Adding more solar panels in the garden part 2 - a new complication 

As interesting as always & don’t let the naysayers get you down. If it weren’t for you & your channel I wouldn’t be having ‘big solar’ installed next year. I can’t wait & thankyou. 👍

I've just done this, used a VE MPPT 150 60 MC4 with VE Direct cable, 2 parallel strings, 3 panels on each string. Reason: Easy & straightforeward (all plug n play), cheap (kit was ~£300 excluding panels), but most of all the VE VRM where everything is in one place, and the VE community / support who can helpout with any issues.

Grate video, thanks. I am thinking option 2. This because of the self preparedness improvement. Having a large DC coupled solar array will give you more house backup power in the event of an extended power outage.

I'd like you to go for a DC coupled MPPT system, direct to your Victron multiplus, purely from a selfish perspective, as that's the option I'm looking to employ for my solar expansion. I'd like to hear your take on how well that system works, particularly from the perspective of data gathering and how easy that side is with a DC /AC coupled combo.

Interesting point on leading a horse to water, self consumption residential solar with electrification of everything seems like the elephant in the room people are ignoring! I'd scale the AC coupled solar to meet car charging and hot water demand then DC couple the rest to optimise self consumption during the night. Maybe get a larger multiplus to take advantage of smart tariffs, they can be paralleled to act as one inverter.

Out of interest, did you consider placing an AC Inverter on the AC out side of your MultiPlus 2? so that you have the best of both worlds, in case you were ever to lose the grid for any length of time?

informative channel, keep up the good work. On Tuesday 25 June 2024 hit 47.3 kWh generated on my 7.2kW system/ Solis system, here in sunny Norfolk!

Can i ask what angle did you put your panels at ?

One note: The victron gives you advantages as you can setup the node red to start exporting at full export rate first thing in the morning to give the solar a buffer. Mine is setup to ramp up and down the export (ESS Grid setpoint) usually keeping the battery around 70-80% which enables my solar to peak at 10kw but with my export usually less than 5kw and never restricting my solar.

I understand that for you it's better to sell than auto consume, but I wouldn't lose the opportunity to have some DC. Grid fault? All your solar is useless. Overvoltage on the grid, leading to disconnects? All the solar is useless. Dc connected? U can always use the solar, which charged the pylontech batteries previously. Battery is full? Set the ESS to discharge, probably u can even set a discharge rate similar to the dc solar. Keeping batteries above 80 or 90% For me it would be a no brainer dc coupled, it gives u much more options. Those 6 panels scream for a victron 250 mppt with a total open circuit voltage of 249V 😂 Also, no paperwork and sets u up, tomorrow if u want.

I’ve got ideas brewing in my house too. I’m finding that once I’ve got solar, ev and heatpump, it’s too late! There’s no such thing as “enough power”. I want more! The price of solar panels is now approaching that of roof tiles and fence panels …. And I’ve got a lot of fence panels that are “beyond life expectancy”. I’m looking at coupling up a new 6kW hybrid solis inverter with some bifacial solar panels and also adding a server cabinet with one Pylontech us5000 to start off with.

Great DNO approved my extra 1.5kW taking me to a total of 8.9kW approved in 10 seconds so just need to get that 1.5kW inverter online

Hi Nigel. Your comment about "interest goes up" tickled me. You can't put a price on that. I love tinkering with my off-grid system. I love watching my screen and seeing all that lovely, free energy pouring into my Pylontech batteries. I love monitoring my power usage. I love configuring stuff with Home Assistant so that my electrical appliances run when there is an abundance of power. I don't think it matters which decision you end up making, you'll have more things to monitor, more things to configure, optimise, tune and tweak. I've learnt enough about you from watching your videos, to know that you'll be as happy as a pig in it, whatever you decide. Btw, are those "Big Number" cards on that tablet display next to you? Cheers Russ

Great update, thank you. (I just wish I had a bigger garden 😁) I agree about Solis. I use their DC hybrid 5kw with an east / west array and 10 KWh Puredrive II DC batteries. Breakeven is looking like 7 years now, assuming export rates stay the same. Happy to pass on my data if it helps you base line your new system.

I have two AC inverters (2 x Solax inverters, one is hybrid connected to the battery and has a CT clamp on the grid, and the other is an independent "mini" which has no battery connection), and it's been interesting seeing how they interact. I have set up no modbus connection between them. They both just have a standard AC connection to the consumer box. In one sense, they have no knowledge of each other. We upgraded my DNO approval to allow for the two inverters to export at maximum power, although in reality they never will due to the positioning of the panels. Originally, I was thinking that the bigger inverter (the hybrid) could in theory be limited so that IF the grid export is more than 7.5kw, then it would scale back. If I ever got another inverter, then I think I would enact this plan RATHER than going to the DNO for further approvals (I can live with max export of 9.5kw). I have since realised that if the hybrid is in charging battery mode (off solar), then it will happily consume any excess energy that the mini inverter is producing. I think it must do this by monitoring the grid connection and trying to keep that flat. Initially I had thought that the mini inverter could not charge the hybrid's battery. One other thing I've noticed is that as both inverters are grid-tied, you can get into a situation where they keep pumping up the voltage on the grid when they export. It's hard to prove, but I think the inverters are competing with each other to some extent, as I don't remember this happening when we only had one inverter. It does make me wonder how many grid-tied inverters you can reasonably have before too-high voltage becomes a real problem. It happens mostly when I force discharge. In any event, I have Home Assistant monitoring, and if the voltage goes too high, then I temporarily stop the hybrid inverter from exporting until it comes down again. This is much more efficient than relying on the Solax voltage breaker, which tends to stay off for longer and comes back gradually (2 mins export downtime, rather than 20 mins in "fault" mode where the inverter does nothing). In fact, doing it my way means that we can keep charging the battery during the export downtime. Another complication with multiple inverters is getting the data accurate. My hybrid inverter does output a "house load", but it's wrong, as it does not know about the mini inverter. But I correct for all this in Home Assistant, so it's not much of a problem.

Any reason why you’re not scaling your SolarEdge install? I wondered what your experience has been like? Personally I’d go either Victron or Enphase and you can always swap which panels use each technology. The advantage of the Victron is you get the choice whether the DC goes to the battery or uses your existing inverter to go the house/grid. Who knows what future energy tariffs are going to be.

Happy with both of my (paid for) Solis inverters. Cloud reporting is reasonable. If Travis is going to hook you up, go for it

Hello :) you say that they save you electricity bills so justifies the cost which i think people get. The only issue I think with the expense of installing them is that it's so much at once, whereas at least energy bills can be monthly and with them rising so much its harder and harder for people to save. So, with people who have limited savings in mind - how would they go about doing it?

Is there not another option to fit the panels on the ESS side of the victron? From Victron videos I got the impression you could set it up to keep power going into house even if grid failed. Perhaps I’m wrong.

I ordered a Solax …. It has 2 mttp controllers and is a hybrid …. Could you look at that route, drop one of the older inverters and get something that’ll pick up the new and old arrays ? Now exporting albeit a small amount until we get our Zoe and then we can go onto Intelligent Octopus go and like you sell all our solar and charge the battery cheaply ( even more so ) off the 6 hours of grid cheap rate. Add in our Kirk hill ( Ripple) savings and we are going in the right direction. Interesting content.

Great vid 👍 do you know of any simple solar options for combi boilers? Mine is only a couple of years old and thinking of getting solar but for the hot water side with a combi i dont think there would be any/much savings on the water due to no storage tank/no use for an Eddi etc? Cheers

You must have a good grid connection. I've peaked at 3kw export - i did try pushing a little more and the grid went over voltage (oops). Lovely day here in Scotland however, been exporting 3kws since 8am and battery only 75%

My self I have a limit that I can export so i export the max I can and store what I can and then try to run the everyday house hold stuff off the off grid solar I have.i run mg zs as well my bills end up being just under the feed in tariff I receive for the year.😊

Could you use some of the panels to charge your various portable power banks in the mean time?

Nigel I love the idea don't get me wrong but I would have one worry and that's the location the panels, in relation to what looks like farmland. often farmland can have small rocks and come harvest time they could travel and potentially damaging your panel and then you have to start again

Very interesting video. Interested to hear the process of bringing a sponsor onboard.

Hope they recommend the RHI4.6-48ES low voltage inverter and connect these to your Pylontech batteries. The backup isn’t as good as your victron solution, unless they have an answer, i’dbe interested to know that answer. I have 3 Solis powered by 11k of Solar with 40kw of Pylontech.

Isn't it time to try micro converters? I believe the future is that panels will have built in micro converters.

I would go for a bigger install then - raise your solar output with the dno to the max and get a bundle of free inverters too! It encourages others (like me) to follow in your footsteps.

If Solis are willing to give you a free inverter get at least an 8Kw inverter to cover most of your existing system, less inverters less system loss. Also those new panels need to be at 0 degrees to maximise your generation at this time of year.

It costs to install but it is an investment in your home and allows you more money each month by reducing your bills.

One option you could explore with Solis is to replace all your inverters (including victron) with the new Solis S6 hybrid inverters. You could connect 2 or maybe 3, 3.68kw hybrids in parallel, each inverter would give you 2 mppt’s, so you’d have either 4 or 6 mppt’s. I’m sure solis would be happy to showcase there new S6 model. A lot more work, but you’d end up with a very neat system.

Your neighbours are going to call you Shazam

The ground mount is very cost effective indeed, the sleepers look very tidy and cleaning them will be most therapeutic. During our new build we were advised by our local building control officer that we will need to apply for planning permission for ground mounting any solar panels. I think that’s bonkers! The collaboration with Solis is a blessing and a curse, however due diligence boxes must be ticked. I do think you like the research and the quest for power self sufficiency, so good on you for effort!

UK Power Network- the Chinese say yes!

Sounds like a lot of hassle for not a lot of benefit. And what restrictions are going to be on you afterwards, if you have problems with the units will you be able cover it on the channel or are there gagging orders?

My only issue with the Solis software is with the multiple steps you have to go through to get to the point where you can set the charging and export times. Whether it is with the app or the desktop browser based app it’s so complicated.

Yeah option 4.. dont tell the DNO 😂

The other option is micro inverters more expensive but much safer than running the DC, no Arc faults, standard SWA cable and the inverters will switch off so you don’t export too much if batteries are charged and your house is not drawing much. Enphase will communicate with Victron. They also start at a lower voltage.

Nothing for free in this life, so either stop moaning or buy the inverter and be done with it before winter comes