I have a 4kW solar system in the UK that's already MCS approved. I recently upgraded to a smart meter and a new hybrid inverter, along with a 20kW battery. Now, I'm moving part of the FIT export back to a different provider, which will eventually pay me 15p per kWh.
In the process of installing the battery, my inverter was replaced, so I still have the old dual MPPT inverter. I'm considering relocating it to my shed, where I have an armored cable running under the decking to its own 16amp fuse in the MCB, complete with an additional RCCB. I plan to terminate it in the shed using a rotary isolation switch just like it was set up in my house.
I'm planning to add two 550W solar panels south-facing on my fence and another two on the shed roof, using the two strings with isolation switches before the inverter. Has anyone done something similar? Just to clarify, I'm not MCS approved for this additional setup.
2 Answers
Since you’re adding an extra inverter that pushes you over the 3.68kW limit, you’ll need to consider the G99 approval for the battery setup. It’s definitely doable, but just keep an eye on the inverter’s input and the total output from your panels to ensure everything aligns. As for the installation, you should be fine if your setup is compliant with the existing MCS certification as long as you're not exporting from the battery just yet. It's great that you're planning this out!
What’s the startup voltage on your old dual MPPT inverter? Knowing that can help you figure out how to best wire everything up. If it's 80v, you should be in a good spot to manage those panels effectively.
I checked, and the startup voltage is indeed 80v. Thanks for the tip!
Yeah, it's really important to make sure everything is compliant. You don't want any issues down the line, especially with the energy regulations.