Sighting of FIT meter

[spionkop]

Where should the Feed In Tariff meter be put?
I have been told that a lot of PV installers put the Feed In recording meter next to the inverter which is normally located in the loft area. How is this read to determine payment from the provider and how often are payments made?

 

[ian.settle1]

Where should the Feed In Tariff meter be put?
I have been told that a lot of PV installers put the Feed In recording meter next to the inverter which is normally located in the loft area. How is this read to determine payment from the provider and how often are payments made?

I don't have any thing to do with them but I would say that it had to be near the incoming supply meter as how do you know what you are exporting to the DNO if by the invertor then that would show how much the system is putting out but you could be using all off that and not exporting any.

 

[JulianC]

I think in theory, you could put it where you want. However, it does need to be accessible in order to read it so putting it in the loft seems daft. I always fit the meter next the the main AC isolator, which is generally adjacent to the CU and/or import meter. This is the norm.

It is a generation meter and does not measure export, no matter where you put it!!

 

[spionkop]

Thanks guys that's exactly what I thought. Presumably the losses in the cable from the inverter to the consumer unit will not amount to much(as this reading is what the FIT's are based on). We have got one job that will have about 40 metres of cable from inverter to distribution board.

 

[SRE]

New Building Regs from Oct last year - it's got to be near the consumer unit.

 

[TedM]

Really? Which part of the BRegs changed then?

 

[JulianC]

Just found this in the MCS Metering guidance document:

4. Position of meter
The meter shall be fitted to a vertical surface and be placed in a position so that the
register can easily be read by the customer without requiring the use of any
equipment such as tools, ladders or a torch. Ideally the meter should be positioned
adjacent to the consumer unit.

 

[spionkop]

Thanks JulianC. That kind of wraps my query up.

 

[dansk]

Dont forget to seal it.

Also FYI http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/admin/documents/MCS%20Metering%20Guidance%20v1.0%202010.08.27.pdf

 

[dennis2011]

My client says he wants it in his loft next to his inverter. He has a convenient pull down loft ladder and electric lighting in loft. Says probably won't enen bother with radio control and just occasionally view his inverter manually. After a time he says he will know how much he is generating depending on time, season and weather conditions. His wife doesn't want FIT meter and wiring on her uitility wall and he thinks he might gain a little more cash by having meter close to inverter rather than by consumer unit about 15 metre away. Should I let him have his own way?