Basic Solar Wiring

[Puff]

I'm looking to add a 4kw solar system to my house (to start with) but I can't get my head around the wiring a bit. Panels will be in the garden someplace, not the roof.

I get the panels to inverter bit but its how/where the inverter connects to the mains that's confusing me a bit. Where do I put the inverter? People say "in the loft" or "in the garage" but that's not close to where the meter is. Is it just enough to have it somewhere in the system and that will provide electric?

If I have to get it close to the meter, then potentially that's a lot of cable. I have a garage with a separate feed from the main fuse board and it's own fuse board in the garage - if I was to connect it there, would it only power the garage bit?

 

[f0ster]

if you want the panels in the garden I assume you mean a ground mount system, if this is the case you need planning permission, if it is going on the roof planning is not normally required. as for the inverter if it is connected to the garage consumer unit and the garage has a decent supply cable,(inverters need a good size cable to keep volt drop low) the garage consumer unit will be cabled back to your house supply so any power generated will be used by your house/property and any surplus exported.

 

[Daddy Pig]

sorry to hijack the thread slightly, I know you can put the solar supply through a meter but is there a way you can then meter how much you use and how much is exported and is the exported power given away for free nowadays.

 

[f0ster]

there are now no more tariffs, they stopped, they stopped last year, you can add a generation meter to show how much you have generated, if you have a smart meter it will show how much you have exported, or you can add a meter to the incoming on your side of the main meter, if it is wired backwards it will show everything exported, some of the power companies pay you for elec exported,

 

[akaPABLO01]

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/files/docs/2019/12/seg_guidance_for_generators_0.pdf

To apply for export under the new export guarantee you’ll need

MCS certificate under <50kW
Export MPAN
SMETS2 (smart meter V2)

you can’t get anything with DIY and it’ll need connecting with a competent electrician. The wiring goes from your inverter directly into your supply meter (reversed)

 

[Puff]

if you want the panels in the garden I assume you mean a ground mount system, if this is the case you need planning permission, if it is going on the roof planning is not normally required. as for the inverter if it is connected to the garage consumer unit and the garage has a decent supply cable,(inverters need a good size cable to keep volt drop low) the garage consumer unit will be cabled back to your house supply so any power generated will be used by your house/property and any surplus exported.

Thanks for that. I was aware of PP but being in the middle of nowhere in a large "garden", should be OK as they won't be visible from any road & no neighbours to object.

I will check that the cabling is sufficient, I think it is but will make sure, if not, I will upgrade it.

I'm thinking of putting one of those devices that doesn't allow electric to export, rather puts it into HW tank. Batteries later.

 

[f0ster]

the ones we have fitted are the iboost, they make use of any available export elec no matter how small an amount, for example, your immersion heater will be 3 kw and if you have to wait for 3kw to be available from your panels you would not get much. inverters require a small volt drop on the supply cable so the standard sizing of cables for normal installations is not enough. you need volt drop below 3% so the cable has to be larger.

 

[EslingtonAndrew]

If you connect via the mains you will need a direct connection to and existing socket. Normally looks like and old 240v oven blank covered socket plate. The costs involved are low when starting because it is fairly easy to set it up. The real savings will not come unless you run a battery in loop (this becomes the expensive bit) unless you are running a lot during the day in your house.
Google local installers in your area see what they say and you will soon see if you can DIY it