably wasted or AGL gets it for free as I doubt AGL would be paying me for it.
My system is about 4.5years old now and it had to be approved by Energex and I was told I wouldn't get it approved if it was too much over the 5kw. What have the installers said to you? Can I ask some other questions like why such a big system, have you hunted around for the best FIT? I think it is very low now but prices for solar have come down now and one wipes out the other. Do you really need the m/p's, do u have shade over your panels or panels on different roof areas? I am really lucky as I have all 27 panels on one roofspace and they face North with no shade at all. Good luck with it.

[CJR09]

Originally Posted by Rs31markie

Thanks, had two quotes one for 9.45kw the big lg panels but only a 5kw inverter which doesn't make sense to me, that was $13k, the second quote was again for 9.45kw lg panels again, but this time with micro inverters and this was $20k which is too much. I'm in FNQ. Not really sure what to do next, the advantage of the micro system is I can just add batteries but on the other system I need another inverter.

Originally Posted by deesun

I will start the ball rolling on this one. I myself have a 6.1 system with a 5kw inverter, a system rarely works at its full capacity. I have never seen mine over about 5.2kw and that has only been in short bursts on optimal days. I have no idea what happens to any extra over the 5kw produced but it is probably wasted or AGL gets it for free as I doubt AGL would be paying me for it.
My system is about 4.5years old now and it had to be approved by Energex and I was told I wouldn't get it approved if it was too much over the 5kw. What have the installers said to you? Can I ask some other questions like why such a big system, have you hunted around for the best FIT? I think it is very low now but prices for solar have come down now and one wipes out the other. Do you really need the m/p's, do u have shade over your panels or panels on different roof areas? I am really lucky as I have all 27 panels on one roofspace and they face North with no shade at all. Good luck with it.

You can over-clock inverters generally to the tune of about 10% - this depends on inverter quality mostly and will be listed in the specs of the manufacturer

reasons for doing this is generally to make up for inadequacies in system design - orientation, insolation, shading etc

The most I have seen go into a 5kw inverter is 7kw - you can theoretically have more than this but it needs engineering around it to determine exact solar irradiation absorption which as mentioned above is determined by orientation and insolation etc


a system should be designed to meet daytime usage - 20k buys you ALOT of power

[davenl5l]

Well i signed up for one big switch as they are also looking to get a better feed in rate from the power companies............worth a try and cost nothing

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by davenl5l

Well i signed up for one big switch as they are also looking to get a better feed in rate from the power companies............worth a try and cost nothing

I had a hard look at those...but they couldn't get down to what I am charged by Lumo and their POT discount % off was only off the usage charges, not the entire bill.

however having said that I'm still studying their two tiered charging system and FIT, I'm sick of the major players constantly jacking up the cost of power just because it's a new year.

solar input is down to about 8 KW ($4.00) per day now, I hate winter.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by CJR09

You can over-clock inverters generally to the tune of about 10% - this depends on inverter quality mostly and will be listed in the specs of the manufacturer

reasons for doing this is generally to make up for inadequacies in system design - orientation, insolation, shading etc

The most I have seen go into a 5kw inverter is 7kw - you can theoretically have more than this but it needs engineering around it to determine exact solar irradiation absorption which as mentioned above is determined by orientation and insolation etc


a system should be designed to meet daytime usage - 20k buys you ALOT of power

Hmm. I've got a Power One (Aurora) 1.5k inverter which is/was supposedly the bees knees. Just checked the sticker and it says maximum continuous output @40°C ambient is 2000w.

Could I add a couple more panels?
Currently have 8x190w I think. Panels are BP Solar.

EDIT: Best I see going in is ~1kw.

[Mooka]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

Hmm. I've got a Power One (Aurora) 1.5k inverter which is/was supposedly the bees knees. Just checked the sticker and it says maximum continuous output @40°C ambient is 2000w.

Could I add a couple more panels?
Currently have 8x190w I think. Panels are BP Solar.

EDIT: Best I see going in is ~1kw.

You can load it up to 2600w, you will have a hard time finding matching model # panels.

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by Mooka

You can load it up to 2600w, you will have a hard time finding matching model # panels.

yes.... as stated the panels must have the identical output and preferably matching in all other aspects as well but I can't see any problem, we have done it here.

if you have a P.V.S.E.G. agreement with your energy supplier for your initial sizing I'm not sure how you would go if they found out you had increased it, I know they don't like it.

[Mercury Bullet]

Cheers Poppa.

I might ring the company who installed it, they might have some old ones lying around.
Currently mine is pointless, I'm lucky if I get $20 off my bill.

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

Cheers Poppa.

I might ring the company who installed it, they might have some old ones lying around.
Currently mine is pointless, I'm lucky if I get $20 off my bill.

no worries mate.....but you must also take into account the amount it is providing direct to the household when calculating the effectiveness of solar......you may just find it is reducing your account quite a bit by supplying direct to use.

[josh1990]

Has anyone here used EuroSolar? Buying our first house and their prices are attaractive <$4K for 5KW). Good/Bad/Staythe****away? https://www.eurosolar.com.au/

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by josh1990

Has anyone here used EuroSolar? Buying our first house and their prices are attaractive <$4K for 5KW). Good/Bad/Staythe****away? https://www.eurosolar.com.au/

I found this a useful resource when I was investigating different solar suppliers. May be of some assistance to you too.....

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by josh1990

Has anyone here used EuroSolar? Buying our first house and their prices are attaractive <$4K for 5KW). Good/Bad/Staythe****away? https://www.eurosolar.com.au/

thats about right for 5 KW.....the thing is to make sure they are good quality panels and a decent inverter, do a bit of research on the systems, Josh has a good starter site, many more out there, they should carry a 25 year written performance guarantee.

[Mercury Bullet]

That's a good site.

The only recommendation I could give is get the best inverter you can afford.
I've heard of so many problems with Chinese gear. Mine is Power One (Italian) and has been faultless for 10 years and still going strong.
They aren't cheap though, mine was about 5 grand back in the day.

[josh1990]

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

I found this a useful resource when I was investigating different solar suppliers. May be of some assistance to you too.....

https://www.solarquotes.com.au/insta...ew/euro-solar/

Thanks, I'll steer well clear

[davenl5l]

Originally Posted by josh1990

Has anyone here used EuroSolar? Buying our first house and their prices are attaractive <$4K for 5KW). Good/Bad/Staythe****away? https://www.eurosolar.com.au/

I used them good service and installation i highly recommend them( mind you it was about 3 years ago )

[prydey]

I have a cheap Chinese system purchased and installed through true value solar. It is covered by the same performance based warranties as all the so called big brands so that was enough for me. I purchased on price basically.

Over 3 years on and it has been faultless. It's only a 3.8kw system as that's all i could afford at the time ($6.5k) but in another 18 months i should recoup the costs. I only have 16c fit + 8c from agl. It covers my usage in summer and halves my usage in winter.

True value get a fair bit of bad press but 90% of that is due to some poor installations pre 2011. Either way, I've never been one to take too much notice of online reviews. You can never vouch for their authenticity and most people only take the time to review of they are having issues so negative reviews are nearly always over represented.

SA has the highest electricity rates in the country, with solar customers paying more. The whole ' system' is a joke.

[josh1990]

Originally Posted by davenl5l

I used them good service and installation i highly recommend them( mind you it was about 3 years ago )

Mate from what I've recently read on Facebook and the above site, plus other sources since I've posted here I wish you luck that you stay happy with them. I was seriously considering the 5kw system for $3641 but I've been completely put off. They were also fined by the ACCC for being lying ****** and using ching panels when marketed as Aussie panels. Their early inverters have a tendency to go bang etc. I'm going to spend a bit extra and go with a reputable company if we do go the solar route.

[poppa smurf]

http://www.afr.com/business/energy/e...0160804-gqlll1

be interesting to see how the power is fed back into the grid from these 7KW systems, whether AGL will run it through the meter, thereby paying the tariff to the producer, or whether it will bypass the meter and all monies directed into AGL's pockets.

either way I want a couple of them.

[LG17]

What's it about Poppa?
It's one of those 'you have to subscribe if...' pages.

[poppa smurf]

oh okay....it opened straight up for me without subscription, but I'll post the whole thing for you

AGL Energy to harness power of 1000 batteries in 'virtual power plant'
AGL is to create a 'virtual power plant' from 1000 solar power-fed batteries in South Australia.
by Angela Macdonald-Smith Simon Evans

AGL Energy is to set up what it says will be the world's largest "virtual power plant", using 1000 connected storage batteries installed in homes and businesses in South Australia which will feed off solar panels on rooftops to ease bottlenecks on the grid and help reduce price spikes.

The Sunverge storage batteries would normally cost $16,000 if acquired outside of the special project, but householders will be able to buy them for just $3500 under the heavily-subsidised program.

AGL will pump in $9 million to the project, while there is also $5 million in federal government funding for the $20 million demonstration project, which will provide participants with discounted batteries supplied by AGL's partner Sunverge.

The solar-powered batteries that make up the power plant will be able to store seven megawatt-hours of energy, with output equivalent to a five megawatt solar plant. The project is intended to help customers manage their energy bills while at the same time contributing to the stability of the grid.

AGL managing director Andy Vesey said the project would soon be expanded to include other suppliers of storage batteries, but Sunverge had been chosen initially because it fitted the technical and quality requirements of the ground-breaking program which he labelled the largest of its type in the world.

"It's agnostic," Mr Vesey said about the eventual plan to let other battery providers in. "The benefits for us in time will be to get as many providers in as we can," he said.

A similar project in New York is preparing to do a similar trial, but with only 300 households.

He said the project would demonstrate alternative ways to manage peaks in energy demand, contributing to grid stability and supporting the higher penetration of intermittent, renewable generation on the grid. He was speaking in Adelaide at the launch of the project. The South Australian capital is at the heart of the state's energy crisis.

South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis told reporters in Adelaide that battery storage was a game-changer.

"This is the equivalent of rainwater tanks for electricity," Mr Koutsantonis said. "This gives us the ability to turn a dumb grid into a smart grid."

Mr Vesey said households were likely to save the equivalent of about $500 a year off their energy bills by participating in the program.

Some $5 million of the project costs will be provided by the taxpayer-funded Australian Renewable Energy Agency, subject to conditions, while Sunverge is contributing $1.5 million through their technology contribution.

Experts in the industry have been forecasting that the concept of a "virtual power plant" would soon hit Australia's shares in the wake of pilot projects overseas, including a 300-battery one announced in June by New York-based Consolidated Edison, Mr Vesey's first employer.

The concept underscores the value of staying connected to the grid so households can send surplus power generated by their solar panels and stored in batteries back into the grid when needed.

ARENA head Ivor Frischknecht said the government wanted to encourage others in the private sector to also consider how they could use renewable energy technology to deliver electricity "around-the-clock" in South Australia, where the intermittent nature of wind generation has underscored the volatility of wholesale power prices.

He said the project could point to solutions to the "challenges" in South Australia's grid and reduce the risk of power shocks. It could also help ease constraints in the grid, displace expensive gas-fired power and add capacity to complement the interconnector with Victoria during peak demand periods.

The batteries are to be rolled out in three phases over 18 months, with the whole demonstration project lasting five years. It would enable better understanding on where value is created from such a system, for grid and transmission companies, for consumers, for suppliers and others. That would help inform public policy and regulators on how to put in place measures to share out those benefits equitably, Mr Vesey said.

I hope I've done it right!

[LG17]

Thanks for that Poppa - it opened for half a second for me and then said subscribe.

So it's going to cost $3500 to save, by their reckoning about $500 a year...

[poppa smurf]

thats assuming they do the correct thing and run it through the meter, thereby paying us for the power supplied to grid.

they may choose to wire it before the meter and run it direct to grid and not pay us for the power taken.

it would potentially save a lot more than $500 per year if used correctly, in a household that only uses an average of 10 kilowatts per day it may save a lot.

the question is how is it to be used, in the end I am a bit sceptical in that it will benefit AGL more than the poor bloody consumer.

but I would love to be proven wrong.