Solar... who's clued in?

FYI for anyone considering solar batteries -

www.solarquotes.com.au

Sigenergy's Terminal Problem: Melted Plugs & Throttled Inverters

Sigenergy inverter design and install issues have been linked to a small fire and a number of melted plugs in Australian homes.
www.solarquotes.com.au www.solarquotes.com.au

I installed this system in July and was really happy with it, no power bill at all for 2 months then the AC connector fried/melted/short circuited a month ago. Still not fixed but hopefully things are moving now.
I still like the system but if you are thinking of getting one then ensure your installer follows the installation guide to the letter especially around correct cable size and bends in the cable.
Someone also commented that they have been waiting over 7 weeks for their warranty replacement Tesla Powerwall so I guess all brands have their issues but the way Sigenergy have handled this has left a lot to be desired.
 
Cheka said:
FYI for anyone considering solar batteries -

www.solarquotes.com.au

Sigenergy's Terminal Problem: Melted Plugs & Throttled Inverters

Sigenergy inverter design and install issues have been linked to a small fire and a number of melted plugs in Australian homes.
www.solarquotes.com.au www.solarquotes.com.au

I installed this system in July and was really happy with it, no power bill at all for 2 months then the AC connector fried/melted/short circuited a month ago. Still not fixed but hopefully things are moving now.
I still like the system but if you are thinking of getting one then ensure your installer follows the installation guide to the letter especially around correct cable size and bends in the cable.
Someone also commented that they have been waiting over 7 weeks for their warranty replacement Tesla Powerwall so I guess all brands have their issues but the way Sigenergy have handled this has left a lot to be desired.
Click to expand...
Yikes. Just had our system upgraded - using Goodwe and I was shown the shutdown process and it is printed on the side of the inverter as well. I asked about Sigenergy as seems to be very popular and the installer said they are holding off and waiting to see how they go as new to the market.

Hopefully they improve as looks like good products.
 
Best day in the new house so far, pretty happy with 90 kWh

1764909422468.png
 
I have a solar mystery to solve.

Recently bought a house with a solar system installed, no battery. there are 25 panels on the roof and a box installed on the wall (see pic below). We were not provided ANY details of the system by the seller, not even the PW for the system. It seems like an Enphase system with micro-converters (which is strange given that there are no shading issues). So I have no idea on the system specs, not can I understand it's output.

I'm considering a battery with the current support schemes from the Commonwealth and the ACT govt (3%pa loan up to $15k). Without the information regarding the system, I can't work out optimal size for the battery. I believe the default log in for the app includes the serial number, but I can't even find that on the system.

Any advice? (pics after dinner).
 
silentbutdeadly said:
How in the sweet sweaty undies of Satan are you consuming nearly 48 kWh of electricity? And more to the point....why?

I think we used 9 kWh today despite it being 36 degrees.
Click to expand...
dude we have a few days of 50 plus i think i maxxed out at 62kwhrs.... NO EV big house, pool, 3 phase aircon, electric oven and stove top
 
johnny said:
I have a solar mystery to solve.

Recently bought a house with a solar system installed, no battery. there are 25 panels on the roof and a box installed on the wall (see pic below). We were not provided ANY details of the system by the seller, not even the PW for the system. It seems like an Enphase system with micro-converters (which is strange given that there are no shading issues). So I have no idea on the system specs, not can I understand it's output.

I'm considering a battery with the current support schemes from the Commonwealth and the ACT govt (3%pa loan up to $15k). Without the information regarding the system, I can't work out optimal size for the battery. I believe the default log in for the app includes the serial number, but I can't even find that on the system.

Any advice? (pics after dinner).
Click to expand...
Awaiting pics but no receipts or hints as to installer?
 
johnny said:
I have a solar mystery to solve.

Recently bought a house with a solar system installed, no battery. there are 25 panels on the roof and a box installed on the wall (see pic below). We were not provided ANY details of the system by the seller, not even the PW for the system. It seems like an Enphase system with micro-converters (which is strange given that there are no shading issues). So I have no idea on the system specs, not can I understand it's output.

I'm considering a battery with the current support schemes from the Commonwealth and the ACT govt (3%pa loan up to $15k). Without the information regarding the system, I can't work out optimal size for the battery. I believe the default log in for the app includes the serial number, but I can't even find that on the system.

Any advice? (pics after dinner).
Click to expand...
Pic 42.jpg


Pic 32.jpg


Pic 23.jpg


Pic 12.jpg
 
Ok google the brand names and location between ". You might find some installers who have that gear then ringle them up and see if any kitted out your place. Panels should have a nameplate under. Mirror? Will look at pics but probably got nuffink.

Installer Locator | Enphase

Find an Enphase solar installer near you.
enphase.com enphase.com

Quite a few installers it seems, you might get lucky.
 
could check with your energy distributor (not retail), they may/should have details registered with them?
eg for Ausgrid
AEMO’s Distributed Energy Resource Register
Solar and battery installers will need to enter installation and DER equipment information directly into AEMO’s Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Register within 20 days of DER installation/activation. You can find out more about your obligations as an installer on our Distributed Energy Resources Register.
Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Register
Another option from Whirlpool
1767094120141.png
 
Last edited:
2 problems
You want to know about the system.
Maybe you want a battery.
Battery size depends on roughly the daily kW output ,what you consume and when.
IMO if you put the panels on and export lots of electricity in the middle of the day you would be losing and need a battery but since the panels came with the house its not so bad.
If you planned to buy an EV that will soak up heaps of electricity and then driving is virtually free or your household is home during the day or you need lots of heating and cooling on a timer , then no need for a battery.
A battery cant store a shitload of power for high usage , it can just shift the power from the panels until evening.
People including my daughter are buying batteries whether it makes economic sense or not ,they like the idea that they are getting something from the government.
My experience is based on 15 years of living off grid.
 
rowdyflat said:
2 problems
You want to know about the system.
Maybe you want a battery.
Battery size depends on roughly the daily kW output ,what you consume and when.
IMO if you put the panels on and export lots of electricity in the middle of the day you would be losing and need a battery but since the panels came with the house its not so bad.
If you planned to buy an EV that will soak up heaps of electricity and then driving is virtually free or your household is home during the day or you need lots of heating and cooling on a timer , then no need for a battery.
A battery cant store a shitload of power for high usage , it can just shift the power from the panels until evening.
People including my daughter are buying batteries whether it makes economic sense or not ,they like the idea that they are getting something from the government.
My experience is based on 15 years of living off grid.
Click to expand...
I'd say that we have 3 problems:
  1. We don't know about the system,
  2. We don't know our power demands in this new house (reverse cycle central heat/cooling, heat pump hot water, induction cooktop, heated floors, will consider an EV in about 5 years - some one working from home 3-4 days a week), and
  3. We can't tell if we want a battery.
    1. We need to answer that questions before May when the subsidies are reduced.
Without knowing the output of the system and our demands for energy, we're completely in the dark. I'm thinking that we'd break even on a 15KwPH system in about 6 years, maybe a little earlier. If we produce more during the day that we use, we can pour the rest into an EV and save some decent coin. But, that would probably mean getting a 20KwPH system, and we do the math all over again...
However, we can't start any of this until we answer questions 1 & 2.
 
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