Inverter battery installations

[Isetech]

We have decided to create a standard format for all these type installations.

5 KVA units will be installed with a 5 kwh battery with room to fit an additional battery.

8 KVA units will be be installed with 2 x 5 kwh batteries or a 10 kwh battery, with space to add either 2 additional batteries or an additional 10 kwh.

All the systems will be installed using dual compartment trunking.

We will be using the same products for all installations, same inverter and batteries, the same brand DB's, fuse isolators etc. Now to source the brands directly from the suppliers.

We did offer the option of a better quality circuit breaker and cheaper brand, that option will no longer be available, we will only be using the more expensive brand, they just work better.

I still hear people requesting electricity accounts and offering load surveys, at the end of the day the budget determines the size of the system, not the load profile or the electricity account. An average household uses 30 kwh per day. The profile of the usage is where it normally gets interesting. There are so many variables to consider and things change over time. Doing a 7 days load profile, might determine the usage for those 7 days, but for the long term, the remote viewing on the system will be way more valuable. Which is why I advise my customers not to spend to their limit, but rather install a basic starter kit and expand over time.

Once the system is installed and the wifi is linked, it is much easier to identify if you need more solar panels or more batteries, if you have maxed your budget on a profile or electricity account, you pretty screwed.

The location of the system is still proving to be one of the bigger challenges. I dont think anyone is confident enough to present a lithium battery guideline yet and looking at pictures circulating on social media of lithium battery installations, nobody really cares too much about rules and regulations. I dont think it because of a lack of policing, I believe people just dont know any better, more of a lack of public awareness.

[Isetech]

Before I forget, the dreaded COC, if you plan to do a bunch of these installations per week, make sure the owner understands that the property requires an initial COC and your work will be covered by a supplementary COC.

This becomes quite a challenge when the house is not up to standard and now you link all the lights to the essential supply and because there are fans for example, the circuit must be connected to the ELU which trips as soon as you try switch on the power.

The neutral/earth bond is still a topic which is still not understood by many. Depending on the type of inverter used, it may require a relay or a permanent bond. I am busy with an inspection report where the installer wasnt suitably qualified to carry out solar installations, resulting in many issues, one being the lack of a neutral/earth bond.

Doing loop impedance tests using the fluke multifunction tester will quickly identify this type of error. The quickest way to test, you switch the changeover switch to inverter, test the socket outlets, then switch to bypass and check the results.