How to install - GivEnergy Gen 3 Hybrid Inverter and Battery storage 

Totally agree and I am careful to always keep that in mind

Wholeheartedly agree mate and glad to hear it went well

Most people don’t have an attached garage to fit stuff in so the loft might be their only option. I watched a YT video and the homeowner had batteries and all the equipment fitted in a downstairs toilet.

Has more than the correct space all round. Meter is what it is. Can still be read and we also have the meter in the CU now. More than happy with it.

Sometimes it's the only way. But last resort for for me is any environments that have extreme temp swings

As described in the video the DC mcb is dictated by GivEnergy. In fact it's an essential requirement on all battery/inverter links aside from battery modules with the DC MCBs built in. I've covered my views in fire safety in an earlier video. The global stats on loft locations are clear.

@@electrician247 Could you please point at regulation regarding "essential requirement on all battery/inverter links aside from battery modules with the DC MCBs built in".

@paulf3353 Can you point at any regulation regarding anyrhing 🤣. It's all guidance outside of EWR1989 and such. That said the requirement is detailed in MCS 3012 I believe and most importantly in most battery manufacturers instructions that do not directly incorporate a DC mcb. Certainly the case for GivEnergy, ICS, and older solax options. My understanding is they base that decision on stored energy above 3kWh which when you think about it makes sense at 50-120V range. As discussed in the video GivEnergy take it so seriously they will not allow commissioning of the inverter /battery without a picture of the DC mcb terminals and use of the ferrules evidenced. As you say the terminals increase risk so they are trying to ensure attention to detail is paid I guess! Also as discussed next time we will share a give gen 3 inverter and giv gen 2 battery with built in mcb and direct connection on the cables Hope that helps 🙏

@@electrician247 I'm serious, could you please point at specific page where I can find it is required, because I'm struggling to find requirement of external DC isolator. It may make sense to have an external isolator if you have a huge array of batteries you want to isolate at once, but for one battery it is absolutely not required in fact it is more harmful than useful. Even in Givenergy manual I've just check they have multiple batteries on schematics with isolator. Every standalone solar battery has some sort of isolation built in, otherwise you'd have live terminals all the time even before commissioning.

@@paulf3353 I am really not here to do your research for you but have at it. kb.givenergy.cloud/article.php?id=82&oid=1 Very clear in the GivEnergy knowledge base. You are wrong and thats okay. Hope it helps.

Modbus has to be on a 6A circuit as was the case here mate. Inverter on a C40 mcb. GivEnergy gen 3 inverters don't require RCD protection unless the supply cable route/type dictates otherwise. Thanks

Yes for sure.

Not our install but seems to work fine

Not sure on the rebrand. Possibly! The original install is only a few months old believe it or not lol. So all good with fit/seg. We did consider metal enclosure but ultimately trying to avoid conductive parts around the DC cabling and connections. It makes sense to me anyway.

@@electrician247 I wouldn't have guessed that it was such a new install, surprised that the customers have decided to go for a battery so soon after installation - It backs up your suggestion in previous videos to always plan ahead for batteries at a later date. Your justification on the enclosure makes perfectly logical sense to me too. Fortunately the newer batteries appear to include them which makes life simpler!

@andrewyoung9748 this customer played it smart tbh as they was unsure if they would export anything with careful usage. It's a relatively small array. But having punched the numbers went for an upgrade. We have the Givenergy gen 2 battery next and that has a built in MCB. Showing the whole range of options right up to the 13.5kW all in one.

@andrewyoung9748 you're right this looks identical to the Easton SDM120CTM (M for modbus over rs485, CT for....CT rather that wire-through) just with a slightly different part number

Hi mate, If it has picked up an earth potential in the ground AND is possibly separated from the other copper pipe work by a plastic insert or length of pipe it will require bonding in its own right. That will need to be sized same as normal which will most likely result in 10mm. Hope that helps.

So is there a limitation with resistance to earth or how is it classified with certain reading after already bonding at the main stop tap. Appreciate your feedback. Ask 10 electricians and you get so many different opinions.

@ciaranhughes8705 anything extraneous will measure under 22k ohms. If it deffo goes outside the exponential zone and is deffo copper in the ground you would expect a very very low value. If its got a plastic bit somewhere along the route it will most likely be a high value. If the value is low enough for you to be happy it's continous copper and doesn't import a new potential you could accept its effectively bonded. But personally speaking and this isn't really to do with regs I would bond it regardless as it leaves the ground.

You might be best looking at the larger 9.5kWh battery modules. Costs vary depending on ease of installation

We do but they do also have DC spd in so don't have to.

@@electrician247 Givenergy has DC surge built in? I was told they don’t?

@roser16v best check your model and with Giv directly but my understanding is gen 3 hybrids have output protection on current and voltage via varistors etc.

@@electrician247 great thank you.

@@electrician247 have email Givenergy and all I get is “we recommend all installations comply with the regulations” Useless!

I'm afraid VAT would be due. Although government currently have review on removing VAT for batteries! Have you though abut just adding an AC coupled battery and additional inverter or looked at the giv energy all in one ac coupled system? Might be an option

@@electrician247 Thanks Mark, I didn't realise it was still under review I thought dropping batteries from 5% to 0% (With the solar installation requirement) was the only thing but it's good to know that it might change - I get confused as they keep changing the rules every few months! We did consider a separate AC setup but it would be nice to have it all as one so that we can get some proper stats from it. (The current installation is in a barn so no fire risk issues and plenty of physical space) I'll have a look at the GivEnergy setup but ultimately it comes down to the price of the batteries themselves as they all tend to be in the same ballpark from when I last looked but I'll check again. We'd budgeted based on not having to pay VAT but we might just need to reduce the amount of storage or wait to see what happens with the review. I feel for you as installers too, how are you meant to advise customers when the rules keep changing? Anyway I appreciate your time, cheers Mark.

@andrewyoung9748 no problem and you are right it's a minefield!

Can't beat some fat thumbs 👌

Yes mate

Another ridiculous comment. If its so easy to install them for £7k why not get yourself MCS registered, insured, tooled up, hies/recc approved and give it a go? Its fine if you can't afford one, other options are available. I've got a cheaper system in my own home. You are forgetting all the cable costs, isolators, labour, travel etc etc. Also the units delivered are generally 6k delivered including the VAT. A trunking, cabling and isolation setup can't be anything up to another £1000 or so depending on runs. MCS notification and HIES insurance add a few hundred more. Admin for dno notification, site team for a day or 2. £9000 + VAT easily validated. Strange mindset to believe a market place is out to rip you off. Shop around. Do the maths. It's a 12 year warranty. Most payback are inside 7 years. Faster if you are prepared to put the effort in load shifting and use enough electricity. If you are a small consumer payback will take longer. But imagine this 7 years from now when you would have long since bought, consumed and lost imported electricity. Its still sat there reducing your bills and that's totally forgetting the value of going off gris, load balancing, surge protection and all the features you seem to have no value over. Make sense? If not can't help you.

Absolutely ridiculous comment. Clearly no idea on fire safety in a home. The board has 2 purposes... 1. To help prevent fires originating away from the battery reaching it. 2. If the battery goes up to help allow as much time as possible for occupants to escape. Basics.

@@electrician247 you clearly have no idea about lithium fires at all stick to being a sparky because this is clearly not your strong point. What that fire board is the equivalent of using an umbrella as a back up for sky diving. Once lithium reaches thermal runaway not even submerging the battery in water can stop it. So putting a board on the back is safety psychology than practical safety

@mattx4253 we are not trying to stop the fire or contain it. Clearly above your head. Which is fine. If your happy to mount a battery on timber wall and allow a fire starting elsewhere to easily reach the battery. Thank heavens your not an installer. Much bigger picture and I'm not just a sparky. Not that their is anything wrong with that. I do court reports for fire investigations. Next question?

@@electrician247 as I said it’s an umbrella for sky diving. Won’t do anything. Makes zero difference. Seat belts on an aeroplane

@mattx4253 a concrete board won't stop fire for a few extra minutes for occupants to exit a building? Sorry what is your qualification to suggest that? For those who might read this afterwards. We can then update MCS to adjust their requirements as well. Let me know 👇 If its expert on the Internet then we can take 0.01% value on your input.