low output until all panels in sun

[davey_b]

I think we'd all be interested in seeing how it's been wired up...

No experience with Solarmax but we'd have used a Power One in this scenario. Or perhaps Solar Edge. Probably would have positioned the panels differently as well.

I'll get a photo for you tonight. What in particular are you looking for a photo of?

 

[whinmoor]

I'll get a photo for you tonight. What in particular are you looking for a photo of?

Just the whole thing. Is it in the loft directly below the panels or somewhere else? Where the isolators are, how they connect to the inverter, what cable has been used...

It's probably been done correctly and only the shading is impacting on output but if there's something wrong, you've got a few dozen experienced installers who might spot it.

 

[davey_b]

OK, that all makes sense.

I spoke to a guy called Iain Garner from Tigo this afternoon about their optimisers. That was really helpful and it seems that the kit that they have could help us overcome this issue. Also solarmax have now said that we'll need a new inverter since there is the issue with a fan failure! Hopefully we'll get there in the end.

 

[davey_b]

Ok, here's some photos. It's in the loft just below the panels.

 

[oliver s]

Looks to me that the pos and neg are the wrong way round in the inverter if the tape on the cables are correct? only looks like 1.5 flex to the AC isolator 2.5 at best, should be 6mm, 4mm at worst. Are there any other isolators for the DC supply from the array. In all doesn't look too good would definitely get them back

 

[whinmoor]

Are there any DC isolators or are they somehow built into the inverter? Doesn't look like it to me.

There should really be a label on the inverter but that's small fry compared to other issues. The four cables flying thru the loftspace aren't best practice either. They should really be clipped or run in trunking and clearly labelled.

No fireproof board behind the inverter either...

 

[davey_b]

There's an isolator between the meter and the consumer unit but that's it as far as I can see.

Do you mean the cable that runs from the inverter to the ac isolator in the loft is too thin? The grey twin and earth? What effect would that have? Could it cause the inverter to restart as shown in the videos I posted earlier?

Thanks guys, this is a big help and feel I'm getting to grips with it.

 

[oliver s]

The main concern is the white cable from the bottom of the isolator which should go to your consumer unit via another isolator and the generation meter this would cause conciderable volt drop and loss in generation but the main issue is the positive and negative the wrong way round from the panels this would cause the problems you have, don't be tempted to swop them round as there are no isolators and would be very dangerous, it definitely needs looking at by someone who knows what they are doing

 

[jason121]

Best not call the original installer then

 

[oliver s]

I would agree with that

 

[davey_b]

What do you mean about the white cable? At the moment that runs to the generation meter, then to an isolator and then to the consumer unit.

 

[solarfred]

The three connectors on the far left are positive DC inputs and the three on the right are negative DC inputs. There is a DC isolator inbuilt on the unit. No way of knowing if the cables are wrongly marked. It's just a nasty lazy installation.
How did they test each string without DC isolators - well of course they didn't. Normally if you reverse the input polarity the unit will not work but this puts out 3kw so who knows what is going on.
Is there a test report sheet in your customer pack?

 

[whinmoor]

What do you mean about the white cable? At the moment that runs to the generation meter, then to an isolator and then to the consumer unit.

Does it connect to the main house consumer unit or did they install a dedicated "mini-consumer unit"?

 

[davey_b]

No test report sheet that I can see.

Connects into main consumer unit.

 

[oliver s]

The white cable is way too small it should be 6mm the same as you would use for a shower/ cooker supply.