PV Plus / PV+ - any good?

[Stuart Houghton]

Not sure myself !

PV Plus (PV+) Grid Voltage Optimiser Monitor Unit (Fully Installed) | The Renewable Energy Hub - https://www.renewableenergyhub.co.uk/product/pv-plus-grid-voltage-optimiser-monitor-unit-fully-installed.html

PV Plus (PV+) Voltage Solar Panel System Generation Optimiser
Generate 20% more electricity from your Solar Panel System using the NEW PV+.

NO HIDDEN EXTRAS - FULLY INSTALLED PRICE - GUARANTEED

How does the PV + work?

Solar PV systems have to increase the supplied voltage, by typically 4 volts, to be able to push the generated energy around your property and if not used back onto the national grid.

The increase in voltage and losses in wiring circuits can cause inverters to prematurely shut down on over voltage settings.

By monitoring the incoming supply voltage the PV+ unit allows the PV inverter to compliantly stay in circuit longer, preventing nuisance over voltage shut down and increasing PV generation.

Furthermore like all electrical appliances manufactured for Europe and the UK, Solar PV inverters are designed to operate at 230V. Running inverters closer to their designed voltage will help prevent over heating of the appliance.

Why do I need a PV Plus?
According to a recent report carried out by Western Power Distribution over 50% of our homes and businesses are supplied at a voltage above 243.8V, with nearly 7%of these being supplied with a voltage above 248.8V!

Although this falls well within the allowed supply voltages of 207/253V it can lead to loss of generation from your PV system. Reducing precious free generated energy and potentially reducing your return on investment.

 

[Dan]

Is this for your own home?

 

[Stuart Houghton]

Is this for your own home?

No Im an installer and one of my customers asked my views in the product and I have never heard of it. It sounds a bit suspect to me !

 

[Leesparkykent]

Don't bother its complete tosh and pure sales spiel. I bet you've never experienced overvoltage significant enough to cut the inverter out. Under G83 the upper limit over voltage switch off is 264V. A properly designed PV circuit that limits volt drop to the recommended values is all that's needed. In all honestly it would have to be a extremely long circuit and your house would have to be next door to the local transformer for it to be even a minute threat of over voltage. The distribution network operator is duty bound to limit your in coming voltage to 253V but unless your house sits right on local transformer then its going to be no where near that more likely to be in the range of 230V-245V. If your incoming voltage was 253V and the overcurrent protective device is 16A (also the system would have to performing at peak performance to get any where near 16A). The circuit length would have to be in the region of 63meters to be a concern if 4mm T&E was used. When you weigh it all up the likely hood is extremely slim.

Edit: just noticed your an installer not a customer looking to install it

 

[Dan]

Surely as an installer you know whether it's viable?

 

[SolarRoofSols]

We've had a number of calls asking our opinion about this as there are a few companies doing the hard sell in our area (Sheffield). One was an old client we installed for on behalf of a company who went bust (before we were MCS registered).

He called me before allowing the sales man in the house and (he was bored and wanted to know how his details had been passed on) he found out from the sales man that he got his details from the warranty provider. Not sure which company the warranty was with and not sure why I am surprised that lists are being sold to enable these harassing salesmen to make a fortune from this!