Hi all,
In need of advice. In January we installed a Solar battery system, which consists of
20 panels
Inverter Energy Meter ET112 firmware 4
VE. Bus system MultiPlus-II 48/5000/70-48 firmware 2623552
SmartSolar MPPT VE.Can 250/70 rev2 firmware v3.16 x2
Cerbo GX MK2
Pylontech battery VRM 512 x2
I have now fund out that in cse of powercut my system is not design to be islanding, which is one of the criteria I wanted to meet with the installation.
The company that installed it went bankrupt last month and a local solar installer just wants to sell me a complete new system.
How can I convert my current system, please? really disapointed with the whole situation.
Advice will be most welcome, please
Many thanks in advance
Hi, Probably your installer used the AC-input only and has setup an ESS assistant in the multiplus to aim for a zero-watt grid-set point on your ET112. (The right thing to do). The advantages are 1.) that the power of the grid can be combined on top of the 4000W your multiplus can deliver. 2.) Switching from grid to battery is without any interuption or phase shift. 3.) If the multiplus fails our grid will still cover your loads. The switchover to the AC-out1/2 will bring only one advantage over many disadvantages. If you live in a country like me with 99.99xxx% power coverage I would not change anything out of fear (spain in the news). What you could do is provide a fuse/30mA leak detector switch and a power socket of your choice to the critical loads AC output of your multiplus. In case of a spain-like 24h grid failure it could provide you with a plug to plug in your fridge/freezer/phone charger. You can also change the topology of your system and place your whole house on the AC-out side but that will limit your peak consumption to 4000Watts. Not enough in most cases. You can also split up critical loads only to the AC out like fridge/freezer/certain lighting/some plugs. But again then you need an extra 30mA or 300mA / fuse / wiring. It also depends on the location of your installation in relation to your main electrical board. I need more info to give you an definitive anwser. What scenarios do you want to cover with that islanding?
i Gerd,
Thanks so much for your prompt reply.
The unit has been installed with a 13Amp socket that it can be used for what you described.
I would like to be able to use the panels in case of a power failure. It seems silly to have that much power being generated that I cannot use, and once the 2x5 Kw battery is depleted via the 13 Amp, I literally have no power.
Second question is
I have 20 panels and they are 420W. My electrician has mentioned that the inverter is overloaded at peaks times.
Would you agree with him?
Many thanks in advance for all your time to reply
Kind regards
Txema
Well on the first question, it is a matter of rewiring quite a lot. Not only on the victron side but also your house to split up critical loads/non critical. You need more than some advice and/or parameter modifications. Best to search for the right man on the spot.
2nd question: The MPPT can handle 1700W, more than the panels can deliver. The multiplus should not charge or discharge more than is set in the configuration so normally nothing will be overloaded. If you do rewire and put the solar/house on the output side to cover grid blackouts chances aor much bigger to overload the inverter.
Thank you very much for your expertise
Basically, leave it as it is