Question relating to Proposed System

[MattyKHZ]

Being in a new build 4 bed detached that is south facing and ideal for PV I have started looking and had a few quotes and decided upon the following system:

17 x Sanyo HIT-N235SE10 Panels
SMA 4000TL Inverter

Not being good with electrics I am reading about G83 and 4000TL sometimes being refused by the DNO on a 4KW system. Mine would be 3.95KW I believe.

I have also read that you can cap the 4000TL at somewhere in the region of 3.6KW and was wondering why you would do this? Surely if you are doing that then you could use less panels or am I missing something?

Our house has a Wylex NHRS4504 consumer unit with a 80A RCD, NSB06 x 3 modules, NB16 x 1 module, NSB32 x 4 modules and NSB40 x 1 module. I believe I would either need an additional unit for the PV as I have no spares or was thinking could I get something like a 15 way Wylex Consumer Unit, transfer the modules across to it and simply pay for the extra modules needed. Reason being we are also planning a new kitchen and believe lighting and motors in the wall units may require some more power than what our existing set up provides so trying to future proof our house.

Hopefully we will get our install before the December 8th FIT changes but wanting to try and esnsure it is as smooth as possible.

We are with EDF and have already got their FIT forms.

Any advice would be welcome.

Thanks in advance,

Matt

 

[MorganPVI]

Your installer needs to have the PV on a deadicated circuit, inverters can take 4secs to power down, so would can cause death if on a houshold circuit that requires RCD protection.

Why not think about 16 x Sanyo 250w panels on a SB3300 or Fronius 3.6tl, unless you have a split array a SB4000tl is oversized imo.

 

[SRE]

We are with EDF and have already got their FIT forms.


Matt[/QUOTE]

You my want to think again about EDF we're with them - they hven't got a rush in them! Eon seem a bit quicker and you don't need to have your electricity with them. Time is very much money this year!!!

 

[poheZ]

An SMA or fronius will maintain its efficiency as long as your input is more than 4% of power rating of the inverter

Even if you had 3.6kw worth of panels it would work fine on a 4000tl

 

[MattyKHZ]

We are with EDF and have already got their FIT forms.


Matt

You my want to think again about EDF we're with them - they hven't got a rush in them! Eon seem a bit quicker and you don't need to have your electricity with them. Time is very much money this year!!![/QUOTE]

I was told that if I scan and email everything over they will confirm receipt same day and that is the date classed for registration of the FIT.

 

[MattyKHZ]

Also would a Dual RCD consumer unit work with the PV on one of the RCD's?

Was quoted by 1 installer for a 2 way consumer unit at £150 and a 12 or 15 way at £350 so not sure why they would quote for replacing my existing consumer unit if it was not feasible?

 

[SRE]

You my want to think again about EDF we're with them - they hven't got a rush in them! Eon seem a bit quicker and you don't need to have your electricity with them. Time is very much money this year!!!

I was told that if I scan and email everything over they will confirm receipt same day and that is the date classed for registration of the FIT.[/QUOTE]


Up to you, but every one of my customers has had problems with delays with EDF. What they say and what they do aren't necessarily the same. FiT rates are the perfect example!!

 

[and]

MorganPVI

"Your installer needs to have the PV on a deadicated circuit, inverters can take 4secs to power down, so would can cause death if on a houshold circuit that requires RCD protection."

Does this mean that my install shouldn't go into my Consumer Unit - I have spare fuses in both the RCD and non-RCD side and quotes I've had have all mentioned just connecting up into one of the spares on the CU ... which I assume to be the RCD one.

Am I missing something here?

 

[SolarCity]

As long as it goes in the non-RCD side then there is no issue.

 

[MattyKHZ]

So am I correct in thinking I can simply buy a larger Wylex CU than the NHRS4504 I already have, transfer modules across and just pay for the extra modules required if 12 or 15 way rather than buy a whole new CU and start from scratch?

 

[MattyKHZ]

Looking at Wylex they seem to do some CU designed for PV in either 11, 12 or 13 way so may go for one of those.

Regarding Inverters, would the Solaredge 4KW be a better option than the SMA 4000TL if the Solaredge is limited to 16A or can the 4000TL also do this?

If not limiting to 16A does the installer or myself have to ask the DNO and does this take too long????

Sorry for all the questions.

 

[langstroth2]

If not limiting to 16A does the installer or myself have to ask the DNO and does this take too long????

Your installer. Depends on the DNO. SSE took about 4 weeks with mine I think.