serious worries.

[grandfortune]

nothing wrong with that installation what so ever. right inverter, panels in landscape no problem(even fixed at the long ends), ET solar panel bring good yields, 2.5mm cable is fine , bonding of array maybe that would need to be done, theres a potential hazard there so just bond it.apart from that all ok.

 

[stavtoon]

Thanks to everyone about this issue.

 

[SolarCity]

GF, are you sure that the ET panels can be fitted on the short sides without affecting the warranty?

It sounds like your main issue is the bonding. There is no question that it needs doing.

Regarding the inverter choice, I personally wouldn't be very happy and I'd be asking for a further discount. The "oh look, theres a chimney" comment is, frankly, pathetic. A smaller inverter would have been cheaper and given an equivalent yield. I'd argue that the only reason this inverter has been spec'd is that the original system was a 3.525kWp system.

 

[funboy57]

I have an email from ET that says you cant fix on the short sides.

http://www.etsolar.com/upload/Product/2011080506082181.pdf

Also on their MI is the requirement to earth the modules regardless what type of inverter you use. I queried this also and the answer back was they must be earthed.

 

[moggy1968]

2.5 is fine for this length of run. personally I would have used 4mm but 2.5 is ok over 5m.
Array needs bonding
inverter is overspecced, even for the original array and definately for the new one so sysyem will not be as efficient as it could be and you will have paid more for the inverter.
Don't know about these panels, never used them. Some manufacturers default option is you can't clamp on the short side, but if the panel is rigid enough it shouldn't cause a problem unless you need to make a warranty claim (hopefully unlikely!!)
With panels in different orientations they should have used a 2 string inverter.

 

[GaryM]

Moggy, I posted some figures from PVSOL above somewhere with different inverters and found the TL4000 to yield the most. Are you not a believer in figures from PVSOL? I know it's not the real world though it's all I have to go on.

 

[moggy1968]

no I'm not I'm afraid!!
It's a guide, a start point thats all.
For a 3.29kW system a 4kW inverter is way overspecced.

You look at what the software sugests, then look at it yourself in detail using your own skill and experience to come up with a choice suitable for the array.
You don't just fit whatever the computer says!!

For example, I've just run this through Sunny Design and it gives the green light for everything from a SB1200 to a SB5000!
I haven't look at this scenario in detail (and don't have the time to do so) but I would be looking at inverters between 3000 and 3600w

 

[SolarCity]

I get a bigger yield with an IG TL 30 on this system. I agree that the inverter is oversized - it won't result in a great loss in yield, if any at all, but you have paid extra for it which isn't really fair, is it?

 

[GaryM]

I get a bigger yield with an IG TL 30 on this system. I agree that the inverter is oversized - it won't result in a great loss in yield, if any at all, but you have paid extra for it which isn't really fair, is it?

I get lower. Would location play a big part as I used my location near Manchester.
Both systems wired as a single string of 14 panels.

Eversolar TL4000 - 2841.7kWh
Eversolar TL3200 - 2825.2kWh
Stecagrid 3000 - 2816.6kWh
Secagrid 3600 - 2811.5kWh
Fronius IGTL3.6 - 2797.8kWh
Fronius IGTL3.0 - 2791.9kWh
PowerOne PVI3600 - 2775.4kWh

 

[moggy1968]

yes it would, the further north you go the lower your yield so the more severe the effect of oversizing the inverter becomes.
I don't know what the start up viltage is on this inverter but the other problem that you can get by oversizing is that although the voltage is ok now, in a few years time as the panel voltage drops off, you may fail to achieve start up voltasge some days.

 

[GaryM]

yes it would, the further north you go the lower your yield so the more severe the effect of oversizing the inverter becomes.
I don't know what the start up viltage is on this inverter but the other problem that you can get by oversizing is that although the voltage is ok now, in a few years time as the panel voltage drops off, you may fail to achieve start up voltasge some days.

I was meaning would inverter A yeild more than inverter B in one location yet yeild less in another location?

125-550V for the EverSolar TL4000 so shouldn't be a problem.

 

[SolarCity]

Hmm, I get a slight increase in yield in both my location and Manchester.

 

[stavtoon]

I will add that im in County Durham if that helps.http://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?userid=5754

 

[Grumpy]

Why is 5m of 2.5mm t&e not suitable? At 16A I calculate the voltage drop to be 1.44v or 0.63% well within tolerance I thought.

 

[JulianC]

In this case it is suitable.