Mastodawn

New #blog post: Adding A Balcony #Solar Install to our garage

We've had solar for nearly 3 years now, but our easterly exposure has been niggling at me: output starts waning around lunch so the afternoon feels wasted (particularly after a cloudy morning)

So, I've added some west facing panels to the garage using a plug-in solar kit

This post talks about the install, setting up monitoring with #telegraf as well as results in the week since

https://www.bentasker.co.uk/posts/blog/house-stuff/adding-plugin-solar-to-our-capacity.html

Adding a Balcony Solar Kit To Our Capacity

I recently installed a balcony/plug-in solar onto (well, around) our garage to provide some additional solar capacity. This post talks about the install experience, setting up monitoring via telegraf

www.bentasker.co.uk

A Matt with a Dog 1d ago

@ben nice write-up, especially the details of how you fed the data into Grafana and the analysis

Ben Tasker 1d ago

@mattjhayes thanks!

penguin42 1d ago

@ben Can those microinverters implement an export limit themselves if you had enough to get near the limit?

Ben Tasker 1d ago

@penguin42 These can't. There are some that can but it means running a data cable and putting another meter in the fusebox

penguin42 1d ago

@ben ah ok, I'd heard some did comms over the mains.

Ben Tasker 1d ago

@penguin42 ooo yes, it looks like Enphase microinverters use powerline comms - https://support.enphase.com/s/article/ensuring-good-communication-between-the-microinverters-and-gateway

Enphase Community

Slash909uk 1d ago

@ben ooh, nice. I have a similar issue with afternoon sun as my panels face south east.

I might well be using plugin units to help with this when they are legal.

I wonder if I can add these as I have already got 4kW peak installed? Does this not break G98 regs?

Ben Tasker 1d ago

@Slash909uk Going over 4kWp does (afaik) mean you'd need DNO signoff.

I'd guess that wont change with the new rules (Id be willing to bet plugin capacity will be capped at 800W)

Slash909uk 1d ago

@ben agreed, very likely a low limit. will be interesting to see how this interplays with fixed installs 👍

Mike 🇬🇧 🇪🇺1d ago

@ben Thanks - this is really useful.
I've been eyeing up a garage roof installation in addition to the existing panels.
The maximum export gotcha isn't something I was aware of. I'm wondering if it might be possible to feed a battery on the sunniest days so as not to exceed the maximum export - but of course, as you say, batteries are much less cost effective.

Ben Tasker 1d ago

@MikeFromLFE I wonder if that'll change after the rules do - in Europe you can buy plug-in battery storage, so I *assume* they'll probably clear the way for that too.

So rather than needing to buy a (more expensive) hybrid inverter that needs a sparkie to install it, you'd end up with an off-the-shelf commoditised plugin battery unit.

fedops 💙💛1d ago

@ben thanks for publishing this, very interesting! 👍

@[email protected] Very interesting, we currently have a 12 year old 3.6kW system split across East and South, and I'm pondering adding something on our West facing roof to extend the generation day. Also we have no battery storage yet, so I've been pondering an Ecoflow Stream Ultra X with an Ecoflow smart meter to ensure export limit is not breached. I'm still not completely convinced on value for money though.

Ben Tasker 1d ago

@nick I think a standalone (in the sense no seperate hybrid inverter) system like that might have a better chance at breaking even

£1500 for 3.8kW doesn't feel too bad particularly with them claiming (and I assume warrantying) a 15yr lifetime.

I think my only reservation from a skim of the specs is the 2.3kW peak output (but then, that'd be quite a high sustained load).

I think I'd want it wired into a spur rather than plugged in too 😀

@ben Does the microinverter let you adjust any of its settings, and if so what/which?

Ben Tasker 23h ago

@DamonHD Not currently (at least not beyond things like joining the wifi)

Theres a seperate installer app but it geolocks and wont let you create a DIY account outside the EU.

But... it also appears to do modbus over wifi so watch this space :)

DamonHD 23h ago

@ben Ah, what I'd be interested in is setting a minimum Voc for it to cut in, so I could parallel it with an off-grid system and only scoop up excess that off-grid can't use. Many other issues too, but that would be the core for me.