Hey everyone! I'm planning to add some batteries to my house now and then install solar panels next year. I'm considering the Fox ESS EP11 10.36kWh battery with a 5kW hybrid inverter to take advantage of cheap nighttime electricity to charge the batteries for daytime use. I live in a terrace house with the fuse board at the front, which is south-facing, and I'm thinking of placing the batteries on a wall in my back garden, which means I'll have to do some cable runs. Here are my questions:
1. The run from the front to the back of the house would be about 15-20 meters, going through a hollow wall I built during renovations, up across the attic, and under the floorboards to reach the fuse board.
2. Is it better to place the inverter with the batteries at the back?
3. What type of cables do I need to run?
4. Will I need a data cable?
5. When I get solar panels later, where should I place that cable and what type do I need to pre-run?
I plan on getting an electrician for the final connections, but I want to learn about the required cables and planning now. Any insights would be appreciated!
2 Answers
Hey there! I've had a Fox system installed since June, and I can help with your questions. First off, yes, your planned setup should work well with solar panels in the future. As for the inverter placement, having it close to the batteries is generally better to minimize voltage drop, so putting it at the back is a good idea.
Regarding cables, for a 15-20m run, you'll likely need decent gauge cables to handle the power without significant loss. Typically, you might go for something like 10mm² for the battery cables, but check with a local electrician for specifics.
You will want to run a data cable too, especially for monitoring and management later on. For solar, the cable should ideally route back to the inverter location, and using 6mm² for solar cables is common. Always good to check local codes as well! Hope this helps.
Totally agree with UKSolarGuru71! The Fox system set up should integrate well with future solar additions. Just remember, a longer distance means thicker cables to maintain efficiency.
For the data cable, it might be a good idea to run that along with your power cables, which can save you a few headaches down the line. When planning to add solar, think about directing everything back to the inverter's location to keep things tidy and efficient.